London is one of the best cities in the world where you can attend a concert for plenty of reasons. The city’s impact on the music industry worldwide alone is enough to make it a monumental location. Additionally, London has some of the best and most famous concert venues in the world. The O2, for example, is considered a turning point in the career of many artists. The Royal Albert Hall has also seen its fair share of mind-blowing performances, from Pink Floyd to Adele.
That said, there’s an art to attending a concert in London, starting with booking and to the morning after. This quick guide will show you how to do concerts right in London.
Choosing the Event
London is a central location in any musician’s world tour or Euro tour. It’s also usually one of the cities where they plan more than one date given that one night is never enough for a city as big as London.
Luckily, most artists announce tour dates well in advance. Even if not yet announced on the artist’s official channels, you can always find out tour dates on ticket booking and venue websites. Just like that, you’ll be able to find the dates and the venue where your favorite artist will be performing. That’s when you can start the booking process.
Needless to say, it’s always best to book as early as possible to get the best seats possible for your budget. Sections can get booked up in a matter of hours. Cancellations are also not usually common, especially when it comes to big-name artists. For concert-goers who come from other countries to attend a London performance, it’s a concrete plan that’s unlikely to change. So, to avoid any disappointments, just make sure you book your tickets from an official distributor as early as possible.
The After Party
No matter how great a concert is, the night is never complete without a legendary after-party. The best part about a concert in London is that artists usually go out to party after their performances as well. Meaning, you can head to the O2 to watch Travis Scott and then find him at a Mayfair nightclub hours later partying until the sun is out. Given that London is notorious for its glamorous exclusive nightclub scene, it’s pretty common to run into celebrities while on a night out. How do you get into those clubs though?
First of all, for the best chances at meeting celebrities, you’ll want to look for clubs in Mayfair since that’s where most high-end and exclusive clubs are. For those clubs, entry is usually available via one of two options: guestlist and table bookings. Guestlist usually gives clients access to a shared promoter table and some complimentary drinks in exchange for an entry fee. However, if you want a more tailored experience, a table is the way to go.
Keep in mind, because the clubs are exclusive, there are no tickets available and there are no walk-ins either. You’ve got to get on the guestlist or book a table through one of the clubs’ trusted promoters. They’ll provide you with the details for the night and let you know anything you need to know from there. Of course, with nightclubs, it’s also important to book ahead of time because of the high demand, especially on nights when an artist might make an appearance.
The Morning After
Unlike what most people think, a night doesn’t end when everyone goes home. It’s always the morning after that makes up the finale for a memorable experience. It’s when you’re sitting, fully rested, basking in the glow of the night before, remembering everything that went down.
After a long night out, no doubt you’ll want to sleep in, so it doesn’t make sense to plan a demanding activity for the morning after. That’s where brunch comes in, ideally one where you can get free-flowing drinks.
For an elegant spot, Aqua Kyoto, located in Soho, is guaranteed to surprise your palette with a Japanese-inspired breakfast. As for the atmosphere, it’s as vibrant as the restaurant is elegant, and you can take your pick between free-flowing wine, beer prosecco, or Champagne.
Planning for the perfect concert-going experience in London is easy as you can see. All you need to do is do a bit of research in advance. Then, make sure to book everything in advance and, of course, pay attention to the booking details and venue policies. The last thing you want is to have your night ruined because of a dress code issue or because you forgot to bring your ID with you. And, for the cherry on top, make sure you’ve got the perfect place to spend the next morning.