Drinking And Dancing In London

Set on a quiet residential stretch near Peckham Rye, The Old Nun's Head might look like a traditional neighbourhood pub from the outside, but it's long been a go-to for those in the know seeking a livelier, music-led night out. Inside, while the setting's classic with wood-panelled walls, fireplaces and a well-stocked bar, the atmosphere regularly shifts up a gear once the evening gets going.

Drinks are rooted in pub tradition, with a solid lineup of local ales, craft options and wines that make it easy to settle in for a few rounds. As the hours roll on, though, the focus turns more towards music and socials, with the pub hosting DJ nights, live gigs and dancefloor-friendly events that draw a mixed, local crowd.

Set the stage for an unforgettable night with Silent Sounds. This one-of-a-kind silent disco takes place on The Dutch Master, a two-storey boat cruising down the Thames and passing by London's most famous landmarks, including Big Ben and Tower Bridge. Tickets start at an affordable £27 per person.

Dance to your own beat with three music channels, each offering a different vibe. When it's time for a break, grab a drink at one of the two onboard bars and enjoy the incredible city views. And if you're not ready to call it a night, keep the party alive at Ballie Ballerson's ball pit cocktail bar, where select tickets include free guest list entry.

Love a little bit of dancing in London. Jin Bo Law is one of the most chic places for drinking and dancing. Along with non-stop tunes, you can be treated to amazing cocktails - City Diet, Just Peachy and Summer nights to name just a few.

For a night out full of music and dancing, Old Street Records stands out as one of East London's most reliable dancefloor destinations. Spread across two floors, the venue blends a working record store aesthetic, with vinyl stacks, vintage NME covers and mural-lined walls - with a busy weekly programme of live performances and DJ-led sessions, too.

Upstairs, the focus is on live music, with a rotating line-up that ranges from emerging artists and EP launches to established weekly fixtures like the Hip Hop House Band. Downstairs, the basement shifts gears into a more intimate, club-style setting, hosting DJ sets that keep the crowd moving well into the night. Drinks are a key part of the appeal, with a menu of bespoke cocktails alongside classics, plus a 2-4-1 happy hour running from 5pm to 8pm that makes it easy to settle in before things ramp up.

Once a church, Amazing Grace is now a buzzing late night bar and music venue. Still intact with its original alter, it blends old world charm with modern 3D mapping and animated projections. Like its sister venue in Canary Wharf, it's all neon lights, artistic finishes and high energy.

Of course the bar is perfect for pre and post gig drinks. But it's well worth stopping by even if you're not taking in a band. Settle in beneath the stained glass windows for craft beers, signature cocktails, Asian-inspired sides, sharing platters and brilliant burgers.

For an evening of fantastic food, drink and entertainment, head to Caribbean Night at Leonardo City. This stylish hotel will be filled with vibrant, island-style vibes, promising live entertainment that will have you singing and dancing to all your favourite tunes.

There's a Caribbean buffet until 9.30pm, featuring the likes of jerk chicken, oxtail stew, macaroni cheese and much more. Plus, tickets include a complimentary rum punch or fruit punch on arrival.

Boasting chart-topping DJs and a bustling dancefloor, Soho Zebrano is pulling out all the stops for your nights out. And when you're thirsty, there are happy hour deals as well - think everything from margaritas to wine and beer.

Just moments from Clapham Junction, Hannah Battersea is a neighbourhood bar that doubles up as a late-night hangout, making it a versatile choice for drinks that can easily turn into a livelier evening. The space itself sets the tone, with exposed brickwork, velvet seating and statement chandeliers.

Here, you could start with a few relaxed gin and tonics, perhaps out on the terrace in warmer weather, before the atmosphere builds indoors as the night goes on. With music and a busy crowd, the space naturally shifts towards a more upbeat, social environment where standing, mingling and moving to the soundtrack becomes part of the experience.

Get ready to move like you mean it. Hosted on the Rivoli Ballroom's famed, highly springy wooden dance floor, this event is custom-built for people who love to dance without stopping.

Backed by the venue's classic retro bars, DJ Andy Smith provides a relentless, non-stop soundtrack of Ultimate Breaks & Beats classics, soul grooves, and golden-era rap anthems. It's a brilliantly loose, friendly social scene where grabbing a drink and joining the central dance cyphers is the main event.

