There are so many things to do in London in the evening. Once the shops and attractions close, you have a long evening ahead of you but what activities can you do? Whether you’re looking for Family Friendly things to do in London at night or something a bit more Grown Up, here is your ultimate list of Things to Do in the Evening in London.
How to Spend a Family Friendly Evening in London
Walk along the South Bank of the Thames
The Southbank of the Thames between London Bridge and Charing Cross comes alive at night. During the summer months, there are street performers and food stalls with restaurants and bars spilling out onto the walkway. In winter, especially in the lead up to Christmas, there are lights and markets to wander past. Some of my best evenings have been walking along the Thames wrapped up warmly, admiring the view.
Read More: South Bank Self-Guided Walk
Ride the London Eye
On some evenings, the London Eye is open until 8.30pm (earlier in the winter) which is perfect to see the London skyline at night. It really is beautiful to see the lights sparkling as you look across the Thames. It would be perfect to combine this with a walk along the Southbank.
See a Theatre Show
There are so many theatre shows in London to choose from that there will be something for everyone. Shows tend to start around 7pm and finish by 10pm on average. It is perfectly safe to use public transport after 10pm as it is still busy that time of night. Most shows are around the West End so make sure you finish up your daytime activities nearby and get an early meal. A lot of restaurants near theatres have pre and post theatre offers. You also don’t need to go back to your accommodation to get changed. It is very casual so whatever you wear during the day is fine.
If it’s a last minute decision to see a show, then you can get tickets from the Leicester Square ticket booth which closes at 6pm. Alternatively, you can check online on the TKTS website for tickets available on the day. I have taken my children as they got older to evening performances frequently but would recommend seeing a matinee performance with younger children as it is a late night.
Watch a film at a Cinema
You can see a film at home, but why not watch a film in Leicester Square where the major Film Premieres are shown. There are a few cinemas around the Square but the Odeon Luxe is the main one. Alternatively, there are many cinemas around the city so you could choose one close to where you are staying. The cinemas at both Westfield Shopping Centres are good. You will find films suitable for children up until late afternoon.
For a slightly different experience, why not try the Electric Cinema on the Portobello Road. Comfy armchairs and a bar, this is cinema with a twist!
For a unique experience, try the Underground Cinema at the Brunel Museum. Suitable for older children, they show a mixture of classic and adventure films in the original tunnels.
For adults only: If you’re after an open-air cinema experience, London offers them in both summer and winter! With two locations, Peckham and Stratford, you can watch an iconic film on the roof. In winter, heaters are provided with snuggly blankets if you pay extra.
View of the Shard
This viewing platform is open until 9pm during the week and 10pm on Saturdays. The last entry is 1 hour before closing. I would recommend booking a time slot earlier in the evening as you can stay as long as you want until closing time. There are bars available too so you can relax with a glass of wine looking out at the awesome view.
Afternoon Tea or Ice-Cream at Fortnum and Mason
At the Piccadilly store, the Ice-Cream Parlour at Fortnum and Mason is a fun place to visit in the early evening. The last booking is taken at 6.30pm with last orders at 7pm. If Ice-Cream isn’t your thing, then you may prefer the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon where you can have Afternoon Tea until the early evening, 8.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Late Night Shopping
Many big stores in London stay open in the evenings. John Lewis, the department store in Oxford Street, is open until 8pm most nights with Primark, just along the road opening until 10pm. Around the most touristy areas, you will find shops open late too. The M&M shop in Leicester Square is open until 11pm with the Lego Store opposite, open until 10pm.
If you’re looking for something a little more grown up, then Harrods is open until 9pm and Liberty London is open until 8pm.
To entertain kids, you could take them to Hamley’s on Regent Street which opens until 9pm.
Night Bus Tour
Slightly different to the daytime tour buses, these are not Hop On Hop Off. The tours last around 90 minutes, giving you a tour of London at night so you can see the city lights. There are a few to choose from with Get Your Guide giving you some different options.
