The Barbican Centre celebrates 30 years

Explore the history of the iconic London arts centre

In March 1982, the doors opened to the arts centre in London's Barbican. Nestling at the heart of a 40-acre estate built in an area east of the City that had been devastated by World War II bombing, the arts centre includes a 1949-seat concert hall (home to the London and BBC Symphony Orchestras), a 1166-seat theatre, a smaller second theatre, a cinema and two art galleries.

The concrete brutalist architecture has both its admirers and detractors, but there's an undeniably epic quality to the complex, comprising some of London's tallest residential towers, plus high-level walkways and public areas focused around a lake area.

You can learn more about the Barbican and its history in our Gallery View below. To discover more about forthcoming concerts and events, visit the Barbican's website.

Click the first image to launch the gallery