O2 Arena -- Your questions and reviews – London chat forum

[Admin]

Have you ever visited O2 Arena (Millennium Dome)? What did you think of it? Let other people know by posting your photos and writing a little review.

[ronette]

I've been 4 times and the show has always been great. The arena is so massive its like being at an outdoor gig. the sound has always been amazing wherever i sit, but just once i had a place on the right that had half of the stage hidden from view because of all the speakers which was a bit annoying when i spent £40 on the tickets, but the sound is always absolutely fantastic.
one seat i was in was like being in a fairground round because it was so steep. i just had a rail on front of me and the person in front was actually below me -- that is how steep it was. i felt like if i jumped around too excitedly i might have tipped myself head first over the edge! but it did mean that i had a great unobstructed view because there is no person in the world who could be tall enough to block your view!
so i recommend that you work out where your seat is before you book. but even if it doesnt look too good then you should still go, because the sound will always make up for it

[bobby]

ive only been once and in hindsight i chose some very poor seats, which is a shame because the concert was amazing. the sound is great even in the poor seats, but we couldnt even see a decent sized screen from where we were. the stage was literally crawling with ants. it was just like watching some ants perform, that is how small they were! i could only tell who was who from where they were standing on the stage. forget about watching their faces unless you can see a screen. but i dont want to go to a concert to watch a TV screen! i couldnt really see the one behind them because of all the lights and everything above them which obscured it.
but even though i couldnt see anything i could hear everything fine. and if i was in some better seats (which i will make sure i am next time!) then i imagine that it will be amazing.
my poor seats havent put me off going again. and even with bad seats i am still happy that i went

[rose errington]

Saw Bryan Ferry sound good but shame no screens around the arena as there are at other venues. Would have enabled us to see him and the band better

[loftyj37]

I waited over 30 years to see Roxy live and now after last summer's open air gig at the Lovebox Festival and Mondays' concert at the O2 I've been priviledged to see them twice in six months! I thought they were terrific last summer but Monday night's show was even better. I've read a few poor reviews since Monday night on other sites and the bulk of the criticism seems to centre around the quality of the sound at the O2 arena and the choice of songs played. The sound quality was absolutely superb where I was sitting - fairly high up and quite close to the stage - so maybe those people who were moaning had seats at the other end of the arena where perhaps the sound was a bit distorted. I don't know but most people I know who've been to the O2 have had nothing but good things to say about the sound quality. As for the set list, well here I do have a problem with those Roxy 'fans' who complained that there were too many so-called obscure album tracks and not enough recognisable 'hits'. Roxy never were a singles band, thank God! Yes, they released singles but that wasn't how they earned their deserved reputation of being the most unique rock band that ever walked the face of the earth. It was the sheer diversity, originality and glorious theatricality of their albums, especially the first four, that captured so many hearts and minds in the 70s. If people really expected to be confronted with a play list of largely late 70s & early 80s top 10 hits, interspersed with the odd homage to the early years, then I think these fans came with the wrong mind set. I for one was thrilled to hear them play tracks like 2HB, Amazona, Bitter-Sweet and Prairie Rose which I suspect they hadn't played live that much since the 70s when they were promoting each new album. Sure I would have loved them to have played a couple more old personal faves like Song for Europe, Remake/Remodel & Ladytron but the joy of hearing them perform great album tracks that rarely get an airing live more than made up for that twinge of disappointment.Lets face it, if all the fans there on Monday night had left having heard pretty much every song they wanted, the guys would have had to have played a 3 or 4 hour set!! Even if Roxy never tour again at least I will have the memories of the last six months to sustain me into my seriously old age - plus hopefully there will be a DVD coming out soon of this year's tour. Could it possibly surpass the utterly amazing Live at the Apollo DVD of 2001? I wouldn't put it past them - Bryan and the boys have NEVER let me down in 40 years of unstinting devotion.

[Kim]

last time i went to the 02 was when it was still called the Dome...........................then husband got some free tickets to see eagles there.......last year..
so between us we have been 3 times...
well worth going to see any concert..
they have places to eat and drink outside the areana itself..
not too bad prices either.. only downside is the long queues to get a seat...
Andre Rieu.. ABSOLUELY MARVVY CONCERT... bravo to them all..

[Tony Carter]

Well - second visit to the 02 and will be the last. Primarily the logistics involved in getting there, which I know is not the fault of the venue, merely its location. I came with my wife to see Carmen last year and the tortuous route through central London was horrific. The concert? - wonderful! Being a fan of Andre Rieu's music we booked to see him in November - sadly he was indisposed and the concert was postponed until Wed. this week - 20th April Another tedious journey of over three hours from Southampton via M25 and A2 both roads were blocked the M25 solid from Junc 5 for an accident and breakdowns and further delays at the Blackwall Tunnel. Upon arrival, even though we had pre-booked parking, we were directed to a "non-pre booked area" which was about a quarter of a mile from the entrance to the 02. We saw wheel chairs being pushed and people with walking sticks gingerly making their way to the venue on foot - no sign of a shuttle or facility for disabled people. Upon entering there are a few restaurants off to the right all with totally inadequate seating space for the sheer volume of humans attending. Queueing for all the usual suspects except Gauch - but what do you expect at £90.00 for a 1lb Chateubriand I had paid for Stall seats the very best that were available when booking. Half way back from the stage and I had to crane my neck to look up to the stage and the better view was on the two side screens though I did wonder what I was doing paying over a hundred quid a seat to do what I can do for free with a video on my TV set at home - the seats? - very uncomfortable, and how about £15 for a programme - come on!! Also, whoever was in charge of the sound call should be fired because we experienced a delay in the sound from the stage with a reverberation afterwards at the rear. The bass element was far too prominent and overpowering. The concert? No dynamics. Everything was played at "fff" The three tenors gave a rendition of Lehar's "You are my hearts Delight" at full tilt from beginning to end without a hint of subtlety !!ugh!!Two Sopranos came on with a string of youngsters to sing a "meaningful" item - the children were inaudible ! And - please Mr Rieu - you are a Johanne Strauss orchestra - what's with the Michael Jackson element? Leave it to the popsters - it doesn't work for you We did not return for the second half. Tony Carter SO45 4BU

[anita69]

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience of watching Kings of Leon yesterday at the o2 It was my first time and wont be the last.Efficient security/bar staff.sound and view really good.First class and worth the hour and twenty minute journey there and back.

[CeCe]

such an amazing landmark i wish 2 see it again wiv my family it will be the best ting ever

[Guest]

Was supposed to be going to the Guns N Roses concert. The O2 unwilling to provide any indication of when the acts would be onstage. Clearly the plan is to have fans stood around drinking overpriced beer for as long as possible.
The venue's reaction to long shows is for them to finish well after the tube has shut down, allowing them to hike the car parking price (£20 to park on an evening is disgusting), or try to fleece people for a boat trip. WIll give the concert a miss, and never go anywhere near the place again.

From previous visits the arena is OK, as long as you are not in the upper tier, but outside is a soulless corporate dump full of chain restaurants, and no hint of any character.

My advice is that unless it is a band you are absolutely desperate to see, then avoid the place like the plague, and go to the Brixton Academy instead.