If you're looking to dance the night away in a luminous pink disco den then Tonight Josephine Waterloo is the bar for you. This fantastic spot plays all the best hits and even hosts themed bottomless brunches dedicated to ABBA. It's open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, and its drinks menu is hard to resist as it packs delicious classics like espresso martinis, along with signature sips like Hot AF, featuring tequila, Cointreau and tabasco. 

Make your way to Small Beer Brewery in South Bermondsey for a unique night out: Fiddle Paradiddle's pop-up ceilidh. There's a spacious dancefloor to let loose on, with a live ceilidh band leading proceedings.

This roomy venue boasts fresh beer brewed on site, alongside a top choice of wine, cider and spirits. Plus, there are tasty snacks to enjoy in between dances. Plus, they host an event in Balham too.

If you're looking for somewhere to let your hair down in East London then hit up Exale Brewery, a characterful converted old furniture factory, only a moment from Blackhorse Road Station. Here you will find DJs spinning tunes 'til late on Fridays and Saturdays, plus a large mix of craft concoctions to sip on underneath pink, puffy cloud lights and neon signage.

If you're looking for the ultimate girls' night out in South East London, look no further. The Belle Affair is a dazzling supper club experience, bringing together fantastic food, free-flowing drinks and spectacular entertainment.

The night kicks off with 90 minutes of bottomless prosecco and pizza, served to your table while the atmosphere builds. When the entertainment starts, expect an immersive spectacle filled with glamour, music, dance and unforgettable performances. Got more in the tank? Stick around for the after party until 1am.

Want a drink and a dance in the city? The award-winning Thirteen is the place to be.

This stylish Soho spot serves up bold signature drinks with its sensational small plates. When it's time to boogie, DJs will take you on a tour through soul, funk and disco.

Tucked beneath the streets of Dalston, Parasol is a vibrant cocktail bar blending retro glamour with a rebellious edge, inspired by the underground disco scene of 1980s New York. Created by the minds behind Ruby's, The Sun Tavern and Corrochio's, it offers a menu of bold, house-crafted cocktails and a wine list curated by Provisions, all served in a space filled with reclaimed materials and global influences.

Whether you're after a drink somewhere with a great atmosphere or a night of dancing to DJ sets, Parasol delivers a unique, intimate experience that feels like a well-kept East London secret.

Bringing back the days of live music lounges, make your song requests to a dual pianist-led band and dance the night away, whilst sipping on incredible yet 'classically strange' cocktails. The Piano Works in Farringdon will bring an unforgettable night of eating, drinking, laughing, singing and lots and lots of dancing.

On Hill Street in Richmond, the coolest speakeasy-inspired bar has popped up to keep the Prohibition vibe alive. As a nod to 1920s glitz and glam, The Bootlegger's cocktail menu is carefully whipped up to whisk you back to that time, dishing out a delightful range of classic cocktails mixed by their ace bartenders. If your taste buds sway elsewhere, they've got a top-notch selection of spirits and a tasty assortment of inspired grub to savour while kicking back.

They're also offering an elite seasonal lineup of six custom drinks for their daily Sunset Hours event, locking the price at just £9.50 all the way until 11pm. Forget basic, watered-down happy hours and gather your crowd to enjoy serves like the citrus-and-tequila Altos Paloma Picante with its signature chilli kick, or the incredibly lush Malibu Coconut Mojito. Not in the area? Check out their Covent Garden site instead.

This southwest hot-spot is home to some of London's most fun tiki nights, with exotic cocktails, Polynesian-inspired dishes and a laid back atmosphere. Escape everyday life with a staycation at this Fulham favourite.

With three bars to choose from, keep the drinks flowing and that body popping all night long. Throw funky shapes in the basement bar, get your freak on in the main terrace area or settle down for a sophisticated sip in the split-level VIP lounge. With great entertainment too, you can even enjoy the likes of burlesque performance, guest DJs and fire-eating for a stellar night out on the town.

Situated in Shoreditch, The Queen of Hoxton always brings the party vibes with their excellent DJs. Head there for dinner and you'll be hooked up with the best drinks and cocktail from its rooftop terrace. Cuddle up with a few tipples while nesting by its toasty firepit.

