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Nightlife  :  Dance Clubs
No matter your taste in evening activities, London can accommodate. Quiet drinks with friends, an animated round of trivia, an intimate hotel bar, or a cavernous club flooded with sound and rhythm – they’re all easily attainable. Friendly pubs, the lifeblood of British sociability, pepper every neighborhood, readily serving pints and good cheer. If dancing issues its call, the West End (and especially Soho) makes a good stomping ground. Big names on the club-going front include the Ministry of Sound, Fabric, and Heaven, all of which can easily help you find your groove. For upscale drinks, head to Notting Hill, whose stylish bars and pubs provide the sought-after trendiness that travelers demand. Hotel bars also promise a refined setting in which to pass an evening, as evidenced by the old-school elegance of the Library Bar at The Lanesborough and the Sanderson Hotel’s Long Bar, a contemporary haunt. In fact, most of London’s best neighborhoods tout plenty of places that’ll give you that authentic, big-city nightlife experience. And if you’re ever in doubt, just keep an eye out for the crowds. Popularity’s hard to hide.

Café de Paris
3 Coventry St, London  W1 • 20-7734-7700
Description: LEICESTER SQUARE. One of London's more upscale dance clubs, Café de Paris lets you make a superstar entrance via a dramatic staircase. Formerly a posh jazz ballroom, its heritage still very much shines through the interiors, and the club has a dance floor frequented by the international set and young professionals. Members pay top dollar to avoid long lines, and some people don't get in, although those that do dress up and make a night of it. The mezzanine café offers refreshments and a great view of the throbbing dance floor. Strict age limit of 21. TUBE: Piccadilly Circus

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China White
6 Air St near Piccadilly Circus, London  WIB 7HH • 20-7343-0040
Description: SOHO. Located in sub-level Soho, this exotic, Asian-themed nightclub is one of the hottest places to gather after midnight. Professional DJs (most of them known all over town) keep the cutting-edge crowd in a frenzy well into the morning hours, courtesy of the best urban, house and Euro mixes you'll hear anywhere. What's more, the weekend clientele includes a virtual "who's who" of trendsetters – models, Page 6 mainstays, and even a few stars from the sporting and entertainment arenas. Be sure to dress in your best club wear, but be warned: gaining entry to this exclusive club is often nothing short of a miracle since China White is open only to members from Wednesday to Saturday. TUBE: Piccadilly Circus

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Fabric
77a Charterhouse St, London  EC1M 6HJ • 020-7490-0444
Description: CLERKENWELL. Uber-trendy, this former cellar now hosts some of London's hippest club-goers. Three separate dance floors, an astounding sound system (bass actually pumps from the floor and into your body), and cutting-edge music conspire to create a singular nightlife destination. DJs run the rhythm gamut, spinning techno, hip-hop, house and electronica, while light shows prove hypnotizing, especially amid the maze of cavernous spaces. Full-service bars, unisex bathrooms, and a rooftop terrace add to the appeal. If you don't care for lines, make sure to arrive early. TUBE: Farringdon

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Heaven
11 The Arches Villiers St, London  WC2N 6NG • 020-7930-2020
Description: EMBANKMENT. This huge, enormously popular gay club attracts folks from all over the world. The main-floor dance space stretches endlessly and stays packed through the night with gyrating bodies. A level higher, go-go boys take to their pedestals, and a more relaxed mood prevails. Up again, a busy bar takes care of liquid needs and invites socializing. Plus, everywhere are niches where patrons can meet discreetly when they need a breather. Fabulous dance music is standard, acoustics are great, and the party seemingly never ends. A great place to lose yourself for the night. TUBE: Charing Cross or Embankment

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Herbal
12-14 Kingsland Rd, London  E2 • 20-7613-4462
Description: SHOREDITCH. A converted warehouse provides the setting for this industrial-strength dance club, which sits in a neighborhood beginning to boast one of London's most impressive night scenes. Herbal supplies just the right elixirs for patrons in need of both late-night clubbing and loud, DJ-driven music beats. The club spans three floors, and on peak nights, each one is packed with folks displaying the latest trends. Music includes a great mix of Euro, urban and reggae – a little something for every taste. TUBE: Shoreditch, Old Street, or Liverpool Street

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Ministry of Sound
103 Gaunt St, London  SE1 6DP • 20-7378-6528
Description: LAMBETH. This cutting-edge club is famous around the world for its packed houses, energetic ambience and great music. From a distance, the place looks nondescript, but just about everyone who goes clubbing shows up here eventually to experience the best DJs spinning well into the morning. Take note: Ministry has a strict dress policy, and if you plan on getting inside wearing athletic trainers and/or shorts, you'll need to reconsider that strategy. TUBE: Elephant and Castle

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Purple Night Club
Fulham Rd Chelsea Village, London  SW6 1HS • 20-7565-1445
Description: CHELSEA. Billed as "Chelsea's best-kept secret," Purple brings in big crowds every weekend, thanks to world-class DJs and colorfully mod aesthetics. As the name suggests, purple is the dominant color, punctuated by red leather banquettes and ceiling-draped fabrics. Terrific sound and lighting systems provide added appeal. Purple is located in the shopping-entertainment complex affiliated with the famed Chelsea football club, and it's not uncommon to spot a few celebs hanging out in the VIP areas. TUBE: Fulham Broadway

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Scala
278 Pentonville Rd, London  N1 • 20-7833-2022
Description: KING'S CROSS. Lively until the hours of the early morning, Scala is a top pick for hip-hop enthusiasts. The roomy venue was once a movie theater, but the split-level building now boasts an extremely modern decor, complete with strange quotes projected on the walls of the darkened space. This club also claims to have one of the best sound systems in London and frequently hosts DJs from throughout Europe. Always a good vibe. TUBE: King's Cross

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The End and AKA
18 W Central St, London  WC1 • 20-7836-0110
Description: WEST END. Vast, late-night bar AKA teams up with its neighbor club, The End, to form one of the area's hippest nightlife duos. Up-for-it 20- and 30-somethings gather for a scene that's consistently buzzy: an attractive clientele, great music, and decor that's transformed this one-time post office into a tribute to all things industrial-chic. Seating areas feature cozy leather sofas and offer weary clubbers a chance to catch their breath between DJ sets. Plus, the sleek bar serves an impressive roster of cocktails. TUBE: Tottenham Court Road or Holborn

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