O2 Academy

This place is just awful. I went to see a DJ here and knew immediately it was a terrible idea. I would have gone straight home but could see my wife was trying to make the best of it, so stuck it out. It was so quiet I could hear all the conversations around me (I was near the front), and it sounde read moreThis place is just awful. I went to see a DJ here and knew immediately it was a terrible idea. I would have gone straight home but could see my wife was trying to make the best of it, so stuck it out. It was so quiet I could hear all the conversations around me (I was near the front), and it sounded more like I was listening to a festival going about a mile away than being in a venue. Also, be prepared to wait a good ten minutes at an overpriced bar to get an overpriced drink. Wait for your chosen artist to appear at a better venue.

One of the best venues in London, hands down. The sloping floor means most people get a good view of the stage, the balcony is excellent, it has a smoking area, and always sounds amazing. It's probably the most iconic venue left in London now Earl's Court and the Astoria are gone. When the venue is read moreOne of the best venues in London, hands down. The sloping floor means most people get a good view of the stage, the balcony is excellent, it has a smoking area, and always sounds amazing. It's probably the most iconic venue left in London now Earl's Court and the Astoria are gone. When the venue is sold out its incredibly crammed though, definitely one of the busiest and most dense crowds compared to other academies. Bar wait times are also pretty long, but they sell double-pints so it's not all bad news.

There was a really long queue for the Bowling For Soup convert, but as I am on the O2 network, I could skip the queue and go straight to the front. The venue has multiple bars and has a sloped door so the view is good from anywhere on the ground floor (standing). The sound system was loud and clear read moreThere was a really long queue for the Bowling For Soup convert, but as I am on the O2 network, I could skip the queue and go straight to the front. The venue has multiple bars and has a sloped door so the view is good from anywhere on the ground floor (standing). The sound system was loud and clear too. Toilets were clean (for a concert). Overall it is a good "intimate" concert hall.