For you London worker bee types....

[Plumedenom]

I've never lived in London but have visited to see friends a couple of times. Many moons ago (I'm talking twenty years ago), I remember heading out on a Friday at around 18,00, I think into the City District, where lots of people were heading straight out of the office still in their shirts and ties for a drink. It was a great buzzy atmosphere. Does it still exist and if so where do you recommend in London for that Friday night, start of a big weekend kind of buzz, still fully office clothes? I'm worried COVID and WFH killed it but maybe I'm very wrong!

The City and Canary Wharf bars are still packed but often more on a Thursday than Friday these days as so many people WFH on a Friday.

I don’t think it does exist as offices are very quiet on Fridays these days, it might still be like that on a Thursday. You could try around Exchange Square.

In my experience, Thursdays are the new Friday as so many people work from home on a Friday. But this may be different in the City where there are more financial institutions that have been more insistent on people coming back to the office.

Where I am (Westminster/Victoria) the busy night is a Thursday. But even then pubs and bars start thinning out at 7:30/8pm as people go home.

Thursday is the new Friday, but IMO anywhere from Mayfair to the west end through Holborn, to the city all have this, all over the place!

Try Covent Garden or Soho for a lively after work buzz and all the pubs and bars busy with lots of people outside.

Damn, it does make sense that Thursday is the new Friday, but we are flying in on a Thursday evening late. I have ten Italian women who want to experience the eighth wonder of the world: "British drinking culture".

Even in it's heyday, I think people started to leave there at around 8:30 pm. Maybe you're right and somewhere like Soho is a safer bet. But I just remember the City being so memorable because of all the black heels and suits and ties. It was pretty majestic to be honest.

There is still a Friday buzz in the City and Canary Wharf - lots of banks are back to 5 days in the office. The Leadenhall Market pubs are always packed on a Friday at 6pm, and it’s an interesting place to visit.

I work in the city and any bar/pub is generally heaving around bank station on Thursdays. Can’t speak for Fridays as I wfh then!

I think there are still enough people on a Friday to make it buzzy in the City albeit it’s now my idea of hell! People aren’t as dressed up as they used to be though. I agree with a PP’s suggestion of Leadenhall Market too.

Yes, it is still lively despite the Friday WFH thing. I would take them to Leadenhall Market, Liverpool Street, get the fabulous lift up to Sushi Samba and have a cocktail, then try Madisons with amazing rooftop view of St Paul’s, or The Ned.

Still v lively but the age profile is younger on a Friday. Married people with kids in the main tend to wfh or scoot off quickly on a Friday evening.

Bars around Bank Station are super glam, Liverpool St Stn [Broadgate Circle at the back of the station in particular] and to a lessor extent Borough Market [trendier, less "City" more IT / Start up / Marketing worker]. Leadenhall Market has Lloyds of London opposite and insurance still has a strong post work beers culture.

By 9pm latest though, people will be moving on. Probably earlier on a Friday so you might want a back up plan somewhere with food and drinks so it's seamless.

Fewer heels and suits these days too just to warn you.

When I worked in Holborn, the Ship Tavern (in a little side alley behind Holborn tube station) was always rammed solid on Friday nights. Same with the Castle by Farringdon tube.

Basically I'd try any pub near a tube station, even if Thursday is the new Friday.

Thursday is the New Friday, hangovers had whilst "WFH" on Friday. Dress is much more casual.