As one of London’s longest-running clubs (it opened in 1991), Ministry of Sound was once the epitome of warehouse cool and is still one of the UK’s best-known clubbing venues. Over the past decade or so it’s garnered a bit of a reputation for being a student club (it has Milkshake on every Tuesday, one of London’s most famous student nights that puts on UV parties, throwback acts and the like), however if you want to see a bit of London clubbing history, we say that any self-respecting fan of dance music should probably visit Ministry at least once.
Located in a former bus depot, laid out across four dancefloors and various bars, there’s lots to explore in this club that gives off an Ibiza energy. The venue's 2013 facelift spawned a new courtyard, VIP suite with viewing gallery, and two new balconies, but it wasn't just aesthetics that got spruced-up – the already beefy soundsystem got a tech boost as well. If you can’t take the thumping pace in the buzzing main spaces (The Box and The 103) why not retire to the aptly named Baby Box, where lesser known DJs sharpen their skills, or The Loft area upstairs for more underground names and beats.
Programming covers house, disco, techno, tech house, garage, afrobeat, trance, amapiono and more, with big-name DJs like Todd Terje, Fat Tony and Artful Dodger recently behind the decks. Regular nights to look out for include Disco Daddy, Smoove and URGE.