The Edgar Wallace
Pub
Pub fare and draft beer offered in cozy quarters covered with vintage posters and other memorabilia.
40 Essex Street, Westminster, London, WC2R 3JE, United Kingdom
Live on the Realtime map
Where to go out in central London
Soho is still the centre of gravity. Old Compton Street, Dean Street and the lanes running off them hold more bars per square metre than anywhere else in the country, and they are busy from Thursday through Saturday without fail.
Around it: Covent Garden for the after-work crowd, Fitzrovia for something a little calmer, and Chinatown for the 2am end of the night. Realtime shows you which of them is actually moving right now.
191venues on the map
Within 2km of central London
Worth a look
Places to try in central London
A selection of venues on the Realtime map. Open the app to see which are busy tonight.
T
The White Horse
Pub
"The White Horse in London is a bar, famous for its cask ales and premium gins, serving breakfast, seasonal pub food and afternoon tea."
16 Newburgh Street, Westminster, London, W1F 7RY, United Kingdom
Long Bar
Bar
"A London icon reimagined, Long Bar, is situated in the heart of the Sanderson Hotel social scene. Stretching an impressive 80 feet, the onyx bar creates an instant focal point - a place where bold interiors meet delicious cocktails. By day, it's a sleek space for laid-back drinks and light bites, by night it transforms into a vibrant hub that's as stylish as it is lively. Expect expertly crafted cocktails, playful twists on classics, and a curated selection of wines and spirits. Whether you're starting the evening or settling in for the night, Long Bar is where the unexpected happens."
50 Berners Street, Westminster, London, W1T 3NG, 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
Soho and the West End
Soho does not really need a plan. Start on Old Compton Street or Berwick Street, walk, and adjust. The area covers everything from tiny basement cocktail bars to pubs where the crowd spills across the road, and it turns over fast enough that a quiet street at nine can be rammed by eleven.
Covent Garden and Seven Dials run slightly earlier and slightly smarter — good for a first drink, less good if you want to still be out at two. Fitzrovia, just north of Oxford Street, is the release valve when Soho is full.
Late and later
Central London's licensing is stricter than the East, so genuinely late venues are fewer and fill up faster. Chinatown handles the small hours for food, and the Night Tube on Friday and Saturday means Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Leicester Square are all viable exits at 3am.
Avoiding the queue
The central London problem is not choice, it is capacity — the good places are full and the empty ones are empty for a reason. Realtime shows live activity from venues around Soho and the West End so you can see which places have something going on before you join a queue for one that does not.
More in central London
Other places on the map
The Black Horse
Pub
W1T 1HL, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
The Cambridge
Pub
93 Charing Cross Road, Westminster, London, WC2H 0DP, United Kingdom
The Coal Hole
Pub
91-92 Strand, Westminster, London, WC2R 0DW, United Kingdom
The Clachan
Pub
34 Kingly Street, Westminster, London, W1B 5QH, United Kingdom
Coach & Horses
Pub
42 Wellington Street, Westminster, London, WC2E 7BD, United Kingdom
Thirst Bar Soho
Bar
53 Greek St, London W1D 3DR, United Kingdom
The Ship & Shovell
Wine bar
WC2N 5NF, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
The Sun Tavern
Pub
66 Long Acre, Westminster, London, WC2E 9AA, United Kingdom
The Ship Tavern
Pub
12 Gate Street, Camden, London, WC2A 3HP, United Kingdom
The Blind Pig at Sael London
Wine bar
1 St. James's Market, Westminster, London, SW1Y 4AH, United Kingdom
Ku Bar
Wine bar
30 Lisle Street, Westminster, London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom
Bar Soho
Bar
23-25 Old Compton Street, Westminster, London, W1D 5JL, United Kingdom
Going out in central London — the basics
Where should I go for a night out in central London?
Soho — particularly Old Compton Street, Dean Street and Berwick Street — is the heart of a central London night out. Covent Garden and Seven Dials suit earlier drinks, and Fitzrovia is a good alternative when Soho is full.
How late do bars in central London stay open?
Most central London bars close between midnight and 3am, with licensing tighter than in east London. Chinatown stays open latest for food, and the Night Tube runs on Friday and Saturday nights.
How do I know which Soho bars are busy?
Realtime maps live activity from venues across Soho and the West End, so you can see where people are before you walk over. It is free on iOS and Android.
