After our latest venture to the British Museum we were quite ravenous, and spotted a venue called Eggslut, which we knew of as a popular chain in LA for famous ‘gourmet’ egg-laden sandwiches. So we readied our stomachs and prepared to get our egg on!
Eggslut actually started off as a street food truck in Los Angeles in 2011, then expanding into permanent sites not only in LA, but also in Las Vegas, Singapore, Kuwait, Seoul, Tokyo, and three outlets in London, including the venue in Fitzrovia that we visited. Eggslut is known for its busy outlets, and when we visited the smaller ground floor was definitely full, but the upstairs was quiet. The venue gave us an up-scale Instagram version of McDonalds vibe. It looked fancier than your average fast-food restaurant, but the tables we went to were unclean and sticky, and the service a bit lacklustre.
Credit: Uber Eats
But we were there for the food, and our stomachs were keen for some butter, eggs and grease, so we were hoping we were in the right place! A few of us went for coffees, while others went for the overpriced orange juice, which was pretty good but we wouldn’t rave about. We first tucked into their famed ‘Slut’, which was a coddled egg on top of potato puree in a glass jar, with salt and chives and slices of baguette. The egg itself felt slippery, but with everything mixed together with the crunchy baguette, it was a fun little meal, although the texture threw us off quite a bit. It was also a little difficult to eat – but that was the start of our messy difficulties!
Credit: Eggslut
We also tried their Fairfax sandwich, with scrambled eggs, chives, cheddar cheese, caramelised onions and sriracha mayo on a brioche bun. For the more carnivorous of us, we also tried the sausage, egg and cheese brioche bun which came with an over-medium egg along with some honey mustard aioli. We enjoyed the scrambled eggs, but sensed more butter than egg, and oh boy was it a disaster to eat! The hash browns we ordered on the side were also pretty good, and offered a nice texture difference in relation to the very soft and creamy sandwiches, which themselves we felt were missing crunch.
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: Now, the food is acceptable here, and we’re not saying we had a bad time, but we were disappointed after all the hype the restaurant has around it. What makes this place harder to review are the exorbitant prices, with all the sandwiches and the Slut being between £9-10. We left the venue still a bit hungry and with much lighter wallets, which is never what you want after having a nice brunch. We’re happy to have tried it, but we wouldn’t go back…we’ll try our eggs elsewhere!
Looking for your next competitive sport group night out? We stretched our wrists, warmed up our arms, donned our flannels (well, not really) and headed out with a large group to Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing in London, and we’re here to report on this fun and high energy night out.
One’s mind usually jumps to lumberjacks out in the woods when thinking about axe throwing, but as a sport it started in Europe after the millennium, and became more popular around 2006. The first commercial axe throwing venues opened in 2016 in the UK and Poland, and before our visit here in London we’ve heard it being a super popular group activity in the USA as well.
Credit: Whistle Punks UK Ltd
The rules are quite simple: throw a small axe towards a target board, and while no prior experience or special athletic ability is required, there is definitely a method and strategy to throwing an axe successfully.
With other locations in Bristol, Manchester and Leeds, Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing provides a down-to-earth rough and ready night out, with its fun mix of corrugated metal and wooden decor. Upon first arriving we wondered if we were even in the right place, as it’s a little difficult to find. Once inside it’s a simple venue, but with its many lanes and targets which each allow for up to 10 players, it’s definitely a busy and energetic space.
Credit: Whistle Punks UK Ltd
Stocking up on food and drinks, we were then provided training from instructors who showed us a few strategies on how to score a bullseye, and these staff were always on hand to offer advice on bettering our throws, and, perhaps even more importantly, how to do so safely. Not only did we compete against the others in our group, but there was also a winner-takes-all tournament between all the lanes, with prizes including t-shirts and gift cards, and even an opportunity to join a hall of fame wall with your own tree ring, so there was an amazing meld of camaraderie and competition!
