#fenchurch st. paul

[talkingpiffle]

The view of Fenchurch St. Paul that appears as the frontispiece to The Nine Tailors was drawn by William John Redhead (c. 1888-1941). He worked as a tax inspector and occasional architect in Witham, Essex, where Sayers also lived from 1929. (x)

Sayers acknowledges his contribution in the foreword to the novel: "My grateful thanks are due to Mr. W. J. Redhead, who so kindly designed for me the noble Parish Church of Fenchurch St Paul and set it about with cherubims.”

[penig]

Rereading The Nine Tailors in the haze of convalescence, I am reminded of why I put the book back on the shelf the first time I tried to read it, in junior high. As an avid reader, a child, and a citizen of areas of the U.S. not commonly represented in fiction, I was accustomed to a certain amount of disorientation and exceedingly skilled at finding my feet in a strange literary space; but the campanology spattered all over the front matter did not give me a firm place to stand and Lord Peter's free-wheeling dialog in combination with Sayers's confidence that anyone picking up the book was already familiar with him did not help. By the time Venables and his dilatory enthusiasms (tumblr would like Venables and dub him autistic out of hand) came along I was wallowing, so I stopped.

By the time I returned to it as an adult, I not only had a lot more experience with British interwar fiction, I was familiar with Lord Peter and already in love with him. Gaudy Night was the first Sayers I read, and I defy anybody who is attracted to men at all not to be in love with him under those circumstances. I don't remember what else I had read before getting to The Nine Tailors, but I was already standing in a firm place when I started and the campanology couldn't faze me anymore. It was something I could surf over on the waves of vibe.

I also had a clearer idea of what Fen country was like, having gotten through a full course of Arthur Ransome; but there's not much in common between the church-anchored scene of The Nine Tailors and the water-centric world of The Coot Club and The Big Six. But then the Coot Club operated in Norfolk and Fenchurch St. Paul is in East Anglia, so that's all right. Marshes, canals, dykes, extreme flatness - I lived in West Texas long enough to understand extreme flatness, for sure - and if Lord Peter had been interested in birds he'd have seen a lot more than rooks. Got it. Once I was oriented I was as delighted as the next mystery reader.

Yet this morning, tired and hazy from not quite being over the head cold, I was once again disoriented. Not to the point of discomfort or putting the book down, not to the point of not noting the casual dropping of details that would be important later (for of course I remember the solution; I do not reread mysteries to be surprised again); but enough to be reminded of the misty sensation of stretching my brain by reading things I didn't really understand. I want to say it's mythic, except that I don't respond this way to actual myths; I want to say it's dreamy, except that the substance of the book makes sense in a way dreams never do even when I'm having them.

It's just that I'm math challenged and will never get past vibes on the campanology.

[ravenpuffheadcanons]

This year, instead of reading The Nine Tailors all in one gulp at the start of the New Year, I decided to do a kind of seasonal read: I read the first few chapters to see in the New Year, then paused when Peter and Bunter left Fenchurch St Paul; I picked it up again today to mark them returning for Easter; I will read until they leave again, then finish the closing chapters in the run-up to Christmas. All this to say - I made an (unrelated and unplanned) visit to the local cathedral city today, and to my great delight they were ringing a five-hour peal! It’s not a very big place, so everywhere I went I heard the music of the bells. The peal (and the predictable bank holiday rainstorm) made for suitably atmospheric conditions for picking it back up this evening.

[lluxoperon]

View from St Paul’s Cathedral’s dome Golden Gallery, looking towards the Fenchurch Building and the Shard. London, UK, 2022. • #london #uk #stpaulscathedral #stpauls #cathedral #dome #view #cityscape #theshard #place • #england #unitedkingdom #europe #visitengland #explorelondon #travellondon #thecreative #aroundtheworldpix #ig_masterpiece #theprettycities #flashesofdelight #travelog #wandering #alwaysexploring #travel #fujifeed #fujifilm_global #myfujifilm #fujixclub #fujiframez

[patrickfinnegan]

London


England


2019

[spellsword177]

Ranking Lord Peter Whimsey Novels

Below is a note I did on Facebook a few years ago with some slight edits for Throwback Thursday.  I still largely agree with my rankings.

