| Shedding light on London after dark Spring might be around the corner, but the nights still feel pretty darn long. A good time to direct your attention to London’s nocturnal side, then. It might not quite be on par with the city that never sleeps, but the capital does have its fair share of late night restaurants and dive bars. You can even go star-gazing or bat-watching here, if you’re feeling adventurous.
London’s lively nightlife is nothing new. In fact, per this century-old piece of gonzo journalism, it was probably even wilder back in the 1920s. 18th century London, with its pleasure gardens and coffee houses, was similarly debauched. And did you know that the city got its very first night bus 111 years ago?
Of course, London at night isn’t all hustle and bustle – just look at these ethereal photos from the 1930s, or these lockdown-era night time snaps. Some Londoners are even partial to a nighttime stroll, to soak up the stillness of, say, Fleet Street at 5am. Just remember to bring a friend and stay safe if you do choose to partake, and keep an eye out for the atmospheric glow of London’s old gas lamps along the way. | 