Music
Guide
London’s best live music venues
At the heart of London’s world-beating musical output are its music venues, so we've collated the city's very best places to see live music
London and world-beating cultural output go hand-in-hand. Particularly when it comes to music.
Countless songs have paid homage to the English capital’s celebrated sights, smells, quirks, characteristics, kinetic energy and foggy mystique: ‘London Calling’, ‘Waterloo Sunset’, ‘West End Girls’, ‘Baker Street’, heck, even ‘Fake Plastic Trees’. Music scenes that have unfurled from the city have gone on to inspire and impact artists globally too; from the swinging sixties to the punk explosion, from the ramshackle indie days that spilled onto Camden’s streets to the volcanic intensity of grime, to the head-scratching musicianship of South London’s vibrant jazz and art rock bands that occupy local stages presently.
At the heart of London’s consistent cultural hotbed however, are its music venues. Despite the well publicised struggles of the UK’s independent music scene in recent years – the Music Venue Trust reported that two grassroots venues closed permanently per week in 2023, a trend that continued albeit at a decreased rate in 2024 to one venue closing permanently every two weeks – more people are experiencing live music than ever before.
According to UK Music, London saw a 40% rise in music tourists from 4.9m in 2022 to 6.9m in 2023, confirming how integral music tourism is to the UK and the domestic music industry.
But where to start? Luckily, we’ve collated the very best live music venues in London, in order of capacity from the largest to smallest. And if you’re looking for something closer to home that’s not on the list, check out our handy Local guide to find out what’s on near you.
Alexandra Palace
Where is it? Haringey: Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY
Capacity: 10,400
What can I expect to see there? Perched atop leafy North London’s Alexandra Park is, of course, Alexandra Palace – “Ally Pally” as it’s affectionately known to most. Since its opening in 1875, punters have been plodding up the hill for some of the most resplendent views of London’s sprawling cityscape, no longer begrudgingly thanks to the W3 bus from Finsbury Park. Though, it’s inside the venue’s Grade II listed four walls – that have miraculously survived two devastating fires – where history has truly unfolded.
Here the BBC’s first ever television broadcast took place, many pints have been swilled and spilled during rowdy darts tournaments, but it’s the concerts in the venue’s Great Hall that are the true spectacle. Though historic bands like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, B.B. King, The Who and Queen have all graced Ally Pally with their presence over the years, nowadays the venue is a stepping stone for artists en route to superstardom – Fontaines. D.C., Sampha, Khruangbin, Central Cee and Little Simz all recently achieved a place in Alexandra Palace history. It’s the “palace of the people” after all, where artists and fans alike seek their holy communion.
Find out more about Alexandra Palace and its listings here
Royal Albert Hall
Where is it? Kensington: Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP
Capacity: 5,272
What can I expect to see there? The Royal Albert Hall was originally commissioned under a different name, but just before its doors opened in 1871 Queen Victoria decided that the venue would make a fitting tribute to her late husband. It’s a good thing she did, because The Central Hall of Arts and Sciences just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Today, the Royal Albert Hall is one of the most acclaimed venues not just in London, but in the entire world, and the events held beneath its vaulted dome are frequently broadcast live to millions of viewers. Trying to collate a highlight reel from the Albert Hall’s history is a nigh on impossible task, but the list of artists who have made its iconic stage their own includes The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton (who has performed there over 200 times), Sir Elton John, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and more recently Dua Lipa and Kano.
Find out more about the Royal Albert Hall and its listings here
O2 Academy Brixton
Where is it? Brixton: 211 Stockwell Rd, London SW9 9SL
Capacity: 4,921
What can I expect to see there? This shapeshifting South London venue – which was originally a cinema, then a discotheque before eventually hosting live music in 1983 after it was bought for a £1 by ambitious promoter Simon Parkes – is not only a gem in London’s lustrous array of venues, but it’s also a milestone for artists themselves. Reaching Brixton’s green lit dome is often a signifier artists have made headway in their pursuit of meaningful success, so, you can understand why the likes of Nirvana, The Smiths, and The Prodigy – who refer to it as “our home” – shared a kinship with Brixton Academy. It’s a venue that feels as intimate as it does expansive, hence Bob Dylan, Nine Inch Nails, The Clash, Rammstein, The xx, and Arcade Fire all having played residencies there. The Maccabees called it “the best venue in the world”. Even hometown hero David Bowie has graced the stage. A stage which offers one of the best views for punters, thanks to its sloped floor.