Credit: Whistle Punks UK Ltd
Final Thoughts: This seems the perfect place to bring a group of friends, and while there was a lot of downtime while waiting for another turn to throw, there was always something to do, whether enjoying the food and drink on offer or watching fellow players and seeing what their strategies and methods were for a successful throw (and those that weren’t), and what tricks were possible with a single hatchet. It’s also a decent amount of time for an event, which approximately 70-minute slots on offer. This may not be our favourite competitive sport of choice, but we’d go back – there’s a definite thrill in throwing an axe, and a unique way to go about stress relief!
Two ridiculous facts led us to on latest foodie venture into Camden: 1) despite our love of horror films, we had never until recently seen the cult classic The Lost Boys, and 2) we had never gone to the eponymous restaurant despite reviewing in London for almost ten years and enjoying everything 80s and vampiric. We were lacking some essential must-dos in our life, but now that we’ve been to this iconic pizza parlour in the north of London we can finally feel at rest!
Renowned as the world’s only vampire-themed pizzeria, Lost Boys Pizza is a restaurant and bar serving up quirky charcoal pizza and a healthy dose of 80s nostalgia. While you’ll enjoy the ambience of this spooky eatery without having seen the movie, we definitely suggest you watch it if you haven’t yet, as it will heighten your experience! Themed after the comic store in the film, the intimate space has neon-lit windows, graphic novel drawings covering the ceiling, beautiful skull chandeliers and tons more gothic and 80s decor to ogle at.
Credit: Lost Boys Pizza
We started the night with a delicious espresso martini and a more unique drink they called Stranger Tings with tequila, grapefruit soda (Ting) and tabasco. In fact, if you’re a Stranger Things fan they’ve got a ton of menu options calling back to this series. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still try out Lost Boys themed cocktails. They’ve even got drinks inside of oyster pails (Chinese takeout containers) – including gummy worms of course – and several other drinks harkening back to the namesake film, which are super fun to experience.
Credit: Lost Boys Pizza
Now for the main event – the pizza! We decided to try a standard as well as a vegan pizza while we were here. First we ordered the Jack Skellington with butternut puree base, mozzarella, goat’s cheese, shallots, sun-dried tomato, red onion and balsamic. For our vegan option we went with Death, which had no-rizo, peppers, red onions, chilli flakes and Violife cheese. Lost Boys Pizza does offer to do vegan pizzas with normal cheese for no extra cost, which is great for those of us who are merely veggie. Overall, the pizzas were definitely unique, and the portions were certainly generous, but while we thought most of the toppings were lovely the pizza bases were missing some flavouring and texture. We feel silly even saying this, but both pizzas could have also done with garlic – but maybe that’s a no-no in this restaurant for the undead!
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: Now having seen the movie we will definitely go back to Lost Boys Pizza, but our main reason for wanting to return is to get to experience Croque Monsieur, their amazing looking absinthe bar in the basement. Unfortunately this bar has been temporarily closed for awhile, but we are waiting with bated breath for it to re-open, as it is near the top of our list of must-dos. And for the pizza parlour itself? We’d recommend going on a Wednesday – every week they drop a password on Instagram and Facebook, and if you say the secret phrase on arrival you’ll unlock 2-4-1 pizza and happy hour drink prices, which we think makes the visit extra worthwhile. Ultimately, the experience and ambience is what you go there for, and we loved every second of it!
Storefront City needed some warm and hearty (not to mention delicious) food to keep us going during the grim and rainy days, so we headed down to Elephant and Castle with a couple of friends to one of their favourite South London restaurants – Sabor Peruano Internacional. Serving homestyle Peruvian soups, fish stews and Creole rice dishes, Sabor Peruano Internacional may not look like much on the outside, but offers a cosy and welcoming space full of energy and a knack for tasty and authentic Peruvian food.
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
As soon as we walked into the space we felt immediately welcome and at home, with everyone around us including the staff incredibly friendly – the only thing we felt slightly intimidated by was the remarkably extensive menu! To start the night off right we decided to try their Pisco sour, the national cocktail of Peru and a drink none of us had tasted before. Featuring pisco, lime, egg white and sugar, this drink was ridiculously delicious, and deadly as well in the full pitcher it came in!
