After the Barbican site was destroyed by the blitz in World War Two, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the renovated Barbican Centre on 3 Mar. 1982. The Barbican Centre contains a concert hall, two theatres, three cinemas, two art galleries, a public lending library and conversatory.

The Barbican was voted "London's ugliest building" in 2003. But its stand-out architectural design makes it an integral part of London's skyline. The largest venue inside the Barbican Centre is the Barbican Hall. The Barbican Hall seats 1,943 people, followed by the Barbican Theatre which seats 1,156.