The Barbican is an area you can explore with a library, conservatory, rotating art installations, and miscellaneous events. You should check when the events are, because it could interfere with the areas being available for a visit. There was also a beautiful outdoor area that would have been amazing to sit at the café outdoors and admire the scenery, but unfortunately it was raining at the time of our visit and it would not have been as enjoyable to sit outdoors here. Would definitely come back to explore more, and hoping the weather will be better in the future. read more

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Very disappointing experience. I'll start with the good. The front desk staff was incredible, very friendly and very helpful. Unfortunately, the concierge was probably the worst ever. I received a package via Amazon and showed him the details from the Amazon email. He condescendingly asked me where it was on his list, where it wasn't printed, and stressed that if it wasn't there they did not get a package. I cannot put into words how condescending he was. I left for dinner worried the package was lost or misdelivered. When I returned, he was no longer there so I asked the great front desk staff if they had received a package for me. They remembered getting something and checked a few places, long story short is they found the package. Again, kudos to the front desk who went the extra mile for me, but why was the concierge so negativistic and self assured. Another positive was the fitness Centre, which had some great equipment, including a nice rower and treadmill. Unfortunately, the smell in the hallway leading to the fitness centre almost made me sick every day. A couple other challenges from the property. The room is what I would have imagined a jail cell. A small mattress just thrown into a corner. Also, the door to the bathroom slammed every time I went in, I am sure not very pleasant for my neighbors. Also the fire alarm went off at 7 am my last night, the cherry on top. read more

My second visit to the wonderful and relaxing Barbican Conservatory, except this time it was during daylight hours. I totally enjoyed and was able to see more exhibits, like the Koi fish pond and more flowering plants. I highly recommend a visit to the Barbican Conservatory. You will thoroughly enjoy the time spent exploring the various exhibits. read more

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What a fascinating complex filled with ugly/beautiful brutalist architecture, a good restaurant and a phenomenal theater. We visited the Barbican complex to see a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar but ended up really enjoying exploring the building and grounds, eating In the lovely cafe and looking through the phenomenal gift shop. It's really worth a visit if you have any interest in "extinct" architectural styles or if there is a west end show you would like to see there. The theater was perfect acoustically, insanely comfortable seats that are more like couches and plenty of legroom. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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I was incredibly lucky to discover that not only is this where the Royal Shakespeare Company stages its London Performances but that they were also performing something that didn't happen to be Shakespeare, but rather one of his contemporaries (Ben Jonson, and the play was The Alchemist). Anyway, this place is not so much a theatre but rather an arts centre where not only are there two theatres for performances, but cinemas for independent and arthouse movies, as well as an education centre. Unlike a lot of the other theatres, this one is pretty modern looking, and even has some sculptures around the place. However, the one catch is that it happens to be a bit of a walk from the nearest tube station. read more

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This was my first time going to the Barbican. The flat we were staying at was about a 15 minute walk to the Barbican. It was a little confusing about where the concert hall was located, but we eventually found the entrance to the concert hall. The hall itself was beautiful. I was impressed with our seats. We had a great view of the LSO and Sir Simon. The orchestra sounded amazing throughout the hall. I wish I had more time to explore the other parts of the Barbican. It was great to see the LSO at their home. Overall I really pleasant experience and I hope I can come back and explore the entire center. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

What can I say, except that I'm in love with absolutely everything Barbican. Everything. From it's Brutalist architecture on the outside, to the nice & always welcoming staff on the inside. This place turns your average concert/exhibition into something much more special...a real all-inclusive experience. My tip? Come here well before your concert begins, to enjoy a glass of prosseco on Barbican's Kichen's open air terrace, with the amazing surroundings. Their music programmation out of this world as well...slowly time to think about becoming a member maybe? :) read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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My daughter had her graduation ceremony from Kings College here. The building is beautiful and the staff was professional and polite. It was crazy busy and everyone kept it calm and enjoyable. Our seats were comfortable as well. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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The Barbican is this incredible Orwellian set of buildings in East London, between the financial district and the fashionable East of Brick Lane etc. The Barbican is largely housing, but within the centre there is the arts Centre. The Centre has a lot going on and includes a gallery, a cinema, a cafe, a music shop, live music performance halls and an outside courtyard. These are set within a large cavernous building that interconnects with the housing. The Barbican is one of my favourite places in London. The 'future-retro' design gives the building incredible character. The cinema is comfortable and well-angled and shows main release and more interesting films. The live events are of a very high caliber. I recently saw the Philip Glass/Coetzee opera 'Waiting for the Barbarians' there and the acoustics were good. More though, it' never seems too busy and so one of those places that's nice to take a book along too and spend a day there even if there are no performances that grab you. read more

