THE GOLDEN EAGLE
59 Marylebone Ln.
PUB, MUSIC
020 7935 3228
The Golden Eagle is one of the most special pubs in London. Though aesthetically basic, it has some of the kindest patrons and staff that can be found around town. Between the alcohol-induced golden haze, the music, and the unbelievably friendly company, the Pub is a living Capra film, and in no way is that a bad thing.
Bond St. Right onto Oxford St., left onto Marylebone Ln. Average pint £3.50. Open M-Th 11am-11pm, F-Sa 11am-midnight, Su noon-7pm. Music Tu, Th, F 8:30pm.
THE SOCIAL
5 Little Portland St.
CLUB, BAR
020 7636 4992 www.thesocial.com
Though the upstairs looks like a typical hip bar with its exposed light bulbs and bare wood floor (though there are DJs on the first floor most nights), the downstairs space at The Social is where the action is. Here is where the ragingly popular hip-hop karaoke night happens every other Th as well as other events like club nights and live performances. Many nights have no cover charge.
Oxford Circus. Right onto Regent St., right on Little Portland St. Credit card min. £10. Pints around £3.70. Mixed drinks around £7. Cover £5-7 on club night. Student cards will get you discounts on most covered nights. Open M 5pm-midnight, Tu-W noon-midnight, Th-F noon-1am, Sa 7pm-1am.
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is not an ideal neighborhood for nightlife. The pubs thrive on daytime tourists, and many of the locals are young professionals who tend to frequent other spots.
PORTOBELLO STAR
171 Portobello Rd.
BAR
020 7229 8016 www.portobellostarbar.co.uk
If cafes could have superhero alter egos, the Portobello Star would be Superman. By day, it’s a pleasant cafe with internet access; by night, it’s a bustling bar... with internet access. It’s popular but not too crazy, sophisticated but with fun drinks (”Rock the Kasbah,” Grey Goose vodka with lemon juice, mint tea syrup, orange flower water, and egg white, £10). You’ll hear your favorite classic rock, soft rock, R and B, soul, and hip-hop from the bar or the leather couches in the calmer chill-out room on the second floor of the building. The crowd is in their early 20s to early 30s, and the place is hopping.
Notting Hill Gate. Take right onto Pembridge Rd. and then left onto Portobello Rd. Mixed drinks £7.50-8. Su-Th 10am-midnight, F-Sa 10am-1am.
The West End
ABSOLUT ICEBAR
31-33 Heddon St.
BAR
020 7478 8910 www.absoluticebarlondon.com
This bar is absurd in the best way possible—the way where everything is made out of ice imported from the Torne River in Sweden. Located in the former wine vault for the monarchy, Absolut Icebar is the perfect place to escape all that British...er, cold. Before entering the hip, “cool” bar, visitors are given designer thermal wear. Each stay is 40 minutes, during which time you drink as much as possible so you don’t feel your face as it slowly freezes off. All drinks are served in glasses made of ice. Chipping ice off the wall and into your drink is frowned upon. Highly.
Piccadilly Circus. Turn left onto Regent St. and left onto Heddon St. Tickets include 1st vodka cocktail. Refills £6. Reserve for weekends around 2 weeks in advance. Reservations are taken up to 28 days in advance. M-W cover £13.50 (£12.50 if booked in advance), Th until 6:30pm £13.50 (£12.50 if booked in advance), Th night-Sa £15, Th-Sa all day £16 without reservation, Su £13.50 (£12.50 if booked in advance). M 3:30pm-11:00pm, T 3:30pm-11pm, W 3:30pm-11pm, Th 3:30pm-11:45pm, F noon-1:15am, Sa 12:30pm-1:15am, Su 3:30pm-11pm, last entry is 45min. before closing. DJs on F and Sa start around 8pm.
GORDON’S WINE BAR
47 Villiers St.
WINE BAR
020 7930 1408 www.gordonswinebar.com
Once down the narrow staircase visitors come upon what looks like a cave. Bottles draped in melted wax and rough, irregularly sloping walls lit by flickering candles fill the space between people sharing bottles of wine from around the world. Out on Watergate Walk, winos sip the fine wines of London’s oldest wine bar if the weather permits.
