London's night time economy
How do you use the city from 6 pm to 6 am? What do you like about London's night time economy and what can be improved?
The Mayor has launched his vision for London’s night time economy. It focuses on:
- promoting an economy which works for all ages and interests
- opportunities in all of London’s boroughs
- safety for residents, visitors and night-time workers
To work towards the vision, the Mayor has also appointed a Night Time Commission. It includes businesses, cultural organisations, local authorities and other agencies. The Commission’s job is to advise the Mayor on what needs to be done to improve London’s night time offer while protecting residents, visitors and workers.
The Commission wants to hear from Londoners before making any recommendations.
What do you think of London’s night time economy? How do you use the city at night? What are the best things about London at night? What can be improved?
Let us know below.
The discussion ran from 01 December 2017 - 01 March 2018
Closed
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Community Member 6 years agoMore protected bike routes so I can cycle about without feeling like I am going to be run down by motorists. Its bad enough during the day but at night the standard of driving drops to a dangerous level
livehere
Community Member 6 years agoOne very major problem is the pedicabs with amplified sound systems, day and night, even at 3am. The proposed Pedicabs Bill, as it stands currently, is not going to deal with this aspect of pedicabs problems.
Sioned
Community Member 6 years agoBeing only a visitor to london I can't comment on the 24 hour london discussion the thing I found late at night in london which upset me was the amount of homelessness the weather was freezing during our visit and my heart broke for these...
Show full commentBeing only a visitor to london I can't comment on the 24 hour london discussion the thing I found late at night in london which upset me was the amount of homelessness the weather was freezing during our visit and my heart broke for these poor people I strongly feel that more should be done to help find night time accommodation especially during the winter months and there should be more done to ensure they have food and warm drinks it really is very sad
Show less of commentIcemaiden98
Community Member 6 years agoAs a person that does not drive I love the fact it is so easy to get around London even after a night out.
Show full commentI might be hanging out in the wrong places but the bars and pubs I have visited seemed to close really early compared to other city...
As a person that does not drive I love the fact it is so easy to get around London even after a night out.
Show less of commentI might be hanging out in the wrong places but the bars and pubs I have visited seemed to close really early compared to other city's .
north_london
Community Member 6 years agoSupporting the night time economy can only benefit the long term attraction of London. Look across to the US and Europe where most cities close down at 5 or 6 pm (trying to find a place to eat after 9pm in parts of Europe is impossible)...
Show full commentSupporting the night time economy can only benefit the long term attraction of London. Look across to the US and Europe where most cities close down at 5 or 6 pm (trying to find a place to eat after 9pm in parts of Europe is impossible). Why would l want to live in boring Frankfurt or Zurich?
However, we need to change the perspective of the night time economy and actually make it a real 24/7 society, why not have day and night schools to reduce classroom sizes (countries in Asia already do this), with space being a premium, does it make sense to not utilise the empty classrooms, offices, infrastructure all day and all night rather than just support the food/drink, entertainment and mini cab industries?
Why not think outside of the box? Discuss?
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 years agoTeenagers could go to school at night, as their body clocks are different for a few years, but the rest of us need eight hours of good quality sleep, starting before midnight, for health reasons. You can have a 24/7 city as long as nobody...
Show full commentTeenagers could go to school at night, as their body clocks are different for a few years, but the rest of us need eight hours of good quality sleep, starting before midnight, for health reasons. You can have a 24/7 city as long as nobody actually lives in it, because people need to rest, to relax, and to sleep. The 24/7 city is noisy round the clock, damaging people's health, making them exhausted and debilitated, lowering productivity of workers, and damaging children's ability to learn and concentrate.
Show less of commentkittikatlinglong
Community Member 6 years agoPalmers Green & Winchmore Hill areas are being destroyed.
The council ignore resident concerns and is in tent on pressing forward despite the transformation of our Winchmore hill into an ugly, congested, concrete jungle with decimated...
Show full commentPalmers Green & Winchmore Hill areas are being destroyed.
The council ignore resident concerns and is in tent on pressing forward despite the transformation of our Winchmore hill into an ugly, congested, concrete jungle with decimated natural beauty and failing business.
Enfield council presented false statements and visual plans of green lanes in their 'consultation for the cycle lane scheme - on the drawings no mention was made of tearing up and ripping out ten mature trees along our green lanes to date - and more to come.The residents of Winchmore hill did not agree to the replacement of beautiful mature trees with grey slabs of concrete - 'improving public spaces ' in the council's words. No effort has been made to protect the trees at all despite claims to the contrary . Worryingly letters have been put in local communications to inform residents of more trees 'necessary' to be removed . These were not presented as needing removal in the 'consultation' plans.
We live in Winchmore hill because we chose to live amongst greenery and historical mature trees.
