By Luke Chapman
The longer nights are starting to creep in (boooo), but depending on your outlook, it also means peak cosy season is around.
Long gone are the beer gardens of the summer, but let me introduce you to hot chocolates under festive lights and book shopping in warm jumpers, and it starts to look more positive.
The Square Mile offers some of the best spots around London to fulfil those cosy autumnal desires, so stick around, and you’ll be filling out your pre-Christmas calendars with all the best warm nights before you know it.
Things to do
It’s cold outside, it’s dark, so where do you go? Well, that’s why we’re here. Your perfect plans for a crisp evening are here.
- Daunt Books: One of my absolute favourite spots in the City. With two floors of books, you can truly get lost in the heart of Cheapside at Daunt Books. It’s famous the world over, and that’s because of its special editions, signed copies and staff recommendations. It’s the BEST place to pop into after a long day and find your next book to get lost in.
- Beers Gallery: If books aren’t your thing, maybe art is. Beers Gallery is a beautiful spot, perfectly quaint near Smithfield Market with a revolving cycle of exhibitions on different topics and styles. It’s small enough to pop into, but good enough to make a stop off.
- Aldgate Bouldering: Maybe you want to keep warm and get active in the longer dark nights. Bouldering could well be your next hobby. Aldgate Bouldering is in the heart of London, right near your office if you’re in the Square Mile, and offers a great stress-relieving pastime for you to get stuck into and lost in this autumn/winter.
- Guildhall Art Gallery: Following the art theme, Guildhall Art Gallery offers the perfect lunch or weekend haunt. Housing some incredible historic pieces and a headline exhibition, this is one of the staple spots to hit if you’re after culture in the Square Mile.
Evelyn De Morgan: The Modern Painter in Victorian London at Guildhall Art Gallery.
- Barbican Cinema: Ever thought about watching cinema in one of the most iconic buildings in the UK? Now’s your chance. With cheap tickets throughout the week, you can also pair it with a visit to the Barbican Kitchen, catch a show, or check out their current exhibition. You’ll get so much bang for your buck at the Barbican.
- Viewing Platforms: Wherever you’re working or staying, the City has a range of viewing platforms that are easy to get to, and often free. From the Garden at 120 to the Sky Garden and more, seeing the City in the newly welcomed darkness and dusk is a great way to see in the Autumn.
- Bridewell Theatre: Theatre in the City of London? Absolutely! It’s all here. The Bridewell Theatre is an incredible hidden gem from the Victorian times that hosts a huge range of events. From live events to theatre shows and art exhibitions, it is ALWAYS worth checking out the events listing on their website.
- London Mithraeum: This is a great one for a quick hit of history on your way home. Visit the Mithraeum (or the Temple of Mithras, Walbrook, if you’re fancy) to witness the remains of London’s Roman history first-hand. Discovered during construction in 1954, you can now see history up close and personal on your way home from work.
© London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE
Pubs and bars
Going alongside the book shopping, sports and culture, of course, is a nice place to sit down with a pint, or maybe just a warm drink to get you heated up! We’re always raving about the pubs of the City, and winter is as good an excuse as summer to get stuck into trying them.
- The Blackfriar: We had a visit to the world’s skinniest pub, and it’s a marvel. It’s deceptively tiny on the outside, but surprisingly spacious inside. Adorned with history across the walls, it’s a fascinating space unique to the City of London.
- Eastcheap Records: Prepare to be entertained with this gorgeously funky jam. The interior offers the perfect spot for a cocktail in a corner watching the world, or listening to their live music sessions and DJ nights every single night.
- Leadenhall Market: Okay, so this one is cheating a little bit, but Leadenhall Market offers a little bit of everything, including a good number of pubs in a beautiful setting. Top tip: look up! The ceiling is a sight to behold in and of itself, so take a look the next time you’re there.
- Old Doctor Butler’s Head: This is our go-to for after-work drinks. Tucked away in a narrow street just behind Guildhall, this olde-style pub offers a quaint interior accompanied by a pleasant walk through Guildhall Yard to clear the few pints you’ve had from the system.
Places to grab a bite
Okay, yes, the possibilities here are absolutely endless. Where do you even start with the places to eat in the Square Mile, well we've picked just a few to get you started.
- Biang Biang– T:e perfect warm noodle spot over in Aldgate. Get settled and cosy with their speciality Chinese noodles and prepare to be transported through the senses. Trust me, this one is well worth the visit.
- Barbie Green: Food with a side plate of history. The adjacent Roman remains of the London Wall can’t be missed from Barbie Green, and of course, the food is gorgeous too!
- Bao: Want to have fun without having to leave the sanctity of indoors? Well, Bao is the place! Their site in the Bloomberg Arcade is their flagship store, which means… Karaoke. So you can get your bao buns with a side of a singalong, a perfect Friday evening.
- Yautcha: Clearly, an Asian theme is arising here, but Yautcha in Broadgate Circle is a dream of a restaurant. Their Cheung Fung is to die for, and worth the visit alone!
Now you’re armed for a perfect cold evening in the City of London, so don’t let the weather be an excuse for getting in the way of some One City fun!
Practical info
If you want to see a full list of places to eat, attractions, pubs and more, make sure to check out our online Directory.