Music is in London’s DNA. Over the decades, our great city has birthed genres like punk rock, grime and Britpop and given rise to countless legends from Amy Winehouse to Adele, David Bowie to the Clash and the Sex Pistols to Skepta. Nowhere compares.
Of course, good music venues are essential to that success. The capital is awash with live music spaces that readily take a chance on up-and-comers, that cater to the nichest of listening habits, that have witnessed some of the most significant gigs of our time and that gave a leg-up to some of today’s biggest stars.
So, there are dozens of spots worthy of a place on Time Out’s list of London’s best music venues and plenty that could be in the running for first place. But we’ve had to whittle it down to just one. Time Out’s top music venue in London right now is Union Chapel.
The Grade-I listed Victorian gothic revival church in Islington (that is still a working church and help centre for the homeless) has been hosting contemporary music gigs for more than 30 years – its first being held in 1992 to help save it from demolition. Over the decades, the likes of Elton John, Björk, Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran, Mavis Staples, Noel Gallagher and Adele have graced its stage. As it happens Mavis Staples will be back there for two nights this August.
Besides being beautiful to look at, the acoustics in Union Chapel are otherworldly. Despite not originally being a music venue, it was designed with sound in mind. Architect James Cubitt came up with its octagonal layout specifically so that the minister’s voice and the choir could reach every seat.
This being a house of god, alcohol isn’t allowed inside the chapel itself, but there is a bar for pre and post-show tipples.
London’s top 10 music venues in 2026, according to Time Out
- Union Chapel
- Roundhouse
- 100 Club
- Moth Club
- ICA
- O2 Academy Brixton
- Alexandra Palace
- Fox and Firkin
- Colour Factory
- The O2
See the full list of London’s 30 best music venues here.
Did you see that Union Chapel also featured in Time Out’s recent guide to the top independent venues in the UK?
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