What's On in London
Thursday 17 September 2026 · This weekend · City guide
Thursday in London is pulling out all the stops, from the flickering glow of candlelit church concerts to a proper electronic takeover at one of the city's most iconic hilltop venues. Whether you want to lose yourself in soaring operatic tenor, groove to immaculate house music, or raise a pint to the Starman himself, the capital has a genuinely brilliant evening lined up for you. Get out there — the city is alive tonight.
Highlights
A Night at The Opera by Candlelight (feat. Nessun Dorma) — Few settings in London can match the intimate drama of St Mary Le Strand bathed in candlelight, and tonight it plays host to one of opera's most spine-tingling programs, complete with the immortal Nessun Dorma. This is the kind of evening that reminds you why live classical music exists — voices filling a gorgeous Baroque church as hundreds of tiny flames flicker around you. Doors at 6:00pm, tickets from £35–£50, and absolutely worth every penny.
ANOTR at Ally Pally — Dutch house duo ANOTR bring their deeply groovy, percussion-driven sound to the grand surroundings of Alexandra Palace, and this is shaping up to be one of the electronic music events of the season. Ally Pally's enormous hall gives the bass room to breathe in a way smaller venues simply cannot, and the views over the city on the way in are a bonus nobody mentions enough. Kicks off at 6:30pm and tickets are £38 — a bargain for a night this big.
Absolute Bowie — If you've ever wanted to see Ziggy Stardust strutting around a proper South London pub, tonight is your night — Absolute Bowie bring their celebrated tribute to the Fox and Firkin at 7:00pm. Widely regarded as the finest Bowie tribute act in the country, they nail the costumes, the theatrics, and above all the songs, from Rebel Rebel to Life on Mars. At £25, it is an affordable, joyful, and thoroughly human night out for anyone who ever loved a little bit of Starman magic.
Mozart and Moonlight by Candlelight — Later in the evening, St Mary Le Strand transforms once more for a second candlelit concert, this time dedicated to the timeless genius of Mozart under the romantic banner of Moonlight. Starting at 8:00pm, this is the perfect late-evening option for classical lovers who want something unhurried and genuinely transporting after dinner. Tickets run from £35–£50, and the combination of the music, the architecture, and the warm candlelight makes this feel like a world away from the ordinary Thursday night.