Want to know what amazing bands are playing in London soon? Not sure what cool club events are on? Are you a flamenco aficionado like me and want to see some good flamenco shows while in London? Here’s a selection of my favourite music venues, clubs and flamenco events. Obviously, there are so many more venues in London. This is just a personal shortlist. Check out the links on my general page Experience London as a local to see what’s happening at other venues or on a specific date.

Live music

The Borderline: Orange Yard, Manette Street, W1D 4JB.
Great pub that has music events on almost every night of the week, from proper rock gigs to club nights. In Central London, so very convenient to get to.

Brixton Academy: 211 Stockwell Road, SW9 9SL.
Famous music venue. Lots of bands from different genres play their London shows here.

Electric Ballroom: 184 Camden High Street, NW1 8QP.
Classic music venue in the heart of Camden. Often hosts live music events, but Electric Ballroom is also famous for its club nights.

Koko: 1A Camden High Street, NW1 7JE.
Opened in 1900 as a theatre, then a cinema and nowadays Koko is a music venue. The venue looks grand and the theatre elements add some drama to it. Big rock bands play here, but there are also regular club nights.

O2 Academy Islington: 16 Parkfield Street, N1 0PS.
Great small venue where you can see amazing bands play really intimate sets. Or head over to O2 Academy Islington to see one of the many cover bands playing there and sing along to classic songs by your favourite bands!

Roughtrade East: 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL.
This is actually a great independent record shop, but it also hosts live music events, workshops, film screenings and other types of events.

Roundhouse: Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH.
Nice venue that was originally a steam-engine repair shed when it opened it 1846. Nowadays the Roundhouse is home to a bold and exciting programme of live music, theatre, dance, circus, installations and new media. And yes, the building has a round shape.

Union Chapel: Compton Terrace, N1 2UN.
Union Chapel is a working church, but also serves as a stunning venue for different types of music events varying from electronic music to pop/rock concerts and their regular Sunday afternoon jazz sessions. In July 2013 the Union Chapel celebrated the launch of their restored organ which was built in 1877 and is now the only surviving music instrument of its kind. Do find your way to this venue when you get the chance as it is a truly unique place to catch a live band perform.

Village Underground: 54 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PQ.
Amazing industrial-looking cultural space in the heart of Shoreditch. Different types of concerts are held here, from electronic dance music to rock ‘n’ roll concerts. I like it because I can walk there and it isn’t too big a venue.

Clubs

93 Club East: 150 Brick Lane, E1 6QL.
Very popular club on Brick Lane and located in the old Truman Brewery. The club specialises in experimental electronic dance music.

Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club: 42-44 Pollard Row, E2 6NB.
Visiting London and want to go to an unusual venue? Then head over to the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club. Located in an authentic East End working men’s club. Events here are different, unusual, but most of all: fun!

Cargo: 83 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY.
Located in an old, disused railway yard, Cargo is a restaurant/pub and club. One of the premier destinations of trendy East Londoners.

Oval Space: 29-32 The Oval, E2 9DT.
An impressive venue in a stunning location: Oval Space is located at the base of a disused gasworks off Hackney Road. A new venue that hosts music and cinema events, but is also used for filming or photo shoots or even as a glamorous wedding location.

XOYO: 32-37 Cowper Street, EC2A 4AP.
Located in the heart of Shoreditch, XOYO is housed across two floors, the basement floor has a stage and often hosts live performances. The XOYO has a music policy that crosses the genres from hip-hop to house to techno.

Flamenco

Bar Gansa: 2 Inverness Street, NW1 7HJ.
This tapas restaurant  organises regular flamenco shows on Monday nights. Shows are free and usually start around 9pm. From the end of November till will also be temporary shows on Sunday nights with professionals from La Escuela de Baile, the largest flamenco school in London. Two shows a night (7pm and 8pm) and a different show each week.

Peña Londres organises monthly flamenco show with performers from the UK but also visiting artists from Spain.

Although I prefer to see flamenco shows at smaller venues, it is definitely worth checking out the hottest names in the flamenco world at the annual London Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells. The festival usually takes place in February-March.