Find out more about O2 Academy Brixton and its listings here
Roundhouse
Where is it? Camden: Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8EH
Capacity: 3,300
What can I expect to see there? Roundhouse began life as a railway shed, with its current name paying homage to its humble origins (such sheds were once known as “roundhouses,” due to the turntables they contained). These days, instead of turning trains, Roundhouse turns out night after night of impeccably curated music, garnering a reputation as one of London’s most discerning venues in the process. It’s no coincidence that Apple selected Roundhouse for its iTunes Festival (later Apple Music Festival) no less than six times, with artists including Foo Fighters, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran and Chance the Rapper all taking turns occupying the headline slot. And when it’s not platforming global superstars or an array of icons – which have included The Doors, The Ramones, The Jam, Blondie, Motörhead, and the Chemical Brothers – the Roundhouse is known for proudly shining a spotlight on local talent.
Find out more about the Roundhouse and its listings here
O2 Forum Kentish Town
Where is it? Kentish Town: 9-17 Highgate Rd, London NW5 1JY
Capacity: 2,300
What can I expect to see there? A stone’s throw away from several stops on the Northern Line, this resplendent former Art Deco cinema is a not-too-shabby establishment to see some of your favourite bands in the flesh, replete with balcony booths that offer unimpaired views of the stage if you’re not up for mucking in the mosh pit on ground level. Originally built in 1934, the O2 Forum Kentish Town became a bona fide live music venue throughout the 80s, and has since welcomed Björk (in what was her debut UK show), Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, Rage Against The Machine, BABYMETAL, Ozzy Osbourne, Rihanna, Robbie Williams, INXS, and even Nina Simone.
Find out more about O2 Forum Kentish Town and its listings here
O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Where is it? Shepherd’s Bush: Shepherd’s Bush Grn, London W12 8TT
Capacity: 2,000
What can I expect to see there? This bijou, Grade II listed venue was once a music hall that historic cultural figures Charlie Chaplin illuminated with their presence before a bomb hit during WW2, so was sold off to the BBC and used as a television studio theatre for the best part of forty years. Restored to its former glory throughout the 90s, it became a gig venue once again, with Amy Winehouse, Mumford & Sons, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and King Crimson all recording live albums there. Particularly special gigs that have unfolded in the Shepherd’s Bush Empire have to be Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, Elvis Costello, and Prince, who rocked out for nearly three hours and cost just a measly tenner a ticket for gig-goers. Lucky gits.
Find out more about O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and its listings here
Hackney Church
Where is it? Hackney: Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0PD
Capacity: 1,800
What can I expect to see there? Place of worship by day, vibrant venue by night, Hackney Church (formally called St. John at Hackney) is one of London’s most unusual live music spots. In 2018, the Grade II listed Anglican Church – which dates back to at least 1275 – was awarded a £1.84 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with architect John Pawson CBE and stage designer Es Devlin OBE drafted in to lead the renovation project. The team’s mission was to create a “cathedral of creativity,” an admittedly lofty goal, but one that they’ve undeniably accomplished, with a number of spaces opened to foster the talents of young creatives, as well as the addition of a central stage (and banging sound system) for live shows. That stage has been graced by Stormzy, Zhu, Vox Urbane, Shiva Feshareki, Joy Crookes and, somewhat improbably, Deadmau5, all of whom turned in elevated performances worthy of such a hallowed venue.
