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Top Ten Entertainment Venues in London
 
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Sometimes the sheer scale of London can overwhelm even its residents, while visitors are bewildered by the choice of entertainment. If you're going to check what's on in London, the first place to go is the links in this article, which will guide you to the best of the best from the greatest city in the world.
  South Bank Centre
 Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Thriving riverside arts complex The South Bank Centre is a classic example of brutal 60s concrete architecture. Everyone has an opinion (usually negative) on its distinctive design - famous detractors include Prince Charles, who once described it as a 'monstrous carbuncle'. Yet, if the West End is the centre of popular culture in London, it is the South Bank Centre that is the centre of true excellence in the arts. Comprising the National Theatre, The Royal Festival Hall, the National Film Theatre and the Hayward Gallery the complex consistently produces plays, classical and world music events and fine art exhibitions of high renown. Each year the three venues within the National Theatre put on a significant proportion of the world's best productions. From the intimate character studies in the Cottesloe, to the grand spectacles of the Olivier, it has become the spiritual centre of London's Theatreland. Primarily a classical music venue, it is home to the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonia and four associate ensembles. The programme also includes events from opera to the London Jazz Festival. The Hayward Gallery has been the originator or host of influential exhibitions since 1968, while the National Film Theatre's three cinemas show 2000 films a year. A happy architectural accident has also made this complex the best spot for skateboarding and BMXing in the capital, meaning it is loved by London's counter-culture as much as by its highbrow elite. In the last ten years, the building of Tate Modern and the London Eye adjacent to the centre has been the final step in making the South Bank of the Thames into the beating heart of a thousand years of British culture. Best for: Dance and drama, art and architecture, skateboards and sound-systems, jazz and classical. Did you know? Over 150,000 hours of music have been performed at the South Bank Centre, to audiences of around 3 million a year. Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX Phone: 020 7921 0600 (royal Festival Hall) Nearest Station: Lambeth North tube South Bank Centre - Information  Barbican Centre
Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Huge, multifaceted arts and entertainment centre. Described by the Queen as "one of the wonders of the modern world", the Barbican Centre has also been voted London's ugliest building. Ugly or not, this multifaceted performance and arts venue is truly wondrous in that it forms one of the most important cultural sites in the capital. Open 363 days a year, it offers the most diverse program of any London venue. The giant Barbican Hall and the attractive local church of St Luke's are home to the London Symphony Orchestra, and also regularly attract a host of international classical, jazz, rock, and world music stars. Two theatres offer a year-round program of some of the finest in international performing arts, while three cinemas boast a varied programme that balances mainstream films with high-profile specialist seasons. The redeveloped Barbican Art Gallery, several smaller exhibition spaces, two cinemas, shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, live music in the foyer, and a host of talks, signings, and events for children are also on offer in this flourishing creative arena. The building itself is a labyrinth and finding your route from the station or car park is an adventure in itself. Staircases twist around each other, directing lost patrons into mysteriously empty mezzanines, where odd snatches of music are the only guide back to the main lobby. One of the pleasures of such a huge venue is to arrive early for whatever you plan to see and go exploring. The joy of coming across exhibitions, live music, or talks from a major arts celebrity in some odd corner of the building is a unique feature of this remarkable concentration of artistic talent. Best for: London Symphony Orchestra, modern architecture, music, arts, theatre and film, aimless wandering in concrete labyrinth. Did you know? The Barbican's residential tower blocks are the tallest in Europe housing over 4000 people in over 2000 flats. Address: Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS Phone: 020 7638 8891 Nearest Station: Barbican Barbican Centre - Information  Royal Opera House Covent Garden
Bow Street, Covent Garden, Westminster, WC2E 9DE Architecturally stunning home of the Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera Home of the Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, this impressive building in the heart of Covent Garden has been playing host to every major star of the classical music world since 1858. The third theatre to be located on this site, most of the existing venue - with the exception of the auditorium, facade and foyer which are originals from 1858 - is the result of a detailed reconstruction in the 1990s. It claims to be the most modern theatre facility in Europe, and it is certainly among the most spectacular. If you're serious about ballet and opera then this is the place to come for some of the best in the world. If you're not, and just want to explore the building itself (well worth it, especially Floral Hall, the building's dramatic glass atrium), you can wander around for free during the day. An esteemed, iconic