This year I read through the Lord Peter Whimsey mystery series by Dorothy L. Sayers, a contemporary to Agatha Christie and a writer described as the Mistress of Mystery.  The primary differences between the two authors I have found is Sayers outperforming Christie in terms of writing style and characterization and Christie surpassing Sayers in crafting intricate plots and difficult mysteries.  I have enjoyed this series, and thought I might once again put forth my rankings.  Remember, this is only my opinion and should you read these books for yourself you might find you have a different order. 11. Unnatural Death (1927) - Dr. Carr is overheard in a restaurant discussing the death of a wealthy, elderly cancer patient three years ago who was terminally ill.  He had suspected foul play, but was unable to prove it and was subsequently run out of town.  How did she die, who was responsible, and why are other people suddenly, mysteriously dropping dead?  While the solution was likely cutting edge at the time and very interesting, I unfortunately had this one just about completely solved midway through and was waiting for the characters to catch up.

10. Have His Carcase (1932) - Mystery Novelist Harriet Vane discovers the corpse of a man on a rock along the beach whose throat has been cut to the bone during her walking trip through the South West coast of England.  Help is summoned, but not before the body is washed away due to high tide.  Who was the man, why was he later discovered with three hundred sovereigns on his person, and what does it all have to do with Russian Czars?  The overall mystery in this one was fairly interesting, and the use of a cipher with coded letters added an interesting twist.  This book just didn’t connect with me as well as her other works.

9. The Nine Tailors (1934) - On New Year’s Eve in Fenchurch St. Paul, Lord Peter Wimsey fills in for Will Thoday to assist in a nine-hour peal of bells while stranded in the town.  On Easter, a man’s mysterious and mutilated body is found near the surface while opening a grave of Lady Thorpe, who had died on New Year’s Day, so her recently deceased husband, Sir Henry Thorpe could be buried next to her.  Was he man calling himself “Driver” who had arrived in town after the New Year only to later vanish, why was there an undelivered letter from France addressed to a Paul Taylor, and how is Arthur Cobbleigh, a British soldier listed as MIA since 1918, related to the case?  This book, along with Gaudy Night, has been frequently listed as the best of Sayers mystery novels.  While it had the better mystery of the two, the characters were not as relatable.

8. The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1928) - General Fentiman is found dead in an armchair at the Bellona Club on Armistice Day.  Rigor mortis is already starting to let up beginning, unusually, with his left knee, suggesting he has been dead for some time.  Who was Mr. Oliver who claimed to have to have had the General as his guest overnight, how did Fentiman arrive at the club as no one saw him before the discovery, and what does it all have to do with Lady Dormer, Fentiman’s sister, who had died the previous day?  I appreciated the dynamics between the characters and the examination of George Fantiman’s struggle with PTSD.

7. Strong Poison (1931) - The jury and the community at large is divided over whether mystery author Harriet Vane poisoned her former lover and fellow writer, Phillip Boyes, with arsenic.  Did she purchase multiple poisons under assumed names only for plot research as she claimed, could he have been poisoned earlier in night dining with his cousin, Norman Urquhart, when no one else was affected, and was the motive really over Boyes’s sudden change of heart over marriage?  The twists and turns in this one were thrilling to unravel.

6. Clouds of Witness (1926) - Peter Wimsey’s brother Gerald, Duke of Denver, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his sister Mary’s fiancé, Captain Denis Cathcart.  The two had been spotted earlier that evening arguing over allegations Cathcart had been caught cheating at cards in Paris, and later Gerald was discovered by Mary kneeling over Cathcart’s body just outside the Wimseys’ shooting lodge.  The man was killed by a bullet from Denver’s revolver, and Gerald’s only alibi is having gone for a late-night stroll only to have found Cathcart’s body.  Peter Wimsey is on the case to find the real solution and find out why so many people, including his siblings, are lying.  I loved the solution to this novel and found it to be very original.

