London is one of the most visited cities in the world, both by Brits and those from abroad. It has many tourist traps that are packed with sightseers no matter the time of day or year, but it also has plenty of unique attractions that are a little off the beaten track.
This makes it a great city for a long weekend or to have a night out in, no matter what you enjoy doing. If you like the sound of this, here are some ideas for you to consider for your next night out in London.
Sky Garden
Located in the historic City of London, near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the Sky Garden can be found at the top of Walkie Talkie Tower. Providing panoramic views over the city, which looks even more spectacular at night, the tower attracts thousands of visitors each day.
In addition to the selfie-snapping tourists, the Sky Garden attracts a more sophisticated crowd thanks to its brasserie and Sky Pod Bar. Whether you want to enjoy a sophisticated meal or just have a drink while you take in the view, there are few better places in the city.
On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays the Sky Garden takes on a more lively atmosphere with DJ sets to keep you entertained.
According to Tripadvisor, Sky Garden is ranked 14th out of more than 2,000 things to do in the city. If you visit, you’ll see why.
The Hippodrome
Located in the heart of the city, The Hippodrome is one of the best casinos in the UK, offering up beautiful architecture, great bars and restaurants, world-class entertainment, and all of the classic casino games you’d expect.
The main gaming floor is filled with table games like roulette and blackjack, with video slot machines installed around the edges of each floor. There’s also a large poker room featuring many poker variations that share certain basic rules, the most popular one being Texas hold’em which is played in the European Poker Tour, the World Series of Poker, and UK Ireland Poker Tour.
Away from the casino area, The Hippodrome is home to the Magic Mike Live show, a popular attraction among hen parties. For something a little more sophisticated, book a table at Heliot Steak House, which has been judged the best steak restaurant in London.
Bubbly and Art
If you love art or just making a mess on canvas, then Bubbly and Art will be right up your street. A ticket to this pop-up “paint and sip” gets you all the art supplies you need, along with all the pizza and bubbly that you need too!
With open events and private bookings available, it’s a great place to have fun with friends, celebrate a special occasion or meet new people. They even hold events in partnership with matchmaking services to help people meet a partner in a fun and creative atmosphere.
Visitors to Bubbly and Art have described it as a “good creative and social mix” that’s packed with “so much laughter and people from all walks of life”. One even added that they’d “100000% recommend it to others”.
Ballie Ballerson
If you want something truly unique, then you need to book tickets for Ballie Ballerson. This nightclub and bar comes with a twist, its own adult-sized ball pools. These giant pits are packed with around a million coloured balls for you to dive in, swim around in and pose for selfies in.
Your fun with the balls is typically time-limited, but you can still spend as long as you want dancing and enjoying the bar’s wide selection of drinks.
NAMCO Funscape
If you prefer the sounds of arcade machines, then NAMCO Funscape is the perfect option. Located in the heart of London, next to the London Eye and opposite the Palace of Westminster, NAMCO Funscape is packed with pool tables, ping pong, arcade games, air hockey and 10-pin bowling. There’s even an escape room and some bumper cars to keep you entertained.
If you’re feeling peckish while you’re there, then head to the McDonald’s right by the entrance which, as you may have guessed, is as cheap and cheerful as every other McDonald’s the world over.