Find out more about Hackney Church and its listings here
Electric Brixton
Where is it? Brixton: Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RJ
Capacity: 1,500
What can I expect to see there? Brixton has long been the bastion for underrepresented communities being able to express themselves, and its venues have thrived because of such celebrations. Formerly The Fridge – a nightclub which became the beating heart of the New Romantic movement in the early 80s, hosted Soul II Soul’s lauded residency, and threw London’s premiere gay night, Love Muscle, the decade after – Electric Brixton continued this rich heritage after opening its doors in 2011. After undergoing a rather lavish million pound facelift, that is. The exterior still resembles The Palladium Picture House however (a cinema originally built in 1913) but inside Electric Brixton marries history with cutting-edge hardware. Not to mention its superb sightlines of the stage.
Find out more about Electric Brixton and its listings here
Union Chapel
Where is it? Islington: 19b Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN
Capacity: 900
What can I expect to see there? All of the venues on this list possess their own distinct and admirable characteristics. Few of them could be described as celestial, however. The Union Chapel, the 19th century Victorian Gothic revival style Grade I-listed building continues to work as a Congregational church alongside its function as an intimate concert venue. The resplendent architectural space has been a haven for artists and audiences alike since 1992 – when it first began hosting shows – as the venue’s acoustics are a sound technician’s wet dream, with artists leaning into the room and playing to the space as much as the pew-seated punters. It’s ideal for unplugged solo sets or intimate full-band performances with Laura Marling (who played a haunting livestream show during the pandemic), Tom Jones, Mitski, Jessica Pratt, The Pretenders, Nick Cave, Sigur Rós, Philip Glass, Elton John, and Björk all having illuminated the venue with their presence.
Find out more about Union Chapel and its listings here
O2 Academy Islington
Where is it? Islington: 16 Parkfield St, London N1 0PS
Capacity: 800
What can I expect to see there? The O2 Academy Islington may be the smallest of the four London venues within the O2 Academy Group, but it holds its own when it comes to the esteemed guests and riotous noise-makers that have stepped onto its stage. Staking claim to being the only establishment on the list located inside of a shopping centre, the purpose-built venue was opened in 2003 and saw a handful of superstars perform exclusive shows there, namely Eminem, KISS, The Cure, Fall Out Boy, The Damned, and My Chemical Romance – who hand-picked the venue to record the music video to their 2011 single ‘Planetary (GO!)’. But, the O2 Academy Islington is usually reserved for rock and metal artists rising through the ranks, with Paramore, Coheed and Cambria, Biffy Clyro, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs all making appearances on their ascent to greater pastures.
Find out more about O2 Academy Islington and its listings here
The Garage
Where is it? Highbury: 20-22 Highbury Cor, London N5 1RD
Capacity: 600
What can I expect to see there? A billiards hall – famous for its pies they say – and a mobster hang out until it officially opened as The Garage in 1993, this club-sized Highbury venue certainly packs a punch when it comes to making a righteous racket. No doubt why the likes of Pulp, The Killers, Suede, Arctic Monkeys and Muse have all played there as rites of passage before they all went on to greater pastures. Though The Garage is generally reserved for indie rock up-and-comers, Green Day, Oasis, Jack White and Harry Styles have all taken to the stage for one-off gigs, likely because of its rowdy, grassroots atmosphere. And no, it’s not an actual garage either.
Find out more about The Garage and its listings here
The Underworld
Where is it? Camden: 174 Camden High St, London NW1 9DL
Capacity: 500
What can I expect to see there? While many of London’s most iconic music venues occupy former cinemas, theatres and churches, The Underworld’s origins are decidedly less glamorous, if undeniably fitting. A public toilet in Victorian times, the venue lay dormant for a number of decades before opening its doors to the public in 1992. It didn’t take long for The Underworld to make its mark on UK music culture, with bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Jimmy Eat World using its stage to spread America’s emo sound to London. Later, the venue embraced thrash metal, booking titans like Slayer, Sepultura, and Cannibal Corpse, while simultaneously giving then-upcoming indie stalwarts Arctic Monkeys and The Libertines a place to hone their crafts. The claims to fame don’t end there, with Nirvana playing a secret gig at The Underworld in 1991, and punk icons The Misfits choosing the venue for their emotional reunion in 1995. Today, The Underworld remains committed to its mission of platforming the very best of alternative music in a gloriously gloomy space beneath the streets of Camden.
