ONE of the most iconic spaces in London will close for a whole year as it goes under important upgrades.
The Barbican, which opened in 1982, home to a beautiful conservatory, theatre and a musical venue, will soon close its doors for important upgrades, but here’s everything you can do there before it does.
The centre that holds everything from performances to a Martini Bar is getting a makeover confirmed at £240 million for its first phase, which is set to begin in 2028.
According to The Standard, the total estimated cost will be £451million.
Major works are now needed to drag it into the future after decades of wear and tear and as a result ,the centre will close from June 2028 until June 2029.
So before that happens, here’s everything you can do there if you fancy a visit.
Conservatory
The Barbican is home to the second biggest conservatory in London.
The ‘tropical oasis’ is filled with over a thousands species of plants including banana trees, cacti, yuccas and Swiss cheese plant.
There’s an Arid House for cacti and succulents, koi ponds with fish and terrapins, and walking paths.
Currently, the next dates available to visit are December 20 and 28, 2025 and January 2 and 4, 2026 – admission is free but sessions must be booked in advance.
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The conservatory will undergo work as the roof has glazing that’s at risk of caving in.
The renovation includes a proposal of a separate events space which allows the conservatory to be open to the public for longer.
There are also plans to rip out a staircase and a lift put in to improve accessibility, and put in toilets across all floors of the building.
Theatre
London is an incredible city when it comes to theatre, so it’s no surprise you can watch some great shows at the Barbican.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has had two major productions at the Barbican for late 2025/early 2026: Wendy & Peter Pan, and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Another upcoming performance will star Call the Midwife‘s Helen George and Felicity Kendal from Rosemary and Thyme in a production of High Society.
The show will have a full-size orchestra and will tell the story of a society wedding of the year which descends into chaos with old flames and new flames vying for attention.
Tickets for High Society start from £35 and the show will be on from May 29 to July 11, 2026.
Music
The Barbican hosts around 70 concerts a year in its Concert Hall which can seat almost 2000 people.
So, you can catch some incredible musical performances at the Barbican as it’s where the London Symphony Orchestra are based.
The London Symphony Orchestra holds around 50 concerts a year.
There are lots of classical performances throughout the year with at least one a day on the calendar – some of which are free and some are ticketed.
Cinema
Film buffs have got this venue on their radar – but the Barbican has an entire cinema complex with three screens.
It shows a range of films from arthouse to documentaries, blockbusters, classics and family-friendly.
There’s also an all-day café and bar for a complete movie experience.
During the summer, the Barbican Centre has an annual outdoor cinema series in its Sculpture Court during the summer.
Despite the year-long shutdown, cinemas on Beech Street and routes through the residential estate will stay open.
Library
The Barbican Library is a public space filled with books, spoken word recordings, DVDs, CDs and sheet music, which is available for loan to its members.
Anyone can enter and use the public areas of the Barbican Library, but you need to become a free member to borrow books or use certain resources.
Lakeside Terrace
When the sun is shining, there’s no better place to soak up the warm weather than outside the Barbican next to the courtyard pond.
It’s completely free to enter, and a great spot to enjoy a morning coffee.
During the revamp, the courtyard by the pond outside will also be repaved, which will stop water leaking down onto the Metropolitan Line below.
The outside area will also get a makeover with new fountains and seating for people to enjoy when the sun is shining.
Tours
For those who are more interested in the Barbican building you can book a guided tour.
Here you’ll learn facts like the Barbican’s theatre and concert hall go deeper underground than the nearest Tube line.
Tickets for the 90-minute tour start from £18.
Or if you’re in a bigger group then you can book to have a private tour of the Barbican estate.
Food and Drink
On the ground floor of the centre is the Barbican Kitchen where in the mornings you can grab a coffee and pastry.
At lunchtime, pick up a toasted sandwich, build-your-own salad, hand-made pizzas and seasonal street food menus.
During the evenings you can have some pre-show tapas, and mezze plates with a glass of wine or beer.
Children under 10 can enjoy a complimentary meal from our kids’ menu with every adult meal over £10 purchased.
On the first floor is the Barbican Bar & Grill where you can have a laid back lunch, and in the summer, dinner on the terrace.
Mains include gnocchi, poached salmon, Shepherd’s pie, and a salted beef sandwich
There’s also a pre-theatre menu which is set at two courses for £31 or three courses for £39.
Also on the first floor, there’s a Martini Bar which has views over the lakeside and is where you can get a simple Campari Spritz or Signature cocktail like The Brutalist.
Here, there’s happy hour from 5pm to 6pm every day where you can get two ‘classic’ cocktails for £17.
For more things to do, here’s London’s best free indoor attractions for families – perfect for rainy days.
And this popular family attraction will return to UK capital – 8 years after it was scrapped.