The GREEN needs to be put back in to Palmers Green and the sparkle back into the Jewel.
A REVAMP is much need in Palmers Green high street a new lease of life needs to breath into our High Streets, we need to bring back non failed retail businesses and a sense of community we need to put the heart back into the centre of our High Streets' this could be done by making the destinations more than just a place to shop but a place for the community to gather and engage with one another and where shopping is just one part of a rich mix of activities.
The shop-fronts need total restoration and repainting. New window shutters need to be installed inside the shop, allowing evening browsers to view the displays at night and make the high road more attractive and safer."
Show less of commentkittikatlinglong
Community Member 6 years agoThe council ignore resident concerns and is in tent on pressing forward despite the transformation of our Winchmore hill into an ugly, congested, concrete jungle with decimated natural beauty and failing business.
Enfield council presented...
Show full commentThe council ignore resident concerns and is in tent on pressing forward despite the transformation of our Winchmore hill into an ugly, congested, concrete jungle with decimated natural beauty and failing business.
Enfield council presented false statements and visual plans of green lanes in their 'consultation for the cycle lane scheme - on the drawings no mention was made of tearing up and ripping out ten mature trees along our green lanes to date - and more to come.The residents of Winchmore hill did not agree to the replacement of beautiful mature trees with grey slabs of concrete - 'improving public spaces ' in the council's words. No effort has been made to protect the trees at all despite claims to the contrary . Worryingly letters have been put in local communications to inform residents of more trees 'necessary' to be removed . These were not presented as needing removal in the 'consultation' plans.
We live in Winchmore hill because we chose to live amongst greenery and historical mature trees.
The GREEN needs to be put back in to Palmers Green and the sparkle back into the Jewel.
A REVAMP is much need in Palmers Green high street a new lease of life needs to breath into our High Streets, we need to bring back non failed retail businesses and a sense of community we need to put the heart back into the centre of our High Streets' this could be done by making the destinations more than just a place to shop but a place for the community to gather and engage with one another and where shopping is just one part of a rich mix of activities.
The shop-fronts need total restoration and repainting. New window shutters need to be installed inside the shop, allowing evening browsers to view the displays at night and make the high road more attractive and safer.
Show less of commentgreencarman
Community Member 6 years agoIf you live outside of London
More late running trains would help
Anonymous - account deleted
Community Member 6 years agoI go to the theatre in the evening. Now the tubes run all night at weekends and buses all week, there need to be far more public toilets and these need to be kept open 24 hours a day. During opening hours, pubs need to be obliged to open...
Show full commentI go to the theatre in the evening. Now the tubes run all night at weekends and buses all week, there need to be far more public toilets and these need to be kept open 24 hours a day. During opening hours, pubs need to be obliged to open their tollets to the general public as part of their licensing conditions.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 years agoToo right! Centre of London residents are so very sick of people peeing on their windows, on their front doors, in the streets. Would you believe it - the whole of Crossrail has not one public toilet. The Transformation of Oxford Street -...
Show full commentToo right! Centre of London residents are so very sick of people peeing on their windows, on their front doors, in the streets. Would you believe it - the whole of Crossrail has not one public toilet. The Transformation of Oxford Street - not one new public toilet.
Show less of commentAzza0911
Community Member 6 years agoTransport is a lot better now that the Night Tube has been introduced, but it needs to be across the whole underground for events like the NYE fireworks.
Talk London
Official Representative 6 years agoMany of you have mentioned worries about noise, anti-social behaviour and safety. City Hall is thinking closely about these issues and how to ensure that London's night-time culture has a positive impact on communities.
How does noise or anti-social behaviour affect your life? What could be done to make things better?
Talk London
livehere
Community Member 6 years agoCity Hall needs to think funding - community police go home quite early in the evening, leaving no police presence on many streets. Police are short of funding, not enough to properly police the West End at night. They are concentrated in...
Show full commentCity Hall needs to think funding - community police go home quite early in the evening, leaving no police presence on many streets. Police are short of funding, not enough to properly police the West End at night. They are concentrated in hotspots, or they are in cars, not on foot. If you want the 24-hour city, you have to have police on the ground round the clock. Not more stretching of the Met - more money, more police officers.
Show less of commentemspaws
Community Member 6 years agofree water should be available too 24hrs a day
emspaws
Community Member 6 years agothe transport system shouldnt advertise alcohol on its posters either
better out of hours food offer on the transport system not full fat coke, choc and crisps in its vending machines and burgers from its shops!
wiggins
Community Member 6 years agoIt's good that transport other than the night buses network is now available in London all night.
But it shouldn't mean that venues be allowed to open/extend all over the place with the promise of music/food/drink at every hour of the day...
Show full commentIt's good that transport other than the night buses network is now available in London all night.