Find out more about The Underworld and its listings here
Jazz Café
Where is it? Camden: 5 Parkway, London NW1 7PG
Capacity: 450
What can I expect to see there? The giveaway’s in the venue’s name: jazz is very much on the menu at the Jazz Café, a two-tiered venue that feels luxuriously spacious or immersively intimate depending on which level you find yourself. But whoever is in charge of curation at the Camden venue needs a firm pat on the back. Over the course of its three-decade tenure, the Jazz Café has welcomed genuine jazz and soul greats like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Roy Ayers, Bobby Womack, Andre 3000, and even Adele. But it’s the flourishes of global sound from both prestigious and rising artists – French-Vietnamese DJ Onra, Sweden’s retro-indebted psychedelic soul group Dina Ögon, or the Puerto Rican dub dabbler Pachyman, for instance – that injects the Jazz Café with transportive intrigue.
Find out more about Jazz Café and its listings here
The Camden Assembly
Where is it? Camden: 49 Chalk Farm Rd, Chalk Farm, London NW1 8AN
Capacity: 400
What can I expect to see there? Once The Monarch, then the Barfly, even before the days of The Camden Assembly the venue has ensured there’s been a proper boozer with proper bands in the heart of NW1. An up-close-and-personal, sweaty-laden kind of gig is what’s usually on offer here, with new bands that might end up being your new favourites. Some old favourites might even drop by too – twenty one pilots played The Camden Assembly in 2022 having made their first UK appearance there in 2013. Bear in mind they were already Reading & Leeds Festival headliners at this point.
Find out more about The Camden Assembly and its listings here
Soul Mama
Where is it? Stratford: Ground Floor, 40 Celebration Ave, East Village, London E20 1DB
Capacity: 350
What can I expect to see there? Soul Mama is, technically speaking, a restaurant, but don’t let that throw you off – it’s also one of London’s most unique live music venues. Drawing from African, Caribbean and South American traditions, Soul Mama serves up line-ups spicier than the scotch bonnet and mango chicken wings you’ll find on the menu, with previous headliners including YolanDa Brown, Rebecca Ferguson, Avery Sunshine and Snarky Puppy’s Bill Laurence. Soul Mama is also one of the few venues where you can catch live music before noon, and there’s no better way to kick off a day of revelry than grooving your way through a bottomless brunch to the sounds Afrobeats, ska, jazz or any of the other soulful genres regularly showcased.
Find out more about Soul Mama and its listings here
OMEARA
Where is it? Southwark: 6 O’Meara St, London SE1 1TE
Capacity: 320
What can I expect to see there? One of London’s newest live music spots, OMEARA can be found tucked away beneath the cavernous arches of London Bridge. The venue is on a self-proclaimed mission to help emerging artists make their mark, and so far this mission seems to be going very well indeed, with the ‘What’s On’ section of OMEARA’s website consistently packed with a long list of names to watch. OMEARA has also been cosigned by household names like Skepta, Jorja Smith, Lil Peep and Sam Fender, all of whom have taken brief breaks from packing out arenas to show some love to London’s buzziest new venue. If you want to check it out (and you absolutely should) get there early and enjoy some beers on the secret roof terrace, before heading down to party once the sun starts to set.
