Noverground? OverNight Tube? Whatever you want to call it, the Night Overground will take you deep into the night.
We’ve found some late-night spots along the line that will let you paint the town orange. From dashing Dalston Junction to naughty New Cross Gate, here’s where the Night Overground can take you.
1. New Cross Gate
Slim pickings out here unless you’re a Goldsmith’s student, but The Fat Walrus is a good spot for a late drink. An excellent beer selection and a decent cocktail menu are the main attractions, but it won’t be a particularly late one as it closes at 12:30am on Fridays and Saturdays. Better jump on the Overground then…
2. Surrey Quays
To be honest, Surrey Quays makes New Cross Gate look like Soho. So much so that you’ll have to walk a little to find our pick for this stop, which is The Black Horse SE8. Not the snappiest name, we know, but the cocktails are cheapish, the pizza is good, and there’s a pinball machine too. Hey, if you aren’t feeling it, the next place is only an Overground ride away.
3. Canada Water
Bustling by comparison, Canada Water has two late-night spots we can recommend. If you’re feeling peckish, Hawker House is open ’til late, serving up an insane selection fro their street food market. Well what did you expect from the team behind Dinerama and Giant Robot? Petare, The Gyoza Guys, Club Mexicana, Burger & Beyond, SE Cakery, Chin Chin Labs… There’s almost no end to the amount of amazing food here! Drinks are served courtesy of Dick’s Magic Tiki Bar, and the fabulously titled German Sex Dungeon.
Alternatively, get your groove on at Printworks, the massive 6000-capacity club next door to Hawker House. With a huge dance floor, and a great lineup of DJs (The Chemical Brothers turned up last week), it’s one of the biggest nights out south of the River. Meanwhile, Canada Water’s connection to the Jubilee Line makes it your gateway to the rest of the Night Tube, should the night take you elsewhere.
4. Rotherhithe
Rockin’ Rotherhithe already has one of London’s oldest pubs, but there’s a lot more to see around here. Top of your list should be a visit to Midnight Apothecary at the Brunel Museum, which is quite unlike anything else in London. Here, you get to sip on botanical-infused cocktails whilst sitting round a campfire and toasting marshmallows. The Night Overground has arrived just in time for their last event of 2017 – a Christmas singalong featuring a live band on Saturday 16th December.
5. Wapping
Wapping isn’t known for a whopping nightlife, so we’re opting for a slight change of pace here. A leisurely walk along the Thames will see you arrive at Tower Bridge in no time, and with fewer people around, it’s a prime opportunity for that perfect Instagram shot. Add the #mysecretlondon hashtag and it might be featured on our Instagram account!
6. Shadwell
Tobacco Dock is a year-round playground, but it’s even better at Christmas. The arrival of Skylight adds ice skating, an ice hockey shootout, and delicious fondue to the impressive views of London. Enjoy the alpine rooftop bar whilst it lasts, but the rooftop croquet should return in summer, making it a staple of the new Night Overground.
7. Whitechapel
Okay, so the Night Overground won’t actually be stopping here until redevelopment finishes in 2018, but we’re a forward thinking lot. The Urban Chocolatier is a stone’s throw from the station, serving up some decadent creations. If you’re the kind of person who gets a craving for sweet stuff on a night out, then you are very much in luck. Chocolate-covered waffles, sundaes, and freakshakes are served up until 1am, so maybe it’s time to the ditch the kebab for a night?
8. Shoreditch High Street
You may have noticed that Shoreditch is quite happening right now. Since we’ve already told you about Ballie Ballerson, Queen of Hoxton, and Last Days of Shoreditch, how about a couple of cracking cocktail bars? Callooh Callay may have a wacky name and a Lewis Carroll theme, but the inventive menu is seriously good. Meanwhile, Whistling Shop will whisk you around the world in 36 drinks inspired by the far flung corners of the globe. For post-sesh sustenance, Beigel Bake on Brick Lane may not be a secret anymore, but it remains utterly fantabulous. Open 24/7, it’s the ultimate spot for a post-party beigel/bagel. (See also: the best restaurants in Shoreditch.)
9. Hoxton
Hop off at Hoxton for two ludicrously loopy late-night spots. You’ll need to enter through a mirror to find Looking Glass Cocktail Club (hence the name), which bills itself as a “haven of debauchery”. Once inside, the Alice in Wonderland-inspired bar will ply you with gorgeous cocktails and absinthe until 3am. Over in Hoxton Square, the fabulously titled Zigfrid von Underbelly throws parties both upstairs (Zigfrid) and downstairs (in the Underbelly). The neon-lit wonderland does a big range of ‘rocktails’ and has events running throughout December, making it a great place to pop your Night Overground cherry.
10. Haggerston
Combining music, food, and of course drinks, Brilliant Corners is our Haggerston hotspot. The slightly bizarre website belies the range of great little Japanese dishes that the kitchen cooks up, and the drinks menu does it’s best to keep you in Haggerston until the wee hours of the morning.
11. Dalston Junction
This was the end of the line for a while, until the Night Overground extended to Highbury & Islington. At Dalston Jazz Bar, you can listen to great live jazz, and brave souls can tackle the food menu. You’ll find crocodile, shark, and zebra dishes here, so if you’re of a delicate sensibility, perhaps eat elsewhere. The Dalston branch of Voodoo Ray’s is a safer option, offering New York-style pizza by the slice until 3am. You can’t go wrong with much here, but we’re intrigued by The Full Moon Slice, which is only served after midnight.
12. Canonbury
How about a pub inspired by one of literature’s most colourful figures? The Hunter S is dedicated to batshit crazy author Hunter S Thompson, filled with taxidermy and NSFW artwork, and topped off with a pretty magnificent chandelier. Open until 1:30am on Fridays and Saturdays, this is a great place to sit and work your way through their big gin and whiskey collection. Gentlemen should also schedule a trip to the bathroom to see those infamous lipstick urinals.
13. Highbury & Islington
The final stop on the Night Overground, Highbury & Islington puts you right on the cusp of bustling Upper Street. We’ve done a whole guide just for this road, but one of our favourite hangouts sits just off the main road. Little Bat aspires to be Islington’s friendly neighbourhood bar, and you can drink here until the wee hours of the night. A hodge-podge of cosy furniture is matched by a menu of accomplished cocktails – it’s been a long road from New Cross Gate, so you’ve earned this drink!
Featured image: @adipixx