Fun and entertainment London

Timetable

The English usually work between 9am and 5pm. They are free from 6pm and invade the pubs for lively afterworks. This is the busiest time of the day in pubs. Happy hour is not very common in London, except in some very touristy places. It starts earlier, sometimes even around 4pm. British people who do everything earlier will be in the clubs by 9pm. Bars often close their doors between 11pm and 12am maximum. The clubs stay open until 2 or 3 am in general. After hours are open until 6am.

Budget & Tips

It usually costs at least £25 to get into a club. Expect to pay around £6 for a pint of beer and between £10 and £20 for a cocktail. No tipping in pubs and bars.

To be booked

Another typical occupation of London nights: attending a musical. West End theaters offer all the great classics, so all you have to do is choose. To be sure of getting seats and not paying a fortune: book in advance. You can also visit the Leicester Square ticket office (TKTS - The Lodge, officiallondontheatre.com) for discounted prices on the day's shows. You can also use the TodayTix app to get discounted tickets (www.todaytix.com).

Theater in 2024. We can't wait to see Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, starring Sex and The City star Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick (January 15 to March 31, 2024). Fans will be thrilled and will flock from far and wide for this event-play: Stranger Things: The first shadow, the official prequel to the celebrated Netflix series, will play exclusively at the Phoenix Theatre until at least June 30, 2024.

Musicals in 2024/2025. If you enjoy the world of the great Hayao Miyazaki, check out My Neighbor Totoro, a multiple award-winning play at the Olivier Awards 2023: it returns to the West End stage in November 2023. If you prefer something more retro, take your seat for Mamma Mia! the must-see musical based on the hits of the immortal Swedish band Abba. And don't miss LionKing at the Lyceum Theatre, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Matilda the Musical orBack to the Future.

Night transport

5 of the main subway lines run at night on Friday and Saturday nights. These are the Victoria, Jubilee, Central, Northern and Picadilly lines. Many bus lines also run 24 hours a day on these two evenings.

Age restrictions

You can order alcohol from the age of 18, but you may be asked for your ID until you're 25. Whatever your age, always take it with you when you go out, just in case. This is especially true when entering certain clubs and pubs at night, where the minimum age is 18.

What's very local

One of the traditions of English parties: the pub crawl. It simply means going from pub to pub with friends. You take it in turns to buy your own round. Some organizations even offer to join a pub crawl tour organized with other travelers. On Friday nights, the English drink a lot. They binge drink. Friday night drinking has almost become a national sport, and the spectacle is not always charming. As early as 9pm, men and women end up completely drunk on the sidewalk. It's a far cry from the British elegance one might have in mind, but it's a very local occurrence that's repeated every Friday night. When it comes to going out, even to bars, English women are always on their 31st. Flashy, very short skirts and dresses, high heels. You don't have to wear anything, as the English are very cool, but you might feel a bit lonely in jeans and sneakers.

Smokers

The anti-tobacco law is similar in France: no smoking in public places. This is why gatherings are formed in front of pubs. In clubs, you will have to go to organized smoking areas.