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To this day, London is one of the best cities in the world for live music. There are so many amazing venues to choose from, from historic concert halls to intimate grassroots spaces. We’ve made this guide of the best venues in London to show you what’s out there.
London is a massive international city with so much diversity. People come from all over the world to experience London’s music scene. There are so many different types of venues, so whatever music you’re into, there will always be something for you. The city also has a very rich and influential music history, from older classical music to more recent movements like grime.
You can experience so much here, from discovering emerging artists in smaller venues to major international stadium tours. There are also so many different neighbourhoods, home to a variety of different music scenes.
Located in deep North London, Alexandra Palace is one of the most beautiful live music venues in London. Before the show, you can enjoy the panoramic views of the city, and there is an amazing atmosphere around during gigs. It is an excellent place to see major headline events and it has a lot of variety. Big pop artists like Pink Pantheress have played this venue, as well as classical music performances, like the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The O2 Academy in Brixton is one of London’s most iconic music venues, known for its energetic crowds. Major touring acts often play here, including Lola Young, Mac DeMarco and Holly Humberstone. It is a nice size as it’s not too big but still spacious and you can always treat yourself to a drink in Brixton after the show!
The Roundhouse went from train engine repair shed to rock and roll venue in the late 1960s, hosting one of The Doors' only two UK shows with Jim Morrison, and still runs an eclectic programme mixing household names with emerging talent. The circular space creates an unusually immersive atmosphere that works equally well for intimate spoken word nights, larger cultural events and live music performances.
Designed in Art Deco style and opened in 1932, the stunning Eventim Apollo is one of the older music venues in London. The seated upper tiers and standing stalls create a brilliant atmosphere, making it a favourite of many established artists and touring acts.
With a capacity of just over 2,000, the Empire is a popular choice for artists wanting a more personal experience, with big artists like Oasis, Radiohead, and Adele all choosing it for exclusive warm-up gigs before major tours. It is especially popular for indie, alternative and rock performances.
Starting life in 1900 as a theatre and cinema, KOKO is part of Camden’s rich music history. The venue has always had a great atmosphere, with a giant disco ball hanging above a room of deep red walls and gold accents. A £70 million restoration in 2022 brought it back even bigger and better.
Unmistakable thanks to four graffiti-covered tube carriages on its roof, Village Underground's renovated Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch regularly hosts top electronic DJs and exciting up-and-coming artists. Its industrial aesthetic makes it the perfect backdrop for electronic, alternative, and experimental music.
This iconic London music venue has showcased performers across jazz, soul, hip hop, electronica, blues, and reggae. You can enjoy an amazing concert or a dazzling club night here. With two whole floors and its own Jazz Cafe Festival at Burgess Park, it is an unusually good option for a full night out.
A creative events space beneath London Bridge's railway arches, Omeara hosts a mix of rising talent and regular club nights in a room distinguished by its ornately gilded theatre stage. The intimacy of the space means you are rarely far from the action, making it one of the best venues in the city for discovering new artists.
Tucked above a pub in Angel, The Lexington has become one of the most respected small venues on the London circuit. With a strong reputation for indie and alternative bookings, it has a relaxed pub atmosphere downstairs and a tight, focused room upstairs. If you love catching artists before they break, this is one of the best places in the city to do it.
London's grassroots venues are vital to London’s music ecosystem and are where new sounds get tested, communities form, and scenes begin. Many acts currently filling arenas spent their earliest years on exactly these kinds of stages. Showing up and supporting independent venues is one of the most direct ways to keep London's music culture and nightlife genuinely alive.
A legendary London dive dedicated to championing up-and-coming talent, the Windmill established itself in the 2020s as a hotbed of the flourishing South London rock scene, launching bands such as Black Country, New Road and Squid. If you want to find the next big thing before anyone else, this is the place to come.
This pub, located in Shadwell, is probably the most historic music venue in London. With original brickwork some 700 years old, it has been mentioned in texts by Chaucer, Samuel Pepys, and Charles Dickens. A weekly line-up can span anything from post-punk, trip hop, classical music, poetry workshops, and jungle DJ sets.
A Hackney Central trade hall turned gig space, Moth Club's glittery gold refurb and eclectic programme of live music, comedy, and club nights draws time-weathered regulars alongside a hip east London crowd. Lady Gaga, Rick Astley, and Dave Grohl have all played here, but it remains first and foremost a bastion for independent artists.
A long-standing fixture near Oxford Circus, The Social is one of the most characterful central London music venues. Upstairs is a relaxed wood-panelled bar; downstairs, the basement hosts everything from high-energy gigs to late-night DJ sets. Unpretentious, central, and always worth a visit.
Founded in 2015 in a Victorian warehouse, Ormside is a hidden gem celebrated by South-East London locals and underground music enthusiasts alike. Their wide range of programming is always worth checking out, the crowd is always worth meeting and the intimate atmosphere fosters a genuine sense of community.
A home for live underground music in the heart of Lewisham, with an eclectic mix of punk, rave, reggae, ska, dub, drum and bass, and everything in between, plus a large outdoor space hosting summer BBQs and parties. It also has its own brewery on site and will always be a fun night out to enjoy some excellent live music.
Tucked away in Dalston, The Jago is a venue of two distinct personalities. Downstairs is lively and energetic, built for dancing and louder nights, while upstairs offers a cosier, sofa-lined space with a more relaxed feel. The programming spans a wide range of genres, and they often do open mic nights where you are guaranteed a fantastic time.
Booking early is one of the simplest ways to save on major acts as prices often rise as the date approaches. Signing up to venue newsletters is equally useful, as this can get you access to pre-sale codes, early tickets and you’ll be in the know about all the events at your favourite venues.
Weekday gigs are usually cheaper and less crowded than weekend shows, and venues often take more adventurous programming risks on quieter nights. Smaller grassroots venues are usually the most affordable option of all, with entry sometimes costing only a few pounds. Now you have our comprehensive list, you’ll always have somewhere to go without spending a fortune.
Member schemes and community ticket platforms are also well worth exploring. For example, Tickets for Good offers affordable access to live events for eligible members. You can browse their wide selection here and see if anything tickles your fancy.
Tickets for Good is a platform providing free* and discounted tickets to live events for healthcare workers, teachers, charity staff and those struggling with cost of living.
Signing up is free, and once registered, members can browse regularly updated listings across music, theatre, sport, and more. For live music in London specifically, the platform offers a broad range of events from grassroots gigs to larger venue shows.
Whether you are heading to a major headline show or exploring the city's independent venues for the first time, London's music scene has something for every taste and budget. If you are eligible for Tickets for Good, it is worth checking the live music and entertainment listings before you make plans.