Things to Do Tonight in Islington: Hackney, Shoreditch, King’s Cross and Nearby: Thursday 9 April 2026
Looking for the best things to do tonight in Islington, Highbury, Finsbury Park, Dalston, Hackney, Stoke Newington, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Farringdon, King’s Cross, Holloway, Archway, Hoxton, Hackney Wick, Barnsbury, Canonbury, Haggerston, Caledonian Road, Pentonville Road, Old Street and Tufnell Park? This version adds stronger pub, beer garden, bar and restaurant recommendations so the guide works whether you want theatre, live music, cocktails, a proper dinner, or just somewhere good to sit outside with a pint.
For all the best options, you can explore a range of choices from pubs to live music.
Best picks tonight
Consider if you’re looking for a vibrant night out.
Imelda May at Union Chapel, Islington
Imelda May is a highlight among the local entertainment.
If you want a proper live-music night, this is still one of the strongest bookings in your patch. Doors are 7pm, support is 7:45pm, Imelda May is on at 8:45pm, and curfew is 10:30pm, so it works well with an early drink or dinner nearby.
King’s Head Theatre, Angel
King’s Head Theatre is perfect for a great night out.
In The Print is a strong Angel choice if you want a more culture-led evening. It gives you an easy Islington night out because you can pair it with Upper Street bars, a gastropub dinner, or late cocktails after the show.
Park Theatre, Finsbury Park
Park Theatre offers another option for cultural experiences.
Consumed at 7:30pm is a very good North London theatre option if you want something polished but still local. It also suits a Finsbury Park night because Stroud Green and nearby streets give you enough dinner and drink options to turn it into a full evening.
The Bill Murray, Angel
Check out The Bill Murray for more entertainment options.
For an easier plan, Angel Comedy Thursdays remains one of the most reliable picks in Islington. It is the kind of booking that works well if you want comedy first, then a pint, wine bar, or a late burger nearby.
MOTH Club, Hackney
For live music, MOTH Club is one of the best local venues.
If you want music with the option to stay out later, MOTH Club is still one of the best-value choices tonight. It keeps the energy casual and fun, and it sits well with other Hackney and Dalston drinks spots afterwards.
Theatre and culture tonight
Discover more cultural experiences locally.
Theatre choices worth booking
The strongest theatre and culture picks in your areas tonight are King’s Head Theatre in Angel, Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, Arcola Theatre in Dalston, and the Barbican for a more central culture night. Sadler’s Wells also has live programming this week, though it is stronger for daytime and family audiences today than a classic late-night outing.
Consider the theatre options for your entertainment tonight.
Family-friendly culture pick
If you are planning around children, Little Angel Theatre remains one of the best family-friendly venues in Islington. It is especially useful if you want an earlier evening plan rather than a full late night.
Family-friendly activities include Little Angel Theatre.
Where to drink first: best pubs and beer gardens
Start your evening with the best options available.
Best beer gardens in and around Islington
For a classic North London pint outside, the strongest beer garden pubs around Islington include The Albion in Barnsbury, The Canonbury Tavern in Canonbury, The Drapers Arms in Barnsbury, The Marquess Tavern in Canonbury, The Compton Arms, The Snooty Fox, and The Narrowboat for canalside drinks. These are among the strongest outdoor options in your immediate patch and suit everything from a quick pre-theatre drink to a longer pub evening.
These beer gardens are among the options for your night out.
Best beer gardens beyond central Islington
If you are happy to push a little wider, The Alwyne Castle is one of the best traditional pub-garden picks in Highbury, while Hackney Wick offers more creative outdoor drinking through places like Number 90 Bar, CRATE and Barge East. For Shoreditch-style outdoor drinking, The Crown & Shuttle and The Britannia are both strong shouts.
Explore the best pubs in your local area.
Best pubs if you want atmosphere over hype
If you want a more characterful pub night, The Albion is still one of the prettiest and most reliable choices in Barnsbury, while The Marquess Tavern and The Drapers Arms are better for a slower, more food-led evening. In Shoreditch and East London, The Pride of Spitalfields, Army & Navy, and The Shakespeares Head are among the standout pub recommendations surfaced by recent city guides.
Best bars and late-night drinks
Shoreditch and Hoxton bars are popular spots.
Shoreditch and Hoxton bars
If you want cocktails or a more stylish late bar, Shoreditch is still one of the strongest neighbourhoods in this guide. Nightjar remains one of the best-known speakeasy-style cocktail bars, while Callooh Callay is still a creative classic for a more playful night out. These work especially well if you want drinks before or after Village Underground, XOYO, or dinner on Redchurch Street or Kingsland Road.
Check out bars for your evening out.
Dalston and Hackney bars
For Dalston, Ridley Road Market Bar remains one of the most useful recommendations because it sits right in the middle of the area’s nightlife energy. It also pairs easily with nearby late-night venues such as Dalston Superstore, EartH, and MOTH Club. In Hackney Wick, Number 90 Bar, CRATE, and Barge East are still some of the strongest options if you want canalside or warehouse-district drinks.
