Concerts, clubs and pubs

The number of clubs and venues in London which organize concerts is enormous. London is certainly the European capital for live music, especially rock, since on the stage of its countless venues you will have the chance of seeing all great English bands plus a huge selection of bands from all over the world. From the Astoria to the Royal Albert Hall, from the Brixton Academy to the Shepherds Bush Empire, London has venues of any size and capacity. To check out what’s going on concert-wise, just grab a copy of Time Out (the magazine with all events of the week)Time Out Online or the NME (or New Musical Express, the prominent music weekly) NME Online, and you will see for yourself.

The same is valid for the clubbing scene: you will find a club regardless of what your musical tastes are: just check in Time Out. The only things to be aware of are prices, which can be fairly high for dance clubs both for entrance and for drinks, and dress code: many places have one, and if you don’t look the part the bouncers won’t let you in, simple as that.

Fabric, 77a Charthouse Street, near Smithfield Meat Market. One of London’s more consistent and bigger clubs, keeping it’s underground music policy alive. There are three main rooms, two which feature stages for live acts. The rooms house Europe’s first bass-loaded ‘bodysonic’ dancefloor, 5 sound systems and 3 bar areas over 2 floors. They showcase underground DJ talents from around the world and live acts, with a playlist of fresh house and techno, also regarded as the UK’s home of Drum’n’Bass. Entry is usually around 12 pounds and tickets can be bought at the door, for bigger acts it’s advised you reserve through Ticketweb. For Fabric’s upcoming events check them out at: Fabric Online

Pubs are a religion in England and have been around since the Romans, not a corner you will pass in London or the UK for matter of fact without a pub present.

There’s a long history behind pub signs too. Romans began hanging signs outside buildings such as pictures of Roman gods, as the population was largely illiterate. Early pub names were often religious or influenced by local landowners. A red lion was the personal badge of the Duke of Lancaster and later also of King James I so you will be sure to see many a pub called the Red Lion, such as The Red Lion and Pineapple. Names like the Royal Oak refer to the Oak in which King Charles hid and there are also many pubs named after famous battles and admirals. The main theme seems to be odd and unusual combinations of animals, foods and famous lads and lass’.

One of London’s oldest inn’s is the Prospect of Whitby in Wapping. Built in 1520 it began as the Devils’ Tavern and was popular with smugglers of the time. Some of it’s more famous clients have been Dickens, Pepys and Whistler. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese situated just off Fleet Street it had already been described as lop-sided in the 19th century. It was apparently a popular meeting place for Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Conan Doyle and Dickens.

If your on a budget a good backpackers hangout is Slug’n’Lettuce in Fulham broadway on thursday nights, where the waiters dance on the bar intermittently and the sound track will reliably play all the old good time songs to boogey away to until early morning.

For a rowdy pub crawl you cant beat Upper Street, Islington, especially in the summer time, or whenever there is a north london team playing football.