The Top 30 Clubs in London 2023
The Top 30 Clubs in London 2023
London is known for its vibrant nightlife and the city's underground club scene is no exception. With a vast array of venues to choose from, it can be hard to decide where to go for an unforgettable night out. From intimate clubs hidden in basements to large warehouses hosting underground parties, London has something for every clubber. Here is a list of the top 30 underground clubs in London (in no particular order) that are sure to deliver an unforgettable night out.
1. Ministry of Sound
This iconic London club is known for its cutting-edge sound system and diverse music policy. The club is split over four rooms, The Box, with its towering speaker stacks, several million watts of bass and triple-thick absorbing walls. The 103, the first room you come to after entering the club serves as the second stage on club nights. The Baby Box, tucked away beside the 103 to create an intimate third room whilst The Loft is the best place to catch upcoming record labels and promoters before they’ve taken off. You'll often find our DJ course graduates hitting the decks at Ministry! We highly recommend you check out their Friday night FUTURE.
2. Egg LDN
This large warehouse club in Kings Cross is known for its diverse music policy and state-of-the-art sound system. Egg regularly hosts underground parties and live music events with its programming rooted deep in House and Techno. They are true bastions of the underground scene in London and support upcoming DJ talent alongside iconic headliners. We are honoured to have an on-going partnership with Egg and regularly host events at this incredible space!
3. Printworks
This large warehouse club in Canada Water is known for its vast gallery main room that is like an industrial cathedral. Playing host to the best dance music acts from across the globe. Printworks is a groundbreaking venue which has already changed the face of the capital's cultural scene. Its daytime events have offered London clubbers a new way of clubbing and it's incredible lighting and visuals have set social media alight. It may close down soon, make sure you buy tickets for their last season. We are thankful many of our former graduates have had to chance to perform at this incredible club!
4. Fabric
This iconic London club is known for its cutting-edge music and state-of-the-art sound system. The club is split over three rooms, each playing different genres of music. Fabric is often awarded the accolade of one of the cities best clubs. Beloved LSA tutor Peter Pixzel is a Fabric resident DJ and also holds regular events at the club with his record label WYS.
5. Colour Factory
Colour Factory in Hackney Wick is a newcomer to the scene but has already won over the hearts of the capitals ravers. The venue supports many new and underground promoters spanning a huge range of music. It's well known for its cutting-edge LGBTQI events. It's certainly a club to check out in 2023.
6. E1
E1 located in East London is known for its wall of sound speaker stack in the main room plays host to Techno greats such as Jeff Mills and Drum N Bass heavyweights Bad Company. With a sound system that’s hard to match, E1 has been a firm favourite on the London club scene since it opened its doors. Many LSA DJ course graduates both old and new have graced the decks at this upcoming venue. It has a similar vibe to North London's Egg and offers East London clubbers a nice nightspot.
7. Corsica Studios
This intimate club in Elephant and Castle a stones throw from Ministry of Sound, is known for its experimental music policy and intimate atmosphere. Corsica Studios is a music and arts venue situated in two railway arches in Elephant and Castle. The main focus at Corsica is on music quality & programming this led to the club being awarded the DJ Mag – “Best of British 2019” Small Club of the year!
8. XOYO
This Shoreditch club has become a staple of London's nightlife scene. The club is home to some of the city's best underground DJs and attracts a diverse crowd. They are well known for their student nights. We recommend the Saturday night called Pleasurehood and see if you can catch DJ Joshua James.
9. Studio 338
This large warehouse club in Greenwich now in its tenth year is known for its techno and house music nights. Studio 338 regularly hosts underground parties and live music events bringing in large brands and headliners. It brings in a crowd mostly from outside London from the surrounding counties. They have a great covered outdoor space which is often decorated and themed giving an Ibiza vibe in the summertime!
10. Fold
Fold is a relative new coming on the London Techno scene that is more Berlin and Berlin itself! Situated in Canning Town, this is a club for the hardcore ravers who live for the cutting edge of underground events. Dressing for the part is essential, think Berghain meets East London club kid. The music and atmosphere is incredible and there are very few tourists ever venturing out this far. Many of LSAs techno tutors have performed on these legendary decks including one of our most highly skilled DJs Olmo.
11. Beams
Beams is an expansive, versatile venue in the heart of the Royal Docks that acts as a testbed for culture in all its forms. One of Londons larger venues at 55,000 Sq Feet with a raw and industrial feel. Keep an eye on their Instagram for upcoming listings.
12. Koko
After an incredible refurbishment one of London's most historic venues is back open and my have they created something special! Koko is one of the cities old majestic theatres converted into an electronic music haven. Its tiered seats have been taken out to provide many levels of standing areas and VIP booths that gaze upon a heaving dance floor. This is really a beautiful venue and provides welcome contrast to the cities vast array of industrial spaces. It's a temple to the electronic beat! You will also find its stage is perfect for live acts and bands. We were super happy to see our very own DJ course graduates the Gemini twins perform with Sven Vath recently in this majestic space.
13. Fire & Lightbox
Many clubs in London are housed in the cities tentacle like victorian train arches. They provide the perfect environment for nightclubs with natural sound insulation and cavernous spaces! Nestled in a string of arches in Vauxhall you will find Fire, one of London's leading nightclubs offering a multi-roomed quality programme of local and international bespoke events. Many new promoters will hire the various arches meaning on one night Fire can host multiple events. Once of it's most famous arches is the Lightbox, an arch covered floor to ceiling in LED lights.
14. Phonox
Phonox which was formerly Plan B located in Brixton is known for its eclectic music policy. Phonox regularly hosts underground DJs from around the world ranging from Deep House legends like Jeremy Underground through to the likes of Iration Steppas. This is one of Brixton's best venues so be sure to check it out when in South London.