Charing Cross. Upon exiting, turn 180° and go down Villiers. Wine £16-17 per bottle, around £4.50 per glass. Hot meals £9-11, items from the grill are around £6.65. Open M-Sa 10am-11pm, Su noon-10pm.
FREUD
198 Shaftesbury
BAR
020 7240 9933 www.freudliving.com
You wouldn’t find Freud unless you were looking for it. With original art decorating the otherwise spare space, Freud is a study in successful understatement. The young and hip come to Freud and get a seat wherever they can, enjoying the reasonably priced drinks.
Piccadilly Circus. Exit with Haymarket on your right and Regent to your left. turn right around the triangular intersection and right at Shaftesbury. Credit card min. £10. Beer £3.15-3.65. Mixed drinks £5.55-6.50 on average. Open M-Sa 11am-11pm, Su noon-10:30pm.
CAFE PACIFICA
5 Langley St.
MEXICAN BAR TEQUILA
020 7379 7728 www.cafepacifico-laperla.com
Though at first glance Cafe Pacifica may seem a typical Mexican restaurant, its 130 varieties of tequila beg to differ. Though you have to order food to drink, the atmosphere is pleasant, with light Latin music piping through the speakers and classic Mexican entrees like enchiladas. If you’re feeling like a real taste in exorbitant spending, pick up a shot of the Cuervo Collecion (£125). If you buy it, you’ll get your name on a board in the restaurant, and also possibly on the IRS’s auditing list.
Covent Garden. Left on Long Acre, right on Langley. Shots of tequila £3-15. Enchiladas around £9.50. Open M-Sa noon-11:45pm, Su noon-10:45pm.
THE EDGE
11 Soho Sq.
GLBT, MIXED
020 7439 1313 www.edgesoho.co.uk
With four floors, The Edge is a full clubbing experience. Disco balls and a crazy light-changing chandelier that looks like an exploding atom decorate the space. The first floor has a lounge bar which is quieter filled with couches. The second floor is the al fresco lounge, serving up massages every night where the recipient pays however much he or she feels it’s worth. The third floor has fake trees with climbing blue lights and a dance floor with tiles that change color.
Tottenham Court Rd. Turn left onto Oxford St., turn left onto Soho St., Edge is on your right. Pints £3. Open M-Sa noon-1am, Su noon-10:30pm. Dance floor open F-Sa 8pm.
PROFILE
84-86 Wardour St.
GLBT BAR
020 7734 3444 www.profilesoho.com
With one of the brightest yellow interiors in Soho, Profile practically screams good time. Serving up American diner food and providing events like Bingo at 6pm on Sundays and psychic Sundays on off-bingo weeks (get your fortune read!), Profile is a great GLBT bar. Downstairs is the cleverly-titled Low Profile, the bar’s corresponding nightclub.
Tottenham Court Rd. Turn down Oxford St. with your back to Tottenham Court Road, turn left onto Wardour St. Mixed drinks £6-7. Beer £3.50. Profile M-Sa 11am-11pm, Su 11am-10:30pm. Low Profile open Th 10:30pm-2am, F-Sa 10:30pm-4am (drinking stops at 3am). DJs upstairs F 7pm, Sa 8pm. Happy hour at Profile daily 5-7pm.
BAR RUMBA
36 Shaftesbury Ave.
CLUB
020 7287 6933 www.barrumbadisco.co.uk
Boasting a very young crowd, Bar Rumba is one of the more popular clubs in the area. In a spare space with low ceilings, booths and tables, the dance floor is where all the action takes place among the flashing lights and young crowd.
Piccadilly Circus. Turn left onto Great Windmill St. and follow it to Shaftesbury Ave. Credit card £10 min. Up until 10:30pm guys pay £5, girls get in free. 10:30pm-11:30pm, guys pay £10, girls pay £5. After 11:30pm, everyone pays £10. Cash only for cover. M-Su 8:30pm-3am.
MADAME JOJO’S
8-10 Brewer St.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
020 7734 3040 www.madamejojos.com
Built on the cabaret and live entertainment traditions of yore, Madame Jojo’s is not your average club. Every night begins with some form of entertainment before the cabaret tables disappear and the dance floor gets hopping. Dress is smart casual, music is smoking and, when the curtain goes down, the dancing begins.
