Not the most exciting place inside, but a lovely rooftop area which not all that many people seem to know about, 2 mins walk from Old St station. If it’s packed then The Red Lion is just up the road.
The Barbican Estate is a residential estate that was built during the 1960s and the 1980s. An icon of Brutalist Architecture the Barbican Estate is an unique and complex real life experiment; a city within a city. The main focal point of the estate is the lake and its neighbouring terrace. High above and behind the terrace is the Barbican Centre, the largest performing arts centre in Europe. I really rate their visual culture exhibitions (for instance, Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Bauhaus) and live concerts (Nils Frahm and Ryoji Ikeda). Love it!
Tucked away down a cobbled alley behind Russell Square Station, The Horse Hospital, a converted stable, is a unique and totally independent arts space specialising in underground and experimental media. The gallery space itself (known as The Chamber of Pop Culture) houses unusual exhibitions, film screenings and other events.