If you'd rather not go the alcohol route, there are tea houses and coffee houses which are great for quiet conversation and a relaxed way to spend the evening and enjoy some great conversation or just to sit back and leaf through your guidebook while planning the next day's excursion.

London even has its share of casinos…although many are quite elegant establishments geared toward international high rollers. If you're just looking for a bit of fun without emptying out the bank account, the Golden Nugget is probably the best choice as they have Black Jack, Roulette, and slot machines.

For those who just want to go out for the evening with no particular destination in mind, you might want to narrow it down to a specific neighborhood and once you get there, you can decide what looks good.

Covent Garden , for example, is a great neighborhood for nightlife…great restaurants, pubs, and bars. Le Meridien Waldorf and the Swissotel London – The Howard are nearby.

Piccadilly Circus is where five streets converge, and between the neon signs, crowds, and activity, it's like London's version of Times Square…you can definitely find something to do and some place to go here including comedy clubs and gay and lesbian bars. Le Meridien Piccadilly puts you right in the heart of the action.

SoHo is a great place to spend the evening…dining in a café, hanging out in a pub, listening to music in a bar, dan cing in a club, or even taking in a cabaret show.

Also, the British Film Institute has an IMAX theatre with the largest screen in the UK — a great choice for movie buffs. The National Film Theatre is also a good option with foreign language films, documentaries, and more.