The Roundhouse is the circular former railway turntable shed in Chalk Farm, Camden, that became one of London’s most storied concert and arts venues. Built in 1846-1847, it spent decades as a gin warehouse before its 1960s rebirth as a hub of countercultural music, and it still hosts major gigs, theatre, and circus arts today.
This guide covers everything you need: the building’s history, how big it actually is and how the room is configured for different shows, how to get there, and what to expect from tickets and accessibility on a visit.
Quick Answer
The Roundhouse is a converted 19th-century railway engine shed at Chalk Farm Road, Camden, now a Grade II* listed concert and arts venue. It holds about 1,700 people seated or up to 3,300 standing, with the nearest tube station being Chalk Farm on the Northern line.
From Railway Shed to Rock Stage
Designed by engineers Robert Stephenson and Robert B. Dockray, the Roundhouse’s distinctive circular yellow-brick form and 24 cast-iron Doric columns were built in 1846-1847 to house a steam locomotive turntable for the London & North Western Railway. The design became obsolete within about a decade as locomotives grew too large for the shed.
From 1871 to 1921 the building was repurposed as a Gilbeys gin warehouse, using the circular floor and columns to store barrels, before falling into disuse for decades.
A Countercultural Landmark
Playwright Arnold Wesker’s Centre 42 project took over the derelict shed in 1964 and helped turn it into a cultural venue that officially opened on 15 October 1966 with an all-night rave launching International Times, featuring Soft Machine and Pink Floyd.
By the late 1960s it was a hub of London’s underground scene, hosting acts including Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Doors (a famous 1968 performance), The Rolling Stones, The Clash, and The Ramones. The venue closed in 1983 due to funding troubles, then reopened in 2006 after a roughly £27 million renovation led by John McAslan & Partners, which added upgraded soundproofing and modern facilities while preserving the historic shell.
Capacity and Seating Configurations
The Roundhouse’s circular main space is a flexible, in-the-round auditorium rather than a fixed-seat theatre, so capacity changes with the layout chosen for a given show. For standing gigs the room holds up to around 3,300 people; for seated concerts, theatre, or circus shows it’s reconfigured to roughly 1,700 seats, often arranged in tiered banks around the circular floor.
Because the seating plan is rebuilt for each production, there’s no single fixed seating chart — the official site and ticket vendor listing for a specific show will show that event’s exact layout, including which sections are standing, seated, or wheelchair-accessible.
Planning Your Visit
The Roundhouse sits at Chalk Farm Road, Camden, London NW1 8EH. The nearest tube is Chalk Farm on the Northern line, about a 2-minute walk away; Camden Town station (also Northern line) is a short walk further south, and Kentish Town West Overground is nearby as well.
Tickets for most gigs and shows are sold through the venue’s own booking system and partners like Ticketmaster, with pricing varying widely by event and seating tier — a comedy show or club night will be priced differently from a major touring act. For current listings, exact prices, and box office hours, check the official Roundhouse website directly, since both the programme and pricing change throughout the year.
The venue offers step-free access throughout, including a lift serving every level, accessible toilets, wheelchair positions bookable for individual shows, and loan wheelchairs on request. Visitors needing access bookings or specific accessibility details should use the official accessibility information page before a visit, as exact provisions (like which level wheelchair positions are on) can vary by show configuration.
Photos
Three modes in one plug: quiet, full-volume concert, and a setting in between. Protects your hearing without muffling the mix.
Take the dangerous peak off a loud show and keep the music sounding clear. They fit in a tiny case on your keychain.
Meets most arena and amphitheater clear-bag policies. Hands-free in the pit and quick through the gate.
The Roundhouse London FAQs
What was the Roundhouse originally built for?
It was built in 1846-1847 as a railway engine shed with a turntable for the London & North Western Railway, though it only served that purpose for about a decade before becoming a gin warehouse.
What is the Roundhouse’s capacity today?
About 1,700 people seated or up to 3,300 standing, depending on how the circular auditorium is configured for a particular show.
Is the Roundhouse seated or standing?
It can be either — the venue is a flexible, in-the-round space that’s reconfigured for each event, so some shows are fully standing and others are fully or partly seated.
How do you get to the Roundhouse?
The nearest tube station is Chalk Farm on the Northern line, about a 2-minute walk away. Camden Town station and Kentish Town West Overground are also within walking distance.
Which famous artists have performed at the Roundhouse?
The venue has hosted Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Clash, and The Ramones, among many others, since it opened as an arts venue in 1966.
Is the Roundhouse wheelchair accessible?
Yes. It has step-free access to all floors via a lift, accessible toilets, bookable wheelchair positions, and loan wheelchairs, though exact provisions can vary by show — check the official accessibility page before visiting.
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