Things to do at night in London to experience the city like a local

When the sun sets and you’re done exploring St. James's Park and Buckingham Palace, it will be time to plan an evening in the British capital. The nighttime vibe is hard to quantify because London is massive and caters to just about any taste. London blends old and new better than any other city, with traditional British pubs alongside cutting-edge cultural offerings like swanky nightclubs and art galleries. From great comedy clubs along the South Bank to night tours of west London, there are endless entertainment and sightseeing possibilities on offer at any hour. 

If you’re sticking to a specific neighborhood, you’ll be able to walk between bars and restaurants pretty easily. London’s public transportation network is heavily relied upon by locals at any time of day, with Londoners taking the Tube (subway) to and from bars and restaurants more often than not. If you’re planning on getting around via the Tube or on foot, you may want to utilize convenient London luggage storage facilities and the mobile app offered by Bounce. This is useful for travel days or layovers when you’re stuck with your bags.  

What to do in London at night if you’re looking for…. 

A local's night out 

While you can have all the fun in the world at world-class attractions like the British Museum or Natural History Museum, they’re hardly something an actual Londoner (or even a transplant) would be doing on a normal Saturday evening. Live music and street food are probably more representative of the actual weekend plans of an East London resident. 

Get a proper Indian meal

Curry is rightly regarded as a quintessential British dish. Drawing from the days of the British Raj along with the vibrant communities of Indian immigrants, London's restaurant scene is epitomized by its credible Indian restaurants. You'll have your pick of hole-in-the-wall curry shops, and elegant Michelin-starred restaurants showcasing the diverse world of Indian cuisine.

Pro tip: Quilon near St James’s Park, Benares Restaurant & Bar, Tamarind, Kanishka, Veeraswamy on Regent’s Street (regarded as the oldest Indian restaurant in the UK), Darjeeling Express, and Kachori are all highly regarded (some even Michelin-starred) places to look into.

Go clubbing away from the touristy areas

If you want to live like a local don't necessarily go clubbing in SoHo. Hackney Central’s Club Oslo is open until the early hours and is a local favorite. The Glory, located in Haggerston, is great for experiencing London’s LGBTQ+ culture. Dalston Superstore is where you’ll find a quirkier side of London's club scene. VFDalston offers cheap drinks and alternative vibes. 

Hit a brewery taproom

Pay no mind to all the adverts. It’s not all Guinness and Carlsberg in the UK (spoiler, these aren’t even English beers). London's craft beer scene has quickly caught up with the US which has injected a much-needed variety into the beverage landscape and nightlife. Many of the best breweries are clustered together in former industrial locations, specifically the Bermondsey Beer Mile. The Kernel, Bianca Road, and 73 Enid Street are all situated within a 10-minute walk of each other on the Beer Mile and make the perfect brewery crawl.

Pro tip: Head to Cloudwater, especially if you're a dedicated beer nerd interested in the hazy IPA craze. 

A constructive evening

The nightlife scene is great, but if you're traveling with the family or want to take a night off of the booze, there's still plenty to do in the British capital. 

Hit a museum

“Museum Lates” is a great way to see top London attractions without having to contend with the crowds. The British Museum, Science Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery, and London Transport Museum will designate a few nights a month to expand their opening hours late into the night. You'll enjoy a more intimate experience without having to contend with the hordes of (other) tourists and you'll also have access to specific programming for nighttime visits. The same bag policies will apply to museum lates, so stopping by a Bounce luggage storage facility will save you time at the museum entrance and security. 

Check out a West End production

England’s answer to Broadway has been a major draw for London for decades and its Tottenham Court Road and SoHo neighborhoods are lined with historic theaters, offering world-class productions. Take a look at the calendars of institutions like the Dominion Theatre to see if anything piques your interest.

Pro tip: You can also walk down Shaftesbury Avenue to admire the façades of the Apollo Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Palace Theatre, Sondheim Theatre, and Shaftesbury Theatre if you don't want to spring for tickets to Harry Potter And The Cursed Child or Les Misérables. 

The Tower of London has a nightly ritual

The Ceremony of the Keys involves the iconic guardsmen in their red garb and funny hats changing stations. That's cartoonishly British and it absolutely smacks of tourism, but still a quintessential night London experience if you don't want to hit the pub.

Pro tip: You'll have to book a reservation ahead of time and will want to leave any access items at the hotel or with a Bounce luggage storage facility. 

Check out the London Eye

There are plenty of fun things for date night that might seem overly touristy, but the London Eye is a worthwhile stop. You’ll enjoy wonderful views of the city lights of the London skyline and the River Thames. You won’t want to deal with your luggage as there are bag policies and strict security, so stop by a Bounce location in central London on your way to make your visit easier. 

Pro tip: It’s perfect any time of day, but it’s particularly beautiful as the sun sets or even late into the evening.

Channeling vintage London

Central London areas like Piccadilly Circus, SoHo, or Covent Garden, were at the forefront of pop culture in the 60s and 70s. And while these areas have changed with the times, there's still a swanky vibe associated with the hedonistic nightlife and cultural aesthetic. 

Hit the London Cabaret Club

London is home to a thriving cabaret scene, with dozens of beloved feeders throughout neighborhoods like SoHo and Covent Garden. The most famous is the long-standing institution London Cabaret Club where you'll find amazing West End talent in a glamorous setting. 

Hit one of London’s classiest bars

London is home to some of the sleekest and most luxurious watering holes and all of Europe. Top spots for cocktails are Ruby’s Bar & Lounge in Dalston and SoHo mainstay Café Boheme are two of the best for grabbing an intimate drink after dinner. Kricket and SOMA are great for speakeasy vibes.

Pro tip: London's hotels also provide above-average settings for grabbing a drink. The Connaught’s Red Room, The Savoy, and American Bar have been premier hotel bars for decades. 

Being one of the cultural capitals of the world, it shouldn't be surprising that there are so many fun things to do at night in London. Whether you want to indulge in a four-course meal, play a round of crazy golf, or just take an evening stroll along the Thames, London has you covered. Just don't let your bags slow your nighttime exploits down. Download the Bounce app and drop by a convenient luggage storage facility before you head out for the evening.