London NightClubs

A night drinking and dancing can get pretty hot and sweaty, especially in the summer months, which is why an indoor swimming pool and a jacuzzi make Aquarium a welcome addition to an evening of fun and frolics. Many people jump in wearing just their underwear, but regulars come prepared - arriving in designer swimwear.

Set inside a converted Gym, Aquarium has a distinctly industrial style and boasts two dance floors and three bars - including one that adds to the holiday vibe by serving up some cooling cocktails. Friday is garage day, and the music of the moment certainly attracts the masses, while Saturdays and Sundays offer a more usual mix of house and techno, or alternatively, time your visit for one of the club's occasional, and very vodka-fuelled, Russian nights.

£7-12

A sweeping staircase brings you elegantly into the bar and dance floor of what started out as a swanky ballroom in the 1920's. You can book a "drinking table" on the mezzanine or the dance floor and the restaurant is open on weekends with live cabaret-style entertainment available. The modern British menu is fairly impressive, with two-course meals at GBP35 and three courses at GBP40. Starters range from soup to caviar (three varieties, at a supplement) while fish, meat and vegetarian dishes compete for your attention for mains. Admission is GBP10-GBP15 after 10pm.

3-4 Coventry St, (Piccadilly), London, W1D 6BL United Kingdom

At last, a superclub in London that lives up to the title. Built in the Victorian arches below Smithfields Meat Market, Fabric boasts three dance floors, two bars, a garden, a roof terrace and unisex toilets and is fitted throughout in a rugged minimalist style. The main dance floor features a "Body Sonic" sound system which makes your whole body vibrate with the bass. Fridays see eclectic, big beat and drum 'n' bass with a monthly rotation of Fabric Live, Big Beat Boutique vs Bugged Out, and Planet V and Vapour. Saturday is Fabric's own and represents UK and US house. Residents include Craig Richards, Terry Francis, Tony Humphries, Tom Middleton, Jon Marsh and Groove Armada as well as weekly guests like Danny Tenaglia, Francois K, Derrick Carter.

77a Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6AA United Kingdom

Ronnie Scott's is one of the world's most famous jazz venues. In its rich 40-year history, most of the great jazz names have graced its stage, and now adorn the walls in photographic testament. There's terraced seating around the sides and tables scattered like a street cafe beneath the stage. "Upstairs" plays latino or retro jazz-funk-soul mixes for dancing, but a trip to the downstairs bar is always worthwhile. Performances are divided into four sets, starting around 9:30pm. Booking is essential if you want a seat, although tourist audiences often leave around midnight.

47 Frith Street, London, W1D 4HT United Kingdom

Hailed as a must-be-seen-at venue for journalists, record executives and musicians, The Social has pushed pastiche to its limits, serving up culinary classics like beans on toast, eggy bread and fish fingers. The sparse, industrial decor may resemble a deserted parking lot, but once adjusted to the darkness you will be able to identify groups of people in black polo necks with goatee beards, drinking Czechoslovakian beers and discussing post-modernism. Wednesday showcases the cream of London's contemporary songwriting talent. Check the website for the sassy Social Diary. Admission is free most nights.

5 Little Portland St, London, W1N 5AG United Kingdom

This club is an old swinger - jazz has been played here for over a quarter of a century. The venue is well known on the jazz circuit, both in London and internationally, playing host to top-name musicians as well as up-and-coming artists. Entrance is reserved for members only, unless you happen to know the management or have booked a table for a meal. A typical basement jazz venue, the dim lighting and cosy table arrangement make for a perfect atmosphere. This relaxed club is perhaps not as renowned as Ronnie Scott's, but is definitely up there with 100 Club and Camden's Jazz Cafe. Food is Mediterranean, and there is a house stipulation that you can't consume alcohol unless you're a member or are having a meal. Membership costs ?95 a year and, to become a member, you must prove that you have visited the club at least three times before.

90 Lots Road, London, SW10 0QD United Kingdom

This famous cabaret club of crushed velvet and gold is teeming with ravishing transvestites and an eccentric Soho crowd. Moving away from its previous repertoire of cabaret into more diverse offerings, JoJo's is now dedicated to providing alternative, underground club nights promoted by independent record labels. Each night of the week features a different type of entertainment, including drag cabaret, R&B, funk, hip-hop and deep funk that dares you not to dance. Sunday is disco day, complete with 1970's dress and disco masterpieces with Keb Darge. Over 21's only.

8-10 Brewer St, (Soho), London, W1F 0SP United Kingdom

Waterats is where the infamous Gallagher brothers performed their first London Oasis gig. Since then it has become a regular haunt for A&R executives drinking away their expenses accounts and hunting for the new "big thing". Open in the morning for coffee and for snacks at lunch, it's not until the evening when the Camden indie kids cram into this King's Cross hot spot to support whatever friend's band is showcasing at the time that the place truly kicks off. The music is very loud but there is a separate bar area. With its bubblegum floor, tobacco-stained walls and an array of staff that look as though they're competing at a body-piercing convention, Waterats is not the kind of place you'd bring your mum. However, it is still a worthy local if you want to pay homage to the lost days of Brit Pop.

328 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1 United Kingdom

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