For a lively yet relaxed night out, Bar Italia Uxbridge delivers. With DJs bringing the vibe every Friday and Saturday until 3am, this spot is perfect for good eats, affordable drinks, and catching up with friends.

Indulge in fennel salami pizzas or spicy wings, hit their Saturday bottomless brunch for £25, or enjoy 2-for-1 pizzas on Sunday. It's got it all going on, including signature sips like The Tempest, made with wild berry pink gin. 

Nestled in the beating heart of London's Leicester Square, Bling Spot is a smooth, sultry cocktail bar that offers guests a serene location to sit back and unwind with top-notch cocktails. With a flavoursome arsenal of spices, fresh fruits and international spirits, and a stunning line-up of resident DJs filling the air with thudding bass and trembling melodies, you'll struggle to find a better central London venue to dance the night away in.

One of the city's best-ever brunch parties is heading to Proud Cabaret City, bringing with it one of the UK's top female DJ crews. Chow down on two incredible courses, wash it down with an hour of free-flowing cocktails and show the dancefloor your best moves.

Pair your drinks with the sounds of classic Northern Soul at the Rivoli Ballroom, where the cocktails flow and the music keeps your feet moving.

Resident DJ Mr Max, alongside Ian Levine and Val Palmer, spins the best '60s and '70s soul, rarities, and forgotten gems, creating a lively, nostalgic atmosphere perfect for a night of drinking, dancing, and fun.

Stereo is the late-night entertainment venue hidden beneath Covent Garden Market, bringing you live music from the house band every evening, alongside DJs playing into the early hours. Sip cocktails before taking to the dancefloor at this slick bar. 

A restaurant, cocktail bar and nightclub all under one roof, UNDR is a cool, Caribbean-inspired destination in Notting Hill. This place is filled with dark, sultry decor, from the main bar to the balcony - think comfy leather seating, mirror-lined walls and low lighting.

There's a killer drinks menu on offer, alongside tasty plates like pan-fried salt fish fritters, jerk cauliflower wings and slow-roasted pork belly. That's not all though, as live musicians and DJs will be getting you on the dancefloor until late.

The perfect place for a few steins and a boogie with your mates, Albert's Schloss is the German-themed bar in Soho that's hosting events almost every single night of the week. Whether you're parting under the disco ball to live DJ sets, singing along to their house band or being mesmerised by a cabaret performance, all their sessions are entirely free, with a tasty German menu up for grabs too.

Apples & Pears carries one of the finest cocktail cards in the Brick Lane area, and the liquid delights don't stop there. A good choice of premium spirits, craft beers and wines are all available to keep you going until 1am during the weekends, whilst delicious wood fired pizzas are also available if you're hungry. 

Over at Bar Salsa Soho, they teach you to dance at their Bailando Thursdays. Whether you're a beginner or an intermediate, your expert teacher will help you improve. And once the class ends, they hold a wicked party playing the best Latin tunes around and serving up delicious cocktails.

For a more laid-back alternative to Shoreditch's clubs, Howl At The Moon offers a pub setting that still delivers when it comes to music and late-night atmosphere. Known for its easygoing attitude, this is a place where the night can start with a quiet pint and gradually build into something more lively as the crowd and soundtrack pick up.

The drinks list is a strong starting point, with a wide range of craft beers, real ales and ciders sourced from both local and international producers. It's well-suited to groups looking to settle in for a few rounds. As the evening progresses, live music from emerging bands brings a more energetic edge, often drawing people closer to the stage and creating a natural, informal dancefloor.

For a night out that feels like a house party, The Little Orange Door delivers one of Clapham's more distinctive setups. Styled as a fictional flatshare just off Clapham Common, the venue is split into playful spaces: from a living room and kitchen complete with retro touches to a conservatory bar and a games room packed with nostalgic extras.

We love the cocktail menu inspired by pop culture and a steady flow of offers, including 2-for-1 deals during the week. Early evenings often start casually, with groups gathering over rounds in the open-plan spaces or out on the terrace, but the atmosphere shifts as the night progresses. On Fridays and Saturdays, DJ-led house parties take over the Living Room, turning it into a busy, dance-driven space.