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
Our appetites growing, we decided to try one of their more famed appetisers, a ceviche de pescado. Served alongside chifle (fried plantain chips) and cancha salada (toasted, dried and salted chulpe corn), these delicate pieces of raw fish marinated with lemon juice and spices were mouth-wateringly good, and was a decent portion to share amongst us. However to be honest, we could have done with a whole bowl of the cancha salada itself – such an addictive snack!
Credit: Storefront City
A majority of our party had very carnivorous appetites that evening, so opted for a few plates of the most popular dish in the venue, the lomo saltado. Featuring fried beef slices with onions, tomatoes and red pepper, alongside a healthy portion of chips and rice, this dish lovingly represents the cultural blending of Peru and Asia, as it also combines the use of aji amarillo paste and soy sauce in a classic stir fry technique. It’s clear why this dish is so popular at Sabor Peruano Internacional, and throughout Peru in general, and is definitely something we’ll continue to go back to again and again.
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
We also decided on a chicken dish that evening, their Papa a la Huancaína con pollo. Another traditional dish, here potatoes are boiled in a spicy, creamy sauce made of queso fresco along with garlic, onion and yellow Peruvian pepper, and our version also came with tender shredded chicken. None of our party had tried this dish before, so obviously have nothing to compare it to. While very delicious, it was a bit one note – but that was just in comparison with the more heavily spiced lomo soltado. We could have used a bit more heat, but that’s definitely just our own taste preferences. This was definitely a unique dish to try – but we’re interested to see next time what other plates they have on offer.
Credit: Storefront City
We of course had to round off the night with some dessert, opting to try their helado de lucuma and picarones. Lucuma is a fruit native to South America, and something we’re now interested in trying in its original form. It’s hard for us to pin down the taste in this review, but imagine something like the mix of maple, sweet potato, butterscotch and caramel. The unique flavour and the texture of the ice cream was nice and creamy – writing about it makes us want another bite! It also served as the perfect complement to our picarones (like a doughnut but created from a batter including squash and sweet potato). Served alongside these decadent fried rings was a delicious syrup called chancaca, a sweet sauce made from raw unrefined sugar from sugarcane. Yum!
Credit: Sabor Peruano Internacional
Final Thoughts: We can’t wait to go back to Sabor Peruano Internacional and bring more friends, since family and friends, and of course good homestyle food, seem to provide the backbone to this lovely establishment. We’ve learned so much about Peruvian food from just one supper, and are keen to learn and try more – and we of course can’t say no to some more Pisco sours along the way! The price is right too – you won’t find much cheaper in London, and if your stomach is full and happy at the end what more is there to ask?
This past Halloween night, Storefront City had a decision to make. After a busy and haunt-filled month of reviews, we felt pressure to choose our adventure on the 31st wisely, and thus landed on a bone-chilling tale of the undead creature of the night himself – Dracula. Making our way again to The Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington, we ascended the stairs to see Brother Wolf’s production of Dracula’s Guest, which has been on tour in the UK throughout the year. As soon as we entered the dark and cosy space, silent bar the sound of a music box, we were immediately arrested by the intimacy of the environment created pre-show. Before us was a man, his head in his hands, seated at a table carrying a rotting pig’s head. And so the evening began!
Under the helm of James Hyland (actor, writer, producer and director), and inspired by the writings of Bram Stoker, Dracula’s Guest presents an intimate scene between Count Dracula (Hyland) and Renfield (Ashton Spear), who in the classic novel is the unstable and devoted familiar of the vampire, and fully under his control. In Dracula’s Guest, however, we are taken slightly back in time, when Renfield has first been taken hostage by the Count, and has a life-changing decision to make in exchange for his freedom.
Credit: Brother Wolf
This production truly thrust us into the action, the simple yet compelling setting transporting the audience into the centre of Castle Dracula. Notably, compared to some other productions we’ve recently seen, there is deep seriousness about the creative framing of this piece and we soaked up the immersive atmosphere with trepidation. The narrative itself is a clear departure from the original short story by Stoker (which actually served as a draft and later deleted chapter of Dracula itself, and was published posthumously), but nonetheless provides an intriguing alternative interpretation and indeed introduces new material to ponder.
