Burns Night in London

London’s biggest Burns Night event is back. The Ceilidh Club runs Ceilidhs in London all year long and has been doing so since 1998 – so, if you’re looking for a proper authentic Burns’ celebration, this is the place. It’s a night of jigs, reels, poetry, Haggis and proper Scottish trad. A live caller will talk you through the steps and will have you doing the ‘Flying Scotsman’ in no time, ready to belt out Auld Lang Syne at the end.

Burns Night in Bethnal Green means tasty whisky cocktails made in tribute to the great, Scottish poet. Curated with Aberfeldy Whisky, especially for the night, £9.50 will get you a one-off concoction inspired by classic Caledonian flavours. Plus there are free haggis bites to nibble on throughout the night: perfect sustenance to late night dancing to a DJ set by legendary Scottish fashionista Pam Hogg. 

Big Penny Social, the massive taproom and community events space off Blackhorse Lane, knows a thing or two about throwing huge frolicking events, so expect a belter for its Burns Night celebrations. The largest beer hall in London will be inviting over 1,000 Londoners to strip the willow across a selection of ceilidhs over two days. As well as a traditional live band and caller to lead you through the Gaelic dances, there’ll also be bagpipes, a bar stocked full of Scottish whisky and haggis on the menu. 

Talking Heads star David Byrne might be more commonly associated with New York, but the musician has Scottish roots – he was, in fact, born in Dumbarton. That and his surname make him the perfect figure to centre a Burns Night celebration around, which is exactly what promoters Dancing Barefoot are doing at Moth Club. The night will feature a rotating cast of house bands and guest singers, all paying tribute to Byrne with covers of his solo material, Talking Heads songs and other related tracks. Taking to the stage will be members of Dream Wife, Gently Tender, Goat Girl, Mary In The Junkyard, Nuha Ruby Ra, The Last Dinner Party, and more.

Leyton’s Wee Movers usually runs dance classes for kids, but for Burns’ Night it’s a grown-ups-only affair. Founder Fiona Campbell will be leading dances with ceilidh band Stroma before local Scottish cafe Deeney’s lay on a traditional Highland supper. Expect a truly Caledonian affair with a piper, address to haggis and sporran-shaking jigging until the wee hours. 

Twickenham’s Brewery Market is promising a full Celtic cultural immersion for its Burns Night celebration. The craft brew bottleshop will be serving a traditional haggis supper (veggie option also available) putting on a selection poetry readings and delving into the history of Heather Ale, a legendary brew from Scotland, as well as offering up whiskeys, meads and traditional Scottish ales for you to try. 

Celebrate Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns by donning a kilt and pounding the streets of London. This 10k run will begin at the Robert Burns Statue in Victoria Embankment Gardens and take in many Scottish themed sights before ending up at a Scottish themed venue. Sign up in advance.

If you want to celebrate Burns Night without scuppering your Dry January completely, Small Beer has the perfect ceilidh for you. The brewery which overs up low-calorie, low-ABV brews – including a 1 percent dark lager and a 2.5 percent session pale – is hosting a full haggis supper in its aesthetically-pleasing taproom, followed by piping, whiskey toasts and, of course, dancing. 

Auld Hag, London’s only Scottish deli, has teamed up with legendary whiskey brand Laphroaig for this evening of Rabbie Burns appreciation. Expect songs, poems and plays – including a live rendition of Tam o’ Shanter – as well as an address to a haggis accompanied by a live piper and a ceilidh curated by the Association of Exiled Scots. There’ll be scran, including haddock and macaroni pies and bowls of haggis, neeps and tatties, plus swally from Laphroaig and Scottish breweries and cideries. And the dress code? Your best tartan, of course! 

This Burns Night celebration mixes the traditional - a three-course feast, with tatties and haggis, to which will be addressed Burns' famous ode ('Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!') - and the modern - cocktails, spandex and dancing with the Ceilidh Liberation Front. Tickets for a family-friendly event are also available. 

There are few more Scottish ways to celebrate Burns Night than by joining a ceilidh. Down on Bermondsey Beer Mile, Fabal Beerhall will be running a special version of their monthly ceilidh night to mark the evening, with a live band leading the dance. Dancing kicks off at 8pm but get down early to warm yourself up with drinks and food, including a discounted welcome drink with your ticket.

Fabal Beerhall’s monthly ceilidh night gets a Celtic twist for the Bard’s birthday. In addition to spinning the night away with a live band and caller, there’ll also be an address to the haggis and a rendition of Auld Lang Syne to round off the night. Soak up all the booze with catering from That's Banging!

Immerse yourself in a ‘sound experience’ this Burns Night under Greenwich’s Cutty Sark. As its name suggests, ‘In The Dark’ is performed entirely without light – for both the audience and musicians – making for a sense-heightening experience like no over. Organisers promise ‘no phones, no theatrics, no acrobatics’, taking away the distractions of modern life for a unique hour of music.

With streets like ‘Caledonian Road’ and buildings like ‘Great Scotland Yard’, it shouldn't be too surprising that London has its fair share of Scottish secrets. To celebrate Burns out in the fresh air, why not tour the city while learning about the capital’s most Scottish spots?

If you’re well and truly committed to January hibernation or would rather be a bit cautious when it comes to social events because of the pandemic, why not order in some fine whisky and cheers to Burns from your home? Check out our pick of the best whisky delivery services.