Late-night bars and clubs on the Piccadilly line

There’s loads to get stuck into in W6: dip down beneath the Brook Green Hotel for quality cocktails, mixology classes and velvet booths in Smith’s, hit up the Hammersmith Ram for some regular folk nights. Or for some ’70s rock history visit classic pub Latymers where AC/DC and Metallica once played.

Lots of doors stay open until midnight around Barons Court, including elegant craft beer destination The Distillers and American diner The Southern Belle – which boasts seven pool tables and a private hire karaoke room – or you could take a punt on the live music at The Albion.

Your first stop could be speakeasy bar Evans & Peel Detective Agency to sample their memorable cocktails and décor. Or there’s the live Irish music at The Bolton, stunning gilded mirrors and chandeliers at The Pembroke or no-trainers-but-lots-of-neon vibe at private members’ club Vaudeville. Vingt-Quatre is a bit of walk from the tube but offers quality food and drink 24 hours a day. Failing those options, the pretty cheesy Wild West-themed Beaver Lodge stays open until 3.30am.

There’s not many late-night options in these parts that don’t require dressing up. Cocktail bar Eclipse is all reflective and shiny surfaces, while beneath plush restaurant L’Etranger is the refined glamour of cocktail bar Meursault. Both have regular R&B and hip hop DJs and both are open until 3am.

Lots of fun to be had in Kensington, despite the recent changes to Boujis and No. 41. There’s live music at US-style dive bar Janet’s, flowing dress-up boxes at speakeasy Barts and the stylised Aztec-themed Montezuma cocktail bar.

Long-running Lebanese restaurant chain takes care of late night options with Maroush II, open until 4.30am, and Ranoush both offering friendly dining and drinks, open until 2am. Or you could try private members' joint Wellington Club, it’s scrappy, graffitied walls are often in high demand for photoshoots.

Why not nestle in the historic 400-year-old Rose & Crown pub, recline amongst leather-bound books and oil paintings at Library Bar at The Lanesborough hotel or sample the extensive British gins on offer at The Arch bar at the Intercontinental on Park Lane. And for all night drinking the Colony Club casino and Playboy Club are open 24 hours.

Smarten up and step out into the streets of Mayfair for some swanky clubbing at Mahiki or Fifty9, or head to Mr Fogg’s for strong cocktails and junk-shop quirk. Relaunched ’60s nightclub Scotch of St James is open till 5am but you’ll need to reserve a table if you want in.

Stay out late in Piccadilly because you can! There’s big old boozer The Warwick, themed rooms covered in vinyl, CDs and cassettes in Piccadilly Institute, ultra-glam DSTRKT London, glorious cabaret at Cafe de Paris or Rah Rah Room, basement salsa club Rumba or D-list celeb spotting on the light-up dance floor at Tiger Tiger, all of whom kick out after 3am. 

Amongst the giant shops dedicated to Lego and M&M's is private members’ bar Library where DJs and bands perform amongst well-stocked and worthy tomes.