As night falls in London, the city truly comes alive. You’ll find there’s no shortage of things to do, even for the well travelled amongst us. From shoo-ing the kids onto a ghost bus to sipping martinis at a bar made completely out of frozen ice, here are some of the more quirky experiences London has to offer after the sun sets.
Ride on the Ghost Bus
Hang onto your seats, because the ghost bus is in town. Ride on an antique 1960s Routemaster double decker bus through the streets of London. Not only will you get an eyeful of the city at night, you’ll be haunted by tales of murder, execution and torture, during a 75-minute round trip that uncovers the dark side of London.
This isn’t your usual quaint red double decker. Accompanied by a creepy conductor, you’ll be guided through the worst of the city’s most grisly, horrifying stops. As night falls, you’ll be enthralled by ghost stories, fed full with ghastly tidbits of history that will have you at the edge of your seat.
Informative and fun, the bus will take you to familiar places like the Houses of Parliament, London Bridge, Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral. Maybe you’ve had the chance to visit them in the day, but once you’ve caught wind of the bone-chilling secrets that lurk behind their polished facades, you’ll never be able to look at them the same way again.
For the faint hearted, rest assured that this is meant to be a spooky comedy tour, though most guests would agree, it’s definitely the spookiest. This macabre sightseeing tour is for those who prefer London with a twist.
The Ghost Bus operates in three cities: London, York and Edinburgh. For show timings, be sure to check their website: https://www.theghostbustours.com/showtimes/. Tickets are £24.00 for adults, and £16.00 for children, with concessions for students and seniors.
Attend an immersive theatre show
Skip the usual trip to the theatre where you find yourself sitting down for over two hours, stifling a yawn. The next big thing just burst into London’s theatre scene, immersive theatre shows. Ring in the new decade of the roaring twenties at The Great Gatsby. Get yourself all dolled up to attend one of Jay Gatsby’s lavish parties, have a wander through one of the man’s drugstores, learn the Charleston, and all whilst sipping a cocktail. This prohibition era themed show is sure to delight and thrill even the most seasoned theatre goer.
If Gatsby is a little dated for you, try The Wolf of Wall Street. Inspired by the 2013 film about drugs, decadence and hedonism, you’ll be shoved into Jordan Belfort’s world, forced to steer brokers down at failing Wall Street or lead an FBI investigation on the man, the myth himself. As the show says, “You’re either with him or against him.”
For book lovers, H.G. Well’s War of the Worlds has been brought to life using the latest technology. Don on virtual reality headsets and explore the 22,000 square feet, multi-storey space on your very own martian adventure. Be plunged into the pages of the novel, where a devastating war between mankind and an extraterrestrial race is raging on.
The best thing about these shows is that the experience is always unique. Only small groups are guided into the theatre at any time, and with each visit you’ll be introduced to a new perspective, given a new role to play in the story. Ridiculously addictive, there’s no doubt you’ll keep coming back for more once you’ve had your first immersive theatre experience.
Go on a Bat Walk
Organised by the Royal Parks, Bat Walks are part of overall conservation effort for bats. In London, bats are commonplace, nestling in abandoned tube stations, and nestling on the ceiling of dilapidated buildings. These small critters are protected by law in London, after centuries of decline in their population.
Today, bats face threats such as the destruction of their habitats due to the demolition of old buildings, and the prevalence of domestic cats, which are predators. Lights at night also disorientate bats and their prey, meaning new urban spaces make it difficult for bats to find suitable homes.
There are five different species of bats in London, including the relatively rare Nathusius’ pipistrelle, Leisler’s bat and the common pipistrelle. Keep your eyes peeled as you trek through Kensington Garden and Hyde Park, you may be able to spot them all.
During the walk, there’ll be a fun quiz on bat facts and bat fiction, where there are prizes to be won. Organisers have also generously provided detectors that can be used to listen to bat echolocation calls, typically not registered by the human ear. You’ll also get the chance to spot owls and foxes that call the parks home.
Please note that this walk is organised for over eighteens only.
Have drinks at the Ice Bar
You’ve heard of ice hotels in Finland and Sweden, but if you’re worried about having a frigid stay, London has the solution for you. The ICEBAR down at Mayfair is no less impressive than its Swedish counterparts.
Everything is frozen in ice, from the icicles that drip down from the ceiling, to your regular seats and tables and illuminated in bright colours. There are several quirky ice sculptures littered around for the perfect photo-taking opportunity. There’s no need to rush down to the shops if you haven’t got a winter coat on you, each ice bar ticket includes a cape and gloves, as well as a first ice cocktail to warm you right up. You’re welcome to stay in the bar for up to forty minutes from the start of your experience.
But it isn’t all about the chill ambience. The food’s pretty cool too. ICEBAR has partnered with Yuu Kitchen, that serves up delicious Japanese and South East Asian inspired small plates. The extensive menu includes items straight from the grill and wok, providing a nice contrast between fire and ice. The bar also offers champagne sessions on special evenings, that offer two drinks, including an ice glass of champagne, or a champagne based cocktail, followed by a drink of your choice.
Talk about a Winter Wonderland. There’s no need to arrange for a babysitter either, The ICEBAR offers family tickets that cover either two children and two adults or three children and one adult, available from Monday to Saturday until 18:30 and all day on Sundays. Children get to join in on all the fun, and will be served a non-alcoholic ice cocktail.
Relive history during a Medieval Banquet
Don’t wait around for the Renaissance Fair to come to town, lace up your corset and join the infamous Henry VIII at his royal banquet. Seat yourself amongst kings, knights, acrobats and jesters, dine with living history during this night-long event.
If you haven’t packed your medieval garb, The Medieval Banquet provides the option for costume hire so you’ll never feel out of place. Choose your helmet and swing your sword, the options for costumes are endless. If you’ve fallen in love with your new look, you can even buy your costume and take it home with you.
Eat, drink and be merry. You’ll be treated as Royal Guest of the King’s and thoroughly entertained throughout the night. Be careful not to fall out of the King’s favour or it’ll be your head on the chopping block. Food is brought to you with a song and dance, in true medieval fashion, and all meals are cooked with fresh ingredients procured by the Head Chef. Expect medieval fare, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetable soup and fruit pies dominate the menu. Wine is always flowing, but non-alcoholic options are also offered.
After dinner, take to the royal dance floor for a disco, where you’ll party it up with enchanting wenches and even the stray unicorn. Anything is possible in Henry’s Court, and you’ll be in for a night you’ll never forget. Tickets are priced at £50 for adults and £30 for children.