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Bond or Bust ! I've always quite fancied being a Bond Girl. But since I'm over 25 and since I won't wear a bikini with the camouflage of a strategically positioned sarong, I think I may have just missed that boat ! Nonetheless I was one of the first to go to the Barbican to see the 'Designing Bond' exhibition. I've never let the fact that I'm a girl distract me from being a hardcore Bond geek. Just the mere thought of being close to Sean Connery's..... coat (!) left me swooning in the queue. The Barbican's audience savvy co-curators, Bond costume designer Lindy Hemming and fashion historian Bronwyn Cosgrave, have done the impossible, and somehow managed to lay their incredibly lucky hands on a mind-blowing assortment of costumes and props from the 22 strong movie series. As the exhibition is broken down into three sections, if you really want your money's worth, an off peak visit is essential. Next there's a no photography rule which I personally hate and as you can see from the pictures I've included here, I chose to ignore, when no exhbition guides were looking ! The way that I see it, if I'm paying £12 for something , if I want to take a picture or two I'm blooming well going to and as ever my trusty I-Phone didn't let me down ! The first zone is Gold - It provides you with a suitably cinematic start to proceedings. Dominated by that iconic scene from Goldfinger of the lovely Jill Masterson, sprawled across a circular bed, suffocated to death having been covered from head to toe in gold paint by her boyfriend Goldfinger, for showing James Bond her tan lines! Opposite poor Jill is a series of intriciate set drawings, an extremely rare gold bar from the movie signed by the definitive Bond, Sean Connery, Pussy Galore's waistcoat, Oddjob's side-slicing hat and my personal favourite, the carefully Christopher Lee assembled ,'pen gun' from 'The Man With The Golden Gun', which looks incredible. Past the Gold Zone is the World of Ian Fleming which features first editions of the books, mock-ups of Q and M's offices, a mood board featuring all of the 'Bonds' looking suitably mean and moody while elegantly tailored; and a really fun showcase of James Bond effects like his various fake passports. Then you hit my second favourite part of the exhibition - the gadget zone. These are A-mazing ! So detailed and realistic; that several of them have received the attentions of big business, wanting to manufacturer them. Briefcases, mobile phones (a really good example of just how far ahead of the game the Bond prop design team are), cars, an exploding grenade flask, diving equipment and even a replica of Little Nellie the mini copter from 'You Only Live Twice' . If Bond reboot 'Casino Royale' featuring my second favourite Bond, Daniel Craig, left you shaken and just a little stirred, then the Casino style room will light all your fires - featuring a truly stunning selection of the evening attire that Bond is synonymous with. Beyond the glamour of the casino, is for me the least thrilling part of the exhibition, because it covers 70s Bond aka Roger Moore, whose tongue in cheek interpretation of Bond, nearly tanked the golden goose of the Bond . Just around the corner from casino is Solitaire's altar, which was ever so slightly ruined by an unwanted fire extinguisher, perched behind it. Walk past the spacesuits of 'Moonraker' and head towards Daniel Craig's swimming trunks (Hubba! Hubba!) more famously Ursula Andress scene stealing bikini from 'Dr No' The Second zone - Bond Villians and Enigmas is a real blast ! With the costumes and props of all the most memorable Bond's villians from Rosa Klimps steel spiked shoe, Nick Nack's mask, the building flying terrorist from 'Casino Royale', alongside some sensational outfits from Bond girls - Sophie Marceau's evening dress from 'The World Is Not Enough' is sensational ! Oh and don't forget to check out a a surprise appearance by Madona (well actually's it's her fencing outfit) from 'Die Another Day' Downstairs is the final zone - the Ice Palace - featuring a miniature of the Ice Palace from 'Die Another Day' and focusing on the amazing snowbond Bond stunts that we have witnessed over the years. Stir in a mixture of colourful ski outfits, a ski mobile, faux ice sculptures and both Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike's dresses from the movie and that's a wrap.... Well not quite as there's also a rather fun- themed Bond Martini Bar upstairs in the Barbican, that you'd be nuts to miss out on! I left 'Designing Bond' - shaken, but not stirred; just happy at having visited such a great exhibition. read more