5. Gaudy Night (1935) - Harriet Vane has returned to her alma mater, Shrewsbury College, Oxford, to attend the Gaudy dinner falling in love with academic life all over again.  Later in the years, the dean writes her asking for help, hoping to avoid scandal in finding out who at the college is behind the many acts of vandalism and threats against women in education.  As stated earlier, this book, along with The Nine Tailors, has been frequently listed as the best of Sayers mystery novels.  While there are no murders to be solved, this one had the better story of the two and I adored the subject matter.  My only criticism are the book could have been shortened by about a third.

4. Busman’s Honeymoon (1937) - Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane have recently married and are on honeymoon at Talboys, a farmhouse he purchased through correspondence at her request.  They arrive to find the house locked, the former owner, Noakes, nowhere to be found, and the community surprised the learn there are new owners.  The next morning, Noakes is found in the cellar having been dead for a week from head injuries.  Who was the last person to see Noakes alive, was Noakes blackmailing the killer, and how was Noakes really killed? I really enjoyed this book, but felt the additional chapters covering Wimsey’s guilt over the culprit’s impending execution to be interesting, but unnecessary.  Its inclusion can be attributed to Sayers’s insistence of making mystery books more like dramatic novels

3. Murder Must Advertise (1933) - Death Bredon, Peter Wimsey in disguise using his middle names, is discretely trying to solve the sudden death of Copywriter Victor Dean who fell down a spiral staircase at Pym’s Publicity, Ltd. not long after hinting something scandalous in a letter to the management. Was it really an accident as everyone believes, how are Dian de Momerie and cocaine smuggling involved, and who at Pym’s is hiding a dark secret?  Although, Sayers was not satisfied with this novel, it was easily one of my favorites.

2. Five Red Herrings (1931) - Sandy Campbell, a talented painter and notoriously quarrelsome drunkard, is found dead from a fractured skull in a stream with a half-finished painting on the bank above.  While the painting is an excellent forgery, it is impossible for Campbell to have worked on it.  This leaves only six people who could have possibly murdered the man and set up the scene to look like an accident. What was missing from the scene of the crime that was so important, when did Campbell really die, and which one of them did it? The only part of this book I hated was trying to decipher what some of the characters were saying as Sayers insisted on writing the dialog phonetically to match Scottish accents.

1. Whose Body? (1923) - A body of a mysterious man wearing only pince-nez was discovered in a bathtub in the apartment of Mr. Thipps.  How did the corpse get in the bathtub, is the case connected to the disappearance of Reuben Levy, a famous financier, who vanished from his own bedroom the night before, and what is the significance of a recent flurry of trading in Peruvian oil shares?  The solution to this one was fairly easy to uncover, and deliciously macabre.  It’s been said this novel is the one most like mystery books written by other authors of the genre; perhaps, that is partially why I enjoyed it the most of all the books in the Wimsey series.

[idratherdreamofjune]

In [Strong Poison], Sayers observes that "to chronicle Lord Peter Wimsey's daily life during the ensuing week would be neither kind nor edifying."   As a matter of fact, Peter in that week drove off to celebrate New Year's Eve with friends at Walbeach in East Anglia, only to involve himself in an automobile accident near the tiny Fens village of Fenchurch St. Paul. . . Sayers makes no reference to the events of Strong Poison in The Nine Tailors.

Conundrums for the Long Week-End, Robert Kuhn McGregor, with Ethan Lewis

All kinds of fascinating facts about PDBW’s career in this book!! I had no idea (poor excuse for a fan, I) that The Nine Tailors occurs (in part) during the events of Strong Poison!! A reread is in order.

