The Barbican Arts Centre is a multilevel cultural centre and a one-stop venue for wide-ranging performing arts events. It is a place to experience and be inspired by the talents of exceptional artists and artistic organizations. The Barbican Arts Centre is home to a cinema, concert halls, galleries and theatres in addition to bars, cafés and restaurants. Queen Elizabeth II inaugurated the centre in 1982 and it is billed as a gift to the people from the city of London.
There is something to suit almost all tastes at the centre. Attend recitals by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. Watch performances by contemporary musicians such as the South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and the Japanese drumming ensemble, Kodo. Delight in interpretations of Baroque and classical music by the Academy of Ancient Music.
Peruse the travelling exhibitions on display at the Barbican Art Gallery. Admire works by Turner-prize winning artists and discover a celebration of the influential 20th-century designers Charles and Ray Eames. Find more art on display at The Curve gallery.
Enjoy performances of Shakespearean plays by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre. Encounter experimental theatre, such as interactive puppet shows, at the intimate The Pit. See everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to independent movies and 3-D screenings at the centre’s cinema.
Spend some time appreciating the centre’s architecture, which displays a prominence of the Brutalist movement of the mid-1900s. Learn about the history of the building, its architects and astonishing facts on guided architecture tours.
Situated to the north of London’s City of London neighbourhood, the Barbican Arts Centre is easily accessible via public transport. The Tube stations Barbican and Moorgate are just a short walk from the centre. The centre has an on-site car park, for which fees are applicable.
The centre is open daily and admission is free, although fees apply for individual exhibitions and shows. A full schedule of events, talks and workshops is available on the centre’s official website.