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Visited the Barbican centre in London. Absolutely loved the indoor layout, very comfortably and modern chic designs. The centre is open for the theatre, cinema and art exhibitions. It is also open for casual studying, you have access to free wifi and large open rooms where you are able to sit in quite, study and relax. There's also a few bars and cafes to grab some food for the day. Definitely recommend it for a place to study, chill and see a good show! read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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Who doesn't have an opinion about the Barbican, and what more can one say? I've recently been passing through quite regularly and I must say that my own position has evolved. I'm conscious of joining the side of Prince Charles in a knee-jerk disapproval of all brutalist concrete expansions. Sometimes they achieve a great beauty, sometimes they're monstrous. Is it the Barbican's own fault if it does not achieve either? It is neither functional nor elegant, nor particularly navigable. One must peel back layers of uninspiring walkways and alleys before one reaches the district's heart, the formidable Barbican Centre. The first time I tried to find it I got hopelessly lost. And let's not neglect the fact that its main entrance is literally an afterthought. But once inside it's another story. Not that architecturally it's very functional: not at all. But it's beautiful, and airy, and invites a great deal of discussion, so it can't be an utter failure, can it? There's a hopeful majesty to the building that is genuinely affecting. It can only have been built in a time that had a much different relationship to the arts. And that the planners thought it appropriate to ring a palace of the arts with dwellings demonstrates just how far we've fallen from our self-styled Athenian zenith. The Barbican's programming is some of the most consistently interesting in town on all fronts. Their current gallery show is brilliant; their Bite 08 series had some extremely high points; its theatre, dance and music programmes are some of the best in the world, attract top talent, and demonstrate great vision in original programming (the recent Scott Walker show, for example). Their cinemas suffer from the same dullness of London's other state-funded cinema ventures in showing the same things as everyone else for too much money. read more

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Welcome to the future....if you're viewing the future from 1971. The Barbican is an absolutely mind blowingly amazing residential/university/opera house/library/everything that's super cool about planet earth complex located in central London. A friend and I ventured here after our love for the film The Hunger led us to it. Concrete fills most of your view while uncovering hidden areas of this massive complex. J.G. Ballard and Tony Scott seem to haunt the grounds with their vision of a dystopian world on the brink of destruction. It feels like a city within a city...and it is. One could live within the Barbican walls and never find the need to venture beyond. It's truly a hermits paradise. At one point, I found myself laying on the edge of a concrete block, high above the pond that awaited my fall from grace. The view of the clear blue sky (a rarity in London) called my name and tempted me to climb the outer perimeter of the Shakespeare Tower, but I rejected the call. I need something to come back to. A vertical venture awaits. And I will be back. With Ethan Hunt's lost Burj Khalifa glove in hand. read more

So, the Barbican. Little did I realize this when I made plans on catching a show here, but the Barbican is not just one venue. It's a multi-arts and conference venue that's large enough to host many different kinds of shows: art, music, theatre, dance, film, and creative learning events alike. Wikipedia says that it also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory! Naturally, a venue that houses all of that is going to be pretty darn big. I mention this because, attendees beware: it takes a decent amount of time to navigate this place. Even finding the entrance that you want can take a while if you manage to approach the theatre from the side of the building opposite to the main doors (like my mother and I did...oops). Then you need to figure out which level to head too once you finally get inside. Once inside, though, the good news is that staff will happily point you in the right direction if you get a little confused or turned around (which, as you may have guessed, can happen if it's your first visit). And it's thanks to its size that I was fortunate enough to get tickets to see "Hamlet" last year on one of the largest, most impressive stages I've ever seen. I don't think I've ever seen a crowd that large! I highly recommend taking the time to see at least one show here, just to say you did so - there isn't another theatre I know of that will compare in terms of its size, and it's very different than most of the smaller and older performance spaces you'll find in London. I found my experience to be delightful and comfortable, and I hope I'm fortunate enough to catch another performance here in the future. read more