[syedarqam]

London's Skyline. Identity The Shard, St. Paul's Cathedral, Walkie Talkie (20 Fenchurch Street) and The Gherkins! . . . . . . . . . #nofilters #skyline #london #primrosehill #gherkins #walkietalkie #StPauls #cathedral #shard #allinone #londonskyline #vscocam #vscolondon #vscouk #vscopk #etribune #dawndotcom #igers #potd #photography #instagram (at Primrose Hill)

[blackblogrepresents]

Gian Paul Lozza - Somnium - Private View at Francesca Maffeo Gallery

We're delighted to announce that Francesca Maffeo Gallery will be presenting 'Somnium' by Gian Paul Lozza.  This solo photographic exhibition is showing for the first time in the UK and includes new and previously unseen works. Private View: Friday 2nd February 2018,  6.00-9.00pm Exhibition Continues: 3rd February - 17th March 2018 Admission: Free Address: 284 Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex SS9 1BW Nearest Train Station: Chalkwell C2C Line from London Fenchurch St and West Ham

For further details please visit:

https://www.francescamaffeogallery.com/

[talkingpiffle]

“It was, indeed, not Mr. Thorpe’s fault that the Red House was available; he had done his best to let it, but the number of persons desirous of tenanting a large house in ill-repair, situated in a howling desert and encumbered with a dilapidated and heavily mortgaged property, was not very large. Hilary had her way, and Wimsey, while heartily wishing that the whole business could have been settled in London, liked the girl for her determination to stick to the family estate. Here again, Wimsey was a power in the land. He could put the property in order if he liked and pay off the mortgages, and that would no doubt be a satisfaction to Mr. Thorpe, who had no power to sell under the terms of his trust. A final deciding factor was that if Wimsey did not spend Christmas at Fenchurch, he would have no decent excuse for not spending it with his brother’s family at Denver, and of all things in the world, a Christmas at Denver was most disagreeable to him.

“Accordingly, he looked in at Denver for a day or two, irritated his sister-in-law and her guests as much as, and no more than, usual and thence, on Christmas Eve, made his way across the country to Fenchurch St. Paul.”

--Dorothy L. Sayers, The Nine Tailors, 1934.

[absentmindedmittens]

[thelovelymazza6]

The No. 15 bus! I used to catch that from Fenchurch Street to St. Paul's, many moons ago..........

Regent Street into Piccadilly Circus, London, 1960s

[we-speak-english]

London from the Thames: Nov. 30th

[londonandaway]

View to the dome . . Believe it or not, St Paul’s Cathedral was the tallest building in London up until 1967. Now it looks rather small amongst the towering skyscrapers in the city. This is the view from Sky Garden at the top of number 20 Fenchurch Street . . . #skygarden #stpauls #stpaulscathedral #lo_recharge #londonskyline #artofvisuals #citybestpics #agameoftones #city_explore #thecreative #seemycity #citylimitless #guardiancities #urbanromantix #ig_captures_city #mkexplore #urbangathering #theprettycities #planetdiscovery #London #igerslondon #timeoutlondon #londonlife #visitlondon #londres #londra #london4all #london_enthusiast #londonist #mysecretlondon

[nomadicvision]

A tale of two towers - the dome of St Paul's Cathedral and the BT Tower. These two landmarks can be seen throughout the capital. • • #stpaulscathedral #bttower #viewpoint #skygarden (at 20 Fenchurch Street)

[karlosharrison-blog]

Writer Samuel Johnson said, “by seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.” He might have been slightly biased coming from England (and writing in the 18th Century not too familiar with what goes on in Bangkok at night). Still, he’s not far wrong and London has always been a capital city filled with rich delights, sights, and sounds, where you can usually find what you want when you want it – no matter the hands on the clock.

London – All the lights shine.

The Big Smoke

Interestingly, at the time of writing and according to Forbes, London is second only to the provocative Thai capital as the most visited city in the world (having just lost the number one spot). Some 16 million tourists descend on “the big smoke” every year and those people are all looking for fun things to do. As you might expect, London has it in abundance.

And like any world-city worth its salt, it offers much when the sun goes down and the people come out to play. Here then, are 20 + things to see and do in London in the evening or at night.

If you’re looking for a solid London itinerary, here’s a 3 Day London Itinerary for you!

Finding Your Way Around

Before we dive right in, we’ve included a handy Google map of all the main attractions listed here. However, please note for the likes of pubs, clubs and restaurants etcetera, there are simply far too many to pin – so you’re just going to have to sniff those out on your own!  

