Well, I'll say this, 4-5 stars for the Barbican centre for its arts & visual side, but I'd give it a 3 for the exhibition hall that is across Long Ln. I went to the centre for a punk art exhibit, it was so much fun! The layout was really intuitive and had a clear path that brought you though movements and artists. The exhibition space, I went to for a wine show, and it was a little in need of some TLC. I'm not sure if it's just the low-ceilings, but I felt a little claustrophobic... and there was a strange smell. Which could have been due to the exhibit, but my instinct said they just needed a glade air freshener... or maybe the ceiling is problematic in that there isn't as much airflow... hmmm. I don't know. But they do offer a large range of things to do, and performance arts, movies, etc. There's always something going on, so check out their website for listings. I haven't been to the music venue yet, but I've heard it's quite nice! read more

Went here last summer to see a Neil Gaiman reading - and what I mean by reading is a full-blown theatrical performance complete with live orchestra. I couldn't believe how popular he was, he sold out the whole theater for TWO nights. The Barbican can be a little confusing to navigate since there's many levels, but it is a very modern and interesting space. I highly recommend eating here before a show. There's a great cafeteria that serves freshly made gourmet meals. We had the fish and chips and the fish was huge and delicious. The cafeteria is adjacent to a beautiful patio complete with fountains and felt like an urban oasis. read more

Ah the wonderful Barbican. I do love going to a 'seated' gig. No drunk people spilling their beer over me! Or having my view completely obscured by kissing couples (gig etiquette needs to be adhered to!!!). It's just so darn civilised here. Went to see my favourite band tonight...Kings of Convenience. It was pretty special. The sound was superb. The seats were comfy...but most importantly, the band were unbelievably amazing! read more

The Barbican is huge, with every form of entertainment possible in one place. Its also equipped with a restaurant, cafe and self service diner that leads out into the open backyard and on to the ponds for some peace and quiet. There are a variety of plays, musicals, operas and concerts that are put on here at a regular basis. There is also a shop where you can purchase books or presents on art. The center is connected with a free wireless internet service, so its also a great place to relax in the sunshine. The courtyard is ever popular, filled with artsy types of all ages, and some just catching up on work. Its a soothing environment for work or pleasure, with some great performances that are put on through the year! read more

The Barbican's Art Centre is phenomenal. Brilliant exhibitions from art to costume jewellery, music gigs, intense theatre, a wealth of cafe's and several conference rooms available for hire. I've watched a wealth of plays at the Barbican and attended my cousin's graduation, too. Service is always impeccable and the place itself is beautiful. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

The Barbican Centre is pretty great, with an amazing range of theatre, exhibitions, and concerts here. Barbican has all the usual makings of a great space - restaurant, cafe and a great theatre centre with a really great atmosphere. However,it's not my favourite artistic space in London, as I've had a couple of bad experiences with the staff being unhelpful and rude. It's sad to say as the place is rather wonderful, but the staff are so much a part of an experience at any venue, and sadly, the staff at Barbican left a bad taste in my mouth. Don't let me put you off, I could've just been very unlucky and their dogs/cats/pet pigeons may have just died or something. read more

I know everyone raves bout the Barbican, and it is host to some great events, but it is high time the centre was refurbished as right now it is just not good enough. I'm not talking about the exterior. As a big fan of Brutalist architecture I LOVE the buildings which surround the centre, and the centre itself. If you want to feel like an extra from the film Blade Runner then this is the place to go. However, inside is a poorly signposted maze with none if the uniqueness that the exterior has to offer. I visited the Frank Cappa exhibition which was OK if not a little clinical for a photographer with so much passion. However, I was really disappointed with the dirty and dark toilets (none of the light switches worked) and the miserable cafe. I then lost half an hour of my life trying to find the way back out. All this aside I have seen some great concerts at the Barbican, but I can't say I will be going back there for sometime. read more

In my opinion, The Barbican is a really cool place to get a culture fix. Many people have many different opinions about this place, which is fair enough I guess. It all depends whether you dislike or embrace the aesthetic of the concrete structure. Obviously there is more to it that the architecture, but that seems to be the aspect that most people have different opinions on. The best thing about it has to be the diversity of arts that it on offer. There is film, theatre, dance, and a range of different art exhibitions. I went to see a Robert Capa exhibition which was amazing and runs until the 25th of January. read more

