Barbican Centre, London

Name: Barbican Centre
Address: London, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7638 8891

#149 among attractions in London

Museum, Art museum, Theater, Concerts and shows, More...

Gallery (19)

Map

Gallery

Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY 2.0 / Andy Roberts / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Nachomaans / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / SteinsplitterBot / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Chris McKenna (WMUK) / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Pigsonthewing / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Ziko / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / @fub / URL

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of London, the Barbican Centre stands as a celebrated hub for the performing arts. Opened in 1982, this brutalist structure is one of the most prominent arts venues in England, offering a diverse range of theater, dance, film, and music events.

The Barbican Centre is part of the larger Barbican complex, which also includes residential areas, a library, and the Museum of London. Its distinctive architecture, featuring textured concrete surfaces and elevated walkways, is a striking example of the brutalist style that was prevalent in the mid-20th century. This design choice not only makes the Barbican visually unique but also creates an immersive cultural experience for visitors.

Inside, the centre boasts a concert hall, two theaters, three cinemas, and a conservatory. The main concert hall is home to the London Symphony Orchestra and regularly hosts other prestigious ensembles and soloists from around the world. The theater spaces present a range of productions, from classic Shakespearean plays to avant-garde performances. The cinemas at the Barbican are known for showcasing independent and international films, often including Q&A sessions with directors and actors.

One of the centre's hidden gems is the Barbican Conservatory, the second-largest conservatory in London, which houses more than 2,000 species of plants and trees, as well as a variety of exotic fish.

The Barbican Centre also provides educational outreach programs and workshops, making it a place of learning and discovery for all ages. Visitors can enjoy guided tours that delve into the history and architecture of the centre, as well as the art on display.

For those looking to relax and reflect, the centre offers a range of dining options, from casual cafes to more upscale restaurants. The centre's shops sell unique gifts, books, and music, making it easy to take a piece of the Barbican's cultural experience home with you.

Easily accessible by public transport, the Barbican Centre is serviced by the London Underground, with the nearest station being Barbican, on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines. Several bus routes also stop near the centre, making it a convenient destination for tourists and locals alike.

Alternative names: Architectural style: BrutalismCoordinates: 51°31'12"N, 0°5'32"W

Address

City of London (Coleman Street)London United Kingdom

Contact

+44 20 7638 8891

Website

Social media

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London

Day trips

Barbican Centre – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Museum of London, St Bartholomew-the-Great, Artillery Ground, The Jugged Hare.

~1270 ftSW
London stories from prehistory to today
Museum of London, London
7 min walk • Nestled in the heart of London, the Museum of London offers a captivating journey through the city's tumultuous history, from its ancient roots to the bustling metropolis it is today. This esteemed institution is a treasure trove for anyone interested in London's past...
~1700 ftW
Church, Romanesque architecture, Reportedly haunted
St Bartholomew-the-Great, London
9 min walk • The Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, sometimes abbreviated to Great St Bart's, is a mediaeval church in the Church of England's Diocese of London located in Smithfield within the City of London.
~1050 ftNE
Sport venue, Sport, Bars and clubs
Artillery Ground, London
6 min walk • The Artillery Ground in Finsbury is an open space originally set aside for archery and later known also as a cricket venue. Today it is used for military exercises, rugby and football matches. It belongs to the Honourable Artillery Company, whose headquarters, Armoury House, overlook the grounds.
~320 ftN
Nightlife
The Jugged Hare, London
2 min walk • The Jugged Hare is a public house and restaurant at 49 Chiswell Street, between Barbican and Moorgate underground stations in the City of London.
~980 ftS
City wall, Postmodern architecture
125 London Wall, London
5 min walk • 125 London Wall, also known as Alban Gate, is a postmodernist building on London Wall in the City of London. Along with Embankment Place and Vauxhall Cross, it has been described as one of the three projects that established designer Sir Terry Farrell's reputation in the late 1980s-to-early 1990s period.
~1390 ftNE
Cemetery, Park
Bunhill Fields, London
7 min walk • Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground in central London, in the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London.
~1520 ftW
Nightlife
Hand and Shears, London
8 min walk • The Hand and Shears is a Grade II listed public house at 1 Middle Street, Smithfield, London. It is on the Campaign for Real Ale's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. It was built in the early-mid 19th century.
~1340 ftSW
Memorial
London Stone, London
7 min walk • London Stone is a historic landmark housed at 111 Cannon Street in the City of London. It is an irregular block of oolitic limestone measuring 53 × 43 × 30 cm, the remnant of a once much larger object that had stood for many centuries on the south side of the street.
~1630 ftSE
Park
Finsbury Circus, London
8 min walk • Finsbury Circus is a park in the Coleman Street Ward of the City of London, England. The 2.2 hectares park is the largest public open space within the City's boundaries.
~1510 ftS
Vernacular architecture, Georgian architecture, City hall
Guildhall, London
8 min walk • Guildhall is a municipal building in the Moorgate area of the City of London, England. It is off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap.
~1200 ftS
Museum
Chartered Insurance Institute, London
6 min walk • The Chartered Insurance Institute is a professional body dedicated to building public trust in the insurance and financial planning profession. The CII's purpose, as set out in its 1912 royal charter, is to 'Secure and justify the confidence of the public' in its members and the insurance sector as a whole.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When is Barbican Centre open?

Barbican Centre is open:

Monday 9 am - 11 pm
Tuesday 9 am - 11 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 11 pm
Thursday 9 am - 11 pm
Friday 9 am - 11 pm
Saturday 9 am - 11 pm
Sunday 10 am - 11 pm

Which popular attractions are close to Barbican Centre?

Nearby attractions include Barbican Conservatory, London (2 min walk), Barbican Estate, London (3 min walk), St Giles-without-Cripplegate, London (3 min walk), Beech Street, London (4 min walk).

How to get to Barbican Centre by public transport?

The nearest stations to Barbican Centre:

Bus

Silk Street • Lines: 153 (2 min walk)
Beech Street • Lines: 153 (3 min walk)

Metro

Moorgate • Lines: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern (5 min walk)
Barbican • Lines: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan (8 min walk)

Train

Bank (13 min walk)
City Thameslink (15 min walk)

Light rail

Bank Platform 10 • Lines: B-L, B-Wa (15 min walk)
Tower Gateway Platform 1 • Lines: Tg-B (26 min walk)

Ferry

Blackfriars Pier • Lines: Rb6 (20 min walk)
Bankside Pier • Lines: Green Tour, Rb1, Rb1X, Rb2 (21 min walk)