12 Things For Music Lovers To Do In London That Hit The Right Note In 2026: Museums, Concerts, Record Shops, Hi-Fi Bars & More

There’s no lack of live music venues in London, that’s for sure. Starting off we have the iconic 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium and domed O2 Arena where juggernauts like Queen, Madonna and Beyoncé have graced both stages.

More intimate spaces like The Garage and Boston Music Room are famous for hosting rock, alternative and indie acts like Arctic Monkeys and Paramore. In Shoreditch you have Colours, a hip-hop and R&B haven that hosts up to 300 people and boasts a state-of-the-art D&B Audiotechnik PA System for optimal sound quality. Even smaller is The Slaughtered Lamb, a live music bar famous for its folk and acoustic sets, with Ed Sheeran and James Bay performing there before they made it big.

Is your favourite album really your favourite if you don’t have it on vinyl? London’s practically overflowing with cool record shops where music fans can cop their fav LP on a twelve-inch disc.

Born on a stall in Greenwich Market, Casbah Records now has its very own store on Creek Road that specialises in 60s and 70s rock and pop, indie, soul and funk. Jazz cats should swing by Idle Moments to add to their collection, while punk and heavy metal heads need to run, not walk, to All Ages Records. And for the music fans who’d appreciate a live music concert while they shop, both Rough Trade East and Banquet Records host in-store acoustic shows.

Candlelight concerts in London are a music lovers paradise. Surrounded by thousands of candles, concertgoers hear classical renditions of iconic songs and compositions, all performed live on strings. Contemporary stars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift stand alongside classical icons like Vivaldi and Bach, so there’s truly a concert for every music taste. Head to one of London’s Candlelight venues, including Southwark Cathedral and Central Hall Westminster, and enjoy your favourite music in a new way by candlelight.

London’s jam-packed with music landmarks to visit, and we’re not just talking about live music venues. Take some snaps or recreate iconic album covers like Oasis’ (What’s the) Story Morning Glory? on Berwick Street, Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust album outside 23 Heddon Street and of course, The Beatles’ legendary Abbey Road cover.

You can also check out the blue plaques commemorating where stars used to live, like Jimi Hendrix’s old home on 25 Brook Street, or Bob Marley’s on 42 Oakley Street. And if you feel like paying your respects to stars that have passed, you can gaze at the gorgeous Bowie mural on Tunstall Road or the famous Amy Winehouse statue in Camden Stables.

We couldn’t write about things for music lovers in London to do without mentioning the city’s music festivals. Predominantly taking place in the summer months, they’re world-famous music events that usually span over an entire weekend.

Field Day in Brockwell Park is dedicated to the EDM scene, whereas City Splash in the same park is designed with reggae fans in mind. Mighty Hoopla is an LGBTQ+-friendly festival that have invited pop acts like Years & Years, Jessie Ware and Kelly Rowland to perform in the past. For hip-hop and rap fans, Wireless Festival takes place in Finsbury Park and has welcomed artists like Doja Cat, J Cole and Stormzy in previous years.

It feels like London has as many museums as it does tube stations, and a good number of them are dedicated to music. Take Royal College of Music Museum — it’s home to over 15,000 instruments, manuscripts and artefacts that span centuries of music history. In the same vein, The Musical Museum has hundreds of self-playing instruments including organs, pianos and violins on display, as well as the world’s largest collection of historic musical rolls.

Handel Hendrix House in Mayfair is a museum dedicated to baroque composer George Frideric Handel and rock singer-guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Why these two artists, you ask? Well, the museum is actually housed in two neighbouring residencies where both music legends lived, 200 years apart. Along with historic memorabilia, there’re live classical performances taking place in what was once Handel’s dining room as well as guitar jam sessions in Hendrix’s old bedroom.

At The Jazz Room, the walls themselves seem to listen. Each show invites guests into a meticulously crafted time capsule where jazz, blues and soul shine in their own right, never blended but always related. Skilled musicians lead the way, recharging the classics with fierce improvisation and letting solos linger just so. The 1920s-inspired ambiance and steady hum of conversation transform each event into a living tribute to the music’s never-ending journey.

London is teeming with walking tours inspired by all things music. On the Croydon Music Heritage Trail, take a stroll through the city and explore the hometowns of local stars like Stormzy and Nadia Rose, visit the famous BRIT School and check out the ‘Croydon Symphony’ mural dedicated to homegrown talents.

There’s also the Soho Music Tourwhich takes visitors through the heart of London’s rock n roll scene. See where acts like The Sex Pistols, The Who, The Rolling Stones and more recorded their albums and performed live for fans back in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Each ticket also includes a two-course meal and drink of your choice at The Hard Rock Café — an iconic restaurant adorned with vinyls and instruments on the walls.

Inside London’s listening bars, it’s all about the sound. Owned by DJs Bradley Zero and Nathanael Williams, Jumbi is a Hi-Fi bar with an Audiophile sound system and extensive vinyl library that covers the African-Caribbean diaspora. Spiritland is another snazzy spot with top-of-the-range equipment, including Isonoe-modified Technics 1200 turntables and a high-quality sound system by Living Voice.

For a more low-key vibe, Behind This Wall has a minimalist Scandinavian-style decor and a vintage Tannoy Gold sound system (and their to-order cocktails are some of the best in town).

The theatre kids among us already know what’s going down on the West End. Throughout the year, venues like Lyceum Theatre and Savoy Theatre host iconic theatre shows and musicals such as Les Misérables, Matilda, Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera. Accompanied by live orchestral music, award-winning performers belt out songs that have been sung in theatres along the West End for hundreds of years.

Wunjo Guitars is a haven for all things (you guessed it) guitars. They’re an independent retailer that sell everything from electric, acoustic and bass guitars to pre-owned and vintage ones. If you’re after something with keys, Yamaha Music London is filled to the brim with classical pianos, keyboards, synthesizers, and more. And for everything in between, music lovers in London should head to Travis and Emery. It’s an old-fashioned library-like shop that stocks music books, sheet music and musical biographies.

Classical music in London is as popular as ever. Prestigious institutions like London Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras perform weekly inside top London music venues like Barbican Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. Then you have recurring annual classical music events, from BBC Proms to LSO Discovery Friday Lunchtime Concerts—a series of free classical music concerts in London taking place inside LSO St Luke’s every month.