Barbican Centre

Map & Directions
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Barbican Centre is Europe's largest centre for performing arts

Water feature and courtyard at Barbican Centre cc licensed photo by _gee_

The largest centre for performing arts in Europe, Barbican Centre is located in the Barbican Estate in the north part of London. The centre is the home of both the London and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. It also features a wide range of music concerts, both classical and contemporary as well as art exhibits, film screenings theatre and dance performances.

The Barbican Centre was built and paid for by the City of London as a gift to the nation and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on March 3, 1982.

It is a complex multilevel structure containing a concert hall that can seat an audience of 1,949; a theatre with a capacity of 1,166; 3 cinemas with seating for 288, 255 and 155 and an Art Gallery. There are also 7 conference halls, 2 exhibition halls a library, 3 restaurants and an outdoor courtyard area complete with a water feature. Yellow lines are painted on walkways to help you find this large but obscure centre.

The modernist design of the Barbican Centre has resulted in a people friendly venue that has helped attract a whole new generation to watch and participate in the performing arts.

For more information about the Barbican Centre as well as shows and schedules visit their official website link below.

Facts For Your Visit

Official Website: Barbican Centre

Fee: Yes

Open Now

Regular Hours:
Hours may be subject to change. Please verify on the official website.

Monday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Tuesday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Wednesday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

Category: Cultural Center

Address: Silk Street
London EC2Y 8DS
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20 7638 8891

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4 out of 5 4 Star Rating
Based on 108 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

Welcome to the future....if you're viewing the future from 1971. The Barbican is an absolutely mind blowingly amazing residential/university/opera... Read More

Rachel B. Sep-20-2018

What a fascinating complex filled with ugly/beautiful brutalist architecture, a good restaurant and a phenomenal theater. We visited the Barbican complex... Read More

Reed B. Aug-07-2019

I originally checked into this venue here on Yelp when it was titled "Barbican Hall" and while I was attending an LSO concert. Now I see it's been renamed... Read More

Vincent L. Aug-27-2017

Accommodations near Barbican Centre:

Booking.com

Directions

Tube Line	Nearest Station	Walking Time
Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith and City Lines	Barbican	10 minutes
Northern Line	Moorgate	10 minutes
Central Line	St. Paul's	10 minutes

How to get to Barbican Centre by Tube

From Barbican Station take the street level exit. Go right on Aldersgate St. and then left onto Beech St. and walk through Beech St. tunnel. If going to exhibition halls 1 or 2 go left at Golden Lane, otherwise keep going straight to the end of the tunnel. Cross the street at the end of the tunnel and follow Silk St. to the Barbican Centre entrance on your right.

From Moorgate Station take Finsbury Square exit and go right to Moor Place then right to Moorfields. Take the escalator between Moorgate Station and Boots up to the Highwalk the follow the yellow line all the way to the entrance.

From St. Paul's Station take exit 1 and go to your right along Cheapside until you get to Wood St. Turn left onto Wood St. and continue to the traffic light, then take the escalator, stairs or lift to Alban Highwalk. Follow the yellow line to the entrance.