London Nightlife Tips by JulesH

Nightlife Spot: The Freemasons Arms

The Freemason's Arms has it all when it comes to watching the footy. Although it's quite small, it's central (within easy walking distance of Covent Garden tube), friendly, not too crowded, has plenty of screens, lots of seating, decent beer and has the added historical claim to fame of being the birthplace of the Football Association back in 1863. If you want the best view make sure you get to the pub in good time to stake out a table.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: None...it's just an ordinary London pub.
Phone: 020 7836 3115
Address: 81-82 Longacre, London, WC2E 9NG
Directions: Turn left out of Covent Garden tube and walk up Longacre. The pub is on the left side of the road.
Website: http://www.shepherd-neame.co.uk/pubs/pubs.php/freemasons_arms

Nightlife Spot: Dovetail

A quiet, rustic little place decorated in a monastic style, way off the main stomping tourist trail, but so worth it if you can find the place! You can expect excellent service, an intimate atmosphere, more than 100 beers on sale here (the menu for the beers reads a little like the menu for marijuana in Amsterdam coffee shops!) I can sincerely recommend the strawberry flavoured beer...sweet, with a kick! Expensive, but great for a special occasion and well worth a visit.

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Dress Code: No special dress code...come as you are.
Phone: 020 7490 7321
Address: 9 Jerusalem Passage, Clerkenwell, London EC1

Nightlife Spot: Vibe Bar

An excellent atmosphere with DJ, tables outside for summer evening drinks, a late licence and interesting decor. Really laid back style of music. Aimed at arty student types, it's a great place to just kick back and relax with friends.

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Dress down rather than up, although no-one will really care!
Directions: Brick Lane by the Old Truman Brewery

Nightlife Spot: School Disco

Original? Probably not anymore, but it is the best fun you will have with your clothes on! Aimed at 20-30 something year olds, it is a chance for the once young of London to relive their school days by dressing in 'school uniform' and behaving like children whilst dancing to the cheesiest pop tunes of the 70's and 80's! A real let loose evening and a great place to meet new people...maybe even do a bit of star spotting! And as a bit of useless information, I met my boyfriend on the chat section of the website for this club night believe it or not!!

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: School Uniform is mandatory, although you can be quite inventive with this...this is to stop people stumbling in off the street. This is a night to be planned in advance! If you didn't bring your school tie from home, you can buy school ties from most high street girls clothing stores on Oxford Street, from the website or even on the door at the club (but this is expensive)
Directions: Hammersmith Palais on a Saturday night.
Other Contact: www.schooldisco.com

Soho and Chinatown is a great place to visit for nightlife.
Soho is right in the middle of the West End and despite it's bad reputation as a seedy prostitution area has now cleaned up it's act and now has a village type feel to it with lots of small bars, pubs and restaurants. Much of the area is pedestrianised so makes it perfect for strangers to the capital who may not be sure which way to check for traffic after a pint or two! Chinatown is right next to Soho and makes for a pretty change of scenery. In summer there are plenty of pavement cafes to sit and watch the World go by. There is also a thriving gay community in Soho and live bands in many clubs. The famous Ronnie Scotts is a place to find great Jazz. The Pizza Express on Dean Street also has live Jazz. During the day, Soho Square (pictured) makes a nice place to take a break from the havoc wreaked on Oxford Street. Another of London's little havens of calm.

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Theme: Live Music
Dress Code: Dress code is as varied as you are and you can dress up or down as you wish! Entry to some nightspots requests no jeans or trainers, but these are rarely worth going to!
Directions: You find Soho by stumbling upon it as there is no direct tube station, although Leicester Square is probably nearest, Oxford Circus, Tottenham Court Road and Piccadilly Circus are all within the perim
Other Contact: If you are looking for pubs and

Nightlife Spot: Havana bar and restaurant

Excellent Salsa bar offering free salsa lessons on Thursdays from 7.30 and tasty food if you get peckish. Happy hour at the bar lasts from 5.30-7.30 giving discounts on cocktails, beers and house spirits and the bar is open until the wee small hours. Decorated in deep mexican shades of orange, yellow and purple and located below street level it's the perfect bar to forget the bad weather of the city and pretend you are somewhere warm and sunny! Dancing is inevitable. Get there early to avoid paying an entrance fee (£5 after 9pm which is when the expert dancers arrive to show us how it's done!) Fridays are great for good dancers as there are no lessons so the real dancing starts earlier.

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Theme: Dancing
Dress Code: Smart casual, trainers are technically banned, but permitted if you get there before the doormen arrive Wear something light as it gets quite hot in there.
Directions: Hanover Square. Take the tube to Oxford Circus, head down Oxford street due West and take a left at McDonalds, then right at Hanover Square. The entrance is painted purple but you probably won't see i
Other Contact: www.salsabeat.freeserve.co.uk fo

Nightlife Spot: Tube Guru

A recent addition to the Tube website is Tube Guru. This is a tube map with clickable stations advising you of some suggested night spots within easy reach of each station. New night spots are being added all the time, and it works best for Central London, where there is a higher concentration of night spots, but if you have no idea where to go for the evening, this could help you. There is a list of suggested nightspots and restaurants, with a description of each. Pictures are apparently forthcoming as well. You can access Tube Guru on the London Underground website

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Theme: Other
Website: www.thetube.com