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Voting is now open for our Love London Awards, giving you the chance to pick the places you love – from bars and cafés to parks and culture spots – to get Time Out shouting about them. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be providing you with some inspiration for this year’s awards by pulling together some of your cherished London hangouts through the medium of Instagram.
Today’s spotlight is on London’s best music venues and, despite what you might read about closures, our fair city’s still brimming with absolutely world class options. Whether you want opulent grandeur or spit ‘n’ sawdust, there’s a space in the capital for it: here are 10 of our finest.
1. The O2 Academy Brixton has been a mainstay in London’s live world for 35 years now - and we still love it.
2. New London Bridge venue Omeara is already nipping at the heels of the veterans.
3. Home to cabaret and drag nights as well as more classic gigs, the Troxy is a decadent gem in Tower Hamlet's arsenal.
4. After a big one? Shoreditch’s Village Underground - nestled in a railway arch - is the one.
5. Music venues don’t come much fancier than the Royal Albert Hall.
6. With a gold, sparkly ceiling and glitzy stage backdrop, Hackney’s Moth Club is the most dazzling small venue on the block.
7. For something altogether more cerebral, Islington’s Union Chapel - a beautifully ornate church venue - has you covered.
8. Camden's 1,500-capacity KOKO is as well-known for its boozy club nights as its shows. Both are strong choices.
9. Forgive the lengthy trek up a hill - when you reach the top, Alexandra Palace’s cavernous surroundings are more than worth the effort.
10. For rather large gigs that still manage to feel intimate, Camden’s Roundhouse is the winner.