Barbican Centre

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If you're in London and want to take in some culture - the Barbican Centre should be one of your first destinations! It is Europe's largest 'multi-arts' centre, with theatre, film, art, music, dance and education all under the same roof. The Centre also hosts conferences, trade exhibitions and banquets.

Based in the City of London, the Barbican Centre has a mix of spaces for the arts events hosted there. From the Barbican Hall and the Barbican Centre which both seat nearly 2,000 people right through to the Pit, with only 200 seats. Seeing a production in the Pit is a great experience, as much of the action is happening only a few feet away from your seat! The Barbican hosts some fantastic exhibitions too, of art, photography and architecture.

Even if you're not visiting for a production, the Barbican Centre is open for you to wander in and visit the exhibitions in 'The Curve' - the Centre's public spaces and foyers. You can stop for a cup of tea or a glass of wine at one of the three restaurants / cafés: Searcy’s, the Waterside Café and the Balcony Bistro. Or on a sunny day you can sit outside and watch the ducks on the man-made lakes, whilst taking in the architecture of 1960's/70's London. The building is not without controversy - in 2001 it was made a Grade II listed building (and thus protected), and only a couple of years later it was voted "London's ugliest building" in a Grey London poll. It's definitely worth visiting for a whole ream of reasons - and you can make your own mind up on the architecture!

Please click on the thumbnail panoramas below to view the Barbican Centre virtual tours. You can visit the main map to view other virtual tours around the Barbican Estate and in the surrounding City of London area.