Watch movies in clubs

True, one of the most exciting things about London nightlife is its untamed creativity, but after a tiresome day at the office, the temptation to stay in, crack open a bottle and flop out in front of a film can be overwhelming. If your inner party conscience makes you feel guilty, however, luckily you can now do both.

Leftfield film hotspots like the Roxy Bar & Screen and the BFI Southbank, and cool film clubs like monthly social Short Sundays at the George & Dragon on Hackney Road often have DJs to complement their nights. But now there's a new spate of film screenings in nightclub settings. What's more,they're a darn sight cheaper than even the Friday night seats at the Prince Charles cinema.

One of the biggest screens is at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes near Russell Square. Along with their super-kitsch ten-pin alleys and karaoke rooms, they're now putting on student-friendly classic films in their separate mini-cinema at regular nights Free Friday and Strike Night on Tuesdays.

Easy-watching goodness can be found at the Hatcham Social and The Birds Film Club at The Legion - they screened 'St Elmo's Fire' at the last one. The two leftfield bands throw an attitudinal jumble sale-meets-dancefloor riot on the first Monday of every month, which, let's face it, is a much cosier alternative to a grisly soundsystem on the worst day of the week.

For couch-potato clubbing of a punkier, socio-politico stripe, the eternally eclectic Offline has a predictably alternative take. The first time they showed films at their night at The Dogstar on Thursday they've went all
out with hosts Flixation taking over the entire top floor for plenty of 'no-budget cinema, video mash-ups, digital craft and amateur film art' from the Exploding Cinema collective. That's all infiltrated by performance art and music, plus there are the usual live bands and DJs downstairs - and you don't have to pay a penny to get in.

Like Offline, new night Reely & Truly at Notting Hill Arts Club welcomes less conventional eye candy. It's an avant garde collaboration between west London arty clubbing kibbutz Get Me! and online art exhibitionists DoBeDo. Based on fashion photographer Mark Lebon's super-eight-fuelled film and DJ night Reely, which ran in Kensington Market in the 1980s, they give screening space to rising filmmakers, including Tyrone Lebon, Phoebe Collings-James and Dick Jewell, and showcase them alongside established professionals like Lebon himself. You can watch all of this alongside a genre-trashing, party-focused mix from scenester DJs, the '90s R&B-lovin' Work It! crew, Boom Bye Bye's Mr Audrey Horne and more. Again, it's free - who'd've thunk it?

But if you really need some fancy-dress flair in your life there's always Secret Cinema. Whereas SS Atlantica requires 1930s attire for its silent cinema, the tight-lipped types over at Secret Cinema keep their film, venue and theme completely schtum until the day before the event. You'll have to pay more for the privilege (£18.50!), but you are expected to dress up a lot - and that can only add to the fun.

London's vast and vibrant choice is another great thing about its nightlife, so you really can have your cake - or, rather, your lazy night in - and eat it.