West End Musicals and Theater

Love them or hate them, there’s no doubt that musicals are enormously popular, particularly when in their territory of London’s West End or Broadway in New York. Remember the amount of people who visit London? Well, the Society of London Theater claim that 15 million bums were on auditorium seats in 2017. While we’re not saying that every tourist who visits the city goes to a show – there’s a tremendous amount of them that do!

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Just one of hundreds of West End shows.

Musicals like The Lion King, Wicked, Les Misérables and the Phantom of the Opera have been mesmerising audiences for decades, with the cream of film and theater acting talent regularly adding their own box-office clout. If you’re not a fan of musicals, don’t miss some of the world’s best cutting-edge theater, and you might see a global superstar doing what they do best. For many, the highlight of a visit to London is grabbing a ticket to one of these timeless spectacles. Don’t miss it.

Sightseeing the Lights

London, like Paris, is famous for its lights at night and there’s no better way to see them than an evening stroll through the city. It’s particularly stunning at Christmas time when scores of fluorescent bulbs illuminate the streets, but you don’t need to just visit then to experience the magic and charm of London when her lights are on.

Tower Bridge at night is truly a sight to behold.

World-famous sights such as the Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, and St Paul’s Cathedral are all spectacularly lit up at night, and you’ll find no shortage of great walking tours to guide you around them. Just don’t forget your camera’s tripod for taking those truly stunning twilight photographs.

Famous Pubs, Bars, and Clubs

London’s nightlife is up there with the finest in the world, with some of the best pubs, bars, and clubs you could possibly hope to find. From beautiful, ye olde worlde style taverns to avant-garde, swankiness, this city has an establishment to cater for every taste.

Stunning locations like the Dickens Inn await you when you’re thirsty.

If you’re that way inclined, you can even do specially designed London pub tours to make sure you don’t miss out on all the best ones – because your head will be spinning from more than a pint of ale with how many there are. And when you’ve had your fill of the vintage and traditional, hit up some of the best dance clubs on the planet and cut some rug until the early hours.

Comedy/Stand Up

Rattle off a list of British comedians and you’ve got a who’s who of the funniest people ever to grace a comedy stage – and they all started somewhere. The comedy circuit in London is extremely popular for international funny people and a great choice for an alternative night out. You’ve more than half a chance at catching tomorrow’s stars before they make it big.

Visiting a stand-up show – laughter is the best medicine.

And the beauty of it is, you’ll find many gigs for free! Check Time Out for listings or remember that google is your friend for finding who’s playing where. Just be ready to have your side’s split!

Gigs, Gigs, and More Gigs

The UK is home to the finest music scene in the world and this is reflected in the sheer amount of live performances you can see across the country week in week out. London has more than its fair share of music gigs available every night, where you can catch all the legends or the next big thing.

Gigs in London can be intimate affairs or huge sell-out stadium concerts

And while you’re at it, why not take in the famous history and sites by doing a rock and roll music tour? One of the best ways to truly immerse yourself in the experience and one for true music aficionados everywhere – especially if you’re fans of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

The Tower of London – Ceremony of the Keys

Visiting the crown jewels is always a highlight for tourists coming to London, many of whom flock here to enjoy the history of the British Royal family. The infamous Tower of London is forever synonymous with that history, with a brutal and bloody past that makes it an exciting and educational attraction – especially at night.

Many a ne’er do well met a timely end here.

The Ceremony of the Keys is the oldest military ceremony in the world, dating back to the middle ages. It starts at exactly 21.53 every night, where the guards perform a fascinating interaction to ensure the keys are kept safe until the morning. It’s totally free, but only 40-50 tourists are allowed access to it, which means that it is nearly always sold out at least 12 months in advance. Remember to book ahead!

The London Eye

When the London Eye opened to the public back in the year 2000 it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel. Now ranking number three, it’s still the tallest in Europe, and one of London’s premier tourist attractions. As you might expect, you’ll get some of the best views of the capital from here.

The London Eye.

Both it and surrounding docks on the river Thames light up beautifully at night – and it’s well worth it to get your ticket in advance to beat the queues. The London Eye features regularly in popular culture and it’s a landmark you really shouldn’t miss when visiting the city. Providing you have a head for heights of course!