Harry Potter Studio Tour
This would be a fantastic way to spend a whole evening. The studios close at 10pm so I would recommend getting there for 6.30pm at the latest as it takes about 3.5 hours to see everything. Your ticket time is just for your entry time however, so you could book an earlier time slot and stay the whole evening. The last bus back to Watford Junction train station leaves when the studio closes so you can still get back to central London.
Ceremony of the Keys
This ancient ceremony happens every night at the Tower of London to ‘lock up’ the Tower. You must book tickets in advance which go very quickly on the first working day of the month. You are escorted to the Tower at 9.30pm and as the ceremony is quite quick, you will be finished by 10.10pm.
Babylon Park
This Camden based indoor theme park with rides and games is open until 9pm every day extending to 10pm on a Saturday night. Entry to the park is free and you pay for the rides either individually or as an unlimited 2 hour package. There is no lower age limit although there are height restrictions on a couple of the rides.
Hire a Skuna Boat
Have a boating adventure late into the evening with Skuna Boats. You can choose from a BBQ Boat, Hot Tub Boat and an Igloo Boat with a fondue experience. Children are allowed on the boats with adult supervision. The Igloo Boat is covered so is suitable throughout the winter.
Late Night Museum and Galleries
Many of London’s museums and galleries have special events in the evenings. Check out their websites to see what they have coming up. The Natural History Museum for example, has regular evening events from Silent Discos for adults to Children’s Sleepovers.
Some have regular late night opening hours. The National Gallery opens every Friday until 9pm as does the British Museum (8.30pm). The V&A Museum opens until 10pm on Fridays and the Bank of England opens until 8pm every third Thursday of the Month.
Play games at Immersive Gamebox
There are two London venues; Shoreditch and Southbank. Open until 11pm, you hire a ‘Gamebox’ which lets you play an interactive game for a set length of time. Each game has an age recommendation with a maximum of 6 people able to play at once. The games range from the Floor is Lava to Squid Game; Paw Patrol to an immersive Escape Room.
Explore the O2
You could spend the whole day here, not just an evening. There are a whole variety of activities to choose from, not just outlet shopping and eating at one of the many restaurants. The shops close at 8pm which still gives you time to choose an activity or two. The earliest to close are Clip ‘n’ Climb which is aimed at children. Boom Battle Bar allow under 18s until 9pm. You can play shuffleboard, crazy golf or even throw an axe! You can bowl until late or play a live action game at Activate. Even the iFly (indoor skydiving) is open in the evening too.
If you want to experience the cable car across the Thames, then make sure you check the times. It opens until mid evening during the week and later at the weekends.
If you want to climb the O2, then the latest you can book is 6.30pm for a Twilight Climb. The climb takes about 90 minutes so you can take advantage of the other activities on offer.
Top Tip: Before your visit, I would check out what events are happening. If there is a concert on, then I would make adjustments to your leaving time so you are not leaving the same time as the concert-goers.
Things to Do with Older Children and Teens in London at Night
Listen to Live Music
There are many clubs, bars and venues with live music, especially at the weekend. Check each venue for age restrictions as quite a few allow teens in the evening up until a certain time. There are candlelight concerts that range from classical to pop that allow children aged 8 and above. Even Ronnie Scotts, the legendary Jazz club allow teens 14+ in the main club if they are seated and eating until midnight.
Thames Evening Cruise
For a magical view of London from the river, then I would highly recommend an evening cruise. You can see the sights from a different angle, especially gliding underneath Tower Bridge when it is all lit up. You can select a tour which includes a drink and a selection of canapes like the one by City Experiences at 6.30pm, or go for a Thames Dinner Cruise which starts a little later at 7.45pm. The cruises are aimed for adults and children over the age of 13 but they will allow children 5+.
Monopoly Lifesized
If you love the boardgame, then why not experience this immersive, escape-room style version. Suitable for children 9+, you work together to solve tasks and puzzles while trying to bank the most money. The last session is at 8.15pm and lasts for up to 90 minutes.
Crystal Maze Live Experience
If you remember the TV show and want to have fun as a group, then this is a great activity for an evening. Playing games against the clock, you compete in each challenge to win crystals which allow you time in the Crystal Dome. Your experience will last about 60 minutes and is suitable for adults and children over 9 years old.