This place is AWESOME!!!!!!!! It is just like the building out of Judge Dredd except nicer obviously!!!! It has everything in one singular building!!!!!! I went to the Ray and Vitra Eames Museum here and it was one of the best museums I have been to in my life. There is also cool theatre performances here and good food. The main food court has everything in it. It is so cool walking around this whole place. I highly recommend visiting the Barbican! read more

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An excellent concert venue, one of the finest in London. The entrance can be disconcerting if you are slightly claustrophobic with the concrete all around but once in the hall it opens out into a beautiful area. Sound is fantastic and seating quite comfortable for the duration of a three hour music recital. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

If you enjoy classical concerts, you need to go to a music event placed in the 1960's art building combining art, music, cinema and sports. I found this concert in Time-Out, as this is one of the rare event magazines I agree with their recommendations. We booked our tickets in advance, but there were some spare seats next to us, as the Barbican concert hall is very spacious. The concert hall is built out of wood to not miss out of vocal and instrument sound. The BBC Symphony orchestra is of high standard. The concert was broadcasted on the BBC channel. Last time I listened to Strauss, this time the orchestra performed a fabulous piece of Svatopluk Havelka's 'Hommage a Hieronymous Bosch. This is where a true classic passionate should start the weekend. There were several breaks, which gave the concert visitors the opportunity to have a glass of red wine and a chat. Unfortunately they have no food at all except M&M chocolate. Therefore it would be wise to eat something small in advanced. Everybody was smiling as we walked with our fully filled glasses back into the concert hall, this was obviously not allowed. We soon were ushered out again. Leaving the concert hall, there was a small restaurant on the 1st floor, which serves food. However, we decided to choose a more characteristic restaurant than this, as this seamed at that time of hour more like a drink bar. I still could not make up my mind; Barbican has something really cool and cold, a little centre on itself. Why are the path always so empty it think? read more

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Where to start ... what's not to love about the Barbican. Actually, it's taken me years of perseverance not to get lost every time I come here - despite the clearly marked yellow line which leads the way from the tube station. The centre used to be a bit of an island surrounded by cultural wasteland but since those early days Farringdon and Old Street have grown closer together by becoming trendy - both are in walking distance. I love the brutalist concrete architecture; the terrace overlooking a square pond has really taken off in Summer and people are hanging out even without a ticket to one of the many events. The Barbican no longer just schedules serious stuff but offers an increasing choice of lighthearted events for every taste. I have seen almost everything from modern dance to experimental jazz and shadow puppetry here. Still buzzing from a preview screening of Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollards beautiful Nick Cave movie tonight. Once inside the imposing building you forget everything around it - the fact that there's no mobile or wireless connection only adds to the experience (in a good way). read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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The Barbican is one of those places in London that I knew a lot about before I even moved there. My parents used to always take me to various concerts and children's event as a little girl, but now of course I go on my own A LOT, as there is always stuff going on. The other night I went to see one of the best plays EVER (in my opinion) called Delirium. The studio space it was in was brilliant, and just the vibe f the Barbican was exciting. Next to the studio space is also the cinema, where they show a large variety of mainly independant movies. The main theatre is HUGE, I saw an appaling version of King Lear in there, so depressing it swallowed the audience up. But, on a brighter note, I have seen loads of brilliant gigs there, mainly gypsy bands, which have always been a laugh. There is always music in the main foyer aswell, which is great to go and check out- for free! bonus! You could even just go and grab some lunch at the Barbican, they have some good food on offer, admitedly a bit pricey, but yummy. And the big seating area outside with the fountains is a pretty cool location to just sort of 'hang out'. The Barbican is well worth a visit, check out the website for 'whats on', and there will deffinately be something to tickle anyone's fancy! read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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The Barbican Centre is a very odd venue. It is a theatre, an auditorium, a gallery, a cinema, a bar, and many other things that I cannot even begin to imagine. This cultural centre is often the host for events such as graduations, conferences, and talks. The auditorium sometimes turns into a huge concert hall where many great acts have performed. To check out the whole program, I would recommend checking the website or to quickly step in to grab one of the program brochures. My favourite section of the centre is located on the 3rd floor of the centre, namely the Gallery. This contemporary gallery has a great space. It is large and spread across 2 floors The top floor is made up of a series of rooms all giving off onto a mezzanine area where you are able to view the bottom floor. This gallery has hosted some of my favourite shows in London. These include the House of Viktor & Rolf, Araki, The Europeans, and Christian Marclay just to name a few. It is a gallery that is at the forefront of contemporary thought and often shows great conceptual shows worthy of our era. In addition to this space, the gallery also has a space downstairs right next to the entrance called the Curve. This section of the gallery is always free and is a great space for bigger and more architectural installations. Surrounding the Barbican Centre is a whole series of tower blocks of flats that were all built around the 60s. From far away, these dark ominous towers are hideous. But from a closer look, they are actually really expensive posh flats covered in plants and surrounding a man-built pond and fountain. The flat complexes are huge and every time I have walked through them, I felt a strange feeling of not knowing where I was anymore. All that being said however, I would never say no to a flat in the Barbican complex. read more

