Bars
The 6 Best Live Music Venues in London
From a Gothic chapel in Islington to a Soho jazz basement, the London rooms where live music still sounds the way it should.
In short: our top picks are Ronnie Scott's, The Jazz Cafe and Union Chapel. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London has never been short of stages, but the rooms worth crossing town for are the ones with a bit of character soaked into the walls. We have kept this list to venues where the sound is genuinely good, the bar is worth leaning on between sets, and the booking is consistently sharp. Expect a spread of sound, from late-night jazz in Soho to a hushed acoustic set under a vaulted ceiling.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Scott's | Soho | £££ |
| The Jazz Cafe | Camden | ££ |
| Union Chapel | Islington | ££ |
| KOKO | Camden | £££ |
| EartH | Dalston | ££ |
| The 100 Club | Fitzrovia | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Ronnie Scott's
Why we pick itBook the late show and stay for Ronnie's Bar upstairs, where the music runs on long after the main room has cleared.
The grande dame of British jazz, going since 1959, with two sets a night in a candlelit Soho basement and a programme that still pulls genuine heavyweights.
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The Jazz Cafe
Why we pick itThe mezzanine restaurant tables look straight down onto the stage, so you can eat dinner with the band almost at eye level.
A Camden institution that long ago outgrew its name, mixing soul, funk, hip hop and Afrobeat with the odd jazz legend, then turning into a club well past midnight.
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Union Chapel
Why we pick itThe acoustics under the vaulted ceiling are extraordinary, and ticket proceeds help fund the chapel's drop-in centre for people who are homeless.
A working Gothic chapel in Islington that doubles as one of the most atmospheric live rooms in the country, all soaring brick, stained glass and reverent quiet for acoustic and singer-songwriter sets.
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KOKO
Why we pick itAfter the refit there are hidden bars and a rooftop to explore between acts, so it works as much as a night out as a gig.
A lavishly restored former Camden theatre, now a multimillion-pound music palace with tiered balconies, a domed ceiling and a booking sheet that runs from rising names to surprise big-name sets.
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EartH
Why we pick itThe raw, unrestored interior gives gigs a properly East London edge that the polished West End rooms cannot match.
An independent arts space in a former Dalston cinema, with a stripped-back, faded-grandeur hall downstairs and a seated theatre upstairs hosting everything from leftfield electronica to film and spoken word.
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The 100 Club
Why we pick itFew rooms in London carry this much music history, and the small capacity means you are never far from the stage.
A low-ceilinged basement on Oxford Street that has hosted live music since 1942, from wartime swing to the punk explosion of 1976, and still books rock, blues and jazz nightly.
Before you book
Most of these sell out fast, so book ahead rather than chancing the door, and check whether your night is seated or standing before you commit. Doors and set times vary by show, so glance at the venue’s own listings before you set off.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Ronnie Scott's is our editor's choice: Book the late show and stay for Ronnie's Bar upstairs, where the music runs on long after the main room has cleared. Ronnie Scott's, The Jazz Cafe and Union Chapel lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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