15. The Pickle Factory
This intimate club in East London just of Hackney Road is known for its experimental music policy and intimate atmosphere. The Pickle Factory is a state-of-the-art music venue, designed specifically with music in mind. A room within a room, the space has been engineered like a recording studio, ensuring unrivalled sound reproduction. This club is perfect for those who like smaller venues but are big on sound!
16. Metropolis
Metropolis is actually a strip club during the week but on weekends it becomes one of London's quirkiest clubs. Occupying a spot at the east end of Hackney Road in the Cambridge Heath area it's a hotbed of East London cool. Expect club kids and ostentatiously camp fun. This is an unmissable venue in London so go check it out.
17. Basing House & Rolling Stock
Basing House has a music policy of strictly House, Techno & Disco. It's located at the south end of Kingsland Road in Shoreditch. It's a late-license club and perfect if you like small sweat box style clubs with friendly ravers. It's a 300 capacity venue that opened in 2010 and was formerly the infamous On The Rocks.
Rolling Stock is the sister venue to Basing House and located directly across the street on Kingsland Road. Rolling stock plays host to a variety of events ranging from House & Garage through to Jungle & Drum N Bass. Between the two of them, these twin venues offer the underground scene a strong foot-hold in and area that is being rapidly gentrified.
18. Village Underground
Village Underground is a multi-purpose events space in Shoreditch, East London that hosts everything from concerts and club nights to exhibitions, theatre, live art and other performances. The main Village Underground centre is housed in a renovated turn-of-the-century warehouse and has a capacity of around 1,000. Music-wise, indie, electronic, experimental, hip-hop and much more.
19. The Drum Sheds
The Drum Sheds, brought to you by the team that put together the iconic Printworks, The Drumsheds in bigger and bolder every single way, located at Meridian Water in Enfield. The former BOC gasworks comprises of 10 acres of outdoor space and 4 giant, interlinked warehouses offering a total indoor capacity of 10,000. Set away from residential areas, events have the potential to run longer, later and louder than anywhere else in London.
20. TOLA
TOLA Peckham is a late-night bar and music venue in the heart of South London, equipped with a roof terrace and food from Yard Sale Pizza. On weekends the dance floor comes to life with an in-house music programme showcasing the best of London’s soundsystem culture and underground dance music. This is fast becoming a go-to destination club for the discerning South London connoisseur.
21. Peckham Audio
Another South London club rapidly gaining attention is Peckham Audio. Peckham is the hot spot of South East London with Audio quickly becoming one of its beating hearts. With extensive music programming showcasing both DJs and live electronic artists this is a club to watch.
22. Electric Brixton
Electric Brixton (formerly The Fridge) is another converted theatre that holds a large capacity and is perfect for concerts, bands of live-focused club nights. You'll see an array of electronic dance music icons performing at this venue. If you're in Brixton and want to go big, this is the venue for you. It's similar but smaller than the epic Brixton Academy but at the time of writing Brixton Academy was temporarily closed hence not mentioned on this list.
23. Horse & Groom
Okay okay! Not technically a club but just had to give a shoutout to the original disco pub! Horse & Groom, in Shoreditch, has gained a reputation of offering the best rave-pub experience in London, bargain prices and an unrivalled atmosphere! You can catch everyone here from up and coming DJ’s through to Defected Records regulars like Sam Devine & Jess Bays. Make sure you check out our monthly Friday, first Fridays of the month at Horse & Groom!
24. Night Tales
Night Tales occupies three railway archways and a 6,000 sq ft terrace in Hackney, East London. Night Tales is a neon jungle filled with tropical greenery. Inside you’ll find Arch 14 which is a new tropical cocktail bar, an in-house pizza restaurant, multiple cocktail bars, a 10,000 sq ft terrace and a nightclub.
25. The Steel Yard
The Steel Yard is a large venue in the heart of the City of London. it's very rare to get a venue of this size so close to the centre. It's just a short walk from Monument station. The Steel Yard hosts a range of events including clubbing events. It's the youngest sibling of iconic London clubs SeOne club and Cable. The Steel Yard has picked up the baton by providing a world class platform for the greatest talent from around the globe.
26. Here at Outernet
Here at Outernet is the newest purpose built venue in London. It's also the most central occupying four stories under the centre of London at Tottenham Court Road. It's a brand new live events space, part of London’s new Outernet district. Playing host to creative and cultural events from end to end of the live events spectrum. We are expecting a lot from this club in 2023 so keep an eye on it!
27. The Social
This little club has been in the background quietly providing great vibes right in the heart of the city. It's one of London's hidden gems with an amazing bespoke sound system that has been graced by the likes of Apex Twin, Flying Lotus and Fatboy Slim to name a few.
28. 93 Feet East
93 Feet East is a venue in Bricklane that has become a local institution. It continues to breath life into the London scene and is a venue that should not be missed. Sundays are a great day at this venue after the areas famous Brick Lane markets.
29. Electrowerkz
If you're into alternative scenes and music check out Electrowerkz in Angel. This venue is famous for long-standing underground nights including Slimelight and Torture Garden. You can find some of the most extreme clubbing experiences in the capital at Electrowerz! Don't worry they sometime host normal nights too so check out the listings!
30. Union
Another well known Vauxhall venue hosting a range of nights is Union. It's a great venue for lesser-known DJs and music genres. Certainly worthy of a night out! Check out our friends at Union.
Thanks for reading our blog about the top clubs in London in 2023. We hope you enjoy all of these amazing clubbing venues and party until the sun rises! We are so lucky to live in a city with such a rich tapestry of incredible clubs. As always London clubs come and go so enjoy them while you can as they really do define the times.
Thirsty for more? Check out our more extensive A-Z list of 100 London clubs here!
