Spots

Waterloo's 200-year-old proscenium — Kevin Spacey era over, but Matthew Warchus is programming boldly.

Concrete South Bank icon — three stages, unbeatable £15 Friday Rush tickets.

Open-air replica of the original — £5 groundling tickets, rain or shine. April–October main season.

Covent Garden's crown — ballet + opera at world-class pricing. Ampitheatre seats are the value pick.

Best chamber-music acoustic in Europe — lunchtime concerts £16, BBC Radio 3 broadcasts weekly.

Nick Hytner's post-NT venue by Tower Bridge — flexible auditorium, high-profile programming.

Leicester Square's rep cinema — 35mm sing-alongs, all-nighters, cheapest cinema seats in central London.

Frith Street since 1959 — jazz's London address. Late set is the real one; book weeks ahead.

Ex-Christian Science church in Sloane Square — home to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dance's UK home — Angel's contemporary stage. Ticket alerts fill within the hour on Pina Bausch runs.