With twinkling city-scape views, late night dining and the undeniable energy of the cities after dark, the experience of visiting Britain does not stop at dusk. Across the region’s cities there are much loved and brand-new rooftop bars and experiences to be enjoyed come the end of the day, whilst outside of the urban areas there are dark sky festivals and unique events through the summer and into the winter.
Band on the Wall, Manchester
Since March 2022
Reopened in March after a £3.5m physical transformation, Band on the Wall has increased its capacity and redesigned the interior. The venue has a brand-new ambient bar space which has a new kitchen collaboration with ‘This Charming Naan’ for vegan naan goodness. The bar has been at the epicentre of Manchester’s music and cultural scene, seeing past performances from The Fall, Buzzcocks and Joy Division in the 70s to hosting a young Bjork, Nadine Shah and up and coming acts.
Rooftop Film Club, London
Until end of summer
City skylines, sunsets, starlit evenings, awesome drinks, delicious food, and great movies on the big screen is what Rooftop Film Club promises its visitors in Stratford and Peckham. Both venues show a hand-picked selection of cults, classics and new releases. The Rooftop Film Club offers more than just a screening, it has created a social cinema with great atmosphere and incredible views of the city of London.
Mumbai Masala, London
Launched 10 June 2022
Bollywood meets cabaret with Mumbai Masala launching at Proud City, making it the first major Bollywood immersive experience of its kind to be launched in London. Mumbai Masala offers an evening of escapism with all of the spice, exotic tastes, sights and sounds of a Bollywood romance. Alongside the show, guests will be served an exclusive Asian menu, curated by celebrity chef and MasterChef finalist Nisha Parmar.
Stand-up paddling in the dark by South West SUP, Plymouth
17 & 18 August 2022
South West SUP has two epic night time offers this summer. On 13 July they are organising a Full Moon Paddle to experience the picturesque sunset and watch the rise of the full moon from a prime position on the water. On 17 and 18 August the British Firework Championships return to Plymouth. Visitors can admire the fireworks with an uninterrupted view from the water. Previous paddle boarding experience is required for both events. The centre offers paddle-boarding sessions also through the winter.
Adventure Cinema, Bute Park, Cardiff
29 – 31 July 2022
Bute Park, the green heart of Cardiff, is in walking distance from the city centre behind the castle – and is full of wildlife and a wide variety of plants. The park hosts many of Cardiff’s celebrations and events throughout the year. This summer, from the 29 to 31 of July the park will be hosting ‘Adventure Cinema’, the UK’s largest touring outdoor cinema where visitors can bring their own picnic and enjoy a movie performance surrounded by nature under the stars.
Night bus by London Kayak Company, London
Until end of August
Paddling from Battersea to Greenwich on the Thames at sunset is London Kayak Company’s unique offering to see London from a different angle. The tour goes through the centre of the city, past landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and other bridges and landmarks brightly bathed in light. The tour takes around two hours and is suitable for all levels.
Black-Owned Hackney Night Market, Hackney, London
12 August & 16 September
The Black-Owned Hackney Night Market has returned this summer in collaboration with Black Eats LDN. The market is located opposite Hackney Central station and features a variety of Black-owned businesses. From street food trucks which serve delicious vegan friendly treats to artisan traders selling sustainably made clothing, gifts and skincare – there is much to explore. The entry to the market is free and there are live DJ’s playing at Hackney Social.
The Night Market, Canary Wharf, London
28 July, 18 August & 22 September
Canary Wharf has launched a new monthly night market for this year’s summer season. Montgomery Square comes to life with street food, music and mini-golf. Food trucks serve a wide variety of dishes from burgers to ‘bibimbaps’ which can be enjoyed while listening to live music from upcoming artists. Visitors can try their hand at free late-night mini-golf on the brand-new course. This is a great way to spend a night out on a Thursday enjoying summer in the city.
103 Colmore Row, Birmingham
Opens in late summer
Birmingham’s tallest office building, 103 Colmore Row, will open later this summer and be home to a global luxury restaurant. The rooftop Lantern restaurant on the 24th floor is complete with a 360-view terrace and an outdoor space which is designed to be versatile to accommodate events and social at arguably is the most enviable evening spot in the city.
Green Space Dark Skies, across Britain
8 events throughout the summer until September
UNBOXED 2022 invites people to light up the British countryside and take part in a series of mass countryside gatherings, inviting up to 20,000 people to experience beautiful landscapes across the UK. The events at dusk will celebrate nature, highlight our responsibility to protect it and encourage more people to visit who would not usually experience the countryside. Using low impact lights, each participant will be part of creating magical moments outdoors at National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visitors can enjoy the spectacle and experience the beauty of these stunning locations under glittering night skies.
Dark Skies Festival Exmoor, Exmoor National Park
13 – 30 October 2022
British national parks have some of the darkest spaces in Britain, where the night skies are seen at their best and the night time is celebrated at these unique events. The festival on Exmoor has a range of events to discover, learn about and enjoy the starry skies. The low light pollution levels create the perfect conditions for stargazing, night time safaris, or astrophotography. Exmoor National Park will put on 50 events including owl experiences, wildlife safaris, talks with astronomers, and night hikes complete with a homely supper.
Dark Skies Fringe Festivals, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales
21 – 30 October 2022
The combined area of the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales is the largest protected park area in Britain and one of the biggest in Europe. Since 2022 the area has had International Dark Sky Reserve Status. Following the popularity of the February dark skies celebrations, there will be another bumper week of events, stargazing, night walks and astrophotography held at the end of Autumn.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media