London is a clubber’s paradise with world-renowned venues like Fabric and Ministry of Sound sitting alongside smaller clubs playing every kind of dance music imaginable. It’s by far the best place in the UK to get your groove on to dubstep, minimal techno or house – but you have to be prepared for steep entrance fees and occasionally long queues.
- Iconic London Clubsfabbio
Bungalow 8
45 St Martins Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HX
One of London’s most popular celebrity haunts, Bungalow 8 is a small but glitzy club in the basement of a London hotel with luxurious décor and fancy cocktails aplenty. It’s technically membership-only so can be hard to get in if you’re not famous, but luckily doesn’t fill up till after midnight. Expect to find top-notch DJs playing 60s, 70s and 80s music while wealthy people sip cocktails.
The Egg
200 York Way, London N7 9AP
If you’re after a great night out that doesn’t break the bank, Egg is always a good choice. This great club is home to four rooms and one heated garden playing house, techno and dubstep. It may be a bit of a trek from the nearest station, King’s Cross, but it’s worth it for some of the best sound and lighting in the city. Entrance fee: around £15
Fabric
77a Charterhouse Street, Smithfield, London EC1M 3HN
In my opinion, Fabric has to take the title of London’s biggest and best club. It was voted number two in DJ Magazine’s ‘Top 100 Clubs in the World’ and has been a launch pad for many of the best new techno and dubstep DJs over the years. Friday night is ‘soundclash’ which mixes up many styles of music, while Saturday has a more minimal techno and house focus. It’s a good idea to buy tickets in advance (or blag your way onto the guest list) as it has been known to take up to three hours to get in. Be sure to check out their vibrating dance floor in room one with bass inducers beneath! Entrance fee: £15-£20
Ministry of Sound
103 Gaunt Street, London SE16DP
Going strong for over 20 years, Ministry is London’s oldest and most iconic nightclub. It started out as a UK version of New York’s Paradise Garage playing house music from Detroit and Chicago, and continues to excel as a place to dance till dawn to one of the city’s best sound-systems. It does sometimes feel a little bit touristy, but that’s more than made up for by the fact that some of the world’s best DJs play there. Entrance fee: around £20
Heaven
Under The Arches, Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NG
One of London’s greatest gay clubbing experiences can be had at Heaven, a long-running clubbing institution under Charing Cross railway station. Going strong since 1979, the club attracts a mixed clientele, especially gay guys, but really takes off on Monday for Popcorn –one of the city’s best student nights. Expect cheap drinks aplenty and people dancing like maniacs to pop music and house. The club also regularly doubles as a live music venue. Free entry before 1am.
[box]Sohaib Siddique is passionate about experience and adventure travel and works as a freelance writer. When he isn’t around and about, you’ll find him pushing the limits on his bike or stuffing his face with his food obsession.[/box]
