You have probably heard it before, but London never stops! London at night offers endless possibilities; whether you’re a foodie, want to go dancing or experience some live music in Soho, or want to continue exploring London’s history, there’s something for everyone.
Walking around London at night means you can enjoy London’s skyline at its best, with all the skyscrapers illuminated and the light reflections over the River Thames, a wonderful and romantic experience for those that don’t want to stop visiting the city when the sun’s gone down. There are numerous buildings and key tourist spots in London that I recommend seeing illuminated at night, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral or the famous London Tower Bridge.
When does it get dark in London?
This does vary according to the time of year. Generally speaking, it gets dark at 4 pm in the winter and 9 pm in the summer. The dark afternoons and evenings in winter are filled with Christmas lights in central London, and the light evenings during the summer are filled with events and walks in the park. Knowing when it gets dark in London can be useful for planning a trip to London.
Special Plans to See London at Night
Take a cruise on the Thames at night
One of the best ways to see London lit up at night is on a Thames River Cruise on the Thames. This offers great and unbeatable views of the city’s skyscrapers and key tourist spots from the river. If you are searching for a special experience, you can book a River Thames Evening Cruise with Bubbly and Canapés, or enjoy a fantastic River Thames Dinner Cruise.
⇒ See all River Thames Cruises available
See one of London’s Top Musicals
Seeing one of the best musicals in London is something I would recommend you consider if you are planning a trip to London. Evening start times and running times vary by production, so check the performance details before planning dinner or your journey back. Many West End theatres are around Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Soho, where there are plenty of restaurants and bars for before or after the show.
Dine in one of London’s Restaurants with a view
Central London is full of restaurants, with cuisines from around the globe, so going out for dinner in London at night is always about choosing where to go given all the options available. Still, if you want to go somewhere exceptional, I’d look at those restaurants with a view in London. The Sky Garden or the Shard stand out when talking about restaurants with a view in London, but in addition to these two famous skyscrapers in London, many more restaurants offer great views of London.
⇒ Restaurants with a view in London
Recommendations for visiting London at night
Attend the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London
The Ceremony of the Keys has taken place every night for at least 700 years and is the traditional locking-up of the Tower of London. It runs daily from 9.30 pm to 10.05 pm.
Attendance requires a separate ticket booked online in advance through the Tower of London’s official website. Tickets are no longer free: the current system has a suggested price, with visitors able to choose within the published price range. New dates are released monthly and popular nights can sell out quickly.
Check for seasonal evening tours at the Tower of London
The Tower sometimes offers special after-hours experiences, but these are not a year-round attraction and the old Sunday-at-7 pm Twilight Tour schedule should not be relied upon. Check the Tower of London’s current events and tours for your dates, and read carefully what each ticket includes; evening events may not include the Crown Jewels or daytime access.
Join one of the many London Night Tours
In addition to daytime tours, there are many evening options. One possibility is a Nighttime Open-Top Bus Sightseeing Tour, which lets you see the illuminated landmarks without planning a long walking route. Some themed tours, including Jack the Ripper walks, are designed specifically for the evening.
Visit The Shard at night
The View from The Shard has indoor viewing levels and the open-air Level 72, making it one of London’s best-known viewpoints. One of the times we visited, we arrived in the afternoon and saw the sunset, which was spectacular. Opening and closing times vary by date, and the last entry is normally one hour before the advertised closing time, so choose an evening slot and book in advance. The attraction is included with the London Pass, but pass holders must follow its reservation rules; see our London Pass itineraries for planning ideas.
⇒ The View from the Shard in London
Visit the Sky Garden at night
Sky Garden’s free public visiting hours are currently Monday to Friday 10 am – 6 pm and weekends and bank holidays 11 am – 9 pm. Free tickets are released up to three weeks ahead and walk-ins may be accepted during public hours, subject to capacity. Later access to the bars, restaurants or live-music nights uses separate reservations or paid tickets, so a daytime free ticket should not be treated as unrestricted late-night entry.
