With nearly 6,000 bars, clubs and pubs spread out over London’s 32 different boroughs, finding the perfect area to party down in during your trip to the English capital may be like finding a needle in a haystack. But from the hipster-ridden bars of Shoreditch, the live music venues in Camden, and the swanky cocktail bars in Soho…no matter what kind of night you’re looking for in London, you’re bound to find it in at least one of the city’s boroughs.
And although each and every area of London offers its own little unique flair to the city’s thriving party scene, these borough in particular are known to be the prime partying spots for experiencing London’s nightlife in all its glory:
Shoreditch
Gone are the days when Shoreditch used to be considered a no-go-zone in terms of nightlife in London, because in recent years ravers, bohemians, indie kids and rockers have been coming out of nearly every corner of London just to party it up in Shoreditch – which is hands down the most party-happening area of London’s East End. There’s circus-themed bars, beachy Brazilian or New Orleans-inspired bars, and even a bar with some original Banksy artwork on display. Yes, Shoreditch really does have it all.
Worth-partying-in-bars in Shoreditch: Queen of Hoxton (1 Curtain Road), Village Underground (54 Holywell Lane), XOYO (32-37 Cowper Street), Nightjar (129 City Road)
Camden
If you’re looking for a little live music action, there’s a plethora of music venues to choose from in this rockin’ London borough; (it has been the epicentre of London’s live music scene since the 1970s, after all). But there’s more to Camden’s nightlife than just its live music scene. There’s canal-side pubs, hip-and-happening High Street bars, and even a Camden pub crawl that leads you to all the best party hotspots around the area as well.
Prime spots for a drink in Camden: KOKO (1A Camden High Street), Belushi’s (48-50 Camden High Street), Brewdog Camden (113 Bayham Street), Jazz Cafe (5 Parkway).
Soho
Soho’s nightlife is the kind of nightlife that will have you seeing stars; (literally – as celebrities are known to party in this dazzling district on nearly every night of the week). Plus some of the quirkiest drinks and cocktails can be found in its countless different cocktail bars, like pea-infused gin (Mark’s Bar Soho) and even drinks influenced by Chinese medicine (Bun House).
Best bars to visit in Soho: Bar Soho (23-25 Old Compton Street), Experimental Cocktail Club (13a Gerrard Street), Blind Pig (58 Poland Street), Ain’t Nothin’ But Blues Bar (20 Kingly Street)
Angel & Islington
South American-inspired bars, Peruvian cocktails, or even Americana spots blasting classic rock ‘n roll out of a 1950s jukebox, nearly every corner of the world is featured in these two party-happening boroughs of London. There’s also a ton of cosy quintessential English pubs to choose from serving massive pints and wine straight out of aged oak barrels, or even the odd nightclubs blasting tunes until the break of dawn, if that’s the kind of nightlife experience that tickles your fancy.
Best nightlife haunts in Angel & Islington: The London Cocktail Club (108 Essex Road), 69 Colebrooke Row (69 Colebrooke Row), Barrio Angel (45 Essex Road), Ladybird Bar (70 Upper Street)
