Best Nightlife in Lightwater

"The ferns, fig trees and purple African lilies that clamber up the final three storeys of the 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper are mere wallflowers at this 155m-high rooftop garden – it's the rather extraordinary 360-degree views of London (the best in the City) that make this vast, airport-terminal-like space so popular (advance booking recommended). Located on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch St, the Sky Garden has front-row seats for the Shard and vistas that gallop for miles east and west."

"The view from Rafael Viñoly’s Sky Garden, also known as the Walkie-Talkie building, is unlike any other in the city. From here you can survey London’s ever-growing sprawl with the city stretching up to the north, Tower Bridge and the Shard to the south, and Canary Wharf to the east. It’s free to explore the tower’s three stories of landscaped public gardens, but make sure to book in advance."

"Located on floor 36 of the iconic Walkie Talkie, the views from the Darwin Brasserie are pretty striking. Although Fenchurch Restaurant – one of Sky Garden’s other offerings – is higher, the Darwin Brasserie has better views thanks to its position further back from the Sky Garden’s atrium roof. A good option if you want to enjoy the sights without the flocks of camera totting tourists."

"With its zany prints and neon signs, The Parlour at Sketch feels more appropriate for cocktails than it does brunch, but its menu of breakfast dishes, served until 11am, suggests otherwise. The focus here is on eggs, and you can have yours in six different ways, including scrambled and served with feta cheese and sourdough bread, poached with streaky bacon and Hollandaise sauce or tempura with avocado, asparagus and ‘Sketchup’. There is also a selection of pastries and sweeter dishes, such as waffles, acai bowls and fruit salads."

"Sketch is an experience and it definitely lives up to the hype, with its multiple dining rooms that each have their own unique decor. Each room has a different aesthetic, but you're faced with the same feeling – bewitchment. The food is impeccable and the staff treat you like royalty."

"Giving new meaning to the term 'theatrical dining', Sketch is taking guests on a culinary experience from start to finish. Take a seat in one of the West End restaurant's Wes Anderson-esque rooms and tuck into a luxurious breakfast, afternoon tea or three Michelin-starred meal."

"Possibly the best known of the City’s skyline-skimming restaurants, Duck and Waffle boasts not only 360 degree views of London, but also 24-hours-a-day to enjoy them in. The restaurant welcomes diners around the clock, allowing them to tuck into its eponymous dish – a confit duck leg and fried egg on a waffle with mustard maple syrup – from sunrise to sunset. Views of the Gherkin, a distant Canary Wharf and more are on hand, but be sure to sit near the window – it’s a little tricky to see its famous views from the centre of the dining room."

"The “highest 24/7 restaurant in London”, Duck & Waffle in the Heron Tower is almost as spectacular as the ride up the lift is thrilling. Dishes, which are matched, but not limited to their appropriate time of the day include duck egg en cocotte with soldiers; ox cheek doughnuts and their signature crispy duck confit and waffle; and corn dogs, duck kebabs, and crispy pig ears. Duck and waffle at Duck and Waffle, in the City — a 24-hour restaurant that is more than a late-night outlier"

"For banging food and cocktails with 24/7 views of the London skyline, Duck & Waffle is hard to beat. The 40th-floor restaurant in the Heron Tower serves up plates to rival the view: there’s the eponymous ‘Duck & Waffle’ — confit duck leg with fried egg and mustard maple syrup — for breakfast, seasonal small plates throughout the day, and a late night menu featuring ox cheek doughnuts, salt beef grilled cheese sandwiches, and slow-cooked lamb sloppy Joes."

"It's part of London's vast culinary mythology, and it feels a bit like stepping back in time to Covent Garden's theatrical heyday. J Sheekey offers a cornucopia of the city's freshest seafood in a darkly lit, brass embellished ambience which is perfect for highbrow romancing or laid back business dealings. Start with scallops in a halfshell with garlic and chilli for £17.50, and move on to a grilled Dover sole with bearnaise for £39.50."

