Bars and nightlife in London

Londoners Know How to Party Hard

London’s nightlife scene is all about quality bar tunes and clubs that promise your wildest night out.

Luke Abrahams
20 May 2023

London has a reputation for putting on a good show and its bar and club scene is no exception. Whether you’re looking for a sexy date night or a party that goes on until sunrise, you’re guaranteed to have the best night of your life in the UK’s party capital.

Booking Office 1869, King’s Cross

London is all about having fun and breaking inhibitions, so if there's something you've never done before and really want to, this is the city to do it in.

The Booking Office 1869 is a destination in its own right. While most flock here to guzzle down the snazzy array of eye-catching cocktails, it’s really the space that delivers all the goods. The Gothic Revival architecture wows all around, with polished cathedral-sized windows, beautifully corniced ceilings, ornate brick arches, chic wood paneling, and lush tropical touches – from high palm trees to leaf-shaped pendant lights.” lights.

Address: Booking Office 1869, Euston Road, London NW1 2AR

Koko, Camden

The Grade-II-listed building is best known for its A-list indie music crowd. Over the years, it hosted the likes of Amy Winehouse, Madonna, Prince, Grace Jones, and more. With its long and illustrious history, it’s easily one of the city’s most iconic music venues to party in.

Address: 1a Camden High St, London NW1 7RE, UK

The Painter’s Room, Claridge’s Hotel, Mayfair

The Painter’s Room is flash hotel Claridge’s answer to a marble pink paradise. The bar is an Art Deco gem, carved just in between the hotel’s magnificent ballroom and palazzo-esque lobby. Great for date nights and sundowners, cocktails are best enjoyed by the onyx counter where neat classics, stellar wines, and imaginative cocktails are shaken until sunrise. The croque monsieur sprinkled with black truffle is also worth a try from the small but punchy food menu.

Address: Claridge’s, Brook Street, London W1K 4HR

Moto, Covent Garden

If you love sake, this is the place to go. The menu at Moto is entirely dedicated to booze from Japan. Sake is sourced from small producers (some never exported before) and much of the accompanying tasting menu has been designed to enrich the drink’s flavor intensity and sweet notes. The vibe is chill, so it’s a great place to relax after a long day of exploring.

Address: 7 Maiden Lane, London WC2E 7NA

Printworks, Surrey Quays

Set Up Venue Alerts

Headline acts sell out in seconds at London nightclubs, so it's well worth setting up venue alerts before you visit to ensure you manage to bag tickets to the gig of your choice.

Those looking to dance the night away should head here. The massive industrial shack was once a warehouse that used to print newspapers like the Daily Mail and is now well-known for its top-quality and memorable audio visual productions. The crowds are pretty wild, as are the artists who play here, so expect a night to remember.

Address: Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7PJ, UK

Coupette, Bethnal Green

Some of the slickest cocktails in the East End are served at this suave French bar in Bethnal Green. The collection of French brandy is mammoth, and the medley of cocktails wildly inventive. On Monday and Wednesday nights, Coupette has live piano music to enjoy from local maestros, along with a roster of other fun-filled events.

Address: Coupette, 423 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AN

Bar Termini, Soho

Bar Termini is the work of cocktail kings Tony Conigliaro and Marco Arrigo. Authentic as they come, they’ve whizzed up one of Soho’s most loved Italian pit stops, named after Rome’s central train station. The Negronis served in custom glasses are delicious, and if you’re looking for a refresher, try the Spritz Termini to help perk up your spirits. Bar food? Think burrata served with tomatoes and lots of fresh meat cuts, prosciutto included.

Address: 7 Old Compton Street, London W1D 5JE

The Coral Room, Bloomsbury

It’s pretty peachy at this showstopper of a bar in London’s prime literary hotspot, Bloomsbury. Set in the Bloomsbury Hotel, the Martin Brudnizki-designed bar is as easy on the eyes as it is on the palate. Walls are awash with artworks by Luke Edward Hall, and there are enough plants here to fill a conservatory. Drinks feature English sparkling wines and local fizz from London breweries. Lunch, brunch, and afternoon tea are served here, too.

Address: The Bloomsbury, 16-22 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3NN

Fabric, Farringdon

For well over a decade now, Fabric still maintains its position as one of London’s most established clubbing landmarks. It’s a wild night through and through, and over the years, the club has never stirred away from its mantra of showcasing high-quality acts from the UK’s underground electronic music scene.

Address: 77A Charterhouse St, London EC1M 6HJ, UK

Soma, Soho

This sexy bar almost feels like a secret, but in a good way. Drinks are inspired by the flavors of India, so quite literally everything from the margarita to the Negroni packs a very mighty spicy punch. Bar snacks preach a low-waste approach and are made using leftovers from neighboring restaurant Kricket, so it’s an eco-friendly choice with a mission and a heart, too.

Address: 14 Denman Street, London W1D 7HJ

About the author

Luke AbrahamsLuke Abrahams is a London-based freelance journalist specializing in news, luxury lifestyle, and travel features. Luke was previously the features social media editor at the London Evening Standard. His work has appeared in more than 25 U.K. and U.S. publications, including British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, The Times, Town & Country, The Telegraph, Condé Nast Traveller, Time Out, House & Garden, Suitcase, Elite Traveler, Insider, and more. So far, Luke has visited 82 countries. His favorite is Italy, and it always will be.