Museums open until late
Some London museums have a regular late-opening day, while others run occasional evening events only. Friday is useful for several major institutions, but there is no single rule across all museums, so check the date-specific calendar before building an evening around one.
Museum Lates can include talks, performances, workshops or special-exhibition access, and some require a separate ticket even when the permanent collection is free.
⇒ Museums in London open until late
Recommended bars and restaurants to go to in London at night
In addition to the restaurants with views mentioned above, I have to say that there are some restaurants or bars in London that, even if they do not have views, are worth considering if you are looking for something different to do in London at night.
One of the restaurants that I personally absolutely love is Sarastro. We have compiled a list of restaurants in our article Where to eat in London with information on some of our favourite restaurants in central London. You can also check out our selection of romantic restaurants in London.
As for bars, Soho has an enormous choice. Two places worth highlighting are Cahoots, a 1940s-inspired bar with an Underground-themed space near Carnaby Street, and Ronnie Scott’s, one of London’s best-known jazz venues. Both can be busy, so check the programme and booking rules before going.
Pub crawls are also a good way to see London’s nightlife, this consists of going from pub to pub and having a drink in each one of them. You can join a pub crawl tour, visiting the most authentic places in London on the way. An example of a pub crawl tour is the one that takes place in Camden: Pub crawl in Camden
⇒ See pub crawls and bar tours
Go shopping in London at night
Central London shops often stay open later than those elsewhere in the UK, particularly around Oxford Street, Regent Street, Westfield London and Leicester Square. Closing times vary by store, season and day of the week, with Sundays commonly earlier.
Treat evening shopping as an area plan rather than relying on one blanket time: check the individual branch on its official website or map listing on the day, especially for Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, the LEGO Store and smaller independent shops.
Walking around London at night
If you want to take in the sights at night, strolling through the busy central areas can be a lovely option. We have walked until quite late along the South Bank or in central London and have never felt unsafe, especially when plenty of people are around, but conditions depend on the exact place and time. Plan your route back before setting off; Night Tube and Night Overground services run on selected lines on Friday and Saturday nights, while night buses cover more nights. Check TfL’s safer travel at night guidance and live service status.
Walking through central London at night
Walking through some of the most tourist places in central London is something you might do, especially if your hotel is in Central London. Covent Garden and Leicester Square at night are normally buzzing at night due to the high number of restaurants and bars that there are around here. This is where most of London’s theatres are, and as the theatre shows or musicals normally end at around 10 pm, you’ll see lots of people leaving the theatres at this time and looking for somewhere to eat.
London’s Soho is where many bars, clubs and nightclubs are concentrated, which is why it is usually one of the most popular areas to go to if you fancy a drink. There are also plenty of great restaurants in Soho, so I would encourage you to check out this area if you want dinner. In particular, I would recommend Bill’s restaurant or Dishoom, as they are some of our favourite restaurants in London.
Stroll along the Southbank
Just opposite the London Eye, on the north bank of the River Thames, you can take some beautiful photos of the London Eye, and Big Ben illuminated at night. This is one of the places we used to visit the most at night the first year we came to live in London. From here, we can cross Westminster Bridge to reach the south bank of the Thames. This area is known as Southbank, and from here you can walk all the way to Tower Bridge in London with fantastic views of London’s skyline.
We love this walk, which is one of our favourites at nighttime. Once you walk past the London Eye you will find the Royal Festival Hall. There are several restaurants and cafeterias here, so there are usually many people here, even at night. From here, you can continue walking until you reach the Millennium Bridge. This is the best place to take a photo of the millennium bridge with St Paul’s Cathedral in the background, which is beautiful at night. I have to say that some specific areas are poorly lit, but in general, I do not consider it a dangerous place to walk at night, although we have spotted a fox at nighttime here!
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.