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I'm going to be in London next month, and I was wondering in your opinion what are the best pubs and clubs for a single American male to go to? Also, which district would be the best (Shoreditch, Soho, Notting Hill, Camden, etc.)? What are the scenes like in those areas?
Camden is a bit crap, it has great venues such as Koko and Proud (former Horse Stables) but there's a lot of dross in between and mostly frequented by out-of-towners and uninformed tourists and teenagers.
Shoreditch and Hoxton are trendy - but that is well, where Londoners go out. You cant really blame them for dressing up.
Notting Hill and Islington are popular with late twenties and early thirty-somethings, and are pretty run-of-the-mill, but can be a lot of fun.
Soho is great, fun and seemingly perfect in location in the booming heart of the West End (though avoid Leicester Square as its a tourist trap), used by hundreds of thousands of revellers each night - however the notorious Westminster Council demands closure and exorbitant fees for most venues after 3am, and refuses licensing nightclubs, at which point everyone who wants to continue decamps to the clubs further afield (Vauxhall for the newest gay village, East End for more fun, and isolated outlets for superclubs such as Proud 2, Fabric, or the we've-tried-a-revamp-but-still-slightly-touristy Ministry of Sound etc). Needless to say Soho is slowly becoming quieter and quieter, when once it was- tho' still is but much diminished - worlds largest nightlife district, a few years back pulling in over a million a night along with the Leicester Square-Piccadilly traps. In one fell swoop the Tottenham Court Road end has sadly been ripped out due to the arrival of Crossrail construction that has demolished whole blocks of bars and clubs, including many of London's best and most favourite long time venues, along with Kings Cross' district too right at the other end of the line. London has never been so quiet in decades as it waits out the interim period for these popular places promising to 'relocate'.
Out in the inner city, Dalston and Hackney are very up n coming - Dalston is pretty much home of the bizarre and friendly (Dalston Superstore is a great example, a gay bar-club with no door policy, dare I say it, crap music, but fantastic vibe and populated by freaks, models and straights. Anything goes and everyones welcome). The current thing in London is activity nights (art class anyone?), burlesque and variety - pretty much a rebellion against the superclubs and all their bling - definitely invest in a copy of the weekly Time Out and all its listings to plan your nights. Although a bit past its heyday, the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club is still popular.
My bet is Soho one night for bars only (earlyish closing), Shoreditch another (bars and clubs), where conceivably you can keep clubbing 24-7 Friday to Monday, with specialist after party, dawn, morning, afternoon and early evening clubs. Or throw in a stint at a superclub, usually set out on the edge of the centre. Newest kid on the block is Proud 2 http://www.theo2.co.uk/proud2, set up like a Vegas show but with orange army clubbers, -and expect a long nightbus journey getting back to the centre unless you stay till the tube reopens in the morning.
Sister club Proud Galleries in Camden is great in terms of variety - live music, electro, burlesque, art but neither are particularly trendy in terms of clientele (which may be a good thing)
^To cut a long story short, imo head for the East End. Shoreditch, Brick Lane, Hoxton, Old Street. Less hassle, and where Londoners themselves (rather than out of town teenagers or tourists) go. Also the isolated venues in nearby Dalston or Hackney are unmissable, its where the REAL latest things are (as opposed to 'super'clubs populated by orange strippers and aggressive boyfriends).
Thanks for the replies everyone! So far I went to a few clubs in Liecester Square, including Penthouse and Sound. I wasnt too impressed by them, but I heard Tiger Tiger is a good club. I'm going to check out Shoreditch next. How is Club Fabric?
Thanks for the replies everyone! So far I went to a few clubs in Liecester Square, including Penthouse and Sound. I wasnt too impressed by them, but I heard Tiger Tiger is a good club. I'm going to check out Shoreditch next. How is Club Fabric?
If you go Fabric, take drugs, lots of drugs, it's not a club I've ever really caught a vibe in, it's just a dark space to get mashed in. It always has more than it's fair share of casualties. Occasionally great lineups, but that's the only saving grace.
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