Bespoke private tours around the musical sites of London. Choose a tour by location - Richmond, Chelsea and Soho among others - or one dedicated to the Beatles or the Stones. Or tell tour guide Richard Porter what you're interested in [more...]

Legendary - or maybe iconic - record shop with a history that goes back 30 years and a stock that covers just about every musical genre. Find them in Notting Hill or at their big new store near Brick Lane.

Rough Trade.

If jazz jazzes you, you could do a lot worse than heading to the Backstage Bar at The Spice of Life, where you'll find some of the best live [more...]

Salsa brings Latin heat to the heart of London! Check this place out for authentic salsa dancing - there are lessons several times a week - music, tapas and [more...]

For romance on a budget look no further than The Troubadour. This café has a wealth of hidden charms… there are small crowded tables, wooden benches, food to die for, hippies playing chess and idealists putting the world to rights. [more...]

Central London's powerhouse of gay and lesbian theatre, plus a weekly jazz night - now under threat from the loss of its Arts Council Grant. Go to enjoy yourself. Check their website for ways to support them.

Major venue showing a wide range of music, theatre, dance, film and kids' events. There's a range of eateries and bars. The only problem with the place is that it's so easy to get lost!

One of west London's premiere arts venues, the Riverside Studios offers performance, music, cinema and the visual arts. The programme is eclectic and always worth a look - for instance, the movies on offer include Hollywood classics [more...]

Newish (opened in 2004) performance and arts space in North Finchley, providing an interesting mix of theatre, music, comedy and what have you. There are also classes in dance and theatre, but this has the feel of something that's still [more...]

Vibrant multi-use community arts centre and performance space between Archway and Highgate. Classes in every thing from ballet to yoga by way of photography, writing for children and life drawing.

Jacksons Lane

It's a performance space, a bar, a workshop, a community centre... whatever name you give it, it's a great place to be.

Chats Palace.

Great theatre in a stunning building. Lots of outreach work with local kids. Worth supporting but don't go for that reason - go because it'll give you a wonderful night out!

Hoxton Hall Theatre

Classic operas, some with surtitles, in a delightful park setting.

Opera Holland Park.

Local theatre with a reputation for plays, stand-up and cabaret. It's over a lovely Victorian-style pub that now has live music - jazz, rock, cajun and folk - once the theatre ends, making for a great night out all round. Oh, and the [more...]

A huge range of art exhibitions, craft fairs, performance and activities for kids. Far too much to list here, so check Somerset House regularly to find out what's going on.

If English folk dance and music are your fascination, this is the place to come. Some of the events feature traditional dance and music from around the world and sometimes there are things like mummers' plays too. Oh, and morris [more...]

Every year Norway sends a giant Christmas Tree to London. It stands, beautifully lit, in Trafalgar Square as a monument to international friendship. From early December to Christmas Eve there is carol singing in Trafalgar Square to [more...]

It's a club, it's a community, it's a carnival experience... go to dance, to chill, to listen and watch. Possibly the only kid-friendly club in London, too.

Check the website for gig details: Whirl-y-Gig.

Even more Caribbean fun in Hyde Park, timed to complement the Notting Hill Carnival.

In July, a week of events promoting cultural diversity and opposing racism across London ends with the capital's biggest outdoor music festival. There are six live stages, plus dance, djs and comedy - also a market area and an [more...]