This award-winning vegetarian café-bar in the center of Camden was opened in 2005 by two friends who set out to create a welcoming eatery and music venue. The calendar features a mix of fast-rising and cult musicians across folk, jazz, blues, and soul who perform here seven nights a week (along with the occasional superstar—hello Ed Sheeran). Ticket, food, and drink prices are refreshingly wallet-friendly. Seats go quickly, so it’s best to arrive early.

This stunning Victorian Gothic church in Islington has been voted London’s favorite music venue multiple times by readers of Time Out magazine. A strictly not-for-profit venue and working church with incredible acoustics that reach every pew, the chapel lends itself to stripped-back performances. Its magic combination of sound and setting draws zeitgeisty, folk and rock-adjacent artists (David Gray, Damon Albarn) along with plenty of career icons (Elton John, Amy Winehouse, Bjørk, U2).

This boundary-pushing Dalston bar hosts everything from spoken word to experimental psych-rock and is one of the city’s biggest supporters of adventurous, avant-garde live music. The Guardian called the treasured club “the heart of the underground” in a 10-year anniversary tribute in 2018, and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore credits it as crucial to music discovery in London. There’s no real stage or backstage area, so performances are intense, immersive, and often unforgettable.

It’s nearly impossible to become a must-visit tourist destination while retaining money-can’t-buy credibility, but this iconic jazz club pulled it off. Ronnie Scott’s opened in London’s West End in 1959 and has since hosted to a who’s who of jazz giants (Miles Davis, Count Basie, Nina Simone). It moved to a larger spot in Soho in ’65, but kept its dimly lit, speakeasy vibe and roster of local talent. Wander in after dinner for the legendary Late Late Show which carries on well past midnight.

A former dancehall, soup kitchen, bingo hall, and social club, this beloved West London institution hosts a fittingly eclectic mix of talent—acoustic singer-songwriters, next-gen pop stars, bluegrass ensembles, and head-banging guitar bands all pass through. Gig-goers will take in shows under spectacular ceilings, ornate cherubs, and grand chandeliers that have been restored to their Edwardian-era splendor.

Thought to be one of Britain’s oldest places of worship, this historic working church doubles as one of London’s most extraordinary small venues. St. Pancras didn’t start officially hosting live music until 2011, but there were early signs that it had music in its future: In 1968, The Beatles did a photoshoot in its grounds. In more recent years, the building’s central location, atmospheric acoustics, and 120-person capacity have made it a popular setting for artists on the rise.

This world-class arts center near Regent’s Park has drawn in folk music aficionados for nearly a century. The historic home of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, the complex has several on-site music venues that celebrate folk’s myriad expressions: swing trios, string bands, roots musicians, and more. The biggest and busiest room, Kennedy Hall, has a breathtaking Ivon Hitchens mural that was installed after the centre was bombed during WWII to symbolize resilience and rebuilding.

Dalston has several excellent jazz clubs, but SJQ keeps things loose: It’s known for its varied programming (chess nights, house music parties, experimental jazz showcases) and famous craft cocktails. Hang at the Art Deco bar upstairs before wandering down into the tiny basement club, where the bookings are consistently excellent and wonderfully unpredictable: African drummers, jazz violinists, Sun Ra Arkestra, and Orville Peck have all passed through.