No one would argue that London's nightlife isn't vibrant and diverse, but few people realise just how diverse. Rather than partaking in the same old pubs, clubs, bars and discos, party-goers are seeking alternative entertainment in London and, as can be expected, the City is delivering.

Soho, which really sets the trends when it comes to London's nightlife, was the natural choice for Bompas and Parr to test their latest alternative entertainment venture. Alcoholic Architecture is a pop-up bar with a difference. Rather than sipping your favourite cocktails, a faintly intoxicating alcoholic mix is delivered via a fine gin and tonic flavoured mist as soon as you walk in. Plastic suits are provided to cover your clothes and prevent you smelling as though you just emerged from a distillery explosion.

Unfortunately, the olfactory-centred bar was only temporary and lasted a mere four fun fume-filled nights, but as those nights proved to be extremely popular, perhaps Bompas and Parr will bring it back on a more permanent basis.

Staying in Soho, karauke is taking London by storm. No, it's not a spelling mistake, 'Karauke' as opposed to the more traditional karaoke, is distinguished by a ukulele strumming backup band. From its humble beginnings as a spin-off from weekly Ukulele sessions at the Royal George Tavern in Soho, Karauke has become a popular source of alternative entertainment in its own right. It has become so popular in fact, that it now has its own weekly session at the Soho Revue Bar. On the third Thursday of each month you can make your way to the Revue Bar and enjoy the dulcet sounds of the 15 member Ukulele band accompanied by the less harmonic singing of anyone game enough to have a go. Once you've spent your nights singing to the tunes of a Ukulele band, it's hard to imagine going back to anything that doesn't smack of alternative entertainment in London.

Tea dancing. Yep, gone are the days of sewing circles and tea and scones. These days tea has a little more zest as everyone from ambitious young professionals to retired grandmothers and grandfathers take to the dance floor in London's newly thriving alternative form of entertainment. Tea dancing is everywhere; The Waldorf offers Tango Tea Dance once a month for £10 a pop and the Covent Garden dance Orchetra hosts a free afternoon tea dance on the last Friday of every month at Spitalfields Markets.

While strictly in the interests of fun, tea dancing, as one would expect from entertainment aimed primarily at (but certainly not restricted to) the over-50s, tea dancing has some rules of etiquette:

• No stilettos, dancing is up tempo and requires the kind of smooth moves and agility that is generally hampered by high heels

• Don't over-indulge, guests are allocated their share of tea and cake, and while tea is generally in abundant supply, cake is limited

• Dance in the same direction as everyone else, collisions are frowned upon as old bones tend to be frailer than young

• Don't get drunk, you're not at a pub or rowdy nightclub, if you're going to embrace the alternative entertainment scene in London then make sure you abide by its rules

• Always dance with a partner, gender makes no difference, so long as you're bopping, no one cares

• Lastly, don't be too envious when those with the best moves are old enough to be your grandmother, they've had practice

And if you're tired of the dating scene, you can always ditch the clubs, pubs and bars and get down with speed hating. Speed hating takes the mickey out of speed dating and is the perfect form of alternative entertainment for the gloomier or perhaps more gothic London dwellers. Alternative accurately sums up the entertainment provided by London's speed hating events, where everyone receives an uninspiring pseudonym before a round of 'Blind Hate' and unpleasant answers are thought up to unpleasant questions, such as 'in another life, which disease ridden vermin would you most likely be?'. To spice things up there is also a misfortune teller and Twister, which is played with the Grim Reaper. For one of the most alternative experiences of your life, shun the theatre, say no to exclusive party venues and hop on over to the Hammersmith side of London for your monthly dose of speed hating.

Sure, you can try the more traditional events and venues to occupy your nights - Shakespearian theatre, movies with the girls - or you can savour something different, something a little more extraordinary and sample some of the alternative entertainment that London has to offer.