London
We’ve compiled the best of the best in London - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Barbican Centre
City of LondonOpened in 1982, The Barbican is an enormous Brutalist concrete maze that Londoners either love or hate—but its importance to the cultural life of the...
Opened in 1982, The Barbican is an enormous Brutalist concrete maze that Londoners either love or hate—but its importance to the cultural life of the capital is beyond dispute. At the largest performing arts center in Europe, you could listen to Elgar, see 1960s photography, and catch German animation with live accompaniment, all in one day. The main concert hall, known for its acoustics, is most famous as the home of the London Symphony Orchestra. The Barbican is also a frequent host to the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Architecture tours take place several times a week.
View Tours and ActivitiesSilk St.- 020 - 7638–4141Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Art exhibits free–£15, cinema from £6, theater and music from £10, tours £15 -
2. Battersea Arts Centre
BatterseaThis arts center has a reputation for producing innovative new theater and dance works as well as hosting top alternative stand-up comics. It also hosts...
This arts center has a reputation for producing innovative new theater and dance works as well as hosting top alternative stand-up comics. It also hosts a number of community arts initiatives to develop local talent. Performances take place in quirky spaces all over this atmospheric former town hall. The bar, which serves snacks and shared plates, is open all day.
176 Lavender Hill- 020 - 7223–2223Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Pay-what-you-can (£3 suggested)–£30 -
3. Curzon Soho
SohoOpened in 1959 and now a Soho institution, this three-screen independent cinema runs a vibrant program of first-run arthouse and mainstream films, along with an...
Opened in 1959 and now a Soho institution, this three-screen independent cinema runs a vibrant program of first-run arthouse and mainstream films, along with an engaging calendar of director talks, Q&As, festival events, and other cinephile shindigs. The first-floor mezzanine bar is great for a quiet drink, even when Soho is heaving with people. There are other wonderful Curzon cinemas in Mayfair, Bloomsbury, and Victoria.
99 Shaftesbury Ave.- 01233 - 555--644Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £13 -
4. Frieze London
Regent's ParkA glamorous contemporary art fair, Frieze London brings the crème de la crème of the international art world to London each October. Its sister show,...
A glamorous contemporary art fair, Frieze London brings the crème de la crème of the international art world to London each October. Its sister show, Frieze Masters, is a 15-minute walk across Regent's Park and focuses on art from the ancient world through the late 20th century. For the two events combined, hundreds of galleries exhibiting thousands of artworks—everything from Old Masters to Rachel Whiteread—fill two huge pop-up spaces in the park. The food and drink available on-site are pricey but excellent, and there's a compelling program of artist and curator talks. Catch the free Frieze Sculpture Park in Regent's Park between July and October.
Regent's Park- 020 - 3372–6111Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Combined ticket £82 -
5. Meltdown Festival
South BankThe wildly eclectic and very cool Meltdown generally takes place in June at the Southbank Centre. It's curated by a different big-name artist each year...
The wildly eclectic and very cool Meltdown generally takes place in June at the Southbank Centre. It's curated by a different big-name artist each year (e.g., Robert Smith in 2018, Nile Rodgers in 2019, and Grace Jones in 2022), so you never have any idea what to expect until the program comes out.
Belvedere Rd.- 020 - 3879–9555Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Free–£90 -
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6. National Theatre
South BankWhen this complex designed by Sir Denys Lasdun opened in 1976, Londoners were slow to warm up to the low-rise Brutalist block, with Prince Charles...
When this complex designed by Sir Denys Lasdun opened in 1976, Londoners were slow to warm up to the low-rise Brutalist block, with Prince Charles describing it as "a clever way of building a nuclear power station in the middle of London without anyone objecting." But whatever you think of the outside, the inside offers generally superb theatrical experiences at (relatively) friendly prices—several of which (like War Horse or One Man, Two Guvnors) have gone on to become long-running Broadway hits. Interspersed with the three theaters—the 1,150-seat Olivier, the 890-seat Lyttelton, and the 450-seat Dorfman—is a multilayered foyer with exhibitions, bars, restaurants, and free entertainment. Musicals, classics, and plays are performed by top-flight professionals, who you can sometimes catch giving foyer talks as well. Backstage, costume, and architecture tours are available daily at 9:45 am except Sunday. The Clore Learning Centre offers courses and events on different aspects of theater production, and you can watch staff at work on set building and scenery painting from the Sherling High-Level Walkway. Each weekend in August, the free outdoor River Stage Festival presents live music, dance, family workshops, and DJ sets in front of the theater. There are £10 Friday Rush tickets for some performances.
