jdmel Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Im going to London for the first time next week, the 10th-16th, anyone from there/been there know any good places to check out for music sightseeing or know where i can find if anyone worth seeing is playing over there then? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pnêyu Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 London is so chock-full of music history that it's impossible to pick just one place to check out. It's all about your interests. Pick up a copy of Time Out when you get to town; some of the shows may be sold out, but it's a good resource for the week's nightlife. My favorite music neighborhoods: Camden and Notting Hill. Berwick St. down in Soho also has a great clutch of record stores. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 http://www.timeout.com/london/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Time Out is good as a reference for sure. If you're looking for classic venues, look up the following: The Scala (http://www.scala-london.co.uk/)The Roundhouse (http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/)Hammersmith Palais (which is due to be knocked down at the end of the month, The Good The Bad and The Queen are playing the last ever gig there) (http://www.barclub.com/hammersmithpalais/)London Astoria (http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage_astoria.asp?PageID=250)Shepherds Bush Empire (http://www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk/) Those are my favourites anyway... some of the other UK VCers might have others. I can heavily recommend The Scala, fantastic venue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
muller Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 A really good venue just off Tottenham Court Road is The Borderline. Its only a small club but they have some fantastic bands play there. They do a pretty good alt. country night too. http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage_bor....asp?PageID=353 For music buying make sure you go to Rough Trade in Covent Garden and take a trip over to Camden. Its vinyl heaven there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 How could I forget the Borderline... that is an amazing venue! I'm in London Saturday morning, must go to Rough Trade, not been before! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cusacker Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Time Out is good as a reference for sure. If you're looking for classic venues, look up the following: The Scala (http://www.scala-london.co.uk/)The Roundhouse (http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/)Hammersmith Palais (which is due to be knocked down at the end of the month, The Good The Bad and The Queen are playing the last ever gig there) (http://www.barclub.com/hammersmithpalais/)London Astoria (http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage_astoria.asp?PageID=250)Shepherds Bush Empire (http://www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk/) Those are my favourites anyway... some of the other UK VCers might have others. I can heavily recommend The Scala, fantastic venue. these are some of my favourites also, including the borderline. however, if you were looking for somewhere that just has some live music where you can stand and have a beer, i would suggest notting hill arts club. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Time Out is good as a reference for sure. If you're looking for classic venues, look up the following: The Scala (http://www.scala-london.co.uk/)The Roundhouse (http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/)Hammersmith Palais (which is due to be knocked down at the end of the month, The Good The Bad and The Queen are playing the last ever gig there) (http://www.barclub.com/hammersmithpalais/)London Astoria (http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage_astoria.asp?PageID=250)Shepherds Bush Empire (http://www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk/) Those are my favourites anyway... some of the other UK VCers might have others. I can heavily recommend The Scala, fantastic venue.Town & Country Club? Brixton Academy? (Haven't been to London in many years, but those are two other places where I saw shows.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Brixton Academy is ok but normally the gigs on there sell out really fast. Not been to the Town & Country Club though! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Town & Country Club? Brixton Academy? (Haven't been to London in many years, but those are two other places where I saw shows.) I wouldn't go to Brixton if I were you. It's not really dodgy, but it's bad enough that you might run the risk of getting mugged especially if you look you don't know where you are going, plus there is nothing there of any great interest. The suggestions of The Borderline are a good one. It's on Charing Cross Road, right near London Astoria, and also Denmark St (England's Tin Pan Alley), which is a whole street of musical instrument shops. Also around Soho is Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (which is worth walking past, I guess, at the very least). Soho's Berwick St is where all the record shops are (apart from that, it's a dump though), other areas of Soho are a bit nicer - Covent Garden is the best place to go at night if you don't mind that a lot of tourists are there, or you can cross to the far side of Oxford Street where there are loads of nice pubs that should have some local bands playing. Carnaby Street (which is just off of Oxford Circus/Regent Street) used to be filled with t-shirt shops, now not so much, and it's obviously famous from the 1960's, but it's not up to much now really - it's quite a nice clean place though (compared to other areas of Soho, and a few pubs there are nice - filled with tourists though). Then you can also go in Hamleys (on Regent Street) and act like a kid playing with all the toys. Also, go to Camden (you could also go on from there to London Zoo, which is just a walk away) for the market and also there are loads of music venues there too (gets a bit messy with drunks at night, but if you don't mind that, then you'll enjoy it). Apart from music, you absolutely have to go to South Kensington for all the Museums (The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert) - I think they are all still free to enter (although you might have to pay for certain exhibits. The architecture in South Kensington is amazing, by itself, so there's stuff to see even if you don't go in any museums. The one other place I'd say is take a trip to Greenwich (you can go on a river boat to get there from central london, which is a nice way to see The Thames too). At Greenwich is The National Maritime Museum which is free to enter - it is in one of the most beautiful areas of London, and you can stand across the Prime Meridian Line, and also have a look round The Cutty Sark. Greenwich is definatley a whole day thing, but worth it. One other place worth going to is Hyde Park, nicest of all the major parks in London, besides Greenwich Park. Hope that helps you out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I wouldn't go to Brixton if I were you. It's not really dodgy, but it's bad enough that you might run the risk of getting mugged especially if you look you don't know where you are going, plus there is nothing there of any great interest.It was pretty dodgy when I was there in '88, though I attributed that to the crowd assembled outside for the Jesus & Mary Chain show. Let's just say that I didn't linger in Brixton after the show. I remember the Town & Country Club being a nice venue. Apparently it's now called The Forum. Kentish Town tube. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Twisted Acres Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I spent 6 days in London about 2 years ago, did nothing but walk the city, and did several tours with London Walks: http://www.walks.com/ Chock full of information, relatively low-key, guides were very informative... I learned so much and enjoyed every minute of it. You get discounts if you purchase tickets for multiple walks. Did the Jack the Ripper walk on a Friday night, the guide was a stand-up comic, and quite funny. The pub walks are great as well... it was a terrific way to find spots to go back to. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Whitty Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 The original Virgin MegaStore on Oxford St. really deserves a visit, too. It's a touristy, but thoroughly enjoyable section of the city for strolling. Watch out for some of my Cockney thug relatives on the East End. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Synthesizer Patel Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 If we are talking walks, I'd say have a walk along The Embankment at night and over Hungerford Bridge to South Bank - that's a great view of London by night. That Jack The Ripper tour sounds kind of fun to do too, maybe that'd be a good idea as at least you get to see some cool Victorian stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jdmel Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 hey thanks everyone! anyone have any ideas like landmarks... im thinking like abbey road... anything else along those lines worth seeing? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Evening Star Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 hey thanks everyone! anyone have any ideas like landmarks... im thinking like abbey road... anything else along those lines worth seeing? I'd definitely recommend going to the tate modern, if interested in modern art. The building alone is worth the visit (it's an old power station). Plus there's a 5-6 story slide in the building too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.