"We love the classic schmoozy charm of this place, set in the heart of Theatreland. The food is a little like very upmarket pub food, so think half pints of prawns, fish pies, lobster thermidor (what do you mean you've never seen that down the King's Head?), and platters of shellfish galore. There’s an oyster bar next door, too, which made it onto our list of the best oyster bars in London"

"Restaurants British Covent Garden"

"The breakfast menu at Ask for Janice has everything you could ever want: from sweet to savoury, hot to cold. We’d recommend the baked eggs with merguez sausage, roasted peppers and yoghurt – it’s their best dish, IOO. It’s open from 7.30am, and is the perfect place to start your day."

"This trendy Barbican spot is known for its flipping delicious pancake offering every day of the year. Feast on the classic bacon, maple syrup and pecan nut offering or opt for a fluffy stack topped with poached caramel apple and stem ginger biscuit. We're not drooling, you are."

"Smithfield restaurant has sweet, savoury and vegan friendly pancakes. 50-52 Long Lane, London, EC1A 9EJ. Tube: Barbican Station , Farringdon Station"

"Lavish interiors, which include bright orange banquette seating, cornflower blue and mirrored pillars, and a shiny bar make this casual outpost of The Ivy a delightful place to while away a few hours. If there’s one other thing that The Ivy group does well, it’s showmanship, and that goes for the all-day café-style menus too. Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, lunch, light snacks, afternoon tea, cocktails, weekend brunch and dinner, The Ivy Café Richmond promises a good time."

"The nearby Ivy Café is renowned for its vast brunch menu and its decadent lobster scrambled eggs are out of this world!. Plus, the décor is gorgeous making it the perfect place to sit down with a friend after a tough workout."

"Apparently one of the most profitable spots in King's Cross (during normal times) and it's not hard to see why - the first floor has a wrap-around terrace, the ground floor pub has a lovely outside seating area overlooking Granary Square and there's a canalside bar terrace too."

"Set beside Regent's Canal, The Lighterman is a stunning all-day bistro with a sunny terrace perfect for alfresco-style drinking and dining. Open from 7:30am, this place serves boozy brunches, quick lunches and sumptuous Sunday feasts - all with a gorgeous waterside backdrop."

"An outdoor restaurant in King's Cross, known for its Sunday roasts and views across the canal, The Lighterman is a premium option for both summer and winter as you enjoy all that North London has to offer perched by the water."

"The squat buildings that surround Leicester Square seem an unlikely setting for a worthwhile rooftop restaurant, but Bourne & Hollingsworth has found a site with potential: the 10th floor of the Assembly Hotel on Charing Cross Road. Seasonal and locally sourced, the menu offers classic European dishes, covering pretty much the full gamut of dining options: breakfast, brunch, a la carte and special theatre menus are all available. For dinner, my companion and I opted for a hefty chunk of cod laden with puy lentils and salsa verde."

"This intimate, sky-high restaurant is the perfect place to get a good view of the city, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over central London. As the name suggests, this venue is known for its botanical-inspired decor which makes it a great background for your documentation of what will no doubt be an unforgettable night."

"For eight years running, the 99 Comedy Club has won the award for ‘Best Comedy Club’ in the city for its stellar lineup of talent and the many LOLs that have reverberated around its walls. As the flagship 99 Comedy Club (the other is in Covent Garden), there’s always a buzz at this West London venue; almost every evening features funny humans, some of whom have residencies. Along with a coveted seat, which you can nab from £7, you can order various foodie packages like prosecco and a two-course dinner or pizza."

"A multiple winner of the Best London Comedy Club award, you’ll get a top class evening of entertainment with the likes of Russell Howard, Lee Mack, Stephen K. Amos, Andy Parsons, Jason Manford, Rich Hall, Lenny Henry among those to have performed. You’re more likely to see some of the world’s up-and-coming comedians do their stuff at the venue in the heart of Leicester Square or at additional venues in Covent Garden and Piccadilly Circus the 99 Club has expanded to."