Barbican - The House of Viktor & Rolf - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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Like Ian's review below this is situated in the weirdest settings ever. My Qype buddy Skin explained the reason behind it ie urban rejuvenation etc etc. Anyway, this place is a great way to spend a day. I had some time to kill so I ventured on over to it. Not sure if you are meant to get lost in the place or if it was just me but a helpful security guard explained what was on and I went to the Ron Arad exhibition. Running from 18th Feb to 16th May 2010 and it was really amazing. He likes chairs, so he has designed some amazing pieces and he has also designed some amazing buildings. All in all a highly recommended exhibition (well it was for me anyway...) . Overall an amazing venue and huge. Check out the site to see what's going on. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

The Barbican is one of those places that I don't visit often but when I do a wealth of childhood memories come flooding back! Walking up the steps from the Barbican tube station I feel like I've stepped straight back into the 70's. The above-the-city walkways lead you straight to the Barbican Centre. You stumble across it so suddenly it's like an urban Secret Garden complete with fountains and a little river/canal. You could spend the whole day in the Center looking at exhibitions, eating in the cafe, watching a show or not doing very much at all! Definitely one of London's forgotten gems. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

The centre offers more than you could bargain for. From theatre and music productions to exhibitions that will be sure to leave you feel wanting more. Last year I went to see Jean Paul Gaultier's retrospective exhibit that in my opinion was the best curated fashion exhibit I've see. The building and the outdoor area are an experience on its own... so it's really worth to pop in there just for a coffee. The tickets to the most exhibitions and productions/shows (if you book early enough) are mostly just over a tenner. Plus there is an option to become a member for a year....that offers free entries to the exhibits and lots of additional perks. Last year I bought an orange membership which I will definitely renew this year. It's just an amazing space!!!! read more

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Ah the Barbican... what a bizarre, inspiring, ridiculous monstrosity. Just walking there from the tube station is an experience, across walkways and bridges, through high rise appartments that seem oddly out of place with the rest of the surroundings and past courtyards where you expect to see gangs of skateboarders. You don't of course - it is a nice area after all. Once you actually make it inside the feel is of Flash Gordon or some other plush sci-fi setting. With confusing bar areas, staircases and toilets tucked away beneath the lot - it's great The concert hall provides a comfortable experience for those more sedate gig adventures with good acoustics as you would expect. but yeah - go for the experience and the decor! read more

