Tartan at the ready — the 265th birthday of Scotland's national poet is fast approaching and you can expect some pretty lively parties going on until the wee hours.
We've compiled our pick of places to raise a dram, tuck into haggis/neeps/tatties, and otherwise pay tribute to good old Rabbie Burns on Burns Night in London this year — that's Thursday 25 January, FYI.
And if you're wondering where else to get your fix of all things north of the border while remaining in London, check out this article by Scottish comedian Eleanor Morton.
Burns night 2024 events in London
BIG PENNY SOCIAL, WALTHAMSTOW: Scottish dance band The Sassenachs headline the Burns Night ceilidh at Big Penny Social (formerly Truman's Social Club) in Walthamstow — expect a mixture of traditional violin music and full band performances, plus plenty of drinks, across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights and an extra Feb date. 7pm, 24, 25, 26 January and 8 Feb
BOISDALE CANARY WHARF: Live music restaurant Boisdale celebrates Burns Night at its Canary Wharf venue, combining the Scottish celebrations with a Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin tribute act. Swing tunes, a piper and an address to the haggis, plus a four-course meal —sounds quite the party. Takes place on Wednesday and Thursday. 9.15pm, 24 and 25 January
SILVERLEAF: Special whisky cocktails (including a Bruichladdick íleach punch), Scotch eggs and live poetry are on the cards at Silverleaf at Pan Pacific for Burns Night. They also have one heck of a whisky collection here. 5pm-2am, 25 January
CADOGAN ARMS AND THE GEORGE: Sister pubs The Cadogan Arms in Chelsea and The George in Fitzrovia have teamed up with Aberfeldy Whisky for a three-course Burns Night menu, and plenty of whisky to wash it down with. There's a live bagpiper and a traditional recitation of the Address to a Haggis at both pubs, as you tuck into whisky cured smoked Scottish salmon, followed by venison and haggis wellington, finishing with a Scottish raspberry and whisky cranachan. Both venues have sittings at 6pm and 8.30pm, 25 January
CEILIDH CLUB: Eating, drinking, dancing, and piping are all promised at The Ceilidh Club's Burns Night celebrations in Marylebone. Traditional Scottish fare is served up (vegan and veggie options available) at the start of the evening to fuel all that twirling you'll be doing later. As you'd expect from a ceilidh club, the dancefloor's pretty big, but don't be intimidated — there's a caller to help newbies through the steps. The party also includes the traditional Address to the Haggis. A rendition of Auld Lang Syne rounds off the night. 6pm, 25 January
HAM YARD HOTEL: At the restaurant within Ham Yard Hotel near Piccadilly Circus, executive chef Jamie Atkinson has created a traditional Scottish menu, served for one night only. Dishes include Loch Fyne smoked salmon, venison wellington, plus haggis, neeps and tatties — and burnt orange brulee with cranachan crumb. All food is paired with Bruichladdich whiskies. 6.30pm, 25 January
ACME FIRE CULT: Dalston live-fire restaurant Acme Fire Cult has teamed up with Ardbeg whisky, to serve a paired dinner on Burns Night. Tuck into a three-course supper with Ardbeg cocktails; salmon, venison and haggis are all on the menu, and the Address to the Haggis is performed, along with other poems throughout the evening. 7pm, 25 January
LA FROMAGERIE MARYLEBONE: Marylebone cheese specialist La Fromagerie hosts a special Burns Night feast. Tuck into a wine and whisky-paired five course menu, featuring classic Scottish dishes including whisky-cured salmon. 7pm, 25 January
OSO ARTS CENTRE: The drone of bagpipes welcomes revellers to the Burns Night celebrations at OSO Arts Centre, which includes a four-course meal, whisky toast to the haggis, poetry, live music and a full-blown ceilidh, with a caller taking you through the steps. 7pm, 25 January
CUTTY SARK: Board the Cutty Sark in Greenwich after hours on Burns Night for an evening of live folk music. The Salts take over the Lower Hold of the famous tea clipper for their performance, with a bar open in the dry berth pre-show and during the interval. 7pm, 25 January
THE SUN TAVERN: Bethnal Green cocktail bar The Sun Tavern offers a special Burns Night cocktail menu for one day only, in a special collaboration with Aberfeldy Whisky. Tipples include the Bobby Burns (Aberfeldy 12-year whisky, sweet vermouth, Benedictine) and the Cranachan (Aberfeldy 12-year whisky, sauternes, strawberry, shortbread, and whey), with free haggis canapés from Broadway Market stalwarts, Deeney's, to soak them up. There's also an Address To The Haggis, and renditions of Burns' best work throughout the evening, with a Scottish heavy DJ set until 2am. 25 January
BOURNE AND HOLLINGSWORTH: Bourne & Hollingsworth's Clerkenwell townhouse hosts one heck of a Burns Night banquet. Celebrate the life of Robert Burns with a sophisticated night of whisky, ceilidh dancing and dining. Begin with a tasting flight of four Scotch whiskies, followed by the Selkirk Grace, ceilidh dancing and Auld Lang Syne. There's also the option to book a multi-course meal of delicacies from north of the border. 7pm, 25 and 26 January
KINGS PLACE: Cut A Shine, a collective of musicians, dancers and callers specialising in ceilidhs, pitch up at Kings Place in King's Cross for a Burns Night special. Dancing lasts about an hour, with flights of whisky and snacks available to buy at the bar afterwards. Alternatively, book yourself in for a full Burns Night supper before the ceilidh. 6.30pm/7pm, 25 January. The same venue also hosts folk group Band of Burns for a live gig on 27 January.
MAMA SHELTER: Grab a seat by the fireplace at the Shoreditch hotel's Wee Burns Night Bash and settle in for a 3-course set menu — cock-a-leekie soup, haggis, neeps and tatties and then honeycomb cranachan — bagpipe-players, whisky flights and poetry readings. 6.30pm, 25 January
THE NEST COLLECTIVE: Folk music events company The Nest Collective hosts two Burns Night ceilidhs. Both take place at Grand Junction, an arts centre in a former church in Paddington, and feature live music from the Ceilidh Liberation Front band, plenty of dancing, and you can buy a haggis dinner or a dram (or two) of whisky on the night as well. There's also an afternoon family-friendly Burns Ceilidh, with live music from the Ceilidh Liberation Front, and dancing for all ages. 26 and 27 January
