Belfast
Queen's University's School of Music stages regular free lunchtime recitals and evening concerts in the beautiful, hammerbeam-roofed Harty Room and at the…
Must-see entertainment in The United Kingdom
Belfast
Within the Odyssey Complex, this is the venue for big entertainment events such as rock and pop concerts and stage shows. It's also the home stadium of…
Inverness
Hootananny is the city’s best live-music venue, with traditional folk- and/or rock-music sessions nightly, including big-name bands from all over Scotland…
Richmond, Kew & Hampton Court
A magnificent old Victorian building facing Little Green (next to Richmond Green), Richmond Theatre opened in 1899. Designed by architect Frank Matcham,…
Kent
Around a mile east of the Turner Contemporary along the seafront, in Cliftonville, the Tom Thumb Theatre is, as the name suggests, small – in fact it's…
South Cornwall
Owned by local chain WTW, the city's four-screen cinema is a great space to watch films, and is a favourite of renowned UK film critic Mark Kermode (who…
Sheffield
Every touring band has played the dark and dingy Leadmill on the way up (or on the way down), and it remains the best place in town to hear live rock and…
Leeds
Founded in 1865, City Varieties is the world's longest-running music hall, where the likes of Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin and Lily Langtry once trod…
Aberdeen
This cavernous, subterranean club – the entrance is in a road tunnel beneath Union St – is a great live-music venue, with a packed program of up-and…
Belfast
The Crescent hosts a range of concerts, plays, workshops, readings and dance classes. It's also the headquarters of the Belfast Book Festival and the…
Birmingham
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra's official home is the 1991-built Symphony Hall. Renowned for its acoustics, it seats 2262 concertgoers. Shows…
Glasgow
Playing in green and white hoops, Celtic are one of Glasgow's big two football clubs and traditionally represent the Catholic side of the divide. There…
The West End
Covent Garden’s renovated Poetry Café is a favourite for lovers of verse. It has almost daily readings and performances by established poets, open-mic…
Notting Hill & West London
Extended with a new wing several years back and refurbishing its Frank Matcham–designed Victorian auditorium in 2018, the Lyric turns classics on their…
Edinburgh
One of Edinburgh's most eclectic live-music venues, Henry's has something going on most nights of the week, from rock and indie to 'Balkan-inspired folk'…
Bath
Bath's historic theatre dates back 200 years. Major touring productions appear in the main auditorium and smaller shows take place in the Ustinov Studio.
The Midlands & the Marches
The best live-music venue for miles around, Marr's still has its original sprung dance floors from its days as a dance studio. There's a lively schedule…
Aberdeen
Upstairs at O'Neill's you're guaranteed a wild night of pounding, hardcore Irish rock, indie and alternative tunes Friday to Sunday; downstairs is a …
Brighton & Hove
Once the stables for King George IV’s horses, this art deco complex houses three theatre venues within the Royal Pavilion estate. ABBA famously won the…
Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri)
An impressive cultural asset for a town of this size, Theatr Ardudwy is a lively local arts centre that stages dance, theatre and music, and screens a…
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall
Nottingham
Sharing the same building and booking office, the Theatre Royal and Royal Concert Hall host musicals, touring theatre shows and veteran music acts. Dates…
Glasgow
Tron Theatre, located in the James Adam–designed Tron Kirk, fronted by an elaborate bell tower, stages contemporary Scottish and international…
Aberdeen
A long-established stalwart of Aberdeen's alternative music scene, Drummond is a crowded, grungy student hang-out offering live gigs from up-and-coming…
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Full of Victorian splendour, Newcastle's Theatre Royal has an excellent program of drama (including performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company), along…
Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog
For booming harmonies, head to the practice sessions of the local male choir; visitors are most welcome. Since its formation in 1937, the choir has…
Nottingham
Beside Anish Kapoor's enormous Sky Mirror dish (2001), the Playhouse puts on serious theatre, from stage classics to the avant-garde. Nottingham's…
Oxford
This legendary weekly open-mic night has migrated from venue to venue. Now firmly ensconced at the East Oxford Social Club, it features an ever-changing…
South Cornwall
In the heart of the city, this is the county's main venue for touring theatre and music. Big-name comedy acts, major touring productions and dance shows…
Glasgow
A down-at-heel but exceptional old dancehall above the Barras market catering for some of the larger acts that visit the city. It's one of Scotland's most…
Belfast
The Belfast Giants ice-hockey team draws big crowds to the SSE Arena; the season is September to April. The arena also hosts indoor sporting events…
Bristol
There's live music most nights of the week at the Fringe, a convivial low-key local that draws a discerning crowd of often older music fans. It's…
Glasgow
Cosy basement venue with small independent bands as well as weekend DJs and regular comedy and theatre performances. At street level the pleasant cafe…
The Midlands & the Marches
The world's smallest commercial theatre, in a converted Victorian public lavatory decked out with theatrical Italianate flourishes, this quirky place has…
Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
North London
A popular and very atmospheric summertime fixture in London, this 1250-seat outdoor auditorium plays host to four productions a year: famous plays, new…
Leeds
A wooden door at the back of Lords' barbershop takes you down to this broody basement cocktail bar and live-jazz club. Shows are free and start around 9pm…
The Midlands & the Marches
This sleek artistic space hosts big-name shows and some innovative modern theatre, and has good accessibility for theatregoers who are aurally or visually…
Exeter
Emerging writers are profiled in the Bike Shed's rough 'n' ready subterranean, brick-lined performance space. Its vintage cocktail bar makes a hip setting…
North London
Live punk or alternative bands play most nights from 7.15pm in this comfortingly grungy pub's back room (cover charges are usually £5 to £8). DJs take…
Glasgow
A feast of classical music is showcased at this concert hall, the modern home of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. There are also regular pop, folk…
Windsor & Eton
Windsor’s figure-of-eight racecourse, in an idyllic riverside setting just over a mile west of the castle, hosts flat-racing events between April and…
