Museums & Arts · Our pick in London
Barbican Centre
Brutalist arts centre
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Fred Romero from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre, opened in 1982 within the Brutalist Barbican Estate, is one of Europe’s largest arts centres. It is home to the London Symphony Orchestra, with theatre, cinema and art galleries, and its lakeside terrace and tropical Conservatory are worth exploring on their own. Check opening times for the Conservatory, which opens on selected days. Barbican and Moorgate stations are a short walk away.
Why it's on our list
- Concerts and theatre
- Brutalist architecture
- The Conservatory
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Barbican Centre before you go.
On now and coming up
Concerts, theatre, dance and talks at the Barbican over the next two weeks.
Full programme and tickets at barbican.org.uk
Listings from Data ThistleAdd or update an event
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Barbican Centre, as the crow flies.
- The Zetter Clerkenwell0.4 mi9 min walk
- The Ned0.5 mi10 min walk
- Andaz London Liverpool Street0.6 mi12 min walk
- The Hoxton, Shoreditch0.7 mi13 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Barbican Centre are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- BarbicanMetropolitanCircleHammersmith & City0.2 mi4 min walk
- MoorgateMetropolitanNorthernCircleHammersmith & CityNational Rail0.2 mi5 min walk
- St. Paul'sCentral0.4 mi8 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Bunhill Row taxi rank0.2 mi4 min walk
- Taxi rank, Wood Street0.2 mi5 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- The Shard1.1 miWalk 23 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Tower of London1.1 miWalk 23 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Covent Garden1.4 miWalk 27 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 13 min
- The British Museum1.4 miWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- London Eye1.6 miWalk 32 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Trafalgar Square1.7 miWalk 34 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Leicester Square1.7 miWalk 34 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Westminster Abbey2.0 miWalk 41 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Buckingham Palace2.5 miCycle 16 minCar or taxi 21 min
- Harrods3.3 miCycle 21 minCar or taxi 28 min
Main rail terminals
- Liverpool Street0.5 miWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- London Bridge1.1 miWalk 23 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Waterloo1.5 miWalk 30 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.5 miWalk 30 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 14 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)1.6 miWalk 33 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Charing Cross1.6 miWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Euston1.8 miWalk 36 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Victoria2.7 miCycle 17 minCar or taxi 23 min
- Paddington3.5 miCycle 23 minCar or taxi 29 min