The Best Music Venues in London You Need to Visit

London is a city known for its iconic architecture, famous landmarks and high level of Britishness. As well as all this, it is simply a great city to visit, especially as it is the capital of England. With so much going on there, it is no wonder that the live music scene is thriving and for any music scene to thrive, there has to be a number of incredible venues. That being said, here are the best ones in the British city you should visit.

THE 02 ARENA

First opened in 1999 as the Millennium Dome, the 02 Arena in London held its first gig in 2007 and has since played host to some of the world’s biggest stars, including Beyonce, Rihanna and The Spice Girls. The venue is situated in the North Greenwich area of London and is the second biggest indoor arena in the UK with a 20,000 capacity, closely following Manchester Arena at 21,000. The venue is well known for its iconic spires and dome shape, standing out on the Thames bank from the London skyline. If you’re in town, watching a gig here is definitely a must!

ROUNDHOUSE

With London’s Roundhouse music venue being inside an old converted railway engine shed, it is no wonder that this indoor space is one of the best in London for watching a live gig. The Roundhouse has hosted many bands and artists, as well as the iconic Itunes Festival in London. The venue is situated in Chalk Farm and is extremely close to Camden, an edgy part of London with lots of other cool intimate music venues.

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

Arguably one of the most iconic entertainment venues in the world, the Royal Albert Hall is considered to be a major London landmark that has an iconic atmosphere due to its level of intimacy. Even though the capacity inside this venue holds nowhere near as many people as the 02 Arena, this 1871 building beautifully captures the Victorian style of the time period when it was built. Here, you can watch classical orchestras to rock bands, pop groups to opera singers and indie bands to the annual BBC Proms. This venue is certainly one to be added to every bucket list.

RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB

Acting as one of the most iconic jazz clubs in the UK, Ronnie Scott’s first opened in 1959 in Soho, highlighting the importance of the often-forgotten music genre and bringing it to the London area. With its darkened lighting, comfy chairs and high-quality jazz music, going to the club is bound to make for a great experience. The jazz club is named after its owner, Ronnie Scott, who was a British Saxophonist and a notable figure in the jazz world. Whether this genre is your thing or not, this venue would be the perfect place for an unforgettable evening

Contributor: Hannah Youds