The Thirsty Farrier Cocktail Bar
Bar
Cocktail Bar with iconic views of the London Eye, Westminster and Big Ben. A Cocktail garden with seating area along the Thames
SE1 7PB, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Live on the Realtime map
Where to go out in London
London is not one night out, it is dozens of them stacked on top of each other, and the only real question is which part of the city you are starting from. Soho and east London run late and loud. South London spreads across Brixton, Peckham and Clapham. North London does pubs better than anywhere. West London does the smart end.
Pick an area below for the detail, or use the map in Realtime to see live activity from venues right across the city and work backwards from wherever is actually busy tonight.
493venues on the map
Within 8km of London
Jump to an area
Worth a look
Places to try in London
A selection of venues on the Realtime map. Open the app to see which are busy tonight.
Waxy's Little Sister
Pub
If you get a buzz from the hustle and bustle of Waxy O’Connor’s but after a long day fancy something a little more chilled, you need to visit Waxy’s Little Sister! Its comfy sofas, open fires and relaxing vibe make it a great place to meet friends, grab a quick drink or settle in for the evening. Based over two floors, there’s even a Dumb Waiter upstairs so you don’t have to run down to get your round
20 Wardour Street, Westminster, London, W1D 6QG, United Kingdom
The Spy Bar
Bar
Designed by British architect William Young, the War Office was built on the site of the Palace of Whitehall – home for centuries to English monarchs, including King Henry VIII. Built in the Baroque style, the landmark building was completed in 1906 and stood as silent witness to world-shaping events of the twentieth century. Influential political and military leaders, including Winston Churchill, Lord Haldane and T. E. Lawrence walked these corridors of power, while the Grade II* listed building inspired Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, and has featured in numerous Bond films.
57 Whitehall, Westminster, London, SW1A 2BX, United Kingdom
Swan
Pub
Victorian pub with classic decor and a British menu featuring pies, fish and chips and burgers.
7 Cosmo Place, Camden, London, WC1N 3AP, United Kingdom
How London splits up
Central is the default and the busiest — Soho, Covent Garden, Fitzrovia and the tail end of the West End. East is Shoreditch, Dalston and Hackney, and it runs the latest. South covers Brixton, Peckham, Clapham and Bermondsey, and has the most going on per square mile outside the centre.
North is Camden, Islington and Angel, and it is the best of the lot for pubs. West — Notting Hill, Kensington, Fulham, Hammersmith — is the quieter, smarter end, with a strong river pub scene along the Thames.
Getting between it all
The Night Tube on Friday and Saturday nights changes what is realistic — the Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines all run through the night, which is why Brixton to Soho or Dalston to Oxford Circus is a normal part of a London night out.
Outside those hours, night buses cover most of the city and are considerably cheaper than the alternative at 3am.
Seeing it live
The size of London is exactly why a live view helps. Realtime maps activity from venues across every one of these areas, so instead of guessing whether Dalston is worth the journey, you can see it. Offers and weekly specials from venues show up in the same place.
More in London
Other places on the map
The Black Horse
Pub
W1T 1HL, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Exmouth Arms
Pub
23 Exmouth Market, Islington, London, EC1R 4QL, United Kingdom
The Argyle
Pub
1 Greville Street, Camden, London, EC1N 8PQ, United Kingdom
Roof East
Pub
7 & 8 Stratford Multi Storey Car Park, Great Eastern Rd, London E15 1XE, United Kingdom
Old China Hand
Pub
8 Tysoe Street, Islington, London, EC1R 4RQ, United Kingdom
The Gin Palace
Bar
372 Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 0JJ, United Kingdom
Silver Cross
Pub
33 Whitehall, Westminster, London, SW1A 2BX, United Kingdom
Penderel's Oak
Pub
Procter Street, Camden, London, WC1V 6NX, United Kingdom
The Lamb
Pub
94 Lamb's Conduit Street, Camden, London, WC1N 3LZ, United Kingdom
Cahoots Postal Office
Bar
18 Stoney Street, Southwark, London, SE1 9AD, United Kingdom
The Eagle Farringdon
Pub
159 Farringdon Road, Islington, London, EC1R 3AL, United Kingdom
The Bell & Crown, Chiswick
Pub
11-13 Thames Rd, Strand-on-the-Green, London W4 3PL, United Kingdom
Going out in London — the basics
Which part of London is best for a night out?
It depends what you want. Central London (Soho, Covent Garden) is busiest and most convenient. East London runs latest. South London has the strongest neighbourhood scene, north London the best pubs, and west London the smarter bars and river pubs.
How do I find out which London bars are busy right now?
Realtime shows live activity from venues across London on a map. You can see which areas and which venues are busy before you travel. It is free on iOS and Android.
Does the Tube run all night in London?
The Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights on several lines including the Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly. Night buses cover the rest of the city and the rest of the week.
