Barbican Centre, The Barbican towers, Brutalist architecture in the City of London
Barbican Centre, The Barbican highwalks
Barbican Centre, An orchestra on stage in the Barbican Hall
Barbican Centre, Visitors walking down a ramp in the Barbican foyers
SIMPLY LUXURYArt
Arts centreSince 1982

Barbican

The arts centre in the City of London, opened in 1982, with a programme spanning theatre, music, dance, film and the visual arts in a Grade II listed building.

The story →Visit the Barbican.
The Barbican towers, Brutalist architecture in the City of London
1982Opened
Grade IIListed
LSOResident Orchestra
City of LondonFounder and principal funder
Barbican Centre, The yellow line on the Barbican highwalk
The yellow line on the Barbican highwalk
The story

The arts under one roof.

The Barbican Centre opened in 1982. The City of London Corporation is its founder and principal funder, and the building is Grade II listed.

Its programme spans theatre, music, dance, film and the visual arts, and the centre houses a concert hall, theatres, an art gallery, cinemas and a public library. The London Symphony Orchestra has been its Resident Orchestra since the centre opened.

“The City of London Corporation is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre.”Barbican

Within the centre, the Barbican Conservatory is a planted conservatory open to visitors. Abigail Pogson became Chief Executive in January 2026, and the Barbican Board is chaired by Sir William Russell.

The centre

Every art form.

Theatre, music, film and art.

01

Theatre and dance

Theatres within the centre.

02

Music

The London Symphony Orchestra in residence.

03

Gallery and cinema

An art gallery, cinemas and a public library.

04

The Conservatory

A planted conservatory open to visitors.

The building

Highwalk to hall.

A Grade II listed arts centre.

Barbican Centre, On the Barbican highwalk
The yellow lineOn the Barbican highwalk
Barbican Centre, Home of the LSO
Barbican HallHome of the LSO
Barbican Centre, Part of the Barbican
Milton CourtPart of the Barbican
B
The building

The City of London

Founded and principally funded by the City of London Corporation, the Barbican has been home to the London Symphony Orchestra since it opened in 1982.

On Simply Luxury

Barbican stories.

12 October 2026

Essential London Art This Autumn: A Curatorial Journey

Visit

Visit the Barbican.

Theatre, music, dance, film and the visual arts.

Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Box Office by phone Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 5.30pm.
barbican.org.uk→ Instagram @barbicancentre→ 020 7870 2500→ Directions→
BARBICAN
Theatre, music, dance, film and the visual arts.
Visit barbican.org.ukMore Art

Imagery shown from barbican.org.uk. Every fact on this page is drawn from Barbican Centre’s own website and corroborated by independent sources. Simply Luxury is an independent publication.

⌂ Simply Luxury