I've been to the Barbican many times and enjoyed it thoroughly however I do have an issue with their toilets! We were there for a showing of To kill a mockingbird (in honour of Harper Lee's new book) the play was fantastic with some very good performances from its young stars! But, come the interval the queue for the one set of ladies toilets was astronomical and I am sure that many were late back for the second half because of it! I think I need somewhere that is used so much for theatre they ought to sort it out or at least have longer intervals! Aside from this the venue itself is pleasant enough although the inside feels a little dated. All of this is forgotten though once you experience some of the fantastic art, music and theatre that takes place here! read more

Living in the artistic center of the world, I constantly check out the latest exhibitions because you just have to take full advantage of this amazing city. So the Barbican is a frequent stop during the weekend. I LOVE the barbican. Their exhibitions are well-concepted and well-executed. Generally, each theme is quite original... one of my favourites is the James Bond exhibition where you end getting tipsy on Bond cocktails. It was an ingenious way to wrap up the exhibition. In the summer they have an amazing outdoor patio where you can sit out on the grass and chill out. Summer or winter, I always get something from their cafe. They have a great range of food but because I usually come here after lunch, I get their yummy desserts and definitely something different every time. The decor is just as nice... I love sitting here and chatting about art, drinking coffee and enjoying a nice slice of cake. It's a great way to spend a weekend afternoon. read more

Barbican - Cultural Center Near Me - London, XGL

This has many different things you could try and do things. I've been a regular of the city library since I was a kid and it's exceptionally good. It also is home to some great independent gigs (classical or indie or jazz you name it) and a good cinema. It also is home to some fascinating exhibits as well as a greenhouse space. read more

A part of the post-apocalyptic area of Barbican. To me it's a very strange place which seemed designed for the second flood as so much of it operates on a 1st floor level with various 'high walks'. If you do travel on ground level it's pretty creepy and reminds me of Gotham City. The Barbican is a world-class venue with exhibition space, concerts halls with incredible acoustics and performance areas in addition to a comprehensive music library. Very reasonable prices, and a genuinely exciting programme. However, I do find the whole place a bit creepy and unsettling. It's also really confusing to get around. read more

How can Qype only have 4 reviews of the Barbican? I must set matters straight. Perhaps a weekly review of the place is required. The Barbican occupies a sort of trans-dimensional space/time locality. You may visit it many times and never, quite, get your bearings. If MC Escher had nightmares, they'd probably look a lot like a stroll around the Barbican on acid. One can rigorously follow the signage to, say, the main Theatre, and find one's self unaccountably walking out into the middle of the car park. For any normal venue, this might be seen as a sort of handicap. The Barbican, however, wears its strangeness like a badge. It looks you in the eye, daring you to sneer at its 70s-looking block concrete design ethos, and taunting you with mysterious walkways that go nowhere, or landings that circle in on themselves before depositing you, breathless and spent, only a yard or two from where you started. This is, of course, all part of the experience. Indeed, it might very well be that the endlessly frustrating design of the place is a metaphor for the excellent and eclectic mixture of live arts that it hosts. Just as the Barbican building itself is a mystery to be engaged and wrestled with - but never fully understood - so its ever-changing selection of theatre, film, music, art and dance are there to be savoured, dissected and puzzled over. Of course, it might just be that the architect was having a bad day. But you'll forgive me, I'm sure, if I prefer the more poetic explanation. read more

There are few places in London that I adore as much as the Barbican. Some of the best gigs I've caught in London (Will Oldham, Calexico and Gilberto Gil to name but a few) have been in Barbican Hall. The Max Brooks Zombie Movie Festival back in 07 was pretty rockin' too. Heck, I even love grabbing lunch at the Barbican's Waterside Café. I love the architecture and the variety of performances at the Barbican. It's also my favourite movie theatre in London. read more

