Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London EC2

Work started on this vast residential, commercial and arts complex in 1962, and the project, on a site devastated by World War II bombs, took nearly 20 years to complete. Today, five-sixths of the inhabitants of the City of London area live here. 

Tall residential towers surround an arts centre, with an ornamental lake, fountains and lawns.  Above the the arts centre, surprisingly, is a well-stocked conservatory. 

Marooned amid the tower blocks is the 16th century church of St Giles, Cripplegate, the only pre-war building on the site. 

A barbican is a watchtower projecting from a fortified place and the architects of this community may have been trying to live up to the name when they created the centre's formidable defences against the outside world. 

Raised walkways and obscure entrances distance pedestrians from the the City.  The vast concrete complex has little charm and, despite signposts and yellow lines on the pavement, is difficult to navigate, a map is advised!

The arts centre includes two theatres, a concert hall, two cinemas, one of London's largest art galleries for touring exhibitions, a convention and exhibition hall, a library and is home to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.  

The Barbican's resident orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, is one of the finest in Europe, and until 2002 the centre was also the London base of the Royal Shakespeare Company. 

The events programmes at the arts centre are usually high quality and the foyer hosts a series of free music concerts. 

The Barbican houses the Museum of London, one of London's best museums.       

We have further details on the Barbican Art Gallery, Barbican Arts Centre, Museum of London, and St Giles Cripplegate in other areas of our London guide,

Admission charge for the museum and galleries