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Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2Y 8DS, Tel: 020 7638 8891, Website: www.barbican.org.uk, Tube:
Barbican,
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Brutally ugly design and poor location aside, the Barbican Centre nonetheless serves as a major
arts and concert venue in London. What's more, it can rightly claim to have one of the world's best
orchestras (the London Symphony) in residence. And, if that's still not enough to whet your
appetite, the Barbican regularly plays host to a raft of international stars and famous touring
orchestras too. With a fine repertoire of events and innovative programming, it all adds up to a
nigh on unbeatable classical music experience.
British Music Information Centre (BMIC)
1st Floor, British Music House, 26 Berners Street, W1T 3LR,
Tel: 020 7580 3869, Website: www.bmic.co.uk, Tube: Tottenham
Court Road,
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Boasting more than 70 concerts a year, the BMIC focuses mainly on 20th-century British composers,
with soloists, ensembles and composers all vying for attention. And, while some of the music is
challenging (to say the least) the centre's 'Cutting Edge' events (at the Warehouse London) and
tour provide a welcome stage for young musicians.
London Coliseum
St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES, Tel: 020 7632 8300, Website: www.eno.org, Tube: Charing Cross/Leicester Square/ Covent
Garden,
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Despite lacking the grandeur of Covent Garden's restored Royal Opera House, the centrally
located Coliseum is nonetheless a major seat for opera in London. Home to the English National
Opera (ENO) the venue not only brings more populist programming to the party, but affordable prices
too. Originally founded as the Vic-Wells Opera, the Company (also known previously as Sadler's
Wells) performs all works in English, while productions tend, on the whole, to be more innovative
than anything on at the Royal Opera House.
Royal Academy of Music
Marylebone Road, NW1 5HT, Tel: 020 7873 7373, Website: www.ram.ac.uk, Tube: Regent's Park/Baker Street,
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As the nursery for tomorrow's top classical stars, the Royal Academy puts on lunchtime concerts
(all open to the public) during term time. Along with the Royal College (below) the Academy
provides an inexpensive opportunity to hear some of London's most talented young musicians.
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, Kensington, SW7 2AP, Tel: 7589 8212, Website: www.royalalberthall.com,
Tube: South Kensington,
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Funded, in part, by profits from the Great Exhibition of 1851, the Royal Albert Hall has long
served as one of London's most prominent and prestigious) music venues. Most famously known for the
'Proms'(a series of classic concerts running from July to September and including the Elgar
inspired 'Last Night'), the hall not only features excellent acoustics, but a vast and wonderfully
elegant interior.
Royal College of Music
Prince Consort Road, SW7 2BS, Tel: 020 7589 3643, Website: www.rcm.ac.uk, Tube: South Kensington,
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Concerts every weekday during term, with occasional recitals (for which a small fee is charged) in
the evenings. As other venues may be used, check the College's website for details.
Royal Opera House
 Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2E 9DD, 7304 4000,
Website: www.royaloperahouse.org,
Tube: Covent Garden,
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A huge, no expense spared renovation has seen Covent Garden's Royal Opera House restored to its
rightful position as one of the world's great opera venues. Though the notion of bringing opera to
the masses seems largely to have escaped the board of the ROH (with good seats costing in excess of
£60), performances can still be seen for as little as £8. It's also worth knowing that
the refurbished Floral Hall is open to the public during the day (occasionally being used for
lunchtime recitals). Of course, if you're lucky enough to see a production, the classic opera
performances (often in their original languages) are widely regarded as first-rate.
St James' Church Piccadilly
197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL, Tel: 020 7734 4511, Website: www.st-james-piccadilly.org, Tube: Piccadilly Circus,
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Plays host to lunchtime recitals in the beautiful surroundings of this Wren designed church.
Evening concerts are also held, with programming that is all-encompassing rather than favouring any
single classical music genre.
St John's Smith Square
St. John's, Smith Square, SW1P 3HA, Tel: 020 7222 1061, Website: www.sjss.org.uk, Tube: Westminster,
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Dominating Smith Square, St John's has a colourful, if chequered history. Partially destroyed by
German bombing in 1941, it also burnt down in 1742 and was struck by lighting in 1773. Bad luck
aside, it continues to serve as a first-rate music venue, with the hall's good acoustics giving
rise to occasional BBC concert broadcasts. The crypt's Footstool eatery is also welcome find in an
area bereft of decent restaurants.
St Martin-in-the-Fields
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 4JJ, Tel: 020 7839 8362, Website: www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org,
Tube: Charing Cross/Leicester Square,
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With an elegant façade and wonderfully ornate interior, the much-loved St
Martin-in-the-Fields is not only the official parish church of Buckingham palace, but also a fine
classical music venue to boot. Situated right in the heart of London by Trafalgar Square, (free)
lunchtime recitals take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Evening concerts also take place
here all year round.
South Bank Centre
Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, Tel: 020 7921 0600, Website: www.sbc.org.uk, Tube: Charing Cross,
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Outstripping even the Barbican for the title of 'most dire looking venue in the city', the South
Bank Centre's main forte lies not in its architecture but with the fine array of classical music
events staged throughout the year. Of the three 'in-house' concert venues, the Royal Festival Hall
is by far the biggest, mainly being used for large-scale symphony works. Moreover,
following a major overhaul in 2007, the auditorium has been dramatically enhanced to
better suit both classical and amplified music concerts. Queen Elizabeth Hall is
the favoured haunt of chamber groups, while the smaller Purcell Room is perfect for staging
recitals and solo works. Programming is led by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with overseas
touring orchestras and ballet companies appearing in the winter.
36 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2BP, Tel: 020 7935 2141, Website: www.wigmore-hall.org.uk,
Tube: Bond Street,
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Built in 1901 as a showcase venue for German piano firm Bechstein, Wigmore Hall is not only an
extremely attractive venue, but enjoys wonderful acoustics too. Used primarily for chamber music
concerts, the hall also plays host to a series of recorded BBC transmissions as well as recitals
given by international artists. And, with over 400 concerts a year, there's enough variety here to
please enough the most demanding classical music lover.
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