I adore the Barbican. I recently went to a screening there, and each time I visit I always find myself looking for flats to rent in the estate. It's probably the only truly great bit of 60s brutalist architecture in London. Very Dharma Initiative. Any excuse to go. Just go. One of the best places to hang out if you have a few hours to kill in central London. read more

The place has wonderful acoustics and atmosphere for classical music concerts of which I have been to a few here. There are also lots of different facilities in the building for smaller concerts and the art gallery has some absolutely great exhibitions. I also had my graduation ceremony here :-) The outside has some lovely fountains. read more

How did I not know this place existed until now? The exhibition space is great and there are a whole host of activities, films and other events taking place all the time. I went for a panel debate and we were served food and drinks in the conservatory before hand which was really nice. A little oasis in that end of London. I'll be keeping an eye on the schedule of events - I visited the Surreal House exhibition which was good although I'm not sure I would have wanted to pay the full entrance price for it. Great to know that it opened till 10pm on Thursday though. read more

The Barbican Centre is a wonderful hub of culture and but my goodness their Food Hall needs some urgent attention. Aesthetically it looks lovely on the inside, it has a contemporary feel, nice lighting and a generally inviting vibe. When it comes to the quality of the food and drink though - I would rather bring my own sandwiches and a flask next time. Not only is it overpriced (as is everything in these types of places) but on visiting there a couple of weeks ago saw an excellent exhibition but had very disappointing coffee and lemon tart to follow. The Lemon tart tasted slightly off, pastry quality poor and filling tasted of fairy liquid. As for the coffee it looked like it would be good but I had a dirty mug and asking for soya milk for a hot chocolate was like asking them if I could have some kobe beef milk hand churned and served in a dish with a floating lily. For the prices they wanted for things I found this a massive let down and t felt like a rip off. They were presenting themselves as something better than what they could deliver. I won't be ordering anything from there again. read more

I really like the Barbican, mostly because its architecture reminds me of Mudd Library at Oberlin College. I've eaten some delicious things in the food hall over the past couple of trips: a caprese sandwich, carrot cake, mint tea. All of the food is great quality and the staff has always been helpful and kind. They refilled my hot water so I could reuse my teabag. The library seems pretty extensive, though I'm not a member. I checked it out and it looked like a nice place to do research or study. There's always a free art exhibit or two, which makes it a really nice place to meet someone for tea/art. This most recent trip, I saw a great exhibit about the architects of the building. read more

The Barbican centre hall provides a venue for rare, quality performers in the arts. Three seated tiers in an acoustically well-designed hall (and the decor's not too dated) host a lot of classical music, but there's also dance and film and all sorts of arts happenings. I tend to go for the pop and world music events: over the years I've seen American alt-country rockers the Jayhawks, bluegrass singer Gillian Welch, country rocker Steve Earle, gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama, Icelandic post-rockers Sigur Ros, the reunited Aussie band the Go-Betweens, and - recently - a western African music bonanza (http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?ID=7388) . Check their website for all their events. read more

Offering 3 cinemas (of blockbuster and art house films) 2 exhibition centre of everything from fashion sales to fetish exhibitions 2 art galleries a theatre a concert hall a library, a music library 3 restaurants a d church a school and university as well as 7 conference rooms(whatever these are). Although an absolutely ugly estate it is a quiet retreat from the square mile as its built upon stilts that keep the noise out. I often eat my lunch out by the man made lake on the terrace. A unique part of London and an alternative to south bank centre. Its situated between barbican and moor gate tubes. read more

The exterior of the venue? Just so-so... a bit confusing a bit a boring. The interior was perfect for what it is. Why 5 stars? Well, we saw Silvio Rodriguez there and he was just phenomenal. It's too bad he's now allowed here in the US. I like that the venue is so "air-tight" that they were able to play a long concert and probably not bother the people that live in the neighborhood. Bravo to that! read more

The Barbican curve as the name suggests is a single long curved space in the Barbican centre used as an art gallery. I have been to see two exhibitions there both free, the first was a few years back and was an interesting array of complicated machines that were both fascinating and fun. The latest exhibition though I saw was very disappointing, it started with a shouty German surrealist film and was followed further down the corridor by three uninspiring metal spiders. That all said, its a simple interesting space and I will be checking out there next free exhibit. read more

