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London's Top Five Venues
 
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LondonTown.com selects the five top arts venues in London. They offer visitors and Londoners alike a sample of the very best in the performing and visual arts. If you have not yet taken in a show, concert, exhibition or event at one of these venues then you are missing out!
  Royal Festival Hall
 Venue: Over 150,000 hours of music have been performed at the Royal Festival Hall since its completion in 1951. It is the largest venue in the South Bank Centre and is at the heart of London’s music scene. Site: The Hall welcomes over three million visitors a year. The Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room are used for dance, song and recitals. The colossal Poetry Library houses the Arts Council modern collection. For a more relaxed musical treat sample the free lunchtime concerts in the Foyer, which is open to the public from 10:00 – 22:00. What goes on: The Royal Festival Hall is primarily a classical music venue. It benefits from the residency of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonia and four associate ensembles. The programme also includes events from opera to the London Jazz Festival. The annual Meltdown festival in June is a cultural feast, and draws a wide, young crowd. Each year Meltdown has a guest curator, most recently David Bowie. Address: Belvedere Road, SE1 Box Office: 020 7960 4242 Nearest Station: Waterloo Tube  Royal Opera House
Venue: The Royal Opera House first opened in 1732. It has suffered fire, bankruptcy and neglect in its time, but since 1995 has undergone lavish restoration, and is flourishing as the official home of the Royal Ballet. Site: The Royal Opera House is housed at Covent Garden in impressive buildings, mostly built after the fire of 1808. It is the main stage for the Royal Opera and Ballet. What goes on: The Royal Ballet performs productions by internationally renowned choreographers, like Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s Swan Lake, and Natalia Makarova's production of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. Address: Bow Street, Covent Garden, WC2 Box Office: 020 7304 4000 Nearest Station: Covent Garden Tube  Sadler's Wells
Venue: In 1685 Sadler’s Wells was briefly London’s most fashionable spot for taking a water cure, whilst being entertained by theatrical and musical performers. Since then it has battled constantly against closure, kept alive by crowds of drinkers and a series of well-connected patrons fond of its atmosphere. A glittering new building opened in 1998. Site: Sadler’s Wells lies in the heart of Islington. An impressive foyer leads into a 1568 seat theatre with excellent acoustics. The Lilian Baylis Studio is next door, an intimate venue seating 200. The Peacock Theatre is the West–end outlet for company shows, a 1037 seater theatre near Covent Garden. What goes on: Sadler’s Wells presents an adventurous programme of dance, drama and opera. Most famous for offering a platform to award-winning dance companies like White Oak Dance and Dance Theatre of Harlem, Sadler’s Wells also produces big-budget dance spectaculars like Mathew Bourne’s Nutcracker. The Peacock Theatre stages popular dance productions, part of Sadler’s Wells vision for winning new audiences. Address: Roseberry Avenue, EC1 Box Office: 020 7863 8000 Nearest Station: Angel Tube  Barbican
Venue: When the Queen opened the Barbican in March 1982, she labelled it a wonder of the modern world. In twenty years over 28 million people have visited. Top performers are attracted by its world class reputation and high profile, but the centre also devotes time to supporting under-funded art iniatives. Site: The Barbican Centre covers seven acres just south of the Thames, comprising a concert hall, two galleries, two theatres, three cinemas, seven conference suites, two trades halls and three restaurants. What goes on: There is a vibrant weekly concert schedule courtesy of long-term residents the London Symphony Orchestra and prolific newcomers the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Musicians from all nations and genres flock to perform in the refurbished Hall. Their educational programmes help 40,000 under-privileged youngsters attend courses funded and organised by the Barbican. Address: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, EC2 Box Office: 020 7628 2326 Nearest Station: Barbican Tube  The Royal Albert Hall
Venue: The Royal Albert Hall was conceived as part of Prince Albert’s desire to promote the arts. Sadly, it was not completed until 1871, several years after his death. It has acheived global fame as home to the Proms, a season of classical music climaxing in flag-waving crowds belting out the National Anthem. This populist ethos is reflected in the Hall’s mix of traditional, contemporary and experimental concerts. There is truly something for everyone. Site: The Hall is located in West London’s cultural heartland. It faces Kensington Park and is surrounded by the Victoria and Albert, Science and Natural History Museums. The Royal Colleges of Art and Music and the Royal Geographic Society also stand nearby. What goes on: One of London's most versatile venues, it is a favourite of performers from Jose Carreras to Kylie Minogue. The Hall also plays host to the Seniors tennis circuit. The likes of Becker and McEnroe can be seen bouncing balls off the famous mushrooms on the ceiling. Address: Kensington Gore, SW7 Box Office: 020 7589 8212 Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube
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