Find out more about OMEARA and its listings here
Colours Hoxton
Where is it? Shoreditch: 2-4 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU
Capacity: 300
What can I expect to see there? Emerging talents spanning hip hop, queer pop, electro rock, and R&B frequent Colours Hoxton each night of the week, an consistently enviable line-up of ‘next big things’ that are just as vibrant as the artsy bar and club space’s visuals. The venue’s centrepiece is undoubtedly the ‘Colour Trap’, an LED installation suspended from the ceiling that was created by Burning Man Festival lighting sculptor Christopher Schardta. Though it won’t distract you from the acts taking the stage – the likes of RAYE, Krept & Konan, Sigrid, Jacob Banks, Jessie Reyez, Ella Mai and MUNA have all performed on their route to stardom.
Find out more about Colours Hoxton and its listings here
The Lexington
Where is it? Angel: 96-98 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JB
Capacity: 200
What can I expect to see there? If you’re the kind of person who likes to stay put on a night out, we’d recommend picking The Lexington. With an award-winning restaurant on the ground floor and a live music venue on the first, this Angel-based boozer offers everything you could possibly need for an evening of festivities. The bands usually wrap up around 11pm, handing the reins to local DJs who spin everything from jazz to jungle until the wee hours. The venue is also a short walk from King’s Cross station, making it an obvious choice for Londoners looking for a spot to rendezvous with mates from out of town. You’re unlikely to catch many big names playing inside, but you will be treated to an assortment of indie-folk gems, many of whom have flown from far flung lands just to play at The Lexington.
Find out more about The Lexington and its listings here
The Windmill Brixton
Where is it? Brixton: 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton Hill, London SW2 5BZ
Capacity: 150
What can I expect to see there? Of all the eccentric British guitar bands you may’ve heard on the radio or frequenting festival bills in recent years, there’s a strong chance they would’ve emerged from The Windmill Brixton. Or at least the ambitiously creative scene the venue has nurtured – which is inherently tied to the advent of Speedy Wunderground, the DIY label founded and propelled by Foals, Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C., and The Kills producer Dan Carey. The backstreet pub accidentally evolved into a hub of all things underground or left-field, with art rock and post-punk bands like Squid, black midi, Black Country, New Road, Goat Girl, and Lynks all taking their first steps from rehearsal spaces to the stage at the Windmill. With an ethos of showcasing bold new artists every night of the week, it’s highly likely you’ll see the weirdest music makers destined to make it big.
The Old Blue Last
Where is it? Shoreditch: 38 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3ES
Capacity: 150
What can I expect to see there? Given The Old Blue Last was London’s spiritual home of indie sleaze throughout the 00s, you’d see anyone who’s anyone associated with the scene during its halcyon days, those of which would no doubt be decked out in circulation-strangling skinny jeans and retina-straining dayglo apparel. The formerly VICE-owned Shoreditch haunt – which also claims to be haunted by the ghost of William Shakespeare – hosted sticky, beer-soaked gigs by the Arctic Monkeys when they were on the verge of going stratospheric, Amy Winehouse – whose husband Blake Fielder-Civil worked there – IDLES, The La’s, The Horrors, Fat White Family, and weirdly even Kylie Minogue. VICE even supposedly held client meetings at the lauded pub venue just to show off how debauched it could really get. These days the venue’s cult appeal remains firmly intact, who frequently showcase guitar music’s latest buzz bands.
Find out more about The Old Blue Last and its listings here
Alfie’s Soho
Where is it? Soho: 49 Greek St, London W1D 4EG
Capacity: 130
What can I expect to see there? With space for 130 punters, Alfie’s Soho is one of London’s most intimate jazz clubs. It’s also one of the coolest, although you’ll need to pay an annual membership fee of £35 if you want to step foot inside. Once you do get past the front door you’ll be treated to an interior that’s equal parts cosy and classy, complete with old sofas that engulf you the moment you sit down and jade-tiled walls adorned with a carefully curated selection of artworks. And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more sophisticated, Alfie’s mixologists reliably whip up some of the best cocktails to be had anywhere in London, with the bar’s signature Soho Vodka Martini making for the perfect companion to a night of soulful jazz delivered by the likes of Reuben Goldmark, Andy Davies and Olivia Cutill.
Find out more about Alfie’s Soho and its listings here