OMG I just *loved* the newly refurbished Barbican Food Hall, it's simply food heaven from the delicious cakes to the freshly cooked dishes. Of course it's pricey but it's well worth it, especially with those views over the Waterside and the City skyscrapers lit up like a Christmas tree. I went to see the wonderful conductor Antonio Pappano who superbly presented the BBC programme Opera Italia, he's a true master and yesterday's programme was superb with Dukas, Debussy and Rachmaninov. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Thumbs up for the food, standing ovation for the music. read more

For photos see Greedy Diva @ http://greedydiva.blogspot.com/2011/02/barbican-lounge-moorgate.html I once backpacked around Europe for 9 months, in between finishing university in Australia and joining the grey suited rat race. It took me to all sorts of weird and wonderful places, and taught me much about the world and about myself. Like that I will travel 3 days out of my way to have bolognese in Bologna. Or that I will not sleep if there is an unsmiling dwarf with a glass eye manning the hotel reception at night. Most of all, I learned how much I love my own bed and a decent shower. And that girls get fatter when travelling and boys get skinnier. (At the time I blamed the olive oil, but there are enough photos of me tucking into Pavarotti sized bowls of pasta to suggest otherwise.) Walking into the Barbican Lounge brought all these memories flooding back. Because the room looks almost exactly like a German youth hostel I stayed in once. It has some cool bits - like the funky round light fittings (which I believe is a "light installation" from Beirut designers PS Lab) and retro Scandinavian chairs. But the harsh linoleum floors and canteen like tables keep conjuring up images in my mind of scary, stony faced backpackers chain smoking in the corridors of a YHA in Berlin. I was going to have to remind myself not to stuff breakfast rolls up my t-shirt on the way out. It is, however, in keeping with the architectural design of the Barbican Centre (sometimes described as a "concrete ziggurat") - there's not much you can do about aluminium framed windows. However, it kind of grows on you - a bit like the building itself - and there's a fabulous big balcony with seating outside which will be tremendous for al fresco eating and drinking in summer. I was invited down to try the Barbican Lounge right about the time TPG and I were planning a mid week visit to the cinema (The Black Swan - weird but I liked it). The cinema at the Barbican is excellent - it's big with lots of leg room and the row in front of you is low down enough that it really wouldn't compromise your view if Marge Simpson sat in front of you and put a hat on top of her beehive. The Barbican Lounge, it turns out, is a really good place to share a bottle of wine and a few small plates before you hit the movies or the theatre or whatever other cultural enlightenment you're there for. TPG and I reminisced about Australian wineries over a bottle of The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne (McLaren Vale, £26), while sharing 5 small plates and desserts. The rarebit cheese fondue (£6) was excellent, with thick chunks of toasted bread to be dunked into the smooth, gloriously cheesy mix. The rich and succulent five hour braised oxtail with hand cut pappardelle (£5) was my favourite dish, while potato dumplings with roasted garlic aioli and smoked paprika (£3), sweet cinnamon infused lamb meatballs with spiced squash (£5) and plump and crispy devilled whitebait with aioli (£3) were also tasty and great for sharing (even if the cinnamon in the meatballs was just a tad heavy handed). I'm only sorry they were out of the sausage rolls with cauliflower pickle (£4), which would have been my first choice. We finished with the fantastic Victoria plum and almond tart with vanilla bean ice-cream (£5) - a perfect balance of tart and sweet, and seriously addictive. A lovely, rich chocolate fondue (£5) came with an assortment of marshmallows, brownie chunks, lemon cake, fresh pear and strawberries for dipping. Yummo. Ok, it's not a romantic date place (at least until summer heats up the balcony), nor is it likely to blow your culinary senses. But it's really tasty, simple, easy going food, with a decent wine list and it's great value. If you work nearby, or are doing something artsy at the Barbican Centre, you'll find something to tempt you over a nice bottle of wine at the Barbican Lounge. read more

