I have been here a couple of times before. I really respect places like this, in that they offer…read moresomething that is different and cultural. The best experience that I have had here was at the theatre above the pub. I came here to watch the hilarious (and gorgeous) Lucy Porter do a pre-Edinburgh Fringe performance. Not only was she amazingly funny, but she bought me a drink and a Ferrero Rocher after as a thanks for "enduring" experimental material. Good times. It is pretty small up there in The Canal Cafe Theatre. It depends on how many people attend, as to whether you will be cramped and jostled, I suppose. N.B. I really like The Bridge House pub below. It's a kind of "shabby chic" type establishment. Most definitely worth building in some extra time to visit, both before and after a trip to the CCT!

The Canal Cafe Theatre is based upstairs at the Bridge House Pub. The pub is okay, but I wish to…read morespeak about the Theatre; because the theatre is what is really good about it. Although, actually, not that good at all. The pub is situated perfectly in the heart of Little Venice, which is a remarkably picturesque area with great houses and a little lake; it's worth coming here just to take a stroll around on its own. The Canal Cafe Theatre is the regular home of News Revue, a play which is on a few times a month, a satirical look at current events. I think it's where Rory Bremner started out. The venue itself is an interesting one, it has chairs and tables (naturally, tables without chairs would be odd). I'm pretty sure you can take food up from downstairs to enjoy during the performance, but you'd have to check. When you buy a ticket to see a play, they ask you where you want to sit. Think this one through, as a bad choice can mean having you facing away from the stage (crazy, eh?) or sideways; which is okay-ish but can hurt your neck!. I find the seating arrangement a bit odd to be honest, it's not the most comfortable way to watch a play, which may be part of the reason why I've never seen a large attendance here. I went to see a great comedy play called 'Clever Peter' but there were literally only about five people there. Anyways, it's a decent venue. I'd go there if the material is something you're interested in; but if your decision is based purely on venue then you could do far better.

We watched "The Red Balloon" at the puppet barge. I didn't realize it was a children's thing, but…read morethe screaming babies aside, it was an experience! The puppetry was high quality, and I enjoyed the show.

The Puppet Barge deserves a full 5 star review! I'm 35 years old and took my partner there as part…read moreof a celebration day for us both. I cannot emphasise how adorable this is, both for children and adults alike! The puppets are so creative and beautifully made, the set design was phenomenal (as good as any West End production), the art of the puppetry was mind-blowing and the story captivating. The original music score for the play was beautiful too. There were no issues at all with the seating and seeing the stage (as per the prior review) as each row of seats is raised higher than the one before it, like in any normal theatre. So you can easily see over the head of any adult in front! The old-fashioned barge that has been made into a proper mini-theatre (seats approx 50) is just simply adorable and adds to the overall charm and novelty of the whole experience. I cannot recommend seeing a show here more! I walked away with a big smile and an uplifted heart. If you are looking for something unique to do in London, I couldn't recommend this more!

£4 Thurs/Fri matinees AND a free cup of tea, you say? YES PLEASE…read more I wholeheartedly support this local, independent cinema. They show a great selection of mainstream and arthouse films, as well as hosting regular film festivals and Q&A sessions with actors and directors. There is only one screen and no popcorn, as it is too messy! :P The screen is big and there are plenty of seats (plus a box which can be hired). I like that amongst the ads and trailers there is always a little trailer type thing for Kilburn and the Tricycle - as much as I love Kilburn, I gotta say, the trailer makes it look a lot nicer/sunnier/friendlier/generally amazing-er than it actually is... :) There are student/oap/local resident discounts available, so be sure to check if you are eligible for any money off! The cinema is housed in the basement of the Tricycle building, which also features a theatre, cafe/bar and art exhibitions. It's light and airy inside (although, there are also splashes of bright colours - such as shocking pink - on the walls), they have a good selection of food, and it's generally a comfortable place to hang out. Oh, and you can often spot a few celebs here, if you find that sort of thing exciting (I do). Watch out for special events in the cinema - for example, they screened Obama's inauguration, complete with all you can eat/drink free bud beer and pretzels (the big squishy ones), performances by a cheerleading troupe, AND everyone also got little american flags to wave! They also did a special dressy event when the Sex and The City movie came out, with free Cosmo cocktails and a Q&A session. Lastly, make sure you go to the toilet before you go in to watch your movie, as by the time you've sipped your FREE cup of tea, you will be bursting by the time the final credits roll...

This is the art gallery in the Tricycle Centre in Kilburn (there's also a cinema, theatre and dance…read morestudios in the Tricycle Centre). So the gallery is a small, nonprofit, charity funded space in this popular centre. Annually, they put on around ten exhibitions, selected through an open submissions procedure, by the resident curator. This means it showcases a lot of work from recent graduates and Artists just starting their professional career. All of the works shown are available to buy, so this is a great place to pick up a cheap work by an up and coming artist, and on the occasions I've visited there is always a collector or two perusing and spending money! Private Views are always fun, as Tricycle is such a platform for the arts the place has a fantastic buzz and you're compelled to have a look around. Also the gallery is right opposite the bar, which is handy if they run out of free beer! They also offer artists residencies, and are strong promoters of art in education and working closely with local schools and youth projects. I urge you to check out the gallery, i have seen some fantastic exhibitions here this year. And if you're an artist looking for a show, you should definitely try Tricycle.

A small, independent 'Off West End' theatre just a few minutes walk from Notting Hill Tube,…read moresituated over a pub. Watching a play in a more intimate space like the Gate is a different experience from being in a large theatre. It seats probably less than 100 people so you are close to the actors and the stage. Good opportunity to see emerging or established talent with new plays and different themes than you might see in the West End and tickets are good value for money.

From the owner: The Gate has been inspiring audiences and artists alike for 35 years. We are a small theatre but…read morewe always Think Big. We are a home for anarchic spirits, invigorating theatre, and restless creative ambition. We welcome anyone who wants to change the world. In our ever transformable, 75 seat space we confront and debate the biggest questions that face humanity and act as a loudspeaker for unheard voices from across the globe. We consider ourselves to be a 'teaching theatre' and are known to springboard the most exceptional new talent into becoming the theatre leaders of tomorrow. No two visits to the Gate are ever the same.

I love what Finborough Theatre - like all small fringe theatres scattered throughout London -…read morerepresents: a focal point for aspiring artists and members of the community happy to support that art. Like other theatres of its ilk, Finborough Theatre is small, with perhaps room for 50 people max in its space. I was impressed with the set design of the otherwise disappointing play we saw here. The seats however were really uncomfortable, encouraging numbness in all the wrong places. Add the surprisingly high prices of the play we saw (approx. £15 a ticket) and alas, for me the reality of the Finborough didn't live up to its promise.

We were there tonight to see Andy Capp : the musical The…read moretheatre is really small. It seats about fifty people and there are only three rows. When we first sat down I couldn't imagine how they were going to pull off a musical on such a small stage Well, they did an amazing job! The play was very, very funny and the score was fantastic. These actors can really sing! This play could and should graduate to one of the larger theatres, with every single cast member in tow. I would definitely recommend seeing this play. Unfortunately they're all sold out. But you could and should see something at this theatre.