Piccadilly Circus. Go down Shaftesbury and turn left on Wardour St., turn left on Brewer St. Sometimes cover is cash only. Tu is indie night (which is also pretty much a student night). Show finishes around 9:30pm, and then club night begins with DJs. F is northern soul and funk. Sa is 1950s rockabilly and drive. Su is Latin, house, and bebop. W is Trannyshack night, aimed at the transgender community. Tickets £10-52.50 depending on event, so check website. Single measure spirits and mixer, bottles of beer and glasses of the house red or white £4.50. Open daily 7pm-3am. 7-9pm is live music, burlesque, comedy, magic, or variety show.
Westminster
Westminster isn’t an ideal location for nightlife, pubs, or clubs. Enjoy it during the day, and then take the party elsewhere, old sport.
THE BUCKINGHAM ARMS
62 Petty France
PUB
020 7222 3386 www.buckinghamarms.com
When the lawmen and -women who keep order in this country need to unwind, they can come here: it is right down the street from the Ministry of Justice. Partially lit by a cool skylight, the pub has comfy armchairs and large windows, so homey charm abounds. It is also worth noting that the Ministry of Justice is on a street named “Petty France.” Coincidence? We think not.
Victoria. Right onto Grosvenor Pl. Continue onto Victoria St., left onto Buckingham Gate, right on Petty France. Pint of Youngs £3. Open M-F 11am-11pm, Sa-Su noon-6pm.
ARTS AND CULTURE
You might wonder if the city that brought the world Shakespeare and Harold Pinter has lost its theatrical edge. Not to fear, however—the London theater scene is as vital as ever. From the perennial hard-hitters at the Royal Court to daring musical fare like Enron: The Musical, the London stage remains packed with the dramatic flare that put it on the map in the first place.
For those weary of Coldplay, who fear that the country that brought you the Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols and The Clash hit a roadblock, turn your ears from the arenas and put them to the ground—underground, in fact—to city hotspots where young bands committed to their fans are not interested in seeing their names in gaudy lights.
Cinema
London is teeming with traditional cinemas, the most dominant of which are Cineworld and Odeon, but the best way to enjoy a film is in one of the hip repertory or luxury cinemas. Time Out publishes show times, as does www.viewlondon.co.uk. Americans will find the cinema in London to be particularly illuminating, as most films are about a certain kind of American—namely, the stupid, stereotypical kind that would make Europeans hate Americans.
BFI SOUTHBANK
Belvedere Rd.
THE SOUTH BANK
020 7928 3232 www.bfi.org.uk
Hidden under Waterloo Bridge, the BFI Southbank is one of the most exciting repertory cinemas in London. Showcasing everything from art to foreign, British to classic, the BFI provides a range of styles to keep all cinema lovers happy. It runs in seasons, with a different theme each month featuring different elements of film. (For example, a season could be on a director or cinematographer or actor.) The Medlatech is free for anyone and allows people to privately view films from the archives.
Waterloo. Call 020 7815 1329 for details on Mediatech hours. Evenings M-F £9, concessions £6.65, under 16 and Tu £5. Mediatech open T-Su noon-8pm.
Comedy
The English are famous for their occasionally dry, sophisticated wit and often ridiculous (“We are the knights who say Ni!”) sense of humor. This humor continues to thrive in the standup and sketch comedy clubs throughout the city. Check Time Out for listings, but be warned that the city virtually empties of comedians come August when it’s festival time in Edinburgh.
COMEDY STORE
1a Oxendon St.
THE WEST END
0844 847 1728 www.thecomedystore.co.uk
This comedy venue offers everything from stand-up to the Cutting Edge, a show every Tuesday that does up-to-date topical humor.
Piccadilly Circus. Turn left onto Coventry, then right onto Oxendon. Tickets £14-20. Box office open M-Th 6:30-9:30pm, F-Sa 6:30pm-1:15am, Su 6:30-9:30pm. Doors open daily 6:30pm. Bar and diner open daily 6:30pm.
