London music & theatre guide

Here is our guide to London’s most popular music venues and theatres. It includes everything from live music venues like The O2, to classical concert halls like the Royal Opera House, to the biggest theatres in the heart of London’s West End.

Featured music venues in London

>> Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall is one of London’s main concert venues, and is part of the Southbank Centre.

>> Hammersmith Apollo
The Hammersmith Apollo is one of London’s most popular music venues for live concerts.

>> O2 Academy Brixton
The O2 Academy in Brixton is one of London’s most popular venues for live music concerts.

Live music venues

Here is a list of London’s most popular music venues.

Barbican Centre · Brixton Academy · Bush Hall · Cadogan Hall · Hammersmith Apollo · HMV Forum · indigO2 · Jazz Café · O2 Academy Islington · O2 Arena (Millennium Dome) · O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire · Purcell Room · Queen Elizabeth Hall · Ronnie Scott’s · Roundhouse · Royal Albert Hall · Royal Festival Hall · Royal Opera House · Southbank Centre · Wembley Arena · Wigmore Hall

London film and cinema

BFI IMAX · BFI Southbank · Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)

Latest music events

Music concerts Classical Operas

Billy Bragg... at the Union Chapel When: 5th June 2013
Billy Bragg is returning to the stage with a full band to plug his new album "Tooth & Nail" -- his first new studio album in five years.

Paloma Faith, at The O2 When: 7th June 2013
Paloma Faith has been compared to both Amy Winehouse and Duffy, but the former burlesque performer has her own vampish, theatrical flair. Her debut album "Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?" was a huge success, and her follow-up "Fall... more

Ben Howard, at the Hammersmith Apollo When: 12th June 2013
Double Brit Award winner Ben Howard will be performing all over Europe this summer, including two nights at the Hammersmith Apollo -- his biggest shows in the UK to date.

Kings of Leon, at The O2 When: 12th June 2013
One of the world's greatest rock bands, the Kings of Leon, are returning to the UK on a full European tour. Expect to hear some new songs alongside all the old classics, as they have just begun work on their 6th studio album.

Featured theatres in London

>> Cambridge Theatre
The Cambridge Theatre near Covent Garden puts on popular musicals in an art-deco setting.

>> Gielgud Theatre
The Gielgud Theatre was named after the great stage actor Sir John Gielgud, who frequently performed there.

>> Globe Theatre
London’s Globe Theatre is a perfect reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan playhouse.

London’s theatres

Here is a list of London’s most popular West End theatres…

Adelphi Theatre · Aldwych Theatre · Ambassadors Theatre · Apollo Theatre · Apollo Victoria Theatre · Bloomsbury Theatre · Cambridge Theatre · Criterion Theatre · Dominion Theatre · Donmar Warehouse · Duchess Theatre · Duke of York’s Theatre · Fortune Theatre · Garrick Theatre · Gielgud Theatre · Globe Theatre · Greenwich Theatre · Hampstead Theatre · Harold Pinter Theatre · Her Majesty’s Theatre · King’s Head Theatre · Leicester Square Theatre · London Coliseum · London Palladium · Lyceum Theatre · Lyric Hammersmith · Lyric Theatre · National Theatre · New London Theatre · Noël Coward Theatre · Novello Theatre · Old Vic · Palace Theatre · Peacock Theatre · Phoenix Theatre · Piccadilly Theatre · Playhouse Theatre · Pleasance Theatre · Prince Edward Theatre · Prince of Wales Theatre · Queen’s Theatre · Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre · Royal Court Theatre · St. Martin’s Theatre · Savoy Theatre · Shaftesbury Theatre · Shaw Theatre · Soho Theatre · Theatre Royal, Drury Lane · Theatre Royal, Haymarket · Trafalgar Studios · Vaudeville Theatre · Victoria Palace Theatre · Wyndham’s Theatre · Young Vic

Latest theatre shows

Latest theatre shows in London

"A Midsummer Night's Dream", at the Globe Theatre From: 24th May 2013
The plot for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" revolves around two sets of couples whose complicated love affairs are complicated still further by the arrival of the King and Queen of the Fairies. Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius...... more

Strange Interlude From: 28th May 2013
"Strange Interlude" tells the tale of Nina, who escapes her jealous father and embarks on a series of tawdry sexual adventures after the love of her life is killed in the war. But when she marries the amiable Sam and gets pregnant, she learns a h... more