KOKO is the kind of venue that makes you remember why London nightlife still matters. This Grade II-listed Victorian theatre — formerly the Camden Palace — reopened in 2022 after a jaw-dropping £70M restoration that added a members' club, a rooftop, a dome, and Café Koko to what was already one of the city's most stunning live music spaces. The main hall with its ornate dome and balcony tiers is genuinely breathtaking, and the sound system after the refurb is serious business.
A £70M restoration turned this Grade II-listed Victorian theatre into a 50,000 sq ft music palace with a dome, rooftop, and members' club — Camden's crown jewel.
Arrive early to explore the dome and rooftop levels before the headliner — they're easy to miss once the main hall fills up.
A restored Victorian theatre turned London's most spectacular music venue
KOKO has been a Camden landmark for over a century, but the 2022 restoration took it to another level. The main hall — with its soaring dome, ornate balconies, and restored Victorian detailing — is one of the most beautiful club spaces in London, full stop. After a three-year, £70M redevelopment by Archer Humphryes Architects, the venue now spans 50,000 square feet across multiple levels, adding a rooftop restaurant, a dome theatre, a broadcasting studio, and a members' club to the original auditorium. The sound system was completely overhauled, and it shows — reviews consistently praise the audio quality whether you're catching a live band or dancing to a touring DJ.
What makes KOKO work is the layout. Unlike many big venues where you're trapped in one room, here you can move between the main floor, the balcony tiers, the dome, and the rooftop, each with its own atmosphere. Reviewers call it "the most beautiful club I've ever been in" and praise the "separate areas for dancing and a bar" that let you catch your breath without leaving the venue. The programming is ambitious — from indie bands and hip-hop to electronic acts and one-off cultural events — and the calibre of acts they attract is a testament to the venue's reputation.
The downsides? Drinks are expensive, even by London standards, and big nights can get crowded. But that's the price of admission for a venue of this calibre. If you're going to a gig, arrive early to explore the different levels — the dome and rooftop are worth the trip alone. And if you can swing a members' membership, the private spaces are genuinely special.
KOKO est un monument de la vie nocturne londonienne. Ce théâtre victorien classé Grade II — autrefois connu sous le nom de Camden Palace — a rouvert en 2022 après une restauration de 70 millions de livres qui a transformé l'endroit en une véritable plateforme musicale de 50 000 pieds carrés. La salle principale, avec son dôme imposant et ses balcons restaurés, est tout simplement l'un des espaces les plus spectaculaires de Londres pour écouter de la musique en direct ou danser jusqu'au bout de la nuit.
Ce qui distingue KOKO des autres grandes salles, c'est son agencement sur plusieurs niveaux. Vous pouvez passer de la piste de danse principale aux balcons, puis au dôme et au toit-terrasse, chacun avec son ambiance propre. Les critiques saluent régulièrement la qualité du son après la rénovation du système audio, et la programmation attire des artistes de renommée internationale — du rock indé à la musique électronique en passant par le hip-hop. Les avis décrivent l'endroit comme « le plus beau club dans lequel je sois jamais allé ».
Les boissons sont chères, c'est vrai, même pour Londres. Mais on paie pour le cadre, et le cadre vaut chaque penny. Arrivez tôt pour explorer les différents espaces — le dôme et le toit-terrasse valent le détour à eux seuls. Si vous avez l'occasion de visiter la salle des membres, foncez : c'est un autre monde.