In performances that require a great degree of physicality, Hyland and Spear captivate us with their presence, both commanding and pitiful, respectively, resulting in a transformation of man into beast that seems all too real. Delving into issues that are present from a different perspective in the novel, we learn of how the fates of these two characters, human and undead, have been intertwined for centuries, culminating in a unique insight into Dracula’s past. The psychic interplay between them is arresting and becomes darker as their evil nature is revealed, resulting in a torturous situation that left us rightly uncomfortable.
Final Thoughts: Dracula’s Guest presents an assault on both the emotions and senses. Revulsion and sympathy are felt throughout, along with an unexpected twist that left us with many questions. Notable too was the sheer volume and violence of the piece. That we were left shocked by the blows wrought suggests that the realism achieved was excellent, but also demonstrates that one must have a taste for such blood to partake properly here. We struggled with various other aspects of the piece including that the pacing felt occasionally uneven and from time to time the characters appeared so very different that perhaps they did not belong in the same space. There are currently two more scheduled chances to see Dracula’s Guest in 2022, over at The Blake Theatre in Monmouth on November 24th and then at the Two Sisters Arts Centre in Felixstowe on November 25th. This is a production you can really sink your teeth into!
This past Halloween weekend we travelled to the big top! The Clapham Grand was the latest venue for the travelling circus-inspired clubbing event. Cirque Du Soul brands themselves as the 21st Century’s Moulin Rouge, and we can tell why with the level of colour and energy they bring to the table. Granted, Clapham Grand is a smaller venue than they are used to performing in, but it was no less delightful than we expected, and let us dress up in our favourite twisted-carnie-style!
Credit: Storefront City
There was a wide range of great music on offer, anywhere from house, to soul and funk, to a bit of disco and hip-hop spun from live DJs on the dance floor. Clapham Grand set up the night in an interesting manner, with the DJ on the ground floor allowing for two different dance areas, one on the Grand’s stage itself, which was fun to experience as we’ve been to the venue many times but have never set foot on the stage before. This also allowed for a variety of perspectives to experience the decor and performers from several vantage points, and we loved the immersive feeling this provided with everything happening all around us.
Credit: Cirque Du Soul
The performers were definitely our highlight of the night, with circus-themed stilt walkers roaming the crowd and even two giant puppet-like clowns dancing among the revellers. Upon seeing these Killer Klowns from Outer Space-themed creatures we knew right away that Cirque du Soul must work with Area 51, an immersive design and event company who also provide performers and costumes – and we’re well acquainted with these favourite clowns of theirs! All the performers made the night what it was, dancing and interacting with the crowd in these incredible-difficult costumes. They charged up the atmosphere, and brought the circus to life at this incredible venue. We didn’t stay the entire night having already been to some other Storefront City events that evening, so we don’t know if we missed a bigger variety of acts (we thought there would be aerialists, fire or more, but The Grand is too small of a venue for this). Regardless, we were more than satisfied from the floor performers and the delightful and raucous energy they brought to the party.
Credit: Storefront City
Final Thoughts: While not as show-stopping as rival event The Dark Circus Party, Cirque Du Soul is definitely a fun themed night out with high levels of entertainment value, and heads above the Twisted Circus events we’ve also attended before. We’d be interested in seeing what Cirque du Soul can do with larger event spaces, especially with their relationship with Area 51 and their expertise in the circus arena – they’ve got a Christmas/NYE event coming up at the Troxy this year, so we’ll head over and try it out. And we can never say no to some Killer Klowns from Outer Space – these wacky weirdos will always have a place in our Halloween hearts!
“He’s been dead for over a hundred years, is constructed from the dismembered body parts of a number of different corpses. He has a sense of perspective.” These memorable lines come from Big Telly Theatre Company’s newest hit show, a crash course masterclass in immersive physical theatre adapted from a short story by Owen Booth. At times comical, at others poignant, this 70-minute whirlwind story of love, loss, community and the struggles of otherness is a beautiful tale that had us enthralled from start to finish.