Dance
As with everything else artistic in London, the dance scene here is diverse, innovative, and first-rate. Come for the famous ballets at older venues like the Royal Opera House or stop by one of the smaller companies for some contemporary dance.
SADLER’S WELLS
Rosebery Ave.
CLERKENWELL
0844 412 4300 www.sadlerswells.com
Encapsulating all forms of dance, Sadler’s Wells puts its belief in the power of dance to good use in wide-ranging and always exciting presentations. The site holds 300 years of dance history.
Angel. Left onto Upper St., then right onto Rosebery Ave. Some shows offer student discounts. Tickets £10-£55. Open M-Sa 9am-8:30pm. By phone M-Sa 9am-8:30pm.
Music
Clubs are expensive, and pubs close at 11pm. Especially during the current recession, fewer young people are willing to shell out the £10-15 it takes to get into a club, especially since beers cost £4-5 on top of that. Much of the London nightlife scene thus lies beyond pub-and club-hopping in the darkened basements of bars everywhere and the glaringly bright, seismically loud music clubs. With a musical history including The Beatles, Radiohead, and The Clash, all of the bands from the infamous “British Invasion,” and most of the best bands from ’90s anthemic pop, the London music scene is very much intact, and makes for both a great night out and an excellent way to forge lasting travel friendships.
Classical
There are several large organizations that supply the city with some of the most renowned classical performances in the world. For free chamber and classical music, check out some of London’s churches, where students from famous music schools often give free, professional-quality recitals.
ROYAL OPERA HOUSE
Bow St.
THE WEST END
020 7304 4000 www.roh.org.uk
Though the glorious glass facade of the Royal Opera House makes it look more like a train station than a theater, patrons of the opera enjoy all of the great works of opera and some of the more contemporary pieces too. Though no discounts are offered, students can try and get standby tickets by going online and selecting “student standby” from the website. Top price seats are available for £10 if you get lucky. Booking opens around two months before each performance, so try to book early. The ROH also sponsors free outdoor film screenings, so look out for those on their website.
Covent Garden. Right onto Long Acre, then right onto Bow St. Tickets £5-150. Booking office open M-Sa 10am-8pm.
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
Kensington Gore
KENSINGTON
0845 401 5045 www.royalalberthall.com
Deep in the heart of South Kensington, the Royal Albert Hall was commissioned by Prince Albert in order to promote the arts, and has been in continuous operation since 1871. Offering some of the biggest concerts in London, the famous BBC Proms classical festival, and a range of other phenomenal musical events, the hall is an experience in history and culture that’s not to be missed.
Knightsbridge. Turn left onto Knightsbridge and continue onto Kensington Rd. From £10. Open daily 9am-9pm.
Jazz
RONNIE SCOTT’S
47 Frith St.
SOHO
020 7439 0747 www.ronniescotts.co.uk
Ronnie Scott’s has been defining “hip” in Soho for the last 51 years. It’s hosted everyone from Tony Bennett to Van Morrison, and Chick Corea to the Funk Brothers. The venue is all flickering candlelight and dulcet reds and blues. Pictures of jazz greats line the walls in bla
ck and white, and a diverse crowd imbibes such creations as Jazz Medicine: Jagermeister, sloe gin, Dubonnet, fresh black berries, angostia bitters (£8). The venue’s cool, but the jazz is hot.
Tottenham Court Rd. Turn down Oxford St. with your back to Tottenham Court Rd. and turn left on Soho St. turn right onto the square and then right onto Frith St. Cover £10, more for big acts. Champagne £8-10. White wine £4.80-5.30. Red wine bottles £22-26. Mixed drinks £8.50-9. Open M-Th 7:15pm-late, F-Sa 6pm-1:30am, Su noon-4pm and 6-10:30pm. Box office open M-F 10am-6pm, Sa noon-5pm.
THE 606 CLUB
90 Lots Rd.
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
020 7352 5953 www.606club.co.uk
On quiet Lots Rd., opposite what appears to be a rather foreboding abandoned factory, the 606 Club has been quietly hosting the best of the UK music scene since 1969. Properly underground (it’s in a basement), the club itself is candlelit and dim.
Let's Go Europe 2011: The Student Travel Guide Page 21