Things to do in London tonight
Several galleries open late on Fridays, Sky Garden and the bridges look their best after dark, and Soho, Shoreditch and Brixton keep going until late.
17 picks that fit, best first. The order follows the live forecast and the time of day.
Sky Garden
City of London
A free indoor garden and viewing gallery at the top of the Walkie Talkie.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
Free, but book a slot
South Bank walk
South Bank
The riverside from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, with the skyline the whole way.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Hampstead Heath and Parliament Hill
Hampstead
Wild heathland, swimming ponds and the classic skyline view from Parliament Hill.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Half a day
- Good with kids
Tate Modern
Bankside
Modern art in a former power station, with a free viewing level over the river.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Half a day
Free; special exhibitions are ticketed
National Gallery
Trafalgar Square
Van Gogh, Turner and Vermeer on Trafalgar Square, free, open late on Fridays.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
Primrose Hill and Regent's Park
Primrose Hill
A short climb to the classic skyline view, with the rose gardens and canal below.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Shoreditch and Brick Lane
Shoreditch
Street art, vintage shops, curry houses and the bars that keep going until late.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
V&A
South Kensington
Art, design and fashion across seven miles of galleries, with Friday lates.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Half a day
God's Own Junkyard
Walthamstow
A warehouse of neon signs from films and Soho clubs, with a café in the middle.
Good in the evening. On today. Free.
- Free
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
Soho and Chinatown
Soho
Dinner, dim sum, cocktails and the theatres, all within five minutes of each other.
Good in the evening.
- £10 to £25
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
Thames river bus
The river
The commuter boat that doubles as the cheapest sightseeing cruise in London.
Good in the evening.
- Under £10
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Tower Bridge
Tower Hill
Walk the glass floor forty metres above the river, then see the Victorian engine rooms.
Good in the evening.
- £10 to £25
- In and out
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
- Good with kids
Free to cross; exhibition ticketed
West End theatre
Theatreland
Forty theatres within a few streets; same-day tickets are easier than people think.
Good in the evening.
- Over £25
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
Leake Street Arches
Waterloo
A legal graffiti tunnel under Waterloo station, repainted daily and dry in any weather.
Good in the evening. Free.
- Free
- Outdoors
- Under 2 hours
- Fine in rain
Brixton Village and Market Row
Brixton
Covered arcades of small restaurants that turn into one big dinner party by evening.
Good in the evening.
- Under £10
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
London Eye
South Bank
A slow half-hour loop over Westminster in a glass capsule.
Good in the evening.
- Over £25
- Indoors
- Under 2 hours
- Good with kids
Camden Market
Camden Town
Street food, vintage stalls and the canal lock, busy from lunch until the pubs close.
Good in the evening.
- Under £10
- In and out
- Half a day
- Fine in rain
Good to know
What can I do in London tonight?
Several galleries open late on Fridays, Sky Garden and the bridges look their best after dark, and Soho, Shoreditch and Brixton keep going until late. The 17 picks here all work after dark; the list is reordered for the weather, so on a wet night the indoor options come first.
What is open late in London?
Food halls, bars, theatres and a few attractions with late openings. Opening hours change, so check the official site link on each card before you set off.