Credit: Storefront City
This was our first time at Omnibus Theatre, the host for this show’s latest transfer. We fell in love with the theatre itself and the cafe/bar instantly, both having a comfortable but buzzing atmosphere. This multi-award-winning independent venue in Clapham, South London focuses on both classics re-imagined and contemporary storytelling, and has a huge programme on offer year-round. Sporting more than one stage, Omnibus is currently scheduled to host everything from poetry nights and monthly musical theatre cabarets, to larger productions such as an upcoming run of Richard the Second and a Norwegian puppet production in December.
Credit: Neil Harrison
Meanwhile Big Telly Theatre Company, based in Northern Ireland, designs professional theatre productions, site specific, immersive games and participatory community driven projects, and this latest production has already travelled to the Belfast International Arts Festival, and will soon transfer to Broadway at 59E59 Theaters in New York from January 2023. The premise? In 1946, Frankenstein’s Monster was discovered frozen in the ice of a glacier, where he had hidden after his Hollywood success came to an end. Once thawed he meets a woman as tall and almost as monstrous as he, and together they forge a life together in a town that struggles to accept them. This provocative tale tells the story of their love, the painstaking process of acceptance in their small community, and their attempts to find their place in the world, both as individuals and as a larger-than-life couple.
Credit: Neil Harrison
The ensemble-of-four is powerful, with the hilarious and engaging narrators Chris Robinson and Vicky Allen keeping the momentum going the whole way through, and with the strong character and physical recreations of the Monster, Rhodri Lewis, and his wife, Nicky Harley. All four actors were perfectly in tune with one another, each bringing a different energy to the stage that flowed effortlessly with the others, and all creating this larger-than-life story full of comedic genius and beautiful storytelling.
Producing an all-encompassing experience, superb sound design by Garth McConaghie transports the audience into the realm of fantasy, with such a memorable score that indeed we continued humming the “theme” well into the evening. Although the set elements were minimal, this worked fabulously, with repurposed items folding seamlessly into the drama and lighting design that both surprises and delights, including a very clever piece of projection work.
Credit: Neil Harrison
Final Thoughts: It’s rare that you see a decent piece of theatre based around such a well-treated subject as Frankenstein. This production not only morphs the known themes of the genre into something entirely novel, but also makes you consider the wider issues surrounding the acceptance of the other, tolerance, and the fallibility of all human interactions. Ending in an incredibly moving manner, Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep Have All Jumped the Fences is one of the best experiences we’ve had recently in a theatre that traverses the full emotional spectrum in all its beauty and horror.
It’s been some years since we’ve been to The London Bridge Experience and it appears that the space has undergone a complete and welcome transformation in the intervening years. At ground level, an extensive set of vaulted rooms comprise the Bermondsey Bierkeller, themed as a German-style drinking establishment, complete with long heavy-wood tables, party games, and surfeit flagons of ale.
Credit: Storefront City
The foyer for The Sickness is now a historical area with a set of pews. Once you’re ushered downward into the main event, the experience is a set of zones, based around the idea of Dr Natas’ psychiatric institution. Opened in 1939, this facility was said to conduct some fairly “experimental” treatments and it’s your task to escape both the dear doctor and the patients. Vignettes featured the doctor himself, a deranged surgeon (watch out for fluid spray!), the infamous Plague Doctor, and a rather naughty barmaid.
Credit: The London Bridge Experience
Then, it’s onto the Tombs proper for the true test of terror. While the upstairs part of the attraction are creepy theatrical experiences, the tombs are your classic haunt-style labyrinth. Winding passages and occasional blackouts make this chilling, and the actors are not afraid to get up close and personal with their prey. In fact, one of our editors was grabbed and forcefully pulled aside, so watch out!
Credit: The London Bridge Experience
In terms of storytelling, we felt that there was little connection between the overarching narrative and the terrors we encountered below. Yet, the brilliant, fun, and committed delivery by the actors meant we soon forgot this as we were dashing towards the exit. One fellow in front of us was so terrified as to collapse in a fit of nerves once he was safely back in the Bierkeller. And what better way to soothe your nerves than to have a drink at their new Monster Bar or have a go at one of the several games downstairs – we love us a bit of shuffleboard!
