pianistamediano
Forum Master
Here's a more detailed explanation of some milongas I've had personal experience with before moving away from London, @Miradamiranda and @opendoor :
Monday: I Love Mondays at Russell Square: Don't go there unless you know someone. You can try it, but it'll be pretty damn difficult to get dances since people mostly stick to your own. I only go there because I'm friends with most people.
If you're willing to go outside of central London, I know @TTanguero rates highly the occasional Monday milongas (during bank holidays) and monthly Friday milongas organised by Tango Secrets at Dorney, just outside of Maidenhead. You'll have to ask him for transport help, however.
Tuesday: Re at Piccadilly Circus: The sightlines for cabeceo are a bit weird, but most people gather around the entrance and the cloak room entrance, so you should be fine. The floor is of variable quality every week, and ranges from sticky, to patches of unnatural smoothness and stickiness, and to an ice skating rink. It's where a lot of visitors surprisingly end up at, but there's a lot of regulars too. I'd say it's a fair chance you'll get dances, since there's a variety of dancers there.
Wednesday: Milonga Abrázame: Only went once. Not my type of milonga, might have seen an uptick in popularity since it became the only regular milonga on Wednesdays. You can try your luck, but from what I know, the level is low.
Thursday: Tango Terra: Very friendly, low level on average, the music is chaotic and doesn't make sense (it wasn't in tandas the last time I visited, and they played Golden Age music right after a Romantic Milonguera song), though the live music is worth one visit and no more.
Friday: El Boliche at Dutch Hall Venue: Where the "in" crowd goes to. Very variable experience for visitors. Ideally, go with someone you know. Even for the same person, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. "Good" level — depending on your definition — but very tricky.
Milonga Maitri at Farringdon: Slightly lower level, some good dancers there. Quite a few beginners in the first hour or so, does end earlier than El Boliche. Friendlier than them. But more well-connected with European teachers, I'd say, and on the days where there are performances from notable figures, I'd rather be there than El Boliche, because there will be more people.
Queer Tango London: I've heard very mixed things from my friends about this. In particular, two friends who identify as queer have tried it, but they were not happy at all with how they danced. They're very friendly, but apparently (if I recall correctly) it's more of a safe space for queer people and tango is more of the mechanism to interact and connect with others.
Saturday: Corrientes (not every Saturday). Biggest venue, usually a good attendance, though I'd still suggest going along with TT just to be safe.
Tango Cafe (Late afternoon ~ 8 pm): No idea, ask TT.
Polski bar: Happens infrequently. This is sort of a regulars-only thing where people dance a bit and chat, more about socialising than dancing really. Most of the "top" dancers are there because we're all friends. I'd highly suggest only going there if you're friends with someone who knows people. Visitors have very varied experiences.
Sunday: Los Angelitos (afternoon): Level is not high, but very friendly.
Tango 178: Never been, but I've heard it's very friendly and you'll have some nice dances.
Tango Etnia: You can call it El Boliche-lite I guess, since many of the regulars at Re/El Boliche (same organiser) are also regulars at Etnia, but I'd say it's more accessible. Bloody warm during the summer though.
Spitalfields (once every few weeks in the summer): Best milonga in London for me, and the one I miss the most. Very relaxed and casual, probably the only milonga where all the different tango factions are seem in one location.
There are also Tango Amistoso milongas on Saturday and Sunday, but unfortunately attendance varies a lot. You can try them out if you have nothing else to do, but it's always a gamble.
Monday: I Love Mondays at Russell Square: Don't go there unless you know someone. You can try it, but it'll be pretty damn difficult to get dances since people mostly stick to your own. I only go there because I'm friends with most people.
If you're willing to go outside of central London, I know @TTanguero rates highly the occasional Monday milongas (during bank holidays) and monthly Friday milongas organised by Tango Secrets at Dorney, just outside of Maidenhead. You'll have to ask him for transport help, however.
Tuesday: Re at Piccadilly Circus: The sightlines for cabeceo are a bit weird, but most people gather around the entrance and the cloak room entrance, so you should be fine. The floor is of variable quality every week, and ranges from sticky, to patches of unnatural smoothness and stickiness, and to an ice skating rink. It's where a lot of visitors surprisingly end up at, but there's a lot of regulars too. I'd say it's a fair chance you'll get dances, since there's a variety of dancers there.
Wednesday: Milonga Abrázame: Only went once. Not my type of milonga, might have seen an uptick in popularity since it became the only regular milonga on Wednesdays. You can try your luck, but from what I know, the level is low.
Thursday: Tango Terra: Very friendly, low level on average, the music is chaotic and doesn't make sense (it wasn't in tandas the last time I visited, and they played Golden Age music right after a Romantic Milonguera song), though the live music is worth one visit and no more.
Friday: El Boliche at Dutch Hall Venue: Where the "in" crowd goes to. Very variable experience for visitors. Ideally, go with someone you know. Even for the same person, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. "Good" level — depending on your definition — but very tricky.
Milonga Maitri at Farringdon: Slightly lower level, some good dancers there. Quite a few beginners in the first hour or so, does end earlier than El Boliche. Friendlier than them. But more well-connected with European teachers, I'd say, and on the days where there are performances from notable figures, I'd rather be there than El Boliche, because there will be more people.
Queer Tango London: I've heard very mixed things from my friends about this. In particular, two friends who identify as queer have tried it, but they were not happy at all with how they danced. They're very friendly, but apparently (if I recall correctly) it's more of a safe space for queer people and tango is more of the mechanism to interact and connect with others.
Saturday: Corrientes (not every Saturday). Biggest venue, usually a good attendance, though I'd still suggest going along with TT just to be safe.
Tango Cafe (Late afternoon ~ 8 pm): No idea, ask TT.
Polski bar: Happens infrequently. This is sort of a regulars-only thing where people dance a bit and chat, more about socialising than dancing really. Most of the "top" dancers are there because we're all friends. I'd highly suggest only going there if you're friends with someone who knows people. Visitors have very varied experiences.
Sunday: Los Angelitos (afternoon): Level is not high, but very friendly.
Tango 178: Never been, but I've heard it's very friendly and you'll have some nice dances.
Tango Etnia: You can call it El Boliche-lite I guess, since many of the regulars at Re/El Boliche (same organiser) are also regulars at Etnia, but I'd say it's more accessible. Bloody warm during the summer though.
Spitalfields (once every few weeks in the summer): Best milonga in London for me, and the one I miss the most. Very relaxed and casual, probably the only milonga where all the different tango factions are seem in one location.
There are also Tango Amistoso milongas on Saturday and Sunday, but unfortunately attendance varies a lot. You can try them out if you have nothing else to do, but it's always a gamble.
