Looking for live jazz in London? Here’s where to go
With a London outpost of renowned NYC jazz club Blue Note finally opening this year, and the new-look upstairs space at Ronnie Scott’s now welcoming audiences, it looks like 2026 could be a banner year for jazz in London. There are a number of jazz festivals happening throughout the year; the Montreux Jazz Festival is holding another residency at the Southbank Centre in March, the Brick Lane Jazz Festival is back in April, and the EFG London Jazz Festival returns in November. And jazz-themed events seem to be popping up all over town too, from floating jazz in St Kat’s Docks to jazz brunches at hotels like The Athenaeum and St Pancras London to jazz sessions at restaurants like Brunswick House and Darby’s.
If you want to check out live music on your own time, there are even little jazz crawls you can do as there are a number of clubs and venues clustered around Dalston and Vauxhall. Whether you’re a longtime jazz lover or completely new to the scene, these are the clubs to hit up.
Ronnie Scott’s
Jazz clubs don’t come much more famous than Ronnie Scott’s. Opened in 1959, it’s a certified London institution, and has played host to icons like Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Ella Fitzgerald, as well as today’s leading jazz musicians. There are performances every day and the Late Late shows are legendary.
47 Frith St, London W1D 4HT
Cafe OTO
If you’re into discovering new music and stumbling across something you’d likely not find any other way, Cafe OTO is the venue for you. A cafe by day, where you can pick up coffee, pastries, books and records, by night Cafe OTO plays host to creative and adventurous music that’s decidedly outside the mainstream.
18–22 Ashwin Street, London, E8 3DL
Jazz Cafe
A Camden stalwart, the Jazz Cafe puts on daily live shows spanning jazz, soul, reggae, and hip-hop, with many modern jazz masters passing through. There are club nights on the weekends, and since 2024, it’s hosted its own festival in south London.
5 Parkway, London NW1 7PG
606 Club
The 606 Club in Chelsea has been showcasing the best in British-based jazz, blues, funk and soul since 1976. The likes of Jason Rebello, Liane Carroll, Polly Gibbons and Jamie Cullum have all played here, and it remains popular for its speakeasy-style atmosphere and hang-out vibes.
90 Lots Road, London, SW10 0QD
Pizza Express Live Soho
You probably wouldn’t guess that the same place that serves you dough balls and an American Hot would also put on great jazz performances, but that’s exactly what happens at Pizza Express Live in Soho. Artists including Amy Winehouse, Gregory Porter, Jamie Cullum. Norah Jones and Sting have all played there, and the intimate venue still hosts live music seven nights a week.
10 Dean St, London W1D 3RW
Brilliant Corners
Dalston’s Brilliant Corners was streets ahead of London’s listening bar wave, opening way back in 2013. The Kingsland Road spot specialises in Japanese small plates, live jazz and DJ sets. The sound system is world class and there are always expert selectors passing through, so while it may not be one for purists, there’s always good music to discover.
470 Kingsland Rd, London E8 4AE
“mu”
The team behind Brilliant Corners also run “mu” just up the road. This spot, named after Don Cherry’s 1969 album, also serves a Japanese menu but “mu” is focused more around live music compared to its big sis. There are two performances a night from Weds – Sun, from a rotating selection of residents and special guests.
433-434 Kingsland Road, London, E8 4AU
Vortex
With a focus on improv and experimental music, the programming at Vortex is standout, and it’s a great place to discover emerging talent. It also hosts London’s longest jazz residency, with the London Jazz Orchestra Sessions happening every month. As Vortex is not-for-profit, ticket prices are always kept accessible.
11 Gillett Square, London N16 8AZ
Dalston Jazz Bar
Dalston Jazz Bar really is a venue of two halves. It starts out as a dinner spot, serving a seafood-heavy menu to a soundtrack of live jazz, where you pay what you think the food is worth (though a minimum £20 donation is encouraged). Then at 10pm, once dinner service is over, the tables get pushed back and the place turns into a club, with owner Robert Beckford often behind the decks.
4 Bradbury St, London N16 8JN
The Palm Tree
A proper old-school boozer, the Palm Tree boasts one of the best atmospheres of any pub. Not only are the landlords real characters, you can live jazz and proper old crooners performing every weekend.
127 Grove Rd, London E3 5BH
Toulouse Lautrec
This Elephant & Castle restaurant and jazz club has been putting on live music since 2008. You can swing by for a French meal, either in the main dining area or the piano room, but the music is the real draw. There’s a varied programme on offer, including regular funk and jazz legends residencies, as well as cabaret and burlesque events.
140 Newington Butts, London SE11 4RN
Cable Cafe
Filled with antiques and bric-a-brac, and with great value food and drink on offer, Cable Cafe is the kind of place from a time gone by. It gets even better on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when jazz nights kick into gear. Live music and cheap negronis, what could be better than that?
8 Brixton Road, London SW9 6BU
