Your cultural life in London

I think culture is very important for London cohesion. It is a concern to me that 'Outer London' does not get involved in cultural activities. Maybe they feel themselves to be an 'excluded' group and that's why their attitudes seem to be qualitatively different from 'Inner London'. Certainly it bugs me, that tourists from outwith London seem to get all sorts of cheap deals that aren't offered to Londoners. A London Pass offering discounts and special offers to London events, might be a way forward.

I was greatly saddened by the recent and sudden closing of the Watermans Centre in Brentford, a cultural beacon in the borough of Hounslow. The trust that had been running it, with financial support from both the borough and from the Arts Council, could no longer afford to stay open and offer the required range of cultural offerings. We hear plenty in the media about the wrecking of national icons like the ENO, but little about smaller venues which are of major importance at a local level. There were concrete plans for Watermans to move to a new site, yet to be built. One can only hope that the financial picture for the local council and the Arts Council improve sufficiently to allow the plans to go ahead before too long.

Theatre and performing arts - mostly unaffordable and have to organise weeks/months in advance to get tickets 

Eating/drinking out or at the venue in central London - very expensive 

Visual arts - usually opening hours are during working hours and then weekends very busy 

I follow some venues online which is how I find out about stuff. 

Less easy / convenient to get to outer London activities if not driving.

The high cost of theatre tickets is a common theme in the comments, but there are agencies like the Audience Club who offer tickets for an admin fee of £4.50 depending on which shows need bums on seats. I've seen shows at most London theatres with the audience club, and it's an affordable way to get out and experience live performances. 

I’m out almost every evening - theatre, concerts, music of many sorts, science talks, history talks, all sorts of stuff, usually in central London ; choral society rehearsals locally. This is my world, I love it. 
I travel by Tube and walk about, almost always on my own, no one’s ever bothered me. I’ve very little patience with people who cower at home afraid to go out! 

Apropos theatre, a lot of people seem to think the West End is all there is. I reckon that’s for tourists and provincials. My theatres are everything from the National, Young Vic, Shakespeare’s Globe, Bridge, Barbican etc to the little ones, Arcola, Almeida. Jermyn Street, Coronet, Wilton’s, King’s Head - oh, loads of them. Much cheaper than the West End and much better shows and plays on offer. 

It’s worth joining Central Tickets or other bums-on-seats agencies for free tickets (small admin charge) to all sorts of excellent shows and events. 

Museums - it’s worth being a member of the ones you like, then exhibitions are free. 

We are extraordinarily lucky to live in London, cultural capital of the world, let’s all make the most of it! 
 

As residents we should get some local discount and be encouraged to attend events by being given priority eg in queues - or ‘residents only’ views. Too much is geared to the tourist market. 

Small (and less expensive) local theatres can be the answer. These may be supported by local government and this is a good use of their funds. I don't like musicals, but still some of the central London plays are too expensive for me to attend in good seats. Sitting in "the gods" is becoming too difficult (especially the steps) as I age, I recently attended the NT in chairs that had been placed right at the front; they were cheap and really great.

I, like others, have stopped going to the S. Kensington museums because of the crowds. But it's good to see them being used and appreciated so much.

My adult children find lots of talks and music gigs to attend. London is amazing!

Theatres should be much, much cheaper……especially seats lower down as some people can’t sit right at the top of a theatre….opera especially needs to reduce its prices…

Museums need to make special exhibitions cheaper….they are ridiculous now….

I agree theatre is very expensive and restricts going to special occasions. However having museums/galleries for free means I visit regularly particularly now i have free transports. I do wonder if overseas visitors should have to pay, or those 25+ from overseas, we have experienced this in Europe; this would help finance these institutions. 

Exhibitions are expensive, I often pay for membership so I can visit more often but not all can afford this. I wonder if it would help to have a reduced price for those with lower incomes plus students

We are very fortunate in London that there are so many free activities.  However, ticket cost is a significant factor in which cultural activities I participate in. 

Maybe consideration should be given to a 'Londoner Card'  which offers a 'discount' of some sort to residents.

Perhaps more evening openings should be considered. 

Getting into London is a mission.  I'm not very mobile and live in one of the outermost boroughs.  Getting home after an evening event is really difficult without using a taxi for at least part of the journey.  I do go in for matinees a few times a year, but the event has to be spectacular (Covent Garden Opera House, Sadlers Wells, or RAH for their 'in the round' productions).  This leads me to the quality on offer at my local 'Beck Theatre'.  Absolutely awful!  Nothing in their programme ever interests me at all, so I only go if a friend, or relative of a friend is actually in a production - just to support them I guess.

I have had to move out of London due to the cost of living but still come in as much as I can for cultural activities. There is nowhere else like it. I lived in London for 40 years and love that I still feel like a Londoner when I come back. 

There are long queues at certain venues (eg British Museum, National History and Science Museums) during the summer months.  Judging by the languages, substantially overseas tourists who get in for free.  Why can't we charge them?  This in turn might reduce the number.

In Lewisham, the Broadway theatre in Catford is doing a lot to bring in new audiences to engage with culture.  The current SEEN festival of global majority artists (10-16 June) is welcoming a diverse audience of all ages.  I recently attended a performance of "black boys who consider suicide when the hue gets too heavy" at the Garrick Theatre and was happy to see such diversity within the audience.  As a middle-aged, white woman I believe we need good quality plays such as this to bring a wider audience to the West End. 

Like some have mentioned, I worked in the West End and City for 25+ years and failed to appreciate many of the wonderful things London has to offer. I now have time (and a Freedom Pass) which has allowed me to regularly hop on a local train to London and follow some great walks - usually on my own but not always. It's been so interesting as well as trying as many pubs and coffee bars as I can and not forgetting an upcoming Gin Festival in July!

I do generally feel safe but can understand why people do not feel that way. The recent spate of disruptive marches makes me plan what I do so they don't interfere with me but I shouldn't have to do that. I have friends who are put off coming to London for that reason and events, such as the various month long ones, do not reflect anything which impacts them.

I think it was Dr Johnson who said "if you are tired of London, you are tired of life" and I intend to be engaged with London as much as I can - while I can.

Going to the Theatre is now a once every two year occurrence. Tickets are INCREDIBLY expensive, cheap tickets now almost impossible to find as ticketmaster etc with 'dynamic pricing' pushing up costs.
I miss smaller shows at the theatre but finding them is becoming more difficult. 
Creative, new shows are hard to find.

London needs this creativity. It needs a fringe like in Edinburgh.