Belvedere Rd.- 020 - 7452–3000Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £15, tours £13 -
7. Royal Albert Hall
KensingtonOpened in 1871, this splendid iron-and-glass-domed auditorium hosts everything from pop and classical headliners to Cirque du Soleil, awards ceremonies, and sumo wrestling championships, but...
Opened in 1871, this splendid iron-and-glass-domed auditorium hosts everything from pop and classical headliners to Cirque du Soleil, awards ceremonies, and sumo wrestling championships, but it is best known for the annual July–September BBC Promenade Concerts. Bargain-price standing-room (or promenading or sitting-on-the-floor) tickets for "the Proms" are sold on the night of the concert. The circular 5,272-seat auditorium has a terra-cotta exterior surmounted by a mosaic frieze depicting figures engaged in cultural pursuits. The hall is open most days for daytime guided tours and Tuesday through Sunday for Afternoon Tea.
View Tours and ActivitiesKensington Gore- 0207 - 589–8212Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £7; tours £16.25 -
8. Royal Opera House
Covent GardenAlong with Milan's La Scala, New York's Metropolitan, and the Palais Garnier in Paris, this is one of the world's great opera houses. First established...
Along with Milan's La Scala, New York's Metropolitan, and the Palais Garnier in Paris, this is one of the world's great opera houses. First established in 1732, the Royal Opera House has staged countless spectacular performances during its illustrious history, while recent shows have tended toward a more contemporary repertoire. Whatever the style, the extravagant 2,250-seat auditorium delivers a serious dose of gilt and glamour. The famed Royal Ballet performs classical and contemporary repertoire here, too, and smaller-scale works of both opera and dance are presented in the Linbury Theatre and Clore Studio. A small allocation of tickets for each performance of main stage productions for the week ahead—even those that are sold out—goes on sale online at 1 pm every Friday. If you wish to see the famed auditorium but are not able to procure a ticket, you can join a backstage tour or one of the less frequent tours of the auditorium; they book up several weeks in advance.
View Tours and ActivitiesBow St.- 020 - 7304–4000Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Performances from £7; tours from £16 -
9. Sadler's Wells
IslingtonIf you're into leading classical and contemporary dance companies, head to this purpose-built complex, which opened in 1998 and is the sixth theater on this...
If you're into leading classical and contemporary dance companies, head to this purpose-built complex, which opened in 1998 and is the sixth theater on this site in its 300-year history. Choreographers like Matthew Bourne and Hofesh Shechter often bring their work here. The smaller Lilian Baylis Studio hosts avant-garde work.
Rosebery Ave.- 020 - 7863–8000Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £15 -
10. Southbank Centre
South BankThe general public has never really warmed to the Southbank Centre's hulking concrete buildings (beloved by architecture aficionados), products of the Brutalist style popular when...
The general public has never really warmed to the Southbank Centre's hulking concrete buildings (beloved by architecture aficionados), products of the Brutalist style popular when the center was built in the 1950s and '60s—but all the same, the masses flock to the concerts, recitals, festivals, and exhibitions held here, Europe's largest arts center. The Royal Festival Hall is truly a People's Palace, with seats for 2,900 and a schedule that ranges from major symphony orchestras to pop stars. The smaller Queen Elizabeth Hall is more classically oriented. It contains the Purcell Room, which hosts lectures and chamber performances. For art, head to the Hayward Gallery, which hosts shows on top contemporary artists such as Antony Gormley and Cy Twombly. The center's riverside street level has a terrific assortment of restaurants and bars, though many are branches of upscale chains. Friday through Sunday, there's a street food market with food trucks serving cuisines from around the world.
View Tours and ActivitiesBelvedere Rd.- 020 - 3879–9555Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Free–£120 -
11. The Proms
South KensingtonHosted predominantly in the epic Royal Albert Hall, The BBC Proms is an eight-week-long festival of classical concerts that takes place every summer. More than...
Hosted predominantly in the epic Royal Albert Hall, The BBC Proms is an eight-week-long festival of classical concerts that takes place every summer. More than 100 years old, the festival is considered an institution, but the line-up doesn't shy away from embracing the new and quirky aspects of classical music. Expect to find the likes of children's concerts, classic film scores, and avant-garde African salsa on the bill. Standing tickets of £6 are available for most performances.
Kensington Gore- 020 - 7589–8212Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £6 -
12. Wigmore Hall
MaryleboneLondon’s most beautiful venue for chamber music also happens to boast near-perfect acoustics. The hall has a rich history, including hosting the premieres of a...