The Barbican is a lovely arts and entertainment centre and the cinema didn't disappoint. It shows mainly old and art-house movies and the atmosphere of the Barbican centre is perfect for this type of cinema. When I got in to the screen it reminded me of an old cinema - It had a large stage which suggested that it sometimes doubles as a theatre. The film I saw had live piano accompaniment, and the auditorium was perfect for this. It was a big screen and a big auditorium and the patrons were very respectful of the film they were watching. The seats were very comfortable, and refreshingly there was nowhere to buy popcorn, so there wasn't anyone munching in my ear like in most cinemas. A very happy filmgoing experience for me, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back. read more

A lot of work's been done in the Barbican recently to brighten it up, improve the signage and so on. It is better but I have to say that this vast arts venue can still be dingy and confusing - I've been going there for a decade and can still struggle to find the loo or work out which desk to go to for my tickets. The range of food and drink is limited, and at weekends, when the City is closed, the whole area can seem deserted. But this is a world-class venue with loads going on. In contrast to the foyers, the concert hall, basement cinema and theatre are bright and comfortable, with leg room and air conditioning. The acoustics are excellent. The sheer variety of music, theatre, film, dance and art available in a typical month is amazing. It doesn't need to be expensive either. You can spend £30+ if you want, but the £6 tickets usually offer a decent view. It's cheaper to see a film here than in the West End, and there are often free events in the foyer. read more

My absolute favourite building in the East End. I like its ugly concrete combined with the modern graphic design and signage. I have some of my best London memories here, including going to see the epic film Seven Samurai on a raining Sunday afternoon with my best friend. The original film stock was so old that it disintergrated half way through and we had an impromptu interval while the projectionist rushed to fix it... I even visited this place before I moved to London, seeing the amazing LaChapelle exhibition when I was about 17... I'm not that interested in the Dance or Theatre but for Art, Film and Music its great. A perfect date place, a perfect lazy afternoon, a perfect hot desk (they have free wi-fi last time i was there). The library is amazing too.... The conservatory is a hidden London secret. Its beautiful! Just go now! read more

Recently been to the foodhall, and have to say, I was amazed to how different it is now from previous years. The food was out of this world, and the staff were simply the best ! Thank you to everyone at the Barbican for such a rememberable evening (for all the right reasons!) read more

Barbican cinema is a great place to check out fairly non-mainstream, international, indie, good quality, lower budget, interesting etc. films... They also do some great student & young people's deals and things so can be very economical hear. I saw birdman here with my bird & we both enjoyed it immensely. The intimate, old school vibe definitely adds to an evening of arty cinema. read more

My oh my. I think I might have just found my favourite place in London. Alex S is definitely right about it being a labyrinthine!!! But that is part of its charm. It also helps that I came and saw one of the most moving pieces of theatre I have ever seen, Testament of Mary starring Fiona Shaw. It was s very emotional experience and when I came out, still crying, the sun was just starting go go down and the view is just indescribable..... I cannot wait to go back! read more

Our organization held a 4-day conference here. The place is falling apart. The conference rooms on the 4th floor are stuffy, hot, and poorly designed. The doors slam loudly and creak. The bathrooms throughout the building are gross. And one of the bottom floors smells like sewage. Also the Barbican staff that organized the conference for us were very disorganized and nothing made sense. Coffee only served from 11 am - 12 noon and 10 staff members waiting by to pour hot water for a few people just for that hour. It was bizarre. Don't hold your conference here. read more

Wonderful architecture in the back with the man made lakes, great post war concrete buildings and some terrific art/movies/theater/music to take in. I saw the OMA architecture exhibit which was well lain out and generally just great. Many lobbies of the art building look like a set from a clockwork orange! read more

The Barbican really splits me in two. There are so many different arts events going on here, if you have a dig on their website, they do a fair few free/cheaper events, but when it comes to theatre, I feel that the ticket pricing is a little too exclusive for a venue that was meant to be for the community. Its maze-like structure makes it almost impossible to ever know where you're going, toilets are hidden away, so ask the staff, they're really friendly. In terms of food and drink, its incredibly over-priced but good quality, if I were you, just head to the pret round the corner. I have to give it four stars purely for the quality of things they have on, if its on at the Barb, you know its gonna be good. They try and keep the range of programming as open as possible, so theres massive variety in the kind of thing they have on. They also have a great youth network, which I recommend getting involved in! (Not to mention their hidden garden is certainly worth taking a trip to! ) read more

