10 Best Places for Live Music in London

The Royal Albert Hall is a spectacular, oval-shaped building in the South Kensington neighbourhood of London. Queen Victoria named this concert hall in honour of her beloved husband and this iconic, dome-topped venue offers over 350 events each year in the main auditorium. It’s known for its fantastic variety of concerts covering different music genres.

Artists such as Eric Clapton, Adele, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley Bassey and Jay-Z have all performed here. You can also enjoy a ballet, opera or a Cirque du Soleil show, but the venue is best known for its classical music events. The legendary BBC Proms is a series of summer concerts stretching over several weeks and the highlight of the Royal Albert Hall’s events calendar.

Fabric London is an energetic nightclub in central London, behind the immense Smithfield Market. Fabric is known for its thumping drum and bass, techno, grime and dance music, and it’s host to a mix of resident and guest DJs. If you love dancing all night to the latest mixes, this Farringdon club is for you.

There are 3 massive rooms. Room One is the biggest and busiest, and it has an amazing “bodysonic” vibrating dancefloor. Fabric has won numerous titles and awards, so it’s very popular with both locals and tourists alike. Make sure you arrive early to avoid the long queues or book advance tickets on the Fabric website.

Wembley, in northwest London, is home to 2 fantastic music venues. The OVO Arena has a seating capacity of just over 12,000 and hosts a wide range of concerts, covering everything from classical music and pop to rock and country music. But if you dream of seeing the biggest global bands perform in an outdoor stadium with an electric atmosphere, you’ll need to cross the road to the stadium.

The vast Wembley Stadium isn’t just home to world-class sporting events, but also phenomenal music events. Legendary acts, including Coldplay, Metallica and Madonna have all performed here in front of crowds of over 75,000 fans. Parking can be difficult, but there are 3 railway/underground stations within walking distance of the stadium.

The Old Blue Last lies in the Shoreditch area. This traditional East End pub is popular with locals, especially a younger crowd, who come here for the high-quality ale and great atmosphere. On the second floor, you’ll find the Live Room which hosts everything from karaoke and cabaret nights to live bands and club nights.

This 150-capacity room offers a wonderful, intimate setting to enjoy fantastic concerts. Musicians including Lily Allen, the Arctic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse and Kylie Minogue have all enthralled the crowds here. Plan on arriving early to take advantage of the “early bird drinks” prices and to find a great spot to enjoy the show.

Cahoots brings the 1940s back to life with its vintage-style decor and speakeasy-style bar. You’ll find three different spaces in an original venue, based around a disused underground station. The Signal Station is the place to be for great drinks and live music. Listen to soothing jazz as you indulge in unique cocktails served in camping flasks and station clocks. Or hit the dancefloor when the post-war swing music begins.

The Underground area is best for those who love to tap their feet in time to live pianists belting out singalong tunes. You’ll be blown away by the vocal harmonies of the singers in vintage tea dresses. No reservations or ration books are needed for this unique venue.

Ronnie Scott’s is a famous jazz club in the heart of Soho, named after the immensely talented saxophone player. Known by locals and musicians as “Ronnie’s”, this legendary bar has a laidback and friendly atmosphere. Sit back, relax and take in the soulful music of those following in the footsteps of icons such as Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald, who both graced the stage here.

The upstairs bar, appropriately called Upstairs@Ronnie’s, is home to amazing live music and you can choose from Afro-Cuban, acid jazz, blues or funk, depending on the day of the week. There are also some great choices of bar food, and the delicious Sunday lunch menu is popular with locals and tourists alike.

Omeara is a popular events venue located close to London Bridge, on the south side of the River Thames. This 320-capacity building offers different spaces, including a bar area where you can enjoy cocktails, craft beers and wines; a large room for live music; a mezzanine with its own DJ booth; and an open-air terrace.

This lively club has a solid reputation for showcasing emerging talent, so if you love to watch up-and-coming musicians perform, this is the perfect spot for you. There’s no car park at the venue, but it’s easy to get here by tube and there are 2 underground stations within easy walking distance of the club.

The Roundhouse is located in north London, close to other famous landmarks, including Camden Market and Primrose Hill. This distinctive building for performing arts and live music dates back to the mid-19th century and was once a railway shed. Now, it’s an impressive, modern venue where you can enjoy concerts, alternative theatre and fashion shows.

You’ll love the diverse calendar of events offered by the Roundhouse. There’s a great mix of rising talent and established acts, and musicians such as Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey and Ellie Goulding have all performed here. With several bars and a café on site, you can eat and drink whilst enjoying some fantastic music.

Union Chapel is a church with a difference. This stunning, Victorian Gothic building in north London, is not just a regular church with a weekly service. It’s also home to some amazing live events. World-class musicians such as Elton John, Tom Jones and Youssou N’Dour have all enjoyed the great acoustics in this beautiful building.

Profits from the live music events here go towards helping those in need in the community and the upkeep of this magnificent church. It’s a great feeling to know that you’re not just enjoying a fantastic concert but contributing to society too. Please note that there’s no reserved seating, just one queue for all tickets, so plan on arriving early to get the best pew.

The Eventim Apollo, formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon, is a majestic and historic building in an Art Deco style. You can see comedians, rappers and orchestras perform and some famous faces have thrilled audiences here, including Bruce Springsteen, Status Quo, Kanye West and Julie Andrews. If you love to see live music in a large and historic venue, this is a great choice for a night out.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the venue, you’ll find lots of bars, pubs and brasseries lining the banks of the River Thames. There are some great spots here to grab a drink or a bite to eat before heading to a gig at the Apollo and dancing the night away.