London’s most beautiful venue for chamber music also happens to boast near-perfect acoustics. The hall has a rich history, including hosting the premieres of a number of works by the British composer Benjamin Britten, and today attracts leading ensembles from all over the world. The varied program contains lunchtime and Sunday morning concerts plus workshops, as well as concerts for babies and toddlers.
36 Wigmore St.- 020 - 7935–2141Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £18 -
13. Wilton's
East EndArguably London's most atmospheric cultural space, Wilton's has been entertaining the crowds since 1743, first as an alehouse, then as a music hall. It now...
Arguably London's most atmospheric cultural space, Wilton's has been entertaining the crowds since 1743, first as an alehouse, then as a music hall. It now hosts gigs, talks, theater performances, movie screenings (often with live scores), and swing-dance evenings. The cozy Mahogany Bar, the oldest part of the building, serves a good range of quality local ales, along with snacks and meals that change according to what's playing in the theater. There's a cocktail bar upstairs, in what was once the artists' green room.
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14. Almeida Theatre
IslingtonThis Off West End venue, helmed by artistic director Rupert Goold, premieres excellent new plays and exciting twists on the classics, often featuring high-profile actors....
This Off West End venue, helmed by artistic director Rupert Goold, premieres excellent new plays and exciting twists on the classics, often featuring high-profile actors. A good café-bar serves tasty food, wine, and cocktails.
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15. BFI London Film Festival
More than 200 feature films, many of them world or European premieres, plus shorts and artist talks, grace the program of the BFI London Film...
More than 200 feature films, many of them world or European premieres, plus shorts and artist talks, grace the program of the BFI London Film Festival, which takes place over 12 days every October. The big movie theaters in Leicester Square are the focus for the galas and major releases, but you can catch screenings at a total of 14 other venues across town, including locations like the Institute of Contemporary Arts. Booking ahead is advised.
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16. BFI London IMAX Cinema
South BankThe British Film Institute's glazed drum-shape IMAX theater (now, confusingly, operated by Odeon) has the largest screen in the United Kingdom (approximately 75 feet wide...
The British Film Institute's glazed drum-shape IMAX theater (now, confusingly, operated by Odeon) has the largest screen in the United Kingdom (approximately 75 feet wide and the height of five double-decker buses). It shows state-of-the-art 2-D and 3-D films.
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk- 0330 - 333–7878Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £15 -
17. BFI Southbank
South BankWith the best repertory programming in London, these four cinemas run by the British Film Institute are in effect a national film center. More than...
With the best repertory programming in London, these four cinemas run by the British Film Institute are in effect a national film center. More than 1,000 titles are screened each year, with art-house and foreign-language new releases, restored classics and silents, experimental and niche interest works, and short films favored over recent Hollywood blockbusters. The center also has a gallery, bookshop, events, and a "mediatheque" where visitors can watch film and television from the National Archive for free (closed Monday). The Riverfront Bar and Kitchen offers dining with views, while the BFI Bar is informal and buzzy. This is one of the venues for the BFI London Film Festival; throughout the year there are minifestivals, seminars, and guest speakers.
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18. Cadogan Hall
KensingtonOnce a church, this spacious venue is home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the English Chamber Orchestra performs here regularly. The hall also hosts...
Once a church, this spacious venue is home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the English Chamber Orchestra performs here regularly. The hall also hosts a wide range of choral and chamber concerts, plus the occasional folk, rock, and world-music gig.
5 Sloane Terr.- 020 - 7730–4500Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: Free–£100 -
19. Dance Umbrella
The biggest annual performing arts event in London is Dance Umbrella, a 20-day festival in October that hosts international and British-based artists at venues across...
The biggest annual performing arts event in London is Dance Umbrella, a 20-day festival in October that hosts international and British-based artists at venues across the city.
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20. Everyman Hampstead
HampsteadThe antithesis of a noisy, sticky-floored multiplex, the Everyman arthouse chain offers a premium cinema-going experience with ticket prices to match. But many say it's...
The antithesis of a noisy, sticky-floored multiplex, the Everyman arthouse chain offers a premium cinema-going experience with ticket prices to match. But many say it's worth it for the large leather armchairs, loveseats, and waitstaff that bring tapas and champagne to your seat. Along with recent releases, the cinema screens live ballet and opera performances from the Royal Opera House and plays from the National Theatre. There's another branch down the hill in Belsize Park.
5 Holly Bush Vale- 0871 - 906–9060Arts/Entertainment Details
Rate Includes: From £18.90
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