The Swan Tavern
Pub
Bustling, Edwardian pub serving real ale and a simple menu, located in a pedestrian alleyway.
Ship Tavern Passage, City of London, London, EC3V 1LY, 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.
Swift Borough
Bar
Swift Borough's award winning cocktails are the best south of the River Thames. The bar is at 66 Borough High Street, less than a 5 minute walk from Borough Market and London Bridge Station. Expect warm, genuine hospitality, combined with outstanding, world class cocktails in a comfortable setting. Both walk ins and reservations are welcome. It is the newest bar from the award winning Swift Bars.
66 Borough High Street, Southwark, London, SE1 1XF, United Kingdom
Marlborough Arms
Pub
Relaxed pub close to local transport hub, with cask ales on tap and a British menu.
36 Torrington Place, Camden, London, WC1E 7LY, United Kingdom
The Gun, Docklands
Pub
A special dining experience awaits at The Gun, a Grade II listed pub in Docklands. With idyllic Thames views, you can relax by the water, enjoy fine fresh food, stunning wines and a secret gin garden.
27 Coldharbour, Docklands, London E14 9NS, 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 Ship
Pub
3 Hart Street, City of London, London, EC3R 7NB, United Kingdom
Burlock London Bond Street
Bar
31 Duke Street, Westminster, London, W1U 1LS, United Kingdom
Retro Bar
Wine bar
2 George Court, Westminster, London, WC2N 6HH, United Kingdom
Florattica Rooftop London
Bar
11-15 Minories, London EC3N 1AX, United Kingdom
Maple Leaf
Pub
41 Maiden Lane, Westminster, London, WC2E 7LJ, United Kingdom
The Eagle Farringdon
Pub
159 Farringdon Road, Islington, London, EC1R 3AL, United Kingdom
Between the Bridges
Bar
The Queens Walk, London, SE1 2QG, United Kingdom
The Thirsty Farrier Cocktail Bar
Bar
SE1 7PB, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Wood Street Bar & Restaurant
Bar
53 Fore Street, City of London, London, EC2Y 5EJ, United Kingdom
Old Shades
Pub
37 Whitehall, Westminster, London, SW1A 2BX, United Kingdom
Ministry Of Sound
Night Club
SE1 6DP, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Blind Spot London
Bar
45 St. Martin's Lane, Westminster, London, WC2N 4HX, 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.
