London's Best Independent Music Venues
From 2005 to 2015, the number of clubs and live music venues in the UK almost halved. After a steady stream of closures, London is now left with only 88 live music venues in total, a shockingly small number for one of the music capitals of the world. With it more important than ever to champion independent venues — which have provided a vital lifeline in the careers of some of our most celebrated artists — Culture Trip takes a look at eight of the city’s best.
Windmill, Brixton
If there was ever a venue that proved true the old maxim, ‘never judge a book by its cover’, The Windmill is it. Though this little back-street pub couldn’t look more unassuming if it tried, its reputation as a champion of great music, and a great place to catch a live gig stretches far and wide. The Windmill has been a lot of things in its lifetime, from Irish tavern to biker hangout and even poet’s corner, and eventually morphing into a music venue in the early 2000s simply by chance, when somebody realised that its regular crowd possessed a wealth of skills in areas such as sound engineering, promotion, and music production. Since then the bar has been roundly named as one of the best live music venues not only in London but in the country, thanks to the quality of its bands, cheap prices, and relaxed atmosphere. Biffy Clyro, Plan B, The War On Drugs, Jamie T, and Bloc Party have all played here.
http://instagram.com/p/BAEd6OxNhJ1/
Dublin Castle, Camden
A favourite of the late Amy Winehouse, who could often be caught serving pints behind the bar, Dublin Castle has courted an outstanding reputation as a live music venue since the 1970s, when the band Madness secured a residency there — though they had to pretend to be a blues band just to get their first gig, having been turned down previously. The pub, which was a mainstay of the 90s Britpop movement, has been run by the same family for nearly 30 years, and is a self proclaimed ‘indie rock institution’, rather than just another music venue. The pub, which is a great one in its own right, hosts four live bands per night, with Blur, The Arctic Monkeys, Supergrass, Billy Bragg, and The Killers having performed in the past.
http://instagram.com/p/BEEx4SfOmZy/?tagged=dublincastlecamden&hl=en
1. Jamboree, Limehouse
Music Venue
Luce Lemons at Jamboree| ©Sin Bozkurt/Jamboree
2. Zigfrid von Underbelly, Hoxton
Bar, Cocktail Bar, British, European, Vegan, Italian
There’s two sides to quirky Hoxton Square haunt, Zigfrid von Underbelly, in both name and nature. The Zigfrid part is the upstairs venue, a DJ-centric, juke-boxing diner and bar, home to Hoxton Square Craft Beer and a mad, colourful jumble of furniture and assorted bits and bobs, including rocking horses, bicycles, surfboards, and a totem pole. Downstairs, Underbelly has the gig side of the operation covered, hosting renowned national and international acts alongside up-and-comers.
Courtesy of Zigfrid von Underbelly
3. Nambucca, Holloway
Music Venue
Wolf Alice play at Nambucca, Holloway |©Will Ireland/Nambucca
4. The Bedford, Balham
Pub, Pub Grub, British
Image courtesy of The Bedford
5. Notting Hill Arts Club, West London
Nightclub, Bar, Pub Grub, British
6. Sebright Arms, Bethnal Green
Gastropub, British, American
Courtesy of the Sebright Arms
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.