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Written by Karthik Ravi on October 23, 2024 Share on

20 Things to Do at Night in London For A Spectacular Night Out

London has fast become a 24-hour city just like New York. It is no longer only known for its history and monuments but also for its booming metropolis and the most happening places in the world. From playing roulette at the finest casinos, dancing away at the best nightclubs in London, to strolling around the city under luminance, there is no limit to how much one can enjoy at night in London. Explore the best of what London offers at night with exciting London tour packages from Pickyourtrail for a hassle-free holiday!

20 Things to do in London at Night

  • Ride the London Eye
  • Walk across the Tower Bridge
  • Join an Open Top Night Bus Tour
  • Enjoy a Showboat Dinner Cruise at River Thames
  • Go for a Pub Crawl in Central London
  • Visit the Sky Garden
  • Sunset Safari at the ZSL London Zoo
  • Listen to Live Music in SOHO
  • Go to a Late-opening Museum
  • Walk around Harrods
  • Attend a Comedy Show at The Comedy Store
  • View from Shard
  • Watch a West End Show
  • Gamble the night away at the Hippodrome London
  • Hear Big Ben Chime
  • Visit any London Night Food Market
  • Stargazing from the Hampstead Observatory
  • Enjoy a Meal at Duck and Waffle
  • Experience Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre
  • Enjoy Nightlife in Shoreditch

1. Ride the London Eye

Riding the London Eye is the most ideal way to witness the beauty of the city under lights. It’s a giant Ferris wheel, standing 135 meters tall on the south bank of the River Thames, that offers a breath-taking ride and a scintillating view of the entire city.

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2. Walk across the Tower Bridge

Visiting Tower Bridge is a must! It is one of the most romantic places in London at night, located on the River Thames. With its twinkling lights against the dark sky, a walk on this bridge with your loved one is the most perfect thing you can do in the city & cherish lifelong.

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3. Join an Open Top Night Bus Tour

The open-top bus tour is one of the most fun-filled things to do in London with live commentary. You get to marvel at the city’s top attractions, such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Harrods, London Eye, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, etc., under the moonlight.

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4. Enjoy a Showboat Dinner Cruise at River Thames

The cruise allows you to witness London’s famous sights illuminated against the night sky as the sun sets and enjoy a selection of delicious canapes as you listen to live music. A dinner cruise on the Thames is the best way to spend your evening with your loved one.

5. Go for a Pub Crawl in Central London

Pub crawl is one of the most time-honoured traditions in the city of London, which even a solo traveller would enjoy. The city has a whole cluster of pubs, of different themes and kinds, stacked together so that you cannot stop crawling from one to the other all night.

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6. Visit the Sky Garden

If you haven’t made any plans for the night in London, Sky Garden is your best bet. This free attraction is the definition of urban gardening. The 34-story building, overlooking the Thames River, is shaped like a walkie-talkie and has amaze-max bars within.  A glass of sparkling wine & a stunning view of the city are all that you need.

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7. Sunset Safari at the ZSL London Zoo

For a non-cliché experience of the city at night with your family, sunset safari at ZSL is “THE” option. With the unique and placid atmosphere setting the tone, you’ll get to spend your night with some fascinating animal species and learn about them from the experts. The little ones fall in love with the animal-themed acrobat show the zoo offers.

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8. Listen to Live Music in SOHO

If you are a music lover, you cannot miss out on the experience at Soho. Soho is the hub of karaoke bars, nightclubs, and restaurants that come to life at night. This place offers the best all-night live music performances. One of the most famous karaoke bars out there is Luck Voice in Soho, offering private karaoke booths to belt out as many songs as possible till they close.

9. Go to a Late-opening Museum

Visiting a museum at night in London is an experience by itself, especially if you’re a history buff. Many of the museums in London are open till late at night. They are usually crowded during the day, and hence experiencing them post-sunset is a much quieter affair and relaxing. Visitors can not only browse the exhibition but also take part in workshops and listen to talks organised by the museums.

