Music in London

London has a rich heritage in music and has been the epicentre for the majority of movements within the musical world from the emergence of The Beatles in the 1960s and that iconic photograph to The Sex Pistols and punk rock in the 1970s and on through the decades.

One of the elements which stands out most about the history of music in London is its diversity and this is most definitely rooted in the fact that the city itself is one of the most agriculturally diverse in the world.

The 2011 census revealed that the population of the capital city was over 8 million people, with 30% of the residents born outside of the UK.  Each culture brings their own interpretation of music and with so many communities living in close quarters what you find is that the city full of eclectic music, with different styles from the various cultures spilling over onto each other, creating something which is unlikely to be heard anywhere else.

If you have an interest in music, whether it is of the classical variety or the more urban, then London is undoubtedly a great place to visit.  There are iconic locations which have made their mark on the development of music throughout the years here as well as the many music venues which are great places to discover new talent and to hear your favorite bands and musicians play live.

In addition to the rich and diverse musical offerings you can discover in the city, it would seem that those who like to write and compose music are also drawn to the capital.  There are literally thousands of songs which feature a location in the city or whose lyrics are based in the city.  Many of these songs are incredibly famous and include the likes of ‘London Calling’ by The Clash, ‘West End Girls’ by the Pet Shop Boys and ‘Hometown Glory’ by Adele to pick just three from the vast list.

Of course, one of the best ways to really discover the musical culture in London, rather than just reading about it or listening to melodic offerings about the capital, is to come and visit the city yourself.  As we mentioned above, there are a number of iconic and notable landmarks and locations which have featured in the rise of the music scene in London, whatever your taste in music and which are well worth a visit if you are planning a trip to the city in the near future.

Some of our favorites include:-

Abbey Road, London
No list of famous music landmarks in London would be complete without mention of the Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded many of their well known songs including ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘All You Need Is Love’.  A slight walk up from the studios is also the zebra crossing which became that iconic image for the foursome and which featured on their album cover ‘Abbey Road’.

The Savoy Hotel
If you want a luxury hotel to stay in London, which was also a part of a notorious music video, then choose the Savoy.  This was the location for Bob Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ video and it was filmed in the street at the back of the hotel.  This is the ideal option for any fans of Bob Dylan.

The Marquee Club
Located on Charing Cross Road, The Marquee Club is one of the most famous music venues when it comes to rock n roll and almost every band worth its salt during the 1960s, 70s and 80s played here at least once including the likes of Led Zeppelin, the Sex Pistols and Pink Floyd.

If you have a particular interest in discovering the music scene in London, and some of the hidden gems from the past then it might be worth booking onto one of the very popular Music Tours which take place across the city.  These would make a perfect and unique gift option if you wanted to spoil a loved one or friend, as they offer a great way to travel around the city and discover parts of the musical world which you might otherwise miss if you were trying to explore by yourself.  You could book yourself a luxury hotel to stay in, in London and then enjoy learning how many of the talented musicians from throughout the decades knew each other, worked together and got up to mischief together.

Of course, if the rock scene isn’t the only genre of music to come out of London.  It is also the home to several classical music venues, as well as playing host to a number of colleges which are dedicated to teaching up and coming new talent.  The Royal Opera House, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall and London Coliseum are just some of the venues which offer a full programme of classical music which can be enjoyed by all.

Not only that, but a large percentage of the classical performances which take place in the city are completely free to enter, and ask only for a small donation, so even if you are visiting the city on a tight budget, you can still enjoy the delightful sounds of some of the world’s best music, played by some of the world’s most talented musicians in one of the world’s greatest cities.  Who could ask for more than that?