Late-Night London Museums

Have you ever seen the movie Night at the Museum? That could very well happen in London town! While the exhibits might not literally come to life, there’s plenty of opportunity for seeing some of the city’s best museums with late opening times offering something to keep all the family happy.

History at your fingertips

Museums like the Tate Modern, British Museum and Transport Museum regularly stay open well into the evening to give everyone the chance of enjoying the exhibitions, while some like the Natural History Museum (pictured above) even have sleepover events where you can stay the whole night! Perhaps the Tyrannosaurus Rex does come alive when nobody’s watching!

A River Thames Cruise

The River Thames is the iconic body of water that flows through the heart of London, inspiring a catalogue of stories, shaping history and defining a city. It’s fondly regarded in these parts, and what better way to see it than taking in a sunset cruise?

The dramatic River Thames.

Enjoy a glass (or two) of bubbly as you float down this world-famous river, passing all the major landmarks along the way. It’s surely one of the best ways to see the city at a leisurely pace from a unique vantage point, perfect for treating a loved one.

Jack the Ripper/Ghost Tour

England – and the UK in general – is one of the most haunted places on earth, and as such, the popularity of ghost walks and tours has skyrocketed. London is in the very thick of it, with the capital having more than its fair share of ghostly goings on. It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure!

You go guys – I’m…washing my hair tonight.

But of all the tales coming out of the capital, perhaps the most infamous is that of Jack the Ripper – the Whitechapel murderer who was never found. He terrorised the city back in 1888, and he still does to this day, as you can “enjoy” a spine-tingling tour through the streets of his old stomping ground. Just don’t look behind you!

The Sky Garden

While not nearly being close to having the skyscrapers of other world cities such as New York or Hong Kong, London certainly has some distinctive ones. 20 Fenchurch Street is one such architectural construction, known affectionately by locals as “the walkie-talkie.”

The “walkie-talkie”

One of the most interesting things about it is that it has a beautiful, three-floor sky garden with stunning views over the city. It all lights up rather charmingly at night and being the 6th tallest building in the city, it will give you unrivalled views as London sprawls out below you. Sunrise yoga is also extremely popular too!

Visit Shakespeare’s Globe

“All the world’s a stage,” quoted Shakespeare in his play As You Like It, and you’d be mad to miss one of the most beautiful and iconic stages in the world while visiting London. Shakespeare’s Globe is a faithful reconstruction of the bard’s 16th-century theater, and seeing a performance here is a must for anyone who is a fan of the “upstart crow.”

Watch theater how they did in Shakespeare’s time

The theater has a repertoire of seasonal work and has been playing to delighted audiences since it opened in 1997. Catch a mesmerising, candle-lit performance of Hamlet, Macbeth, and co if you can, but there’s still plenty to see and do when no shows are scheduled.

Late-Night London Shopping

Just as tempting as visiting a city’s tourist attractions is visiting its shopping districts, particularly if you happen to be in one of the fashion hot-spots of the world. London is no stranger to style and high-end couture, and you can soak it all up by exploring any number of shopping streets in the capital.

Regent Street at Christmas

Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, and Mayfair have become by-words for shopping excellence, but there are literally hundreds of locations to choose from for a spree at night. And if your legs can’t carry you anymore and you’ve shopped until you’ve dropped, try a chauffeur driven experience to help you carry those bags instead. You can thank us later.

Night Bus Tour

It might not be the night bus of Harry Potter fame (although London does have a number of attractions to keep wizards happy), but taking an open-top bus around the sights is a wonderful way to spend an evening.

One of these – but at night.

For just under two hours you can enjoy views that you wouldn’t get from a walking tour, all from the comfort of your seat. A professional guide is included as well as the option of listening in several different languages.  May we suggest you wrap up warm though if sitting upstairs in winter – and be aware that the summer version is mainly conducted in daylight.