Tonite's second concert of the LSO's 2017 season, with Sir Simon Rattle conducting Berlioz's magnificent Damnation of Faust, was my first time at this concert hall. While Rattle, the soloists, the chorus and the orchestra did a great job, this venue leaves A LOT to be desired. This place is an ADA lawyer's dream. Oh, sure, there are lifts, but they're practically hidden. Escalators? MIA. Adequate toilets? Fergiddaboudit, and be prepared to walk up, down and search among several flights of stairs to get to them. For the elderly and infirm, it's a real chore; for the incontinent, it could spell disaster. And, be prepared to do a little searching for the hall itself. Oh, it's there all right, it's just poorly signed and confusingly laid out. Signage in the neighborhood - if this maze of concrete, steel, and glass can be called that - is confusing and ill-placed. And, it doesn't get much better once inside, where pillars and walls block one's effort to get a general picture of the overall layout of the place. The terrace overlooking the waterfalls and "lake" outside provides a welcome breath of fresh air during the interval - the hall got pretty warm during this performance - but its uninviting and poorly illuminated. There is one nice thing about the hall: at least where I sat, in the circle, the seats are comfortable and fairly spacious, with a refreshingly generous amount of foot room. But, Prince Charles got it right when he decried the ghastly architecture in parts of postwar London, including this one. Where's the Luftwaffe when you need 'em? read more

In terms of all the concert halls in London, I have to say this one is so ugly and modern but not in a good way. Just like people its always look at what's on the inside and not just the outside. Barbican programs some great events, so I do recommend going. I went to see the London Symphony Orchestra and they are truly a world class orchestra. However, this review is just about the hall which I think, compared to Royal Albert, Royal Festival, and Covent Garden, is really quite sad looking. read more

I went to see a film here in cinema 1 and was totally underwhelmed. For a start it's a total maze to find it, and different members of staff were telling us different things about what to do with our pre-booked tickets. Once we finally found the cinema there was a high pitched noise that continued into the first 10 minutes of the film, someone had to go out and tell them about it I think- it gave me a headache. After that stopped I realised we were in the same screening as a total sociopath who wouldn't stop SHUSHING people like we were in a library. And as an audience we weren't poorly behaved, at one point she shushed someone laughing at a joke in the film. I know it isn't the venue's fault, but I've never experienced anything like it at another cinema, and maybe they should have been told to shut up or get out? The film was good but I won't be back again, even the £5 under 25 tickets wouldn't tempt me :( read more

Extensively large but dated and utterly impersonal. I have been to a number of exhibitions and shows at the Barbican and I am now totally put off. The buildings are ugly and unkept, near impossible to navigate your way around and rather badly situated. It has now got to the point that even if there is something that I desperately want to go and see, I would rather sit at home and avoid the Barbican. The venue is depressing and harsh, something that I cannot see past. read more

I have visited Barbican Centre twice now and both times got lost on my way there. The building is just too strange for me to understand, a bit hidden? But once you get inside it turns out be massive never endless complex of exhibitions, concerts, cinema.. Then the next problem is how to find everything in the building. During weekends the city area can feel deserted and during my visits the Barbican Centre has been very abandoned. When you imagine all that space and you being there all alone, it can get a bit spooky. The first time all the galleries and cafe's were closed as well so there I was trying to find some door open or someone to talk to. Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts center in Europe, so no wonder that if you there outside of any shows, it really feels empty. I recommend you visit Barbican Centre to see some specific show or exhibition, it will work better that way. It is a hard place just to go hang around, you just get lost, trust me. read more

I used to think the Barbican was one of the many ugly, concrete monstrosities built in the 1960's, I still do, but it's growing on me. Not least because it is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. I have seen some brilliant theatrical performance's, as well as art house films in the cinema and interesting art exhibitions in the gallery space. The bar and restaurant aren't worth writing home about, expensive drinks and not much atmosphere, there's a pub across the road where the drinks prices are slightly less extortionate. read more