Night time walking tour
There are some brilliant walking tours around London and they don’t stop at night. Check out the London Walks website for a variety of evening walks. You can follow in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper as you discover the routes he took around the East End and through alleyways and hidden nooks. The Ancient City at Night tour takes you on a tour around the oldest parts of London. If you love history, you will enjoy this tour. For something slightly different, you could join one of the pub walking tours which take you to about four pubs with time for you to get a pint and sit around listening to the local stories.
Things to Do in London at Night without Children
Enjoy a Live Music Gig
There is always a gig going on somewhere. There are also bars and clubs with regular live music nights that you can reserve a table to eat or just to drink and listen. The Piano Works have two bars in London, Covent Garden and Farringdon that you can pop in before a theatre show or spend the whole evening in. They only play songs that are requested by the audience, so a fun place to go with friends. For something a little different, you can experience a traditional ‘gentleman’s’ club at Scarfes with cocktails and bar nibbles while seated in a velvet armchair with a roaring fire, listening to live music. At the other end of the scale, The Old Blue Last Pub in Shoreditch has a gig on almost every night, many of which are free.
Have a Drink at a Rooftop Bar
Rooftop Bars come alive at night, especially when there is a fantastic view. I recently discovered Bar Cicoria, at the Royal Ballet and Opera House in Covent Garden. There are many seating options from sofas and comfy chairs to perching on a bar stool overlooking the Piazza. Madison London is a roof top bar and restaurant right next to St. Paul’s Cathedral on top of the New Change shopping centre. No reservations are required for drinks but I would recommend reserving a table if you would like to eat. Note that you have to be 21 and older to enter the bar. London Bridge Rooftop has a fantastic view of the Shard. It is outdoor but does have heaters and is fully covered. Top Tip: They even have a room with an interactive darts board!
Visit Frameless
This immersive Art experience is 18+ on Friday and Saturday evenings, open until 10pm. Walk through the interactive galleries to experience famous paintings coming to life around you. I’ve not been but it’s on my list!
Spend an Evening Playing Games
In recent years, London has had an explosion of activities to do both during the day and evening. They nearly all become a child free venue in the evenings.
Electric Shuffle have three venues that incorporate an electric shuffle board with cocktails and food. In a similar vein, Clays Bar have introduced electronic clay pigeon shooting into the city. Three venues around London bring going out for drinks and a meal to a whole new level.
For something a little more adrenaline fuelled, you could spend an evening at the Indoor Go Kart Centre in Canary Wharf. Open until late every night of the week for 18+, you can even grab some food and a beer whilst waiting for your turn on the track.
There are a few different Crazy Golf places open in the evening around London which have bars attached but have you ever tried Crazy Boules? Set up as an Eat, Drink & Play venue at Mercato Metropolitano, play Boules in a similar way to Crazy Golf moving around each course.
Players Social in Spitalfields is a bar with a variety of games to book and play. Choose from Foosball, Shuffleboard and Darts to entertain your friends. There is plenty of seating to people watch while having a drink and/or dinner too.
Somewhere fun to try is Fairgame in either Canary Wharf or in the City. This is an indoor fun fair with all the silly games you loved to play like hook a duck and basketball dunk. You even get to win traditional prizes like the cuddly toy! I prefer the Canary Wharf venue as you can take your drink outside as there are benches by the water.
Kayak on the Thames
This isn’t a true evening activity in the Summer as you get back before it is completely dark but it will leave time for you to go out for a meal or drink afterwards.
In the Autumn however, you will be paddling in the dark so you need to have had a little experience before. There are a couple of companies that will take you for a tour of the Thames to see the sights from Battersea to Greenwich. Check out Secret Adventures and the London Kayak Company for availability.
Night time view from Sky Garden
Once the general public have left Sky Garden, you can book a table at the bar either free, directly through Sky Garden or with a drink and/or meal package through Design my Night. If you are seated at the bar, then you will be allowed in if you are 16+ (with an accompanying adult. Alternatively, the two restaurants at Sky Garden also take reservations late into the evening. Some evenings have a live DJ, especially at the weekend.
