London Nightlife

If you seek the club scene of say, Barcelona, go to Barcelona. The elitist impulse often rears its head in British club life—this is especially evident in Kensington and Chelsea where many clubs are "members only," meaning they’ll make you ask to have your name put on a guest list. That doesn’t mean that there’s no nightlife. Visitors can find evening kicks in bars that serve some exciting drinks (check out Soho for lessons in mixology). Music venues like the Troubadour in Kensington provide killer atmospheres and young crowds late at night.

Still, pubs are the fabric of British life. Most are open daily 11am-11pm with some variation in regards to the weekend. Pubs are where Brits come to eat and drink too much. At lunchtime, the pubs in Westminster and the City of London fill with men in matching suits. The best are the ones that claim residence in the oldest drinking locations in London, meaning that people have been drunk there since the dawn of time. Be wary of the "George Orwell drank here" or the "Dylan Thomas drank here" line—you will see those names everywhere, because not only were they fantastic drunks, they were also prolific walkers. Parliament even passed the Defense of the Realm Act during WWI to limit pub hours in order to keep the munitions workers sober. This law was in effect until 1988, and many pubs still retain the early hours. Always bring cab fare or plan your night bus route home as the Tube closes early.

Nightlife By Neighborhood

Vats Wine Bar, 51 Lambs' Conduit St. ( 020 7242 8963 ;www.vatswinebar.com) The epitome of a warm, British restaurant, Vats imports much of its wine while keeping the feel of the place properly British ...more