But it shouldn't mean that venues be allowed to open/extend all over the place with the promise of music/food/drink at every hour of the day. Unfortunately quite a few that have been given approval are in residential areas and are not considerate of others needs.
Show less of commentDellegg
Community Member 6 years agoThe anti- alcohol lobby is very vocal but their message is too simplistic. The problems do not originate with the pubs - either the ones with regular hours or the late night venues. The problems actually originate with young drinkers...
Show full commentThe anti- alcohol lobby is very vocal but their message is too simplistic. The problems do not originate with the pubs - either the ones with regular hours or the late night venues. The problems actually originate with young drinkers "front loading" ie buying cheap strong bottles from supermarkets and drinking more than is good for them before they go out . This results in some people not behaving as well as they should towards the end of the evening. The aim should be to remove the big price difference between supermarket alcohol and that charged in pubs so the young drinkers on a budget can start their night drinking regular alcohol in pubs and are not forced to maximise their "bang for their bucks" by starting their night drinking as quickly as they can cheap and strong supermarket alcohol.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 years agoThey behaved badly before supermarket alcohol was so cheap in comparison.
HuwC
Community Member 6 years agoI do not understand why the late night tube is at a cheap rate. It’s a lot cheaper than getting a taxi, so surely late night revellers could pay the same premium as people travelling to work at peak times. This would also help fund TFL
cardriver
Community Member 6 years agoI don't think this is what London needs ie more alcohol, fast food places and noise and no rest. London train/tube stations, buses and streets are not safe late at night especially for women - so not an attractive prospect. Also it is not...
Show full commentI don't think this is what London needs ie more alcohol, fast food places and noise and no rest. London train/tube stations, buses and streets are not safe late at night especially for women - so not an attractive prospect. Also it is not fair on those who live near/next to the 24h venues as they will be subject to constant noise and distractions. This is all a recipe for disaster.
Show less of commentTalk London
Official Representative 6 years agoThanks everyone for all your comments so far.
Some aspects of London's economy have to be 24 hours, like hotels and protection services. Others are optional.
What are things in your life that you need to be able to access 24 hours a day? How could we ensure that longer hours do not cause harm?
Talk London
strnik
Community Member 6 years agoas a Londoner, I agree with comments above - most of all at night we need quiet neighborhoods for quality sleep and safety for trips during occasional time out /late shifts/etc. and fully staffed 24h emergency services - police, fire, NHS A...
Show full commentas a Londoner, I agree with comments above - most of all at night we need quiet neighborhoods for quality sleep and safety for trips during occasional time out /late shifts/etc. and fully staffed 24h emergency services - police, fire, NHS A&E.
as a tourist, I would like main central London sightseeing locations (at least both sides of the Thames between Westminster and to be open at night, well lit, policed, with conveniences (toilets, some cafes, souvenir shops) and transport (ex. tube and buses with reduced intervals, ex. every 20-30min. would be nice to have boat services running)
as a reveler, I would look for some entertainment, but it either should be in properly soundproofed buildings with crowd control staff in the street or located in dedicated non-residential area.
as a worker, unless I'm employed in emergency services, I would prefer not to work late or night shifts.
Show less of commentlivehere
Community Member 6 years ago24-hour London does not work for residents. Neither the Mayor nor the Nightime Commissioner are interested in making it work for residents. People need 8 hours of good quality sleep each night.
Too many children living in the centre of...
Show full comment24-hour London does not work for residents. Neither the Mayor nor the Nightime Commissioner are interested in making it work for residents. People need 8 hours of good quality sleep each night.
Too many children living in the centre of London, who as children are especially vulnerable to poor quality sleep and too little sleep, currently do not get 8 hours good quality sleep. This is because noise from deliveries, road works, shop fitters, buses, taxis, drunk people, buskers, pedicabs with sound systems, clubs, pubs, bars, restaurant customers, waste collections, recycling collections (crashing cascades of hundreds of bottles being poured into vehicles), and so-on, keeps them awake until midnight. Some of these wake them up after midnight. Fortunately the worst of all this noise occurs before midnight, and there is some protection for residents against night-time noise. But now Transport for London, the Mayor, all the West End businesses, want to make sure residents are kept awake or have poor quality sleep right through the nignt. Residents are asking why the Mayor hates ordinary Londoners so much.
Show less of commentTom Reilly
Community Member 6 years agoI used to work in London for 30 years ......Shiftwork ......all hours
I still get involved in playing music for fun with friends throughout London
I have to drive and therefore park
I also attend many meetings in different parts of...
Show full commentI used to work in London for 30 years ......Shiftwork ......all hours
I still get involved in playing music for fun with friends throughout London
I have to drive and therefore park
I also attend many meetings in different parts of London
My Youngsters and their cousins are regularly participating in events and socialising in London
Show less of commentThey drive and use public transport