Everyone will agree that London is one of the most beautiful cities in the United Kingdom. The city is beautiful not only in the morning but also at night. Just by visiting the same place at night, tourists or locals can experience so many things differently.
If you can’t sleep, there are so many places in London that you can visit. If you want to experience the beauty of London at night, you can simply go for a walk. You can either go by yourself or with your friends.
So that’s why this article gives a proper idea about the places and routes you can enjoy on night walks. The top seven best destinations are mentioned where you can stroll and have peaceful late-night relaxation.
Contents
Why go for a late-night walk?
The city of London has its own beauty, and walking at night allows people to experience and feel its ultimate beauty. There are many other reasons why people go on late-night walks.
For peace and relaxation, late-night walks help a lot. After a whole day of hustling for work and other things, late-night walks help you relax.
Then, at night, the city is quite cooler and peaceful, which makes it easier to think. So, while enjoying a peaceful workday, people can plan things.
At night, the city showcases stunning views; not only that, but the ambiance, lighting, and everything about London become more admirable after dark. So people can either admire the view or take it as a photography opportunity.
Then there is less traffic in London at night, so walking is easier.
Etc.
Be Safe While Being Outside at Night
Enjoying a nighttime walk in London is an incredible experience, and everyone knows how beautiful London is. However, to enjoy the late-night walking experience in London and stay safe, there are a few safety measures that need to be followed.
Transportation
While going for a walk in London, it’s better to take your bicycle or car. As it’s pretty late at night, reaching your preferred destination through a vehicle would be better. Then, after enjoying a walk, you can come back easily. Also, if you don’t have a vehicle to reach the place, it will be better to use a reputable transportation service.
Travel with a Friend
Late at night in London, it is better to avoid deserted streets and locations alone. Go there with a friend or a group of people. This way, it’s much safer.
Avoid Alley
London is full of small and big alleys, so avoiding all of them is impossible, but you must carefully plan your route. Most importantly, it is highly recommended that you take shortcuts and avoid dark and small alleys.
Well-known Route
Walking in the dark in London is fun. You will get to see incredible views and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere simultaneously. However, follow the route that you know very well.
If there is a chance that you might get lost, and I don’t remember the route, then it would be better to avoid it. There are many easy Street forward routes available, like the Thames Path. Go for that.
Valuable item
When going out for a walk at night, ensure you are not carrying any expensive items. Wearing jewellery, carrying an expensive handbag, etc., is unnecessary. Wear simple clothes and keep your wallet hidden.
GPS Tracker
London is a safe city, and for nighttime work, there is no need to send someone to your home location. However, keep your phone’s GPS tracker on while going out and, if possible, let someone know where you are going.
Carry the essential
If you plan to enjoy your late-night walk a little far from home, it would be better to carry the essential items with you.
So you should carry a paper spray torch, a fully charged phone wallet with personal identification, etc.; this way, you will have peace of mind that you have everything required for a late-night walk.
Avoid detour
Sometimes, while going out for a walk at night in London, we feel like we can enjoy a detour as a change of sight, which is an incredible idea. However, if it’s late at night, it is better to avoid such thoughts. During the evening or night, it’s fine, but after 9:00 p.m., the city is way darker, which isn’t safe if you are walking alone.
Late-Night Walk Routes
Southbank
The South Bank is one of the most preferred and beautiful destinations for an incredible late-night walk. You can start from Westminster Bridge. On this route, you will get to admire the views of the House of Parliament and Big Ben.
Afterward, you can go along the South Bank, where you will get a stunning view of the giant Ferris wheel. Then, if it’s not too late at the South Bank Centre, you can experience the cultural events, performances, etc.
You can simply return and rest or visit other places like Embankment Gardens, Tate Modern, and Millennium Bridge.
Tower Bridge
Completing the whole tower bridge journey in a single walk is possible. So there are many people who would like to start walking from the Tower Bridge, then cross the Bridge theatre, and go to the city hall where you can enjoy the incredible view.
Then another thing we like the most is the view of Southwark Cathedral. After that, as you walk at night, you won’t enjoy the experience of Borough Market or the Golden Hinde.
