Barbican Centre
A multi-arts centre for music, theatre, film and art set within a Brutalist landmark.
The Barbican Centre sits at the heart of the Barbican Estate in the City of London, a Brutalist residential and cultural complex built on land flattened by bombing in the Second World War. Chamberlin, Powell and Bon designed the estate, and the arts centre was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982; it is now Grade II listed.
Owned and funded by the City of London Corporation, it is one of Europe's largest multi-arts venues, with a concert hall that is home to the London Symphony Orchestra, a theatre, cinemas, two galleries, a public library and a tropical conservatory. Its lakeside terrace and raised walkways are free to explore, and a phased renewal of the centre is planned to begin construction in 2027.
Highlights
- Home of the London Symphony Orchestra
- Tropical Conservatory with thousands of plants
- Lakeside Terrace with fountains in the Brutalist estate
- Barbican Art Gallery and The Curve exhibitions