Dalston bars are part of the local scene.
King’s Cross bars
For King’s Cross, The Drop is one of the best low-key bar choices in Coal Drops Yard, while Electric Shuffle and Drake & Morgan work well if you want a more social drinks-first plan. The official King’s Cross eat-and-drink guide also highlights Coal Office, Dishoom and other terrace-friendly options in the area, so it remains one of the easiest neighbourhoods for a no-fuss night out.
King’s Cross bars are included in your options.
Best restaurants for tonight
Best restaurants in Islington
For dining, check the best restaurants available.
If dinner is the main event, recent guides still point to Islington as one of the strongest neighbourhoods for varied eating. Good options repeatedly surfaced across current recommendation pages include The Pig and Butcher, Lagana, Terra Rossa, The Blues Kitchen, and newer guide-recognised names such as Cadet, Goodbye Horses and Lupa. That gives you a strong mix of gastropub, Italian, lively group dining and more current openings.
Best restaurants in King’s Cross
King’s Cross restaurants are among the best options.
For King’s Cross, the official neighbourhood pages make it clear that the area is now genuinely strong for dinner, not just transport links. Standout restaurant names include Coal Office, Barrafina, Dishoom, BAO, Caravan, El Pastor, Hoppers, Lina Stores, Parrillan, Granary Square Brasserie and Hawksmoor St Pancras. If you want a place where you can eat well and still have bars, a walk, and transport home on your side, King’s Cross is one of the easiest wins tonight.
Best restaurants in Shoreditch, Hoxton and Old Street
Shoreditch restaurants are top choices for dinner.
Shoreditch remains your strongest area for a full dinner-and-drinks evening. The latest guides point toward a wide spread of stronger restaurants there, while the Michelin Guide specifically highlights Brat, Legado, Singburi, Duchy, One Club Row and Bar Valette as serious food destinations in or around Shoreditch. That gives you everything from special-occasion cooking to trendier East London rooms that still feel current.
Best restaurants in Dalston, Stoke Newington and Hackney
Find great dining options in the area.
For the wider Hackney side of your guide, the Michelin and current-area pages point to Oren in Dalston, Cálong in Stoke Newington, and Michelin-recognised additions such as Tatar Bunar in Shoreditch and Rake @ The Compton Arms in Canonbury. On the King’s Cross side of the borough edge, Island at Mare Street Market has also been highlighted by both Michelin and its own venue. These are useful if you want recommendations that feel a little sharper and more up to date than the standard list of obvious names.
Best spots if you want to sit outside
Outdoor dining is among the options tonight.
Outdoor dinner and drinks
For outdoor dining and drinks tonight, Coal Drops Yard is one of the best all-round picks because the official guide specifically highlights heated terraces at places like Barrafina, Coal Office, Morty & Bob’s and The Drop. In Islington, the strongest outdoor pub options are still the classic pub gardens in Barnsbury, Canonbury and along the canal. In East London, Hackney Wick remains the best place if you want outdoor drinks with a more creative, warehouse-adjacent feel.
Easy plan ideas for tonight
Consider these easy plans for your night out.
Best Islington night
Start with a pint at The Albion, The Canonbury Tavern or The Drapers Arms, then do King’s Head Theatre or comedy at The Bill Murray, and finish with a late drink on Upper Street.
Best King’s Cross night
Do dinner at Coal Office, Barrafina, Dishoom or Granary Square Brasserie, walk through Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square, then head to Big Chill or another King’s Cross bar.
Best Shoreditch and Hoxton night
Book dinner at Brat, Legado, Singburi, Duchy or One Club Row, then move on to Nightjar or Callooh Callay for cocktails. If you want to keep going, Shoreditch still gives you the strongest late-night stretch in this guide.
Best Hackney Wick night
Start with drinks or food at Barge East, CRATE or Number 90 Bar, then head to Colour Factory or another Hackney Wick venue if you want live music or a clubby finish. This is the best route if you want canalside, outdoor drinking and a more East London late-night feel.
Editor’s shortlist: where I’d actually send people tonight
This shortlist provides the best options for tonight.
For a proper pub and beer garden
The Albion, The Drapers Arms, The Canonbury Tavern, The Marquess Tavern, The Narrowboat.
For cocktails and bars
Nightjar, Callooh Callay, Ridley Road Market Bar, The Drop.
For a standout dinner
Coal Office, Barrafina King’s Cross, Brat, Legado, Singburi, The Pig and Butcher.
For something more special
The Clove Club, Decimo, Island, One Club Row, Bar Valette.
Uchi Bake
Uchi Bake is one of those places that feels like a proper little discovery. Hidden away on Clarence Road in Hackney, this Japanese café and bake spot has become known for its matcha, sandos and beautifully made sweet treats. It is calm, stylish and quietly distinctive, with the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer than planned. If you love finding cafés that feel a bit special, this is easily one of the most charming stops in East London.
Things to Do in King’s Cross and Nearby: The Ultimate Guide 2026
What’s on in Islington This week
what’s on this week in Kings Cross
Curated by Islington Local Guide updated 9th April 2026
