London’s Top 5 Music Venues

LLondon is packed full of music venues of all shapes, sizes and styles. From mega halls to intimate rooms, the capital really does have it all. Here are five of the city’s very best music performance spaces.

Alexandra Palace

First opened in 1873, Alexandra Palace is certainly not lacking in history or character. Over the years, it has seen millions of people pass through its doors, played host to the first ever television broadcast and even survived two fires.

Affectionately referred to as Ally Pally, this north London building has the biggest standing capacity of all venues in the capital. It can accommodate an impressive 10,400 visitors and has recently played host to acts such as Disclosure, Bastille and Foals.

Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall

If you’ve ever watched the Proms on the BBC, you’ll have seen the splendour of the Royal Albert Hall. The luxurious interior of this impressive venue makes the perfect setting for this annual musical event. While enjoying performances in the space, people can marvel at the red and gold interior and domed stained-glass skylight.

Built as a memorial to Queen Victoria’s husband in 1871, this multi-purpose venue is now a Grade I Listed building. Since opening, it has been in continuous use, staging concerts, exhibitions, public meetings, awards ceremonies and more.

The Barbican

Another of London’s gems is the Barbican. Europe’s largest multi-arts and conference venue, it was built to help transform an area of the city that was decimated by bombs during the Second World War.

The hall took over a decade to construct, and if you’ve ever been inside, you’ll know why. When the Queen opened the venue in 1982, she described it as “one of the modern wonders of the world” thanks to its scale and ambition. Situated in the middle of the Barbican Estate, it is the permanent home of the London Symphony Orchestra and it has staged a host of rock, folk and jazz legends too.

The O2

O2 Tent

When it opened in its first incarnation as the Millennium Dome, this iconic construction was plagued by controversy and problems. However, since its transformation to The O2 in 2007, it has become one of the most important music venues in the world. A multi-entertainment centre and the capital’s largest indoor music venue, it regularly sells out 20,000 seats.

Over recent years, the likes of Status Quo, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus have taken to the stage there.

Roundhouse

Originally a railway turntable shed, the Roundhouse is now a Grade II listed building and it makes the ideal setting for musical events. It earned its stripes as one of the best venues in London during the 1960s and ‘70s, when the likes of The Doors, The Ramones and Jimi Hendrix took to its stages.

In 2004, it closed for a multi-million pound redevelopment to bring it fully up-to-date. During this process, it was equipped with advanced technology and the original features were restored too. For example, its circular glazed roof-lights were reinstated. It now plays host to an impressive variety of acts, including such performers as Jay-Z and Gorillaz. It also stages events like the iTunes Festival and BBC Electric Proms.

To check out the music events taking place across London’s venues, simply head to the Gigantic website.