A Brief Guide To London Nightlife

Visitors to London are spoilt for choice when it comes to nightlife. You may have noticed from the map that it’s a pretty big ole town and subsequently has a big ole night time scene.

We all have different tastes and ideals when it comes to evening entertainment and London has something for everybody in abundance. The key however, is where to find it - thus I am here to point you in the right direction - well, if you’re looking for clubs and live music!

If you are one of the many mainstream swimmers, finding somewhere suitable in London shouldn’t be a problem. Head to Soho or Covent Garden and their are oodles of bars and clubs to choose from. If you’re wanting specifics, I’m sorry I can’t help you outright as it’s not my scene and to be quite honest, they’re all the same to me. Crap! Having said that, dance clubs Bar Rumba and The Borderline come highly recommended and though I can’t vouch for that personally, it does come from a reliable source, even though she’s usually of her tits.

If you’re looking for alternative bars and live music venues however, that is my domain. The infamous Camden Town is a vibrant and popular hotspot for such events and you can’t go far wrong with the Proud Gallery on Chalk Farm Lane. By day the Gallery is a photo exhibition focusing on film stars and music icons and is well worth checking out anyway. At night however, it doubles as a club and live music venue. The taste for stage talent here is eclectic, so it’s hit and miss what genre you get, but if you check out the listings on their website, you can do the relevant prelims. For pre-gig pubs, the World’s End right outside Camden Station is a good place to start,then move on to the Dublin Castle where you may also find live music in the dusty little back room. Though the bands here are mostly unsigned, the standard is often pretty good.

Likewise, the Enterprise, just across the road from Chalk Farm Station. There is always a lively, cheerful crowd in the Enterprise and the event organiers have a good ear for entertaining and talented bands. Bar Fly and the Roundhouse are also close by and normally host signed bands, though quality can’t always be guaranteed.

Another pulsating area for live music and alternative tastes, though there are also mainstream bars here as well, is Shoreditch in the central east of London. Shoreditch professes to have taken over Camden’s mantle as the place to be in London, and though it is very cool and has the right to make such claims, it subsequently drips with pretentious scenesters you just want to punch in the face..and I’m not a violent man! Still, there are some great hangouts and plenty of cool venues to catch a gig.

One of my favourites venues for live music is Hoxton Bar & Grill in Hoxton Square a short walk from Old Street tube station. The quality of gigs here have never been a disappointment, despite the occasioanal musical wannabes who quite frankly shouldn’t be allowed out in public, never mind perform! Still, you pay your money - usually around £10, you get what you’re given - usually a good night.

93 Feet East on Brick Lane is another cool venue, though can attract the pretentious scenesters I warned you about earlier. You’ll be able to spot them as they’re the ones who are trying to be alternative and dress individally - often 80’s, the cast of Hairspray or Dickensian - but ultimately fail because they look like each other. I can’t wait for the day when I happen across two girls with a clash of dressed just to see the horrified look on their faces. However, 93 Feet East also attracts people who know how to have a good time and I think you will too!

If you’re looking for Jazz, you can find it anywhere in London. Ronnie Scotts and the 100 Club around Soho are the most obvious, famous and subsequently expensive in London, whereas for between £8-$12 the Vortex Jazz Club in North London and the 606 Club in Chelsea are equally good value for money though you may need to make considerations for travel time and expens depending where you’re staying.

Alternatively, why not pick up some Jazz whilst you dine. The Arch Duke under the arches between Waterloo Station and the Royal Festival Hall offer great value for money on two and three course meals as does Viva Bacchus close to London Bridge underground station.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, have fun!

Alright everyone, I have at long last, been able to sort out what everyone is going to owe me for the Caravan insurance quote for our holiday this month. Please try and get this to me by Monday so I can get it worked out before we are ready to leave.