You can enjoy the view of Manchester Palace, and then after spending some time there, you can come back and finish your late-night walk experience.
But if you would like to enjoy the whole walk session of the South Bank, you can visit places like the Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Vanishing Bridge National Theatre South Bank Center, the London Eye, etc.
Paddington route
It is another beautiful and scenic route in London that you can enjoy, and it is highly recommended for a nighttime stroll. So to enjoy the journey you should start from Paddington station, where you can enjoy the history of architecture.
Then, moving forward, you have to hit the little Venice; it is a picture square area where the Grand Union Canal and Regents Canal converge. But you won’t regret visiting this place as it is very peaceful and with a charming wind.
Following the route, you will pass by Regent Park, which has a beautiful view of water and greenery. Then, take a stroll across the Paddington Basin, Connaught Village, and end the late-night walk while enjoying the view of the Merchant Square location.
Canary Wharf
After that, if you are still looking for options, then Canary Wharf is the place you should go for late-night walking, as it is one of the best destinations for night walks. You can start the journey from the Canary Wharf station, which makes it easier to cover the whole route.
Now, at the Canary Wharf, you should first visit Canada Square. They admire the beautiful skyscrapers of architecture, such as Canada Square, Newfoundland Place, etc. Then, you can visit the West India Quay to enjoy the view of the water and the beautiful top facades of the building.
After that, you can visit Crossrail Place roof Garden, but it closes around 9:00 p.m., so you must visit the beautiful garden before that.
If you still want to roam a little more, visit South Dock and North Dock to enjoy the waterfront view. After that, stroll around Cabot Square and Jubilee Park for some more time, and the relaxing journey is done.
Soho
No place is better than Soho for a late-night walk and to try incredible food. You can start from Leicester Square, where the incredible lighting will grab your attention. Then, following the path, you will reach Shaftesbury, the perfect destination for nightlife enjoyment and colorful billboards.
Then, when you are already near Chinatown, it won’t be justified if you don’t visit the place. So don’t forget to visit Chinatown; no matter the time, you will find some restaurants and street food vendors where you can enjoy some interesting food items.
After enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, turn to Old Compton Street. Then, while enjoying the walk, you can simply visit Carnaby Street and Berwick Street and finally finish your walking at night experience at Soho Square.
King’s Cross and Granary Square
If you want to experiment with a walk-in dark experience, then visiting the King’s Cross and Granary Square can be a great idea.
So you can start your journey from the King’s Cross Station or visit the King’s Cross Square directly. At night, the atmosphere of that place is lively with events and performances, but for midnight walks, you won’t get those views.
Then, walk towards Granary Square, a public place known for its beautiful fountains and modern design. After enjoying the Ambience, you can stroll along Regent’s Canal to enjoy the calm wind and view of the water, houseboats, etc.
If you are not strolling too late at night, before 10 pm, you can visit Coal Drops Yards, a unique shopping and dining destination. If it’s closed, roam around the Gasholder Park for a while, enjoy the Ambience of the tranquil retreat amid the urban landscape, and then finish your journey for the day.
Observation Decks
For a peaceful nighttime walk in London, roaming the observation decks is a nice option. You can simply stroll near the building while enjoying the view of The Shard and the Sky Garden, or you can visit The Shard to enjoy the view of London from the tallest building in Western Europe.
The Shard generally has late-night opening hours, during which you can work around the observation day and enjoy the view of London landmarks such as the London Bridge, London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral Church, etc. Similarly, you can visit the Sky Garden, located at the top of the talkie building, but it doesn’t stay open every day for late-night strolls, so you must check it first.
Conclusion
A walk at night in the city of London is always an incredible plan to execute. The view the person will see at night will be incredible in London. There are many people who are into late-night walking for relaxation, clear thinking, photography, etc., and it is a great way to spend your night. That’s why following these above-mentioned routes ensures a perfectly balanced and peaceful late-night walk experience.
If you are looking for a late-night walk idea in London, this article has all the necessary information. There is no reason to think too much. If you should go on a walk with anyone to enjoy the journey, then you should just go for it.
However, as it’s a late-night walk, maintaining safety measures is also very important. This way, while staying safe, you can enjoy a relaxing late-night walk experience in London.