East London
One of London's most beautiful theatres, this renovated Edwardian music hall (1901) offers an extremely diverse range of performances, from hard-edged…
Must-see entertainment in England
Kent
Around a mile east of the Turner Contemporary along the seafront, in Cliftonville, the Tom Thumb Theatre is, as the name suggests, small – in fact it's…
Greenwich
This 1960s-style basement jazz bar has been a Greenwich institution for years, hidden away on a backstreet near the entrance to Greenwich Park. There's…
Sheffield
Every touring band has played the dark and dingy Leadmill on the way up (or on the way down), and it remains the best place in town to hear live rock and…
South Cornwall
Owned by local chain WTW, the city's four-screen cinema is a great space to watch films, and is a favourite of renowned UK film critic Mark Kermode (who…
Leeds
Founded in 1865, City Varieties is the world's longest-running music hall, where the likes of Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin and Lily Langtry once trod…
Warwickshire
A cinema dating from 1912 now houses this awesome live music venue, which has a capacity of 900 in the main hall, hosting concerts and club events, and a…
Birmingham
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's official home is the 1991-built Symphony Hall. Renowned for its acoustics, it seats 2262 concertgoers. Shows…
East London
With a fantastically varied menu of jazz, the Vortex hosts an outstanding line-up of musicians, singers and songwriters from the UK, the US, Europe,…
East Cornwall
The Minack near Porthcurno isn't Cornwall's only outdoor theatre – Bodmin Moor also has one, staging outdoor performances, gigs and events throughout the…
The West End
Covent Garden’s renovated Poetry Café is a favourite for lovers of verse. It has almost daily readings and performances by established poets, open-mic…
Notting Hill & West London
Extended with a new wing several years back and refurbishing its Frank Matcham–designed Victorian auditorium in 2018, the Lyric turns classics on their…
Bath
Bath's historic theatre dates back 200 years. Major touring productions appear in the main auditorium and smaller shows take place in the Ustinov Studio.
The Midlands & the Marches
The best live-music venue for miles around, Marr's still has its original sprung dance floors from its days as a dance studio. There's a lively schedule…
West Cornwall
Opened in 2016, this excellent two-screen arts centre is located inside a former fish warehouse in Newlyn. It focuses mainly on art-house and second-run…
Brighton & Hove
Once the stables for King George IV’s horses, this art deco complex houses three theatre venues within the Royal Pavilion estate. ABBA famously won the…
North Yorkshire
The revitalised spa complex has its own cliff lift to the beach and stages a varied program of entertainment, especially in the summer months: orchestral…
Lincolnshire
Lincoln's largest live-music venue occupies a former railway-container storage facility. Past acts have included Kings of Leon, Fat Boy Slim and Manic…
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Nottingham
Sharing the same building and booking office, the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall host musicals, touring theatre shows and veteran music acts. Dates…
North Yorkshire
Scarborough's beautiful Edwardian pleasure gardens, Peasholm Park, are famous for their summer sessions of Naval Warfare, when large model ships re-enact…
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Full of Victorian splendour, Newcastle's Theatre Royal has an excellent program of drama (including performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company), along…
Nottingham
Beside Anish Kapoor's enormous Sky Mirror dish (2001), the Playhouse puts on serious theatre, from stage classics to the avant-garde. Nottingham's…
Oxford
This legendary weekly open-mic night has migrated from venue to venue. Now firmly ensconced at the East Oxford Social Club, it features an ever-changing…
Shropshire
Overlooking the market square, the 1840-built Ludlow Assembly Rooms double as the town cinema, and also hosts performances and cultural events.
South Cornwall
In the heart of the city, this is the county's main venue for touring theatre and music. Big-name comedy acts, major touring productions and dance shows…
Bristol
There's live music most nights of the week at the Fringe, a convivial low-key local that draws a discerning crowd of often older music fans. It's…
The Midlands & the Marches
The world's smallest commercial theatre, in a converted Victorian public lavatory decked out with theatrical Italianate flourishes, this quirky place has…
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
North London
A popular and very atmospheric summertime fixture in London, this 1250-seat outdoor auditorium plays host to four productions a year: famous plays, new…
Leeds
A wooden door at the back of Lords' barbershop takes you down to this broody basement cocktail bar and live-jazz club. Shows are free and start around 9pm…
North London
Live punk or alternative bands play most nights from 7.15pm in this comfortingly grungy pub's back room (cover charges are usually £5 to £8). DJs take…
The Midlands & the Marches
This sleek artistic space hosts big-name shows and some innovative modern theatre, and has good accessibility for theatregoers who are aurally or visually…
Exeter
Emerging writers are profiled in the Bike Shed's rough 'n' ready subterranean, brick-lined performance space. Its vintage cocktail bar makes a hip setting…
Windsor & Eton
Windsor’s figure-of-eight racecourse, in an idyllic riverside setting just over a mile west of the castle, hosts flat-racing events between April and…
Oxford
Oxford's busiest club and live-music venue (previously known as the Venue and the Zodiac, way back when) hosts everything from big-name DJs and…
Manchester
Two separate venues in one: the Lyric Theatre, with the country's largest stage outside the West End, hosts all kinds of performances including Opera…
York
An appealing modern building in a converted printing works, screening both mainstream and art-house films. There's also a gem of a cafe-bar with lofty…
Stratford-upon-Avon
The smallest stage of the Royal Shakespeare Company has 200 seats. New work is presented here; it also hosts regular free live music and spoken word…
Salisbury
An innovative venue showcasing cutting-edge theatre, indie films, dance and live gigs.
Bristol
Bristol's digital-media centre has a three-screen, art-house cinema. Regular film-related events include talks and the Encounters Festival in September.
Salisbury
An acclaimed producing theatre that also hosts top touring shows and musicals.