and architecturally stunning venue. Best for: The Royal Ballet and Royal Opera. Did you know? During the First World War the theatre was used as a furniture repository, while during the Second World War it functioned as a dance hall. Address: Bow Street, Covent Garden, Westminster, WC2E 9DE Phone: 020 7304 4000 Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube Royal Opera House Covent Garden - Information  Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF The West End's oldest and most spectacular theatre The first theatre on this site was built in 1662 on the orders of Charles II. It has been rebuilt a number of times since then, but the current auditorium, completed in 1922, incorporates many elements from as long ago as 1820. As a result, this vision in cream and gold possesses an elegance unmatched in the West End. Its broad staircases, its chandeliered salon, its statuary and panels speak of an older, more glamorous theatrical age than the weighty grandeur of much of the West End. The performance history here is the history of popular theatre in Britain. From Nell Gwynne's debut, when Charles II fell in love with the 15-year-old actress, through the great Colley Cibber, to a three decade stint by David Garrick, London's greatest stars have appeared beneath the Theatre Royal's gorgeously decorated arch. Noel Coward's 'Cavalcade' (1931), with a 250-strong chorus, brought audiences to their feet every night, before Ivor Novello took the theatre up to the Second World War with a series of shows which he scored, wrote and starred in. After the war, the Theatre Royal blazed a trail into the modern world of long-running musicals, with a series of hits including 'Oklahoma', 'South Pacific', '42nd Street' and 'Miss Saigon', which ran for 4,236 performances. Best for: Big budget musicals, and top quality drama. Did you know: The Theatre Royal is the most haunted theatre in London, with regular ghosts including that of Charles Macklin, who killed a fellow actor in an argument about a wig, and the clown Grimaldi who helps nervous actors with their lines. Address: Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF Phone: 020 7494 5400 Nearest Station: Covent Garden tube Theatre Royal Drury Lane - Information  The Brixton Academy
211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL Superb music venue in an exciting area of the city This former cinema with its art deco interior, proscenium arch and 140ft dome is London's most celebrated venue for live music, winning Best Live Venue at the NME awards for 7 years in a row. The famous sloping floor means there are great views wherever you're standing, though keeping your feet can be a problem at the more raucous rock gigs. Most of the biggest bands in the world have played here, and it also holds some of Britain's hardest club nights. Located in one of the hardest-partying areas of London, with a capacity of 4,700, excellent sound, a 6am licence, and one of the biggest dance floors in the capital, this is the only place to watch your favourite bands and DJs. Best for: Rock, rap, rave and everything in between. Did you know: The auditorium was originally designed to give cinema audiences the impression that they were in an Italian garden, with clouds, moon and stars projected onto the dome by effects machines. Address: 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL Phone: 020 7771 3000 Nearest Station: Brixton tube The Brixton Academy - Information  Wembley Stadium
Empire Way, HA9 0DW Magnificent sports venue, the home of English football The world-famous football stadium was first built for the British Empire Exhibition of 1924, its first turf cut by King George V. Beneath the twin towers England internationals and FA Cup Finals were played for 70 years, including the 'White Horse Final' when over 240,000 spectators squeezed their way in. In the eighties, it played host to a number of legendary rock gigs including 'Live Aid' and the Nelson Mandela birthday concert. In 2002, the stadium, always intended to be a temporary structure, was demolished. The rebuilt Wembley, completed in 2007, has replaced the towers with an incredible arch, visible from anywhere in North West London. They've retained the same steeply banked seats, almost on top of the pitch, that help create the 'Wembley roar', and once again the English team has a spiritual home. Best for: Beating Germany 4-2 after extra time. Did you know: Wembley has more toilets than any building anywhere in the world. Address: Empire Way, HA9 0DW Phone: 020 8795 9000 Nearest Station: Wembley Park tube Wembley Stadium - Information  Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
New Globe Walk, Bankside, Southwark, SE1 9DR Riverside reconstruction of Shakespeare's original theatre Set against the historical background of Bankside this is one of the finest spaces in the world for watching theatre, and also one of the most astonishing buildings in London. Opened in 1997 - thanks to the campaigning efforts of actor Sam Wanamaker - this painstaking, piece-by-piece reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is located just 200 yards from the original playhouse on the banks of the river Thames. With stunning wooden timbers and a fantastic thatched roof there is little to separate it from the original. The stage and seating are outdoors and though the seats are covered, if you really want to experience the true Elizabethan theatrical experience, you can buy a ticket as a 'groundling' and watch the production standing up in the pit in front of the stage. It can get pretty tiring and you do run the risk of being rained on and bumped into by marauding actors, but experiencing the play in this way is much more authentic and really quite fun. The season runs from May to September or October each year and usually mixes Shakespearian classics with works by other Renaissance playwrights. The standard of performance is consistently high and reassuringly traditional in its approach. It is also quite astoundingly cheap. Best for: Shakespearean theatre, timbers and thatch, drama and dining. Did you know? The Globe's thatched roof is the first in London since the Great Fire of 1666. Address: New Globe Walk, Bankside, Southwark, SE1 9DR Phone: 020 7902 1400 Nearest Station: Mansion House Shakespeare's Globe Theatre - Information  BFI London IMAX Cinema
