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24/7 environments - those areas where one can shop, eat out, find entertainment, etc., 24 hours a day and seven days a week - can be seen as underpinning urban vitality. But the question arises why they exist in some cities and seemingly not in comparable others. Finding that directly relevant publications in this area proved scarce, an explorative study was undertaken to generate a theoretical framework and a definition of this type of environment. The ways in which socio-cultural, economic and spatial conditions influence the existence (or non-existence) of these environments and their potential benefits and detriments for society were explored. Based on the theoretical framework, twelve cities in different parts of the world that could be expected to have 24/7 environments were scanned. In combination, these approaches suggest that there are different types of 24/7 environment, in terms of both types of users and spatial structure. A more in-depth exploration of London and Copenhagen enabled preliminary conclusions about the spatial conditions necessary for the existence and development of 24/7 areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]