Public Performance Karaoke in London: Best Venues and Nightlife Tips

When you think of public performance karaoke, a social, high-energy activity where strangers become a crowd and singing badly is the whole point. Also known as open mic karaoke, it’s not about talent—it’s about connection, laughter, and letting go in a city that rarely lets you be unapologetically yourself. In London, this isn’t just a bar activity. It’s a ritual. A way to break through the usual nightlife noise and actually feel something real—whether you’re belting out Britney Spears in a Soho basement or screaming along to Oasis in a dimly lit warehouse in Peckham.

London karaoke venues, spaces designed for group singing, not quiet drinks. Also known as sing-along bars, it’s where the drinks are cheap, the microphones are always sticky, and the crowd cheers louder for a wrong note than a perfect one. These aren’t fancy studios with soundproof booths. They’re messy, loud, and alive. Think 90s karaoke nights, where the playlist is all pop anthems and no one remembers the lyrics. Also known as nostalgia-driven singalongs, they bring back the days when everyone had a CD player and a hairbrush microphone. And then there’s 2000s karaoke bars, where the hits are crunk, the outfits are glittery, and the crowd knows every word to ‘Crazy in Love’. Also known as Y2K party nights, they’re the reason people still show up even when they’re three drinks in and their voice is gone.

What makes public performance karaoke work in London isn’t the equipment or the song list—it’s the energy. You don’t need to be good. You just need to be willing to stand up, grab the mic, and own it—even if you forget the chorus. That’s why these spots are packed with girls’ nights out, stag parties, and even solo regulars who come just to hear someone else scream through ‘I Will Survive.’ The best places know this. They don’t just play songs. They build moments. They hand you a drink after your performance, even if you sounded like a startled goose.

And it’s not just about the music. It’s about the space. The way the lights dim when someone steps up. The way the bar staff start clapping before you even hit the first note. The way strangers become your biggest fans because they’ve been there too. That’s why you’ll find these nights thriving in places like Club 88 and Bar Rumba—where the vibe isn’t curated, it’s contagious.

Below, you’ll find real stories from London’s most unforgettable karaoke nights—the ones that didn’t start with a plan, but ended with a group hug, a broken mic, and a promise to do it again next week.