Credit: The London Bridge Experience
Final Thoughts: We attended this event as part of the press launch and took the tour with a large group of young influencers – as such we unfortunately spent the tour with a majority of the group talking when the actors were trying to speak, and also waving their phones about and filming the entire time. But while this certainly impacted upon our experience, we did try to make the most of this great event, and the actors did a great job in trying to control and interact with the kind of group we were in. All in all, it’s a super fun venture beneath the streets of London, and is definitely one of the scariest the city has. It offers the perfect group night out, with a solid 30-40 minute haunt followed by drinks, food, and games in a cozy and energy packed venue.
One of the highlights of being a reviewer is the ability to witness the unusual, the mystical, the bewitching. Our immersive theatre journey began over a decade ago and we have been both audience, producer, director, and performer across many projects. Back in 2013, we were fortunate enough to see Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man, which was, for us, a formative moment of wonder in our theatrical education. As such, we were eager to experience their newest production, The Burnt City, a reimagining of the paramount moments of the Trojan War. Immersive theatre should not be spoiled by revealing too much, so forgive us if this review is a little more general than you’re used to.
Adam: It is undoubted that The Burnt City is a monumental undertaking. From the moment you enter, one is thrust into the past, traversing the millennia through literal museum displays into the vibrant and disturbing world of the Trojan War. You are enveloped in this world, and although the theming may be modern, the ancient details shine through; the neon glow of Mycenaean Linear B inscriptions dappling entrances in eerie brightness.
The archaeological remnants scattered about mirror the fractured storytelling, allowing the audience to piece together the narrative as if a shattered vase. Typical of Punchdrunk, this is a promenade performance arranged over an enormous area, which means you must have dogged determination to see everything (and, even then, it’s quite possible to miss certain scenes). The individual must interpret the vignettes as best they can, so it is very useful to have foreknowledge of the Trojan War, its heroes, villains, and voyages, before attending so as to get the best possible experience.
Adding to the sense of veil between yourself, the performers, and indeed the audience, is the traditional “plague” mask that Punchdrunk requires patrons to wear. This gives added anonymity to your interactions, making it easier to lose yourself (and your compatriots, if you so desire) and have a more individual experience. In those encounters, you start to piece the scattered storytelling together through interactions with those fragments left behind in war, the abandoned spaces, or the sudden rush of a troop towards you.
The all-encompassing nature of The Burnt City means this production is true to its name. As we would expect, immaculate attention has been paid to the details of set, props, and lighting, though it is notable that the variety of spaces present in previous Punchdrunk works does seem absent. For the best experience, we recommend you book as early a slot as possible, for only with time and exploration can you uncover the full nature of this epic. You are in for a stunning dive into a tragic-heroic world that leaves no stone unturned, nor path untrodden. Take risks, explore, and always push on that closed door…
Alicia: Immersive theatre doesn’t start from curtains up. It starts from the moment you enter the event venue, and ends when you step back into the real world. Upon going into the building there was immediately a rather hostile atmosphere created by the front of house staff, an almost bully-ish nature directing us here and there: a judgemental edge to every interaction. And this wasn’t a thematic decision, this was a stressed out staff transferring onto audience members, creating an unfortunate environment before we even entered the world of The Burnt City. Perhaps they were overwhelmed, and that wouldn’t be surprising due to the large numbers of audience members entering every second and creating queues throughout the space. Unfortunately, we weren’t treated any better upon leaving, with instructions being barked at us up until the point of exiting the venue.
Putting front-of-house aside, let’s get to the meat of it all. Of course our expectations for this event were high – The Drowned Man was one of the best theatrical creations we’d ever seen, and the ticket price for TheBurnt City naturally reflects this. But, in the end, it suffered from a weak narrative. They attempted to set the scene for the audience with a display and information boards like a museum, but with crowds and queues, we felt rushed in the preparation stages and overwhelmed by both the amount of people around us and the quantity of information we had to read and take in. And, unfortunately, the performance itself, as well as the distinction between the two different worlds presented by the company, was often confusing. One of the strangest elements was the beautiful soundscape – but sadly sometimes there would be huge builds and swells in the music with nothing much going on, and vice versa.