I love the Barbican Food Hall, despite the fact it's overpriced, the staff are rushed, and the food is anything but exciting. With a title like "Food Hall", with its "Selfridges Food Hall" connotations, you would be forgiven for thinking it's one of these multi-faceted, multi-tilled affairs with various different cuisine zones and the like. Seriously, it is not. For example, £3.75 for a very basic but fresh tuna mayo sandwich on reasonably thin normal bread, in an unlabelled packet. Or pay around a fiver and you can serve yourself soup from a vat, and add a crust of bread on the side - that's after spending 10 minutes in a queue you afterwards realise you didn't need to. After its refurbishment this year, the place is a lot more sexy to look at, there's a lot more choice of food, drinks, and cake, and they serve marginally better coffee. (Previously coffee was a serve-yourself affair with an automatic coffee machine, now it's a barista and a couple of delicious looking espresso machines, they use Monmouth beans. But that doesn't mean a thing if you don't know how to clean a steam wand and prevent your milk from tasting rancid thus producing stuff that's even worse than using an automatic... I digress.) Yes it's sexier. Much, much sexier. The interior is lovely, and whoever came up with the concept clearly understands the style of architecture in which it is situated (brutalism - not everyone's cup of tea). The light installation is brilliant. It's for the above reason that I love it. I'm a self-confessed brutalism-maniac and this place utterly floats my boat. As for floating my foodie boat, I'm sorry but at its heart, it's still canteen food. It's perfectly appropriate for its situation (an annex to the concert hall and main foyer), but it certainly doesn't live up to its recently claimed 'foodie' status. read more

Barbican - The Food Hall after its 2010 refurbishment - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

The Barbican, in all its Brutalist glory, is one of my favourite spots for a wander in central London. After a happy time exploring the high walkways, which link the London Museum to the Barbican Centre, we stopped off for lunch in the Lounge a couple of weekends ago. We turned up around 1pm, after having checked out the very disappointing Food Hall on the ground floor, and we were quickly shown to a nice table in the dining room which was surprisingly empty for a weekend afternoon. The Lounge is a functional but attractive space; quite stylish with a slightly Scandinavian feel to the room. This is somewhere I would come on my own, as a couple or as a part of a larger party. The menu is short and well balanced with a number of dishes available as small plates which are great for grazing and sharing. The wine list is also well edited, with a decent choice at a reasonable price for this location. As we were in the mood for snackage rather than a full blown lunch, and being a little bit wary having read some of the previous reviews, we ordered some bread and started off by trying the whitebait with aioli and the fishcakes. Both dishes were fine, went down very well and were good value for money. We washed these down with the house White which was fresh, fruity and full of flavour. Having enjoyed our fishy nibbles we decided to order up a couple more dishes; we had the grilled spicy chicken with mango and the parmesan and olive meatballs. Again both dishes were well executed and nicely presented; nothing to knock your socks off in terms of culinary delights but they did the job and were very tasty. The weather had improved by the time we had finished our food so we decided to order another drink and check out the lovely terrace. This is a fantastic space with wonderful views and a really interesting selection of fragrant and visually engaging plantings. If you find yourself near the Barbican on a sunny day I would recommend grabbing yourself a cold refreshment and spending an hour on the terrace - you will not be disappointed. On our visit the staff were friendly, attentive and did not seem to mind our erratic method of making our way through the menu - I guess this may be a different experience if they are busy or in the evening. This would have got a good 3 based on the food and the dining room but the lovely terrace bumps it up to a 4. I look forward to my next visit ..... read more

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Barbican centre is not a usual art centre. Surrounded by 2,000 flats build in the brutalism's architectural wave and having a small lake just in from with fountains & birds, is a destination either for your evening after your tiring work time, or for a whole day out in the weekend. Regularly changing excibitions (free or ticketed) are hosted here, multiplex cinema with popular movies, and of course a brilliantly designed huge theatre hosting mostly european small theater companies that have something though provoking to say. There is restaurant and bar also here, with reasonable prices and great selection of neebles and food. Free wifi all over the building thus quite busy in the weekend with college guys and girls studying here. An art hub that has proved all these years that London's art scene is not limited just to West End or Southbank. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

The structure is quite ugly but the concert hall is brilliantly designed, beautiful, and features pristine acoustics where loud is loud and near-silence is remarkably clear. Bravo! read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

