London is full of musical history, as many noteworthy bands and musicians have a connection to the capital. The city has been a hub of musical talent and innovation for decades, from classical maestros to rock and roll legends.
If you’re a music fan considering taking a tour of the capital’s music sites, it’s easy to get lost in the musical London attractions. To help you out, let’s explore five things to do in London for music lovers.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of a particular artist or looking to enjoy a pint with some live music, these London music tourist attractions will help you soak up the city’s musical atmosphere. Let’s dive in!
1. Explore The 100 Club
Blink and you’ll miss it! If it wasn’t for the sign, you’d probably walk by one of London’s most iconic music clubs. The 100 Club’s entrance looks like a typical office door, but traverse down the stairs and you’ll travel back in time to a spot where many stars have made their mark.
The 100 Club’s history goes back to 1942 when it was known as Feldman’s Swing Club. A popular haunt with American GIs, the club was originally a jazz hotspot but evolved with each music scene.
The 100 Club maintained its jazz and blues nights during the fifties and sixties, transformed into the home of UK punk in the seventies, and supported the explosion of Britpop when the 90s came along.
The names who have played on the 100 Club’s small stage are incredible, from Jimi Hendrix, Louis Armstrong, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Oasis, and Blur. Part of the club’s appeal is its refusal to restrict itself to a single music genre, advocating for new, creative, and unique modern music.
The 100 Club is a site with incredible cultural significance and continues to play small music sets to this day. If you want to visit a location with incredible historical depth which has shaped music history over decades, the 100 Club is certainly a must-see.
2. Stroll Through Denmark Street
If you’re in Central London, you need to take a stroll through Denmark Street. Walk a little way off of Charing Cross Road, and you’re smack in the middle of one of London’s best historical sites.
In the 70s, the street was a hub of the music industry, with many publishers taking up offices in the street’s many buildings.
Examples include Mils Music, where Elton John used to make tea, and NME, who moved into the street in 1952. Several noteworthy figures and bands, like David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and The Sex Pistols, have all made music along the street’s recording studios.
Denmark Street received its blue plaque status in 2014, which celebrates the site’s importance to music history. To this day, Denmark Street is still one of the capital’s main locations to repair and sell musical instruments.
Whether you’re looking to purchase a vintage guitar or soak up the street’s rich musical atmosphere, Denmark Street delivers a unique glimpse into London’s musical legacy.
Want to explore more of London’s sites that have played a part in music history? You can create your own custom London tour with Yellow Moon Tours.
Whether you want to enjoy some live music or enjoy a pint at one of the capital’s historical musical venues, Yellow Moon Tours has got your back. Get in touch with us to book your private tour today.
3. Visit Amy Winehouse’s Hometown
If you’re a music fan, one of the best things to see in London is explore Amy Winehouse’s hometown, Camden.
Amy Winehouse was one of the UK’s most talented musicians who had a deep connection with Camden. Born and raised in the borough, Amy loved Camden and even mentioned the area in her Grammy Speech, exclaiming, “This is for London, cause Camden Town ain’t burning down!”
Amy Winehouse fans can visit several Camden attractions that have links to the singer, like the Hawley Arms, where she used to casually hop behind the bar and pull pints, or her stone on London’s Music Walk of Fame, which was placed at the landmark almost a decade after her death.
There are signs of the singer’s connection to Camden all around the borough, but a must-see is the Amy Winehouse statue, which was erected three years after the singer passed away.
Artist Scott Eaton created the statue which was unveiled on the 14th of September 2014, what would have been Amy’s 31st birthday. The statue has the singer’s characteristic beehive hairdo, high heels, and short flared dress. It stands as a tribute to her legacy, giving music lovers a way to connect to the life and career of one of Camden’s most beloved musicians.
Have a look at Amy’s reference to the borough in her Grammy acceptance speech.
4. Explore Handel & Hendrix
Another important example of London music tourist attractions is Handel and Hendrix. This history museum covers two figures who, though 200 years apart, made their mark on music history.
The Georgian House lies at 25 Brook Street and consists of two houses, number 23, where rock star Jimi Hendrix lived between 1968-69, and number 25, composer George Frideric Handel lived between 1723 and 1759.
Handel created many noteworthy works while he lived on Brook Street, like The Messiah and Music for the Royal Fireworks. It wasn’t just his private residence, the house acted as Handel’s business address. People would pay and collect opera season tickets from the house, and Handel used to rehearse new performances with his cast in front of special guests.
Jimi Hendrix lived in the house’s top-floor flat. The bedroom has been recreated to mimic how the room looked when the guitarist lived there. A lot of the features are original, like the mirror above the bed and handwritten lyrics to Voodoo Child on the side table.
You can also see Hendrix’s acoustic guitar, an instrument that Hendrix bought second-hand in New York and brought back to England after The Experience’s premier US tour.
The Handel and Hendrix entrance isn’t that obvious from the outside, so you’ll have to look out for Handel’s blue plaque and Hendrix’s blue plaque on the front. The museum is fully open to the public between Wednesday and Sunday, so it’s certainly worth a visit on your London music tour!
5. Enjoy A Pint At The Good Mixer
Another example of things to do in London for music lovers is enjoy a drink in a pub known for its music history. The Good Mixer pub, off of Inverness Street in Camden, is a must-visit for music fans. Camden is full of pubs with rock history, but the Good Mixer was different, as it wasn’t considered a live venue for bands.
Many artists and band members enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in the pub. The Good Mixer has hosted many musicians, like Jarvis Cocker, Bobby Gillespie, and Amy Winehouse. It’s said to be where the infamous Oasis and Blur feud kicked off during the Britpop era and was also where the band Elastica signed their contracts with Deceptive Records.
Today, the pub plays live grassroots music and hosts DJs each week, but it has retained its laidback atmosphere. Pubgoers can enjoy table football, live sports, and a dartboard along with their pint, all while absorbing a little bit of music history.
There we have it! We hope you’ve enjoyed this post about 5 things to do in London for music lovers.
Want to know more? Contact us at info@yellowmoontours.com or +02032903665 to book your private tour today. You can also check out our social media on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Written by Rosh for Yellow Moon Tours, the private tours specialist covering Paris, London, New York and Ireland.
