Travel Tips for DJs Visiting London

Martin 2 Smoove
Wiley (left) and Martin 2 Smoove (right) at Ministry of Sound in London. (photo credit: Milkshake)

DJs may not know where to eat, stay, and play when they get booked in cities they’ve never been to before. To help them get the most out of their visit, DJcity has launched a monthly series called DJ Travel Tips. The series highlights some of the best things to do in some of the most popular destinations around the world.

Where to Stay

DJ Nick Bright, BBC Radio:

“If you’re balling out, then you have to stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard. It has the sickest views of London as it’s the highest hotel in the city. It’s right above London Bridge station so getting around is easy. If your budget isn’t quite at superstar rapper level, then the Ace Hotel is a decent alternative. It’s right in the middle of Shoreditch, one of the busiest and coolest areas in the city. If museums and local culture are more your thing, I would recommend The Nadler Kensington. It’s a quick walk or train ride to the museum quarter and has a really cool boutique vibe.”

Where to Eat

DJ Cable, BBC Radio 1Xtra and DJcity:

“Check out ICCO on Goodge Street if you’re into pizza and Chisou on Princes Street for Japanese. Brick Lane has loads of options for a curry, not to mention one of the nicest bagel spots in the city, Beigel Bake. And of course, no trip to London would be complete without a visit to Morley’s for a late night three-piece chicken and chips after a night out. I’d also recommend the restaurant in the Mondrian. Not only is the food great, but the service is always top quality.”

What to Do

Martin 2 Smoove, Ministry of Sound and Capital FM:

“In London, something is going on every night of the week. If it’s clubbing you want, you have to check out the newly reopened Fabric or Ministry of Sound, where I’m currently a resident. There’s always good live music throughout the week, from the big venues like The O2 to intimate places like the Notting Hill Arts Club. When I’m not DJing, my favorite place to hit up is Hip Hop Karaoke at The Social on Thursday night. It’s one of the best places to have unpretentious fun!”

Where to Party

DJ AIK:

“There are a lot of really good venues in the West End where you can experience a mixture of house and hip-hop. Tape, Toy Room Club, Libertine, and Cirque le Soir always have great DJs and are favorites of a lot of big American rappers and celebrities. Drake, Big Sean, Young Thug, and Travis Scott have all been there recently. My favorite West End club has to be The Box. It attracts an eclectic crowd, and their shocking live shows leave little to the imagination. The combination of house music, vintage decor, and “trash” stage performers makes for an interesting club concept. If you want to experience electronic music or the underground music scene in London, Shoreditch is a good place to go. Check out Brick Lane on a Sunday where you’ll find some house day parties going on. You can also stop by the headquarters of the legendary Defected Records.”

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