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It is rare to find a venue that does such a huge range of musical styles equally well--choral music, symphonies, jazz, popular... the venue can do it all. I am a student and generally buy the cheap seats (REALLY affordable, some great shows for £8 and under!), and the sound and view are still great. Two thing I learned the hard way: 1) It is NOT that close to Moorgate or Barbican Station. About equal distance between the two, so plan on some walking (about 10 min) and bring a map or a smart phone because it is not well lit, well-signed, or intuitive to get there. 2) Don't be late or cut it close. They don't let you in till intermission. read more

I'm always a little confused when I go to the Barbican. What is this place? It seems to be a bunch of different venues put together. I suppose it's a good hangout spot, if you want to catch up with friends. It's quiet, unlike a pub. It's spacious, unlike a coffee shop. It's also trendy-ish, unlike my flat. When you go inside, you'll get the feeling that it's the lobby to a concert hall, which is sort of is. At the same time, though, there are bars and restaurants for you to purchase drinks and food from. Oh yeah, the entrance to the Barbican is kind of random and hard to find. It's sort of not where you'd expect it to be. I could tell you were it is, but that's boring. read more

Is it just me or is the Barbican impenetrable? I always seem to get lost getting there and you know what? The first step to a sucessful space is urm... easily accessible. Barbican tube station so should be named "The station kinda near the Barbican, but don't worry you won't find it here" stop. Once inside this concrete monstrosity; my experience didn't improve. I couldn't find the right ticket desk for the exhibition; then the ticket man shouted at me coz he was stressed out because the ticket machine was broken; chaos ensued etc etc. Surreal House itself was a pretty cool exhibition although I must say their PR department is damn good at selling things and the advert was much better than the show. A lot of what was in the exhibition was arguably not surreal and with the overwhelming amount of stuff, it would be greatly appreciated if we could have had a reentry ticket because no- one would be able to watch the roughly 10 hours of video footage they had! The Barbican does put on a good spread; I just wish I could get into the building. And may be hire their PR team. read more

Listed as Europe's largest multi-arts and conference venue and one of London's best examples of Brutalist architecture, where I'm still in the midst of trying to explore and experience every corner of this massive centre. It's very telling how sheer the size of it is when it's easy to get lost (despite gps!!), to constantly ask for directions and to take forever to find the entrance. That aside, what I particularly love about the Barbican is it's event choices which refreshes every month so there's always something new to offer and a great excuse to keep popping back in regularly. There's a right mix bag of events such as theatre shows, music concerts, cinema, installation art shows and basically a place that's very family friendly and diverse. A thick monthly leaflet is distributed regularly so you are given a good description of upcoming events. Also I visited in October this year where there was a family filled weekend full of hands on activities and I was surprised to find a massive turn out with one of the most diverse crowds ever including a rapping show, several children hands on activities, and a still life drawing class. All in all, it's best to check back here regularly as it'll be worth a visit particularly to the free events. read more

I've been accused of being culture bipolar and when I'm in a culture mania phase, this is my number one spot. Whenever out of towners come to London I take (or send) them on the Barbican architecture tour. It's the most brilliant exciting way to spend a spare 2 hours that I can ever imagine. You learn about everything London, art, history and architecture and it is very fun. Highly recommended. I love all of the music/theatre/art I've ever seen there as well. And they have a pretty cheap membership where you can get early tickets and discounts. The cafe is lovely although the food could be a tiny bit better. All around brilliant. read more

A London institution. They do pride themselves on the alternative and unique shows/concerts/exhibitions/films they put on. If you find yourself going to the Barbican for something, chances are you're going to be telling people about it the next day, be it good or bad. The building itself is vast. It's easy to get lost. Tends to attract a certain demographic. An awful lot of new shoes and well dressed folks. Food and drink are expensive, as you'd expect. read more

