The guide
The best live music bars in London
Jazz basements, soul nights, funk bands and DJ bars where the sound system is the point. These are the London rooms where the music isn't background.
Best for jazz
Soho & Dalston
Best for DJs
Shoreditch & Peckham
Best free entry
Camden & Brixton
Best late
Hackney & Elephant
Where London's live music happens
London's best live music isn't in the big venues — it's in basements with 60 seats and a piano, in back rooms with a house band on a Tuesday, and in bars where a DJ plays records rather than a set. Cover charges are usually small or non-existent.
Timings matter more here than anywhere else: jazz rooms often run two sets, the first around 7.30pm and the second closer to 10pm. DJ bars don't get going until 10pm and run to 2 or 3am.
Our pick of London's live music bars
We're updating this list — check back soon.
Frequently asked
Is there a cover charge for live music bars in London?
Many are free entry, especially before 9pm. Dedicated jazz rooms typically charge £8–£20 depending on the act, often cheaper for the late set.
What time does live music start in London bars?
Jazz and band sets usually start between 7.30pm and 9pm, with a second set around 10pm. DJ bars pick up after 10pm.
Which London area is best for live music?
Soho for jazz, Dalston for eclectic and late, Brixton and Peckham for soul, funk and sound-system nights.
Line up a music night
Early set, late set, then somewhere to end up. Build the route and open it in Google Maps.