The Roundhouse is a circular performance venue in Chalk Farm, Camden, built in 1846-1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a steam locomotive turntable shed. After its brief life moving trains ended, the building spent decades as a gin warehouse before being reborn in the 1960s as one of London’s most important countercultural arts spaces.
Centre 42 took over the derelict shed in 1964, and the Roundhouse officially opened as an arts venue on 15 October 1966 with an all-night rave launching International Times, featuring Soft Machine and Pink Floyd. Since then it has hosted an extraordinary run of acts including Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Clash, and The Ramones. After closing in 1983 due to funding troubles, it reopened in 2006 following a roughly £27 million restoration and today operates as both a major concert venue and a charitable arts organization supporting young creatives.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Chalk Farm, Camden, London
- Type: Converted railway shed / concert and arts venue
- Opened: 1847 as a railway turntable shed; 1966 as an arts venue
- Capacity: About 1,700 seated or up to 3,300 standing
- Listed Status: Grade II* listed building
- Famous for: 1960s-70s counterculture gigs by Pink Floyd, Hendrix, and The Doors
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 to house a steam engine turntable. The design became obsolete within about a decade as locomotives grew too large for the shed, and the building was repurposed as a Gilbeys gin warehouse from 1871 to 1921 before falling into disuse.
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 in October 1966, and by the late 1960s it was a hub of London’s underground scene, hosting a famous 1968 performance by The Doors. After a major 2004-2006 renovation led by John McAslan & Partners, the venue reopened with upgraded soundproofing and now mixes concerts, theatre, and circus arts with youth creative programs.
Explore more: Explore more iconic music venues.
The Roundhouse 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.
What is the Roundhouse’s capacity today?
It holds about 1,700 people seated or up to 3,300 standing, depending on the event configuration.
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.
Get More from The Roundhouse
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate The Roundhouse, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: George Measom (Life time: 1818–1901) / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.