The Barbican Arts Centre opened in 1982, after a long and at times painful gestation which dated right back to the area having been badly bombed during World War II.

Situated in the heart of the City of London, UK, in the Barbican Estate, it contains a major concert hall, a theatre, a public library and an art gallery. There are also cinemas, a small theatre, informal performance spaces, restaurants and conference and exhibition facilities. Outside, its main focal point is the lake and its neighbouring terrace. The fly tower of the theatre has been surrounded by glass and made into a spectacular high-level conservatory.

It is the permanent home of the London Symphony Orchestra and was until recently the London home of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The centre stages a wide range of performances by visiting theatre and dance companies.

The centre stands next to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

External links

• The centre's home page (http://www.barbican.org.uk/)
• The history of the Barbican Estate (http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/our_services/barbican_estate/history.htm)
• "Good Old Barbican" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/saturday_review/story/0,3605,660292,00.html) - an opinion piece from The Guardian newspaper