Awesome Ideas for Friday Nights in London

It’s Friday!

And if you’re a Londoner, chances are… you already have plans! Also likely, is that you made them over a week ago, whereas another percentage of you locked that baby in a month ago. What’s going on?

I don’t need to tell you that London is a rat race. Fast paced, competitive, hectic and we love it. It’s why we came, it’s why we stay. This is not a city for doing nothing or for the do nothingers. This is the place to do everything! Or die trying.

To live in London, you must work. To work in London, you must work hard and be good at what you do. All that hard work gets rewarded of course and after savings… oh sorry, we don’t do those in London, we want to know where and how to spend it! Your wish is my command.

A final word before we get started with my awesome ideas for spending Friday nights in London. Fridays are very different from Saturdays. Fridays start at around 7 am. Saturdays start after a lie in. Fridays happen once you leave the office. Saturdays happen once you’ve made a plate of smiley-faced eggs. And so, mes amies, here are my Friday night suggestions!

Go to a Bar Restaurant

This takes a lot of the fuss out of going to a restaurant and then going to a bar. It eliminates the time it takes to travel from restaurant to bar. It eliminates the problem of finding a table in said bar. Quite simply, it offers a seamless experience between courses, alcohol, and bedtime.

Some of my favourites include:

• East: Street Feast, The Shard, Coq d’Argent, Holborn Dining Room
• Central: La Bodega Negra, Opium in Chinatown, Mews of Mayfair, The Arts Club, Soho House, The Big Easy, Bob Bob Ricard (check out my blog post on Bob Bob Ricard)
• West: Nam Long, Bunga Bunga, Goat, Jak’s Kings Road

Play a Game!

Oh ,not just any old game. An escape game! Have you heard of these yet? You get locked up in a room with your friends and given a set time, usually an hour, to solve the puzzles, riddles and hidden games in order to escape. Because the stress of the office just doesn’t cut it anymore, us Londoners like to crank it up a notch!

No, not for you? I have other ideas… My all time favourite, Crazy Golf! Especially in the warmer months, you’ll find many pop-ups around town, sometimes on rooftops, other times in basements, all offering that crazy golf fun.

And lastly, why not a game of good old-fashioned ping pong? Bounce, in Holborn or Old Street, is the place to be for that. They also do pizza to keep you going. I’m still looking for a nice pool hall… These are everywhere in Holland, but I can’t seem to find a decent one in London.

Get Cultural

Elysee is a little slice of Greece in London. There is live Greek music every Friday night, plate-smashing and serious debauchery. Get your friends, get a table, and enjoy. Another option for live music is Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. Have a look what acts are on, it’s not always jazz, and they also do food, perfect for that fuss-free Friday.

You cannot have music without dancing! London is also home to the Royal Ballet, with performances every Friday night. Located inside the Royal Opera House, they really are top of their game. You can split the cost of a booth among friends, and get emotional together.

Saving the best for the last? I absolutely love the Comedy Store in London. A lot of excellent talent walk through these doors. It’s a great way to laugh off the week’s stresses. There are also many other comedy shows around at different locations and prices if it suits you better.

How do you spend your Friday nights in London?

Photo Credit: Pexels

Lara Olivia

Freelance writer and blogger obsessed with food, travel and good stories.

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