"Kae Kurd, Chris McCausland, Simon Brodkin, Sara Barron, Marlon Davis, Micky Overman, Darrien Harriott, Jo Caulfield and more. Tickets: 99clubcomedy.com"

"Another of the top things to do in London at night for free is heading for a night of free laughs at the Top Secret Comedy Club in London’s West End. Top Secret Comedy Clubhosts stand up comedy performances by some of the worlds top comedians. But for those looking for a free night out in London, the unique Comedy Club also offers completely free performances by up and coming comedians or those sampling out new material."

"Contrary to what the name might suggest, this isn’t top secret anymore. Situated in the heart of Covent Garden on Drury Lane, acts perform every night of the week in one of two venues. John Bishop, Eddie Izzard, Jack Whitehall, Russell Howard, Dara O’Briain, Seann Walsh and Jason Manford are among the big-name comedians you might see trialing new material, as well as plenty of upcoming stars."

"Thursdays and Saturdays are laughter days at the Comedy Tree. If you happen to be a student, you'll get in for the bargain price of £6 on Thursday too — not bad when you might end up watching the likes of Scott Capurro or Patrick Monahan. One thing we'd like to see more of from these guys though — female comics!"

"London’s West End is pretty good for celeb spotting, but the easiest place to do it is probably at the National Portrait Gallery. It’s home to kings, queens, cultural juggernauts and sporting heroes – all in portrait form, of course – with a collection spanning over five hundred years of painting history. You can find Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in the Tudor galleries, Mary Jane Seacole and the Bronte sisters in the Victorian galleries, right up to Amy Winehouse and the Queen in the contemporary galleries."

"Not to be confused with the preceding listing, this gallery does what it says on the tin: housing a huge collection of portraits that depict important and famous British people from throughout history. It was the first portrait gallery in the whole world when it opened in 1856, so this place really is the OG. The gallery is set to close for three years, so if you want to see it before 2023, you better get there sharp-ish."

"The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 with a single aim: to gather together portraits of famous (and infamous) Britons throughout…"

"Toddlers can let their imaginations run wild at the UK’s first Story Centre. A day pass includes entry to the Story World and Story Garden where you see tales like The Gruffalo brought to life by Story Builders. There are also storytelling sessions and family exhibitions which you can book onto."

"Following all Soho House group traditions, The Ned’s spa offers a range of deeply relaxing Cowshed treatments, mani-pedis and the chance to get your back and sides done at Ned’s Barber. Built around a 20-metre pool, surrounded by marble columns, and featuring a traditional Moroccan hammam, the space is a welcome - and rather grand - retreat in the centre of The City. While non-members are welcome for treatments, spa facilities are currently restricted to Ned Club members and hotel guests only."

"This historic London retailer was established on Regent Street in 1875, dealing mainly in rare oddities imported from Japan, and also purveying an in-house line of floral and graphic fabrics. Don't be fooled by the shop's antiquated exterior, as today brands like Nike and Dr. Martens are lining up to collaborate with the storied retailer, which has stepped up to compete with other respected retailers in London and across the UK by bringing in collections from Givenchy, Margiela, Tom Ford, and others."

"Housed in an eye-catching mock-Tudor building, Liberty of London is a must-visit for many tourists to the city and is most famous for its “Liberty print” fabrics which are also available in the form of clothing, furniture, and accessories. Liberty silk scarves start at around £150 and fabric starts from £22.50 per metre. Liberty has taken part in several designer collaborations with brands including Manolo Blahnik, Barbour, Nike, and Uniqlo."

"London is home to some of the most beautiful shops – whether you’re an interior design nut or just like to look from the outside. Wandering around London, it’s almost impossible not to pass a lovely little storefront or a beautifully decorated boutique. From The Old Curiosity Shop to Alice’s to the interior of The Liberty Store, there is no shortage of inspiration and beauty (Daunt Books is another blogger fave)."

"Over in Notting Hill, Cloud Twelve is a wellness and lifestyle club set across three floors. There’s a salon, spa and holistic wellness clinic, plus a healthy brasserie and creche. Treatments include drawl-worthy massages, facials, pre and post-natal rituals and treatments specifically designed for men."