Let me be clear: the level of detail and the physicality of the performances were amazing. The lighting and soundscape were steps above what we remember in The Drowned Man and added astonishing depth to the world-building. And there were some strong final scenes, a brilliant use of the unique venue in a subtle site-specific way, and real passion, energy and talent from all the performers. Of course it was stunning, it really was, but it was also confounding and a bit bereft of that magic we felt from their past performances.
Final Thoughts: This is magical worldcrafting that breaks all boundaries. If you are unfamiliar with Punchdrunk, this performance is the perfect introduction. If you have attended before, we still highly recommend The Burnt City despite our critiques, which come from a place of love for the company and their astounding productions.
P.S.: True immersion is a rare occurrence, but for a similar level of high-quality and enthralling production, we recommend you check out The Ocean at the End of the Lane.
Looking for a laid-back but adventurous night out in London? Look no further than ZSL London Zoo’s late-night experience for adults only. Take this amazing opportunity to unwind and explore the world’s oldest scientific zoo where the usual crowds and kids are replaced with a super chill atmosphere complete with a wide array of street food, music, pop-up bars, keeper talks, and fairy-lights galore.
ZSL London Zoo is massive and you’ll want to arrive early to experience it all. The world’s oldest (scientific) zoo established all the way back in 1828, the truly remarkable collection spans all the major continents and species, from ferocious lions, to tropical rainforest-dwellers, and even the tiniest of leaf-cutter ants. And you’re not just here for the animals: an array of other entertainments are on offer, including street food, cocktails, and live music. Once you have your drink in hand, why not take a wander and listen to the fascinating animals talks, including for more elusive creatures such as the mysterious Komodo dragon.
Credit: Storefront City Team
Upon entering the zoo, we were immediately presented with an array of choices, from animal talks to meeting the keepers, to a variety of entertainment options. While a majority of attractions we’ve been to lately have converted to a more digital lifestyle of QR codes and apps, ZSL London Zoo is still pretty old school, asking guests to take photos of the zoo map and programme. While we honestly do have issues with all the apps these days, we thought this way of navigating around the zoo by constantly referencing a photo on our phones was also a small annoyance, but we just decided to put our phones away and see where the zoo’s paths took us!
Perhaps a highlight for us was the sheer activity the animals were displaying. These crepuscular behaviours (twilight-activated) meant that the lions were roaring away, bats were ducking over us, and monkeys were more playful than we’d seen before. Aside from the animal antics, live performance pervaded the night, with an acoustic set in the since repurposed and historic Lubetkin Penguin Pool. If you’re even more adventurous, an upgrade is available to spend the night at the zoo amongst the plentiful wildlife in one of the lodges.
Credit: Storefront City Team
One of the only grievances we had at the zoo was the limited supply of free water throughout the park. We weren’t allowed any of our water bottles going in, and once we were inside the park we had to pay to fill our bottles with cold fizzy water — very strange. It wasn’t until a few hours into the event that we finally came across a free water fountain. Since we were there in the evening and only for a few hours this wasn’t a huge problem, but we can see this being difficult for those braving the odd London heatwave during the daytime while trekking hours through the park. However there’s always plenty of shelter — we got caught in a bit of a downpour but visited the indoor birds, nightlife, and creepy creatures exhibits while we waited it out!
Credit: Storefront City Team
Final Thoughts: It’s been awhile since we’ve been to a zoo, but we were constantly awed at how quiet everything was without the crowds and kids, and instead with the sights and sounds of nature fully immersing us all evening. If you want to come to the zoo and don’t have a child, this is the ultimate way of experiencing it, with very affordable tickets and a lovely atmosphere. And if you want to upgrade, you can add a private guided tour or even a champagne experience! After our evening with thousands of animals, we can’t see ourselves going back to a zoo any other way!