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, SE1 8XR IMAX cinema with the largest screen in the UK With a screen the height of five double decker buses, a 12,000 watt digital surround sound-system, and the special multi-dimensional technology of the iMax format, the BFI Imax is, without doubt, the most technically impressive modern cinema in the country. Watching a film here is more like taking part in the action - travel from the depths of the ocean up to the far reaches of outer space via a series of spectacular 3D and 2D films. A large proportion of their 3D programme is dedicated to children's films, but by virtue of their technical brilliance many of these are just as fascinating for adults to watch. 3D documentaries and mainstream movies also add to the portfolio and the 2D films are also impressive on this, the largest screen in the UK. Even the fact that it currently acts as a kind of roundabout and can only be accessed via a series of illuminated tunnels is quite a coup. As you navigate the tunnels with their space-age blue lights on your way to the cinema you feel that the 'living cinema experience' has already begun. Don't let the kids have all the fun. Best for: Huge screens and surround sound, 3D docs, dramas and animations. Did you know? The BFI London Imax has the most advanced 2D/3D projection system in the world. Address: 1 Charlie Chaplin Walk, SE1 8XR Phone: 020 7902 1234 Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube/Rail BFI London IMAX Cinema - Information  Comedy Store
Haymarket House, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Pioneering comedy club and home to the Comedy Store Players The Comedy Store is the spiritual home of stand-up in the UK. Despite being the best large comedy venue in the country, the Store still succeeds in creating an intimacy between comic and audience. Best of all, its central London location gives it a wonderfully mixed crowd. It can also be credited with discovering a host of alternative comedians throughout the 80s, who have become household names: Paul Merton, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmonson, Eddie Izzard, Steve Coogan, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith Allen, Clive Anderson and Ben Elton all started out in this small West End joint. The club's growing prestige even attracted US attention ? Robin Williams was known to drop in when he felt like a live comedy ?fix? and perform, unscheduled, for over an hour. The place hardly ever closes, though you should book inadvance at the weekend. The world-famous Comedy Store Players take to the stage every Sunday and Wednesday with their one-off displays of improvisation at its best, Tuesdays offer topical comedy from 'The Cutting Edge' crew, while Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays promise 'The Best in Stand-Up', and by this they mean exactly what they say: a superbly programmed night, featuring the best comics in the business. Best for: Stand-ups, improvisation, merriment and Merton. Did you know? During the eighties, Robin Williams was known to drop in when he felt like a live comedy fix and perform, unscheduled, for over an hour. Address: Haymarket House, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE Phone: 020 7344 0234 Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus tube Comedy Store - Information  Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Avenue, Islington, EC1R 4TN Modern contemporary dance and music performance space Occupying a site with a long tradition of entertaining Londoners, Sadler's Wells exists to bring the best of national and international dance, ballet, opera and music theatre to the capital. Now a strikingly modern building with flexible performance and auditorium spaces, the original Sadler?s Wells opened in 1683. Six Sadler's Wells later and sleek steel and glass have replaced the crumbling brick edifice of previous centuries. Originally a music hall, the venue now boasts a resoundingly contemporary but extremely accessible programme - with an emphasis on dance and movement - supported by innovative visual arts exhibitions in its public spaces. Sadler's really came into its own when Lilian Baylis took charge in the 1920s. Since then many of the world's best dancers have performed on this Islington stage. In 1995, Matthew Bourne premiered his magnificent 'Swan Lake' here which went on to become the West End's longest running ballet. Sadler's Wells continues to have close associations with the centrally located Peacock Theatre, its home during periods of renovation, while the Lilian Baylis Theatre - now a highly regarded venue in itself - is located within the Sadler's Well Islington complex. Ranging from the cutting-edge to the mainstream, some truly landmark productions have taken place here over the years. Best for: Ballet and Bourne, 'Swan Lake' and 'Scissorhands', contemporary dance and classics. Did you know? Sadler's Wells takes its name from the theatre's original founder, Richard Sadler, and the wells that were discovered on the site. Address: Rosebery Avenue, Islington, EC1R 4TN Phone: 020 7863 8000 Nearest Station: Angel tube Sadler's Wells - Information
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