In the heart of the city of London, this 35-acre residential estate is Europe's largest multi-arts and conference venue. The Barbican Centre includes the Barbican Hall (for concerts), a cinema and two theatres - the Barbican Theatre and The Pit.
Opened in 1982 - but with a series of (sometimes misguided) refurbishments culminating in a further £12.5 million creation of a new, definitive entrance, and foyer reclamation - the Barbican Centre is still home to one of its original residents, the London Symphony Orchestra. The other, the Royal Shakespeare Company, left early in the new millennium, affording the Barbican the chance to promote its own international theatre programme (BITE - the Barbican International Theatre Event) alongside its own Great Performers season in the Hall.
The BBC Symphony Orchestra now also makes its winter season home in the Hall, while the cinema programme offers both the latest releases as well as curated festivals. The Art Gallery has also re-opened with a major programme of exhibitions.