Observatory Stargazing

The longer nights bring the perfect opportunity to turn our gaze to the heavens and enjoy some celestial activity, and what better way to enjoy it than visiting one of London’s famous observatories? Hampstead Observatory is open every Friday and Saturday night from the end of September to the beginning of April and it’s free to enter. You’ll learn a lot about the night sky from one of the centre’s knowledgeable and keen volunteers.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Alternatively, you can visit the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which is located in a UNESCO world heritage site. There you can stand astride the Greenwich Meridian Line and be in the western and eastern hemispheres at the same time! Make sure to visit in the evening for stargazing experiences, astronomer talks and a planetarium show.

Dining Out/Chinatown/Late Markets

London is a foodie’s paradise, with world-class, top quality wining and dining at thousands of restaurants and eateries scattered across the city. There’s something to suit all tastes, but even if you don’t find what you’re looking for, why not visit one of the late-night markets and cook something up for yourself? You could even try a food tour to sample a little bit of everything.

Dining out – one of life’s little pleasures

Alternatively, take in the sights, sounds, and smells of London’s Chinatown. Fine east Asian cooking and experiences await right in the heart of the city and it’s always a joy to visit the region at night – especially if there’s a party going down.

The Shard City View

The Shard is London’s newest addition to its skyline, completed in 2012 making it the tallest building in the UK. Its 95 stories are shaped into a giant shard of glass, and you can enjoy the spectacular, panoramic views from the 72nd floor during the day or at night.

The stunning Shard in Southwark

If you’re feeling particularly brave, you can even venture out onto the open-air viewing platform – which is the highest in Europe. There’s also multimedia exhibits and knowledgeable staff on hand to inform you about the London skyline. A great experience all round, but especially magical in the evening.

Late Debate at the Houses of Parliament

One of the most famous buildings in the world, the UK Houses of Parliament is a London icon, not least for the stunning Big-Ben tower and clock. But did you know you can sit in on debates in the public gallery? MPs often work late into the night, and it’s possible to catch them having an argument or two about current affairs.

The emblematic Houses of Parliament

Of course, you can never be sure what they’re going to be talking about, so it could be sleep-inducing monotony, but it’s still a great alternative attraction at such a revered and historic seat. Don’t forget you can also visit in the day with a guided tour should you prefer.

Bat Tour

Visiting Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon (or any London park for that matter) particularly if the weather is fine. But there’s an increasingly popular activity that has been garnering positive press for members of the order Chiroptera. That’s a fancy name for bats, and you can see them if you attend one of the Royal Park’s Bat Walks.

Not scary at all!

Bats get a bad rep, but with the help of a guide, some of the negative myths will be dispensed with as you use “bat-detectors” to locate and study the creatures. Other nocturnal animals might well make themselves known too, but if you’re not happy with that and a big scaredy-pants – you can always just visit the London Zoo during the day – which is the oldest of its kind in the world.

Become a TV Show Audience Member

The UK is home to some extremely popular TV shows, including the likes of the Voice and the X-Factor, the Graham Norton Show and comedy options Live at the Apollo, Q.I, Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Plus loads more besides.

Get behind the scenes at a TV show

Whatever your preference, if you book in advance you just might be able to score some tickets to your favourite TV show. And the best thing about it is – they’re usually free! Failing that, you can join millions of people each year who enjoy one of London’s many film tours, with Harry Potter easily being the biggest draw.  

Late Night Madame Tussauds

The world-famous waxwork museum needs little introduction and no visit to the capital is complete without seeing the incredible life-like sculptures of people in the public eye. It’s been drawing in the crowds for over 200 years, constantly evolving and adding new exhibits and experiences. But while it usually closes in the afternoon, late-night Madame Tussauds is also a thing – an adults-only evening that’s guaranteed to be loads of fun.

Brad Pitt is waiting for you late at night…

Rub shoulders with the Queen of England, meet a galaxy of Star Wars characters or give Donald Trump a piece of your mind. You’ll need to book in advance and check dates, but a late-night with a bunch of life-like wax figures couldn’t possibly go wrong!

London Calling…

“A bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else,” said an unknown author, and we’re sure that with these sights and attractions, you’ll also have a good night there too. This barely scratches the surface of what you can do in the UK capital, but they’re arguably some of the best ways to spend an evening. You’ll soon discover that London is everything you dreamed it would be.

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