London is one of the world’s absolute top destinations in terms of live music. With an abundance of intimate as well as huge world-class venues, the capital boasts with local event calendars and major festivals. You name it, London has it. Its creative music scene constantly reinvents itself and generates an ever inspiring counterpart to mainstream commercial music.
Check out the venue and festival guide below to get our best tips for accomodation, day activities as well as bars and restaurants before and after the gig.
The O2 is London's home to the world's most popular music, sport, comedy, and entertainment. A large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula, including the huge indoor O2 Arena, a more intimate venue named Indigo at the O2, along with music clubs, a cinema as well as bars and restaurants.
The Empire Pool was built in 1934 for the British Empire Games at Wembley and originally housed a swimming pool. The iconic building which is now called Wembley Arena is a large indoor venue used for music, comedy, family entertainment, and sports. During the 1960s, it hosted acts like The Beatles, David Bowie, The Monkees, The Hollies, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits, Status Quo, or The Who.
This is iconic. Wembley Stadium in its original version was first opened to the public on 28 April 1923. Demolished between 2002 and 2003, and re-built completely on the same grounds. Today, it is not only a huge football stadium, but also hosts major concerts. Among the acts that have performed here are Metallica, The Killers, Muse, Green Day, Foo Fighters, Madonna, Coldplay, Oasis, and AC/DC.
This site located a few miles in the East of the city centre was built to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. Thus formerly known as Olympic Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it is now called London Stadium and is home to football matches as well as global entertainers in music concerts through the summer months. Among those who have played there are Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones, Depeche Mode, or AC/DC.
The Reading and Leeds Festivals are a pair of music festivals that take place annually. Always simultaneously on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the August bank holiday weekend, sharing the same bill. Reading Festival is held at Little John's Farm on Richfield Avenue in central Reading, just 40 miles East of London. Reading Festival, the older of the two festivals, is said to be the world's oldest popular music festival still in existence.
Eventim Apollo, or formerly the Hammersmith Apollo, is one of London’s major live music venues. It is located in Hammersmith, in the western part of the city. Opened back in 1932 as cinema. Later playing host to many legendary acts, including The Beatles, Oasis, R.E.M., Stereophonics, Elton John, Paul Weller, The Rolling Stones, or Bob Marley. This is also the place where David Bowie played guitar for the final time on 3 July, 1973 for his alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
O2 Academy Brixton has hosted a range of Rock acts since becoming one of London's leading music venue in 1983. Among the long list of artists are Madonna, Iron Maiden, The Clash, The Prodigy, Arcade Fire, Nine Inch Nails, Bob Dylan, The 1975, and The Sex Pistols. Numerous live performances in here have been recorded over the time and later released as live album or DVD.
In the heart of Islington, O2 Academy Islington offers the best in live music from both emerging artists to established acts. The venue was opened in September 2002. Notable performers since then include Queensrÿche, KISS, Zebrahead, Funeral for a Friend, Coheed and Cambria, August Burns Red, Fall Out Boy, Silversun Pickups, Paramore, Dimmu Borgir, and My Chemical Romance.
The walls of The Roundhouse could tell loads of music history stories. From its 60s beginnings as an old train shed to a modern performing arts centre – decades full of change, creativity, and a truly rich heritage of Rock history.
Alexandra Palace is a entertainment and sports venue, originally built and opened back in 1873. Commonly referred to as Ally Pally, it has ever since been the location for great concerts – from Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin to Portishead, Slipknot, Parkway Drive, and Panic at the Disco.
British Summer Time is a music festival annually taking place in Hyde Park. Held over two weekends in summer, it hosts concerts from a wide range of musical genres such as The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, The Who, Blur, and Eric Clapton.
Hidden in a Camden back alley and thus not easy to find. But once there in this black dark bar, you will enjoy some great time listening to Rock and Metal sounds while sipping a beer or two. Upstairs, there's an intimate yet vibrant live music venue.
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall located in South Kensington, near Hyde park. It has hosted the famous Proms concerts annually each summer since the year 1941. Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres have appeared on its stage. It has seen some of the most notable events in British culture.
Beer. Burger. Music. One of London’s finest small live music venues. Hidden away, just off of Hackney Road, the Sebright Arms is known for hosting early shows for bands such as Catfish and the Bottlemen and more.
Live music seven days a week in Camden: since its beginnings, The Jazz Café showcased performers from the genres of Soul, Hip Hop, Electronica, Blues, and Reggae, as well as providing a venue for new and established Jazz artists. A black plaque commemorates the café as the spot where Faithless played their first live gig in 1996.
This venue has been a Camden institution for years now, featuring live music, club nights, parties as well as excellent food and drinks. During the years it has welcomed Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand and many more. It was a popular hangout during the Britpop and Grunge area, still today focussing on Indie and Alternative music.
Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen located in Shoreditch is one of London’s most vital small music venues, with live music, DJs, and a great restaurant. Among the acts that have played here are Florence & The Machine, Foals, Mumford & Sons, Vampire Weekend, and Savages.
Live music at 100 Oxford Street began on 24 October 1942 with Jazz acts. Throughout the following decades the venue has seen all manors of music scenes including the Blues of Muddy Waters as well as mod stylings of The Who and The Kinks in the 60s. Later, it was part of the birth of Punk with legendary Sex Pistols or The Clash. The 90s followed with the Indie and Britpop explosion and early shows from Oasis, Travis, Kula Shaker and Suede.
The Underworld in Camden probably is one of the main spots of the alternative music scene in England. This vibrant live music venue has played host to concerts by such big names as Placebo, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, Sepultura, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, and Fall Out Boy.
The Electric Ballroom is an iconic music venue in the heart of Camden. It began as a Irish club which played host to a wide variety of performers. Since then, famous acts such as The Clash, Richard Ashcroft, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Stereophonics, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blur, Supergrass, Garbage, and The Smiths have graced this stage.
Dublin Castle, located in Camden, is probably one of London’s most famous pubs and music venues. Among those who played the stage, are the likes of The Libertines, Amy Winehouse, Travis, and Artic Monkeys. The pub also was an important venue for Britpop acts in the 1990s, including Blur.
Koko is a live music venue deeply rooted in the history of Camden Town. Since its opening back in 1900, it has been transformed many times and has seen legendary performances from all kind of music genres, including Punk from The Sex Pistols and The Clash.
This Soho location has hosted intimate gigs performed by the world’s most famous musicians over the last decades. From Britpop with Blur, The Verve, and Oasis to Rock stars like Muse, Rage Against the Machine, Pearl Jam, or Mick Jagger - they all performed here. Still today, music from the genres Punk, Rock, Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, and Dance are represented in here.
Twickenham Stadium is a rugby stadium in Twickenham, in the south-western part of the city. It has also hosted concerts by the likes of Iron Maiden, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Genesis, U2, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Eagles, and R.E.M..
Award-winning bar with live music throughout the week. Just in the heart of Herne Hill in the southern part of London.
