Forget Buckingham Palace. Forget the Tower of London. Forget Big Ben.
Sure, these places are considered some of the most historical and important tourist destinations in the world, but they all pale in comparison to London’s ultimate attraction: O’Neill’s Pub.
Located in Soho, right outside of Chinatown, O’Neill’s is easily accessible via the Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus tube stations. Of course, as is necessary for all nightlife in London, you must traverse the late-night drug peddlers and club promoters that swarm the tube station entrances.
This establishment consists of four levels of increasing entertainment. These four levels consist of:
Ground Floor – Your Standard Pub
To be honest, unless you are here before 8:30 p.m and are getting food, the only reason you will be on this level is to enter, exit and get your first drink. The bar here is often not as crowded as the other floors, and there are tables and booths for a more relaxed atmosphere. Most O’Neill’s veterans use this floor as a quick stop to get a drink, which will then immediately be brought upstairs. Which brings us to ...
Second Floor – The Jack-Of-All-Trades
Once you purchase your first drink and head upstairs, a completely different environment will surround you. This floor can easily eat up the most of your time, as it is the most diverse of the four. Floor two is visible through an opening in the ceiling from the first, and often consists of numerous clusters of people talking or dancing along the railing. There is another small bar on this level, though it is often packed with people on weekends. Veterans usually head back downstairs for a drink in order to skip the wait. Live bands also sometimes perform on this level, making it an entertaining place to listen to music. If you really want to dance, however, there is a place for that just upstairs.
Third Floor – The Dance Bar
This level of O’Neill’s is often closed during most of the week, but when it is open it is most likely the center of your night’s activities. The third floor consists of yet another bar along the wall, as well as a large dance floor and stage. A live band almost always plays here, and whoever is playing usually hangs around for drinks between and after sets. On this floor, you will dance and party harder than the other floors by far, but there is much less room to socialize and entertain conversation. Also, any veteran will be able to recite almost every song the band is going to play. This is attributed to the fact that there rarely are different bands that perform. This is okay though, because in no time you will be memorizing “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Wonderwall” by Oasis, and of course, “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers. Once you are tired of dancing and just want some fresh air to relax or talk, there is one more floor to be seen.
Fourth Floor – The Smoking Terrace
Okay, many of you may be thrown off that this floor is considered just a place for smokers to get their nicotine fix, but hear me out. There is no greater place, and no place in London for that matter, than a smoking terrace to meet European young adults and establish relationships. The fact is, Europe smokes ... a lot. I’m not saying you have to adapt to this cultural custom, but instead use it to your advantage. If you don't smoke that's fine, just bring your drink upstairs with someone you know and strike up a conversation. For some reason, many Europeans are more likely to deeply converse with Americans in the presence of a cigarette than without one. You can forge some of your best abroad relationships in these smoking zones, and O’Neill’s terrace is no different. If you would like to experience real Europeans and what they are like, do not avoid places like this. Just remember to bring a lighter.
