Burns Night in London

Eat, drink and dance to celebrate the life and work of Scotland’s national bard on Burns Night in London.

Born in 1759, Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist who became a national icon. Burns Night is marked with a traditional supper and music on or around the anniversary of his birth, 25 January, in Scotland and across the UK.

Many London restaurants and bars hold Burns Night events, serving up suppers of haggis and tatties with a wee dram of Scottish whisky. More elaborate London Burns Night celebrations also include poetry readings, toasts and bagpipe music, before everyone joins in the ceilidh dancing.

Whether you choose to don your finest tartan outfit or otherwise, there are plenty of things to do on Burns Night in London, from whisky bars to full-out Scottish festivities.

Wondering what type of events can you enjoy during Burns Night? Here are some highlights from 2020.

Burns Night 2020 events

Celebrations in London's restaurants

• Annual Burns Night celebrations at London's Scottish-themed mini chain, Boisdale.
• Devouring haggis and acing your dance steps with the lot from the Ceilidh Club in a three-hour evening of food, dancing, piping and poetry.
• Burns celebrations in style at the black-tie Burns Night Supper at London Scottish House.
• Sipping on whisky and tapping to live music at the uniquely entertaining multi-sensory Project Burns Night Party hosted by The Rhythm and Booze – experts in all things whisky and gigs.
• Dancing the night away then refuelling with Scottish delicacies at Burns' Ceilidh Night and Supper at St Thomas' Church in Balham.
• Selkirk Grace at Fortnum & Mason, which included a four-course meal and entertainment in celebration of life and work of one of Scotland's most-famous sons.
• A Scottish folk-dance regime at a Ceilidh in east London's St Mark's Dalston Church.
• A night filled with music, dance spoken poetry and haggis at Primrose Hill Community Centre.
• The Festival Burns Night Comedy Gala in Leicester Square Theatre.
• Celebrating Burns Night with an Epping Forest Burns Supper.
• Fist-pumping all night long at Earth Hackney's remix take on a Ceilidh.
• Sipping on decadent whisky drams at a Burns Night Whisky Tasting Evening with The Glenlivet at Rotunda Bar and Restaurant.