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10. Walk around Harrods

Harrods in London is the most famous department store in the world that primarily sells fancy, luxurious goods. Harrods is fully illuminated during the night, and the twinkling lights surrounding the building at nightfall make the atmosphere undeniably magical. The food market hall in Harrods is one area that cannot be missed.

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11. Attend a Comedy Show at The Comedy Store

If you feel like hearing a joke or two and have a fun night laughing with your friends, a trip to the comedy store, the city’s best comedy venue, is worth the visit. British humour has its own unique genre that carries a sense of sarcasm through the absurdity of everyday life. You can catch a lot of variety, ranging from the famous comedy acts to those by award-winning comedians.

12. View from Shard

Visit the Shard for an exceptional multi-sensory experience! The Shard, standing at 310 meters, is the tallest building in London & in the whole of western Europe, set beside the River Thames. Climbing the Shard is itself an experience; against the night sky, the experience becomes indescribable. Being the highest point, you’ll have a spectacular view of the city and its ever-beautiful highlights.

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13. Watch a West End Show

Going to the West End is on any theatre aficionado’s to-do list. West End offers an amazing theatre experience at night and attracts a wide range of people from all over the world.  The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins are some of the famous classic performances you can look up to.

14. Gamble the night away at the Hippodrome London

Gambling at the Hippodrome is one of the most fun-filled things to do in London at night. One can taste a tinge of Las Vegas in London at the Hippodrome, London’s most popular entertainment venue. It’s not just the most popular one but is also the biggest casino in the city. Boasting a multi-storage gaming arena with drinks and food, Hippodrome is a one-of-a-kind place in London

15. Hear Big Ben Chime

If you are still wondering what to do in London at night, why not try visiting the surrounding areas of the House of Parliament? The grand tower is attached to the Houses of Parliament, and you’ll hear Big Ben chime every hour. At night the building is beautifully lit up and can also escape the crowd that visits during the day. If you make it to the Ben at 12am, expect to hear 12 ringing chimes that indicate the beginning of a new day. Did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of one of the bells within the clock?

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16. Visit any London Night Food Market

If you’re a foodie who likes exploring different cuisines of a place, do visit one of the many late-night food street markets in London. Exploring the local mouth-watering delicacies under the stars with friends is one of the most fun things to do at night in London. The markets you may want to consider checking out include Dinerama (in Shoreditch) and Kerb Does Alchemy (in Southbank).

17. Stargazing from the Hampstead Observatory

You might think London is an odd choice for stargazing as it looks too light-polluted, but if you take yourself on a walk through the Hampstead Observatory at night, you’ll see London in a whole new light. It is one of the highest points in London and the best place to stargaze in the capital. Not only that, it provides a wonderful view out across the city at night.

18. Enjoy a Meal at Duck and Waffle

Duck and Waffle is the highest 24-hour restaurant in the world. Do you need any other reason to visit this place? Duck and Waffle has a vibrant atmosphere with a welcoming and intimate dining experience. It’s enchanting interiors and breath-taking London views make it a perfect choice for after-work parties, first dates, and when you just want to impress someone.

19. Experience Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre

The UK was the home to the greatest English playwright, actor, and poet, William Shakespeare. What better way to celebrate his legacy than a live performance of his work in his home country? The Globe Theatre mimics a variety of Shakespeare’s plays in open air, just like a replica of the original Elizabethan theatre, the way his plays were performed back in his era.

20. Enjoy Nightlife in Shoreditch

Nightlife in Shoreditch is a fun-filled experience, as the place is said to be the trendiest and most hipster neighbourhood in London. The place still holds its original gritty and old vibe despite the affluence, with a lot of graffiti plastered around. The bars at Shoreditch offer a unique atmosphere; it’ll be worth bar-hopping around to experience a different side of London’s nightlife.

Make sure to hit the top 20 things to do in London at night list on your vacation to the United Kingdom. What’s next? Looking out for London honeymoon, family, or luxury packages? Head over to Pickyourtrail and choose an itinerary you can tailor. Our travel experts will help you plan your much-needed English vacation that guarantees ultimate fun!

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