Barbican Arts Centre

The Barbican Centre is London's largest arts venue — a polarising brutalist concrete landmark from the 1980s that divides architects but delights audiences. Home to the London Symphony Orchestra, a 1,166-seat theatre, three cinemas, and the Barbican Art Gallery, it offers an eclectic daily program ranging from classical concerts to contemporary film and exhibition. The adjoining conservatory filled with tropical plants and the lakeside terraces reward those who linger beyond the performance halls.