Absolute brutalist concrete paradise. ...or perdition if you're one of the many Barbican-love-to-haters out there. Imposing as it is, the Barbican complex is possibly my favourite place in London. If its plethora of sky-walks, cascading planted terraces, cantilevered balconies, distinctive chamfered towers and multitude of levels aren't exciting enough, even the verdant lakes with anemone-shaped sprouting fountains remind one of the four-fold Shalimar-bagh of the exotic east, which unbelievably assimilate within this very heart of London. The only remaining part of the original Roman Londinium square-mile wall is fostered on the Barbican frontier, surprise, surprise, on the 'London Wall' boundary. I should get around the mentioning that this exquisite architecture is host to one the capital's most celebrated art complexes, comprising of boutiques, cinemas, cafes, restaurants, a public library, theatres, art gallery and a greenhouse! But the public lobby spaces adorned with heavy waffle-slab ceilings and generous stairways are fun enough to wander through and make great people watching/ contemplation spots. read more

I love the Barbican! I love the design and architecture. The vast, serene space it seems to embody. So, what is it? It's an exhibition space, both free and paid. I've been delighted to experience the Momentum installation and regret not getting to experience the Rain Room. And playing with the idea of going the to the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition that's on at the moment. It's a theatre. It's a cinema. It's a conservatory. It's number of cafes and bars. But my favourite bit is the Concrete Garden. There's no way you can question whether this is an urban space. But it is so serene, peaceful and yes, beautiful even though it is right bang in the middle of the city. You could while away time here on your own being meditative. Or you could enjoy a leisurely catch up with friends. So, that's cleared it up, right? You've worked out what it is, right. Clear as mud. Don't try to categorise this place. Just enjoy it. It's amazing! read more

Barbican is a hard place to review as just a big venue on its own, as it's full of other things inside the building. However, I'm a fan and I think they do a lot of great things with the space. I was here for an architectural tour, where they take you around the site for about 90 minutes for about £10 per person. Our group enjoyed the tour, but I won't review that here! I think the shop is quite good, with a variety of interesting things (perfect for hard-to-buy for people). I've been to Barbican for a meal, a movie, a tour, a Christmas market... there's a nice place at the back to sit. The conservatory is amazing. They do a variety of events and concerts and the like. The building is confusing and over different levels so just pay attention - it's all really well labelled. I know the Barbican isn't really everyone's cup of tea but for me, it's a good place! read more

This is an amazing 60's (is it?) development in the middle of the City of London. It was an amazingly bold development on what was a sort of bombed out area from the war. You either hate it or love it. Great selection of concert halls, theatres, great library, cinemas, eating places. If you get on their mailing list you can get advance dates for major events, and minor ones too. Be warned its difficult to navigate around! read more

The food hall is aesthetically inviting so inevitably we were drawn into it. The cafe had a number of baked fruit tarts - in particular the pear tart seemed to be a great bit of home baking. Slipshod service means that it didn't get 5 stars, but would happily go again for a main meal next time. read more

The first time I went to the Barbican, I was a bit surprised. I knew it was the biggest cultural centre in Europe, with a lot of different artforms, such as theatre, art, dance, film, music, and even a lot of creative learning workshops. So I couldn't imagine such a massive and raw building for this complex. I thought it would be a little bit more contemporary and "arty". Actually the architecture dates from the 80's, is very massive and made of concrete. A lot of people seem to criticize its visual aspect, but when you enter this venue (several entrances, that is very confusing !) you feel a bit at home, with all the people - groups of friends or families - chatting on the couches and the children running everywhere. It is usually quite crowded, but since it is very big, you don't feel oppressed. I really enjoy going there because you can be sure to find something interesting to do, even if you don't look at the website and if there is no special event. Indeed, you have a very broad choice ! I went there twice. First, I saw an opera (Where the Wild Things Are by Oliver Knussen), and I didn't know it was an opera for children !! But actually it was quite interesting and since my english was very poor, I was able to understand everything thanks to the english subtitles :) I went back there for the Rain Room by Random International and I highly recommend it (you can see it until the 3rd of March 2013). Who haven't dreamed to control the rain and to walk completely dry through the drops ? Thanks to some sensors in the floor (I guess), the rain stops falling on you and you can walk without being afraid to get wet ! The only negative comment I have to make is that I waited quite a long time (about 40 minutes) to enter the Rain room. Probably because you can stay for about fifteen minutes or more inside, and they let enter very few people at a time so that you can move in the room. I also saw a sort of contemporary dance happening in the hall, that was really fascinating and ethereal - a paradox in this big house made of concrete ! read more