O2 Academy Brixton: Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting

The iconic O2 Academy Brixton, also known as Brixton Academy, is a large Art Deco London concert venue in the South London neighbourhood of Brixton. With a capacity of up to 4,921, it attracts some of the world’s biggest bands, but still manages to retain a small venue feel – so should definitely be on any avid gig-goers must-see list of concert halls.

How to get to the venue from Brixton station:

Getting to the venue from Brixton Tube Station is as simple as 1-2-3 and only a 5-10 minute walk. You turn right out of the station down, heading down Brixton Road, before turning left on Stockwell Road and it’s right in front of you.

Where can I eat before and after?

Brixton has a huge range of top cafes and restaurants to eat in or take away before you head to the venue. For the best range of options, head to Market Row, Brixton Village Market, or Pop Brixton which host dozens of highly-rated places to chow down.

There are also two Sainsbury’s Local supermarket branches by the station and nearly opposite the venue, where you can pick up water or snacks before or afterwards as they open late.

What time do gigs start and finish?

To ensure you get the best spot or don’t end up waiting around too long, you’ll want to know the stage times. The venue’s website and social pages often give this info, as do the bands. A general rule of thumb for the main act is 21.00/21.30, but this is extremely variable. And don’t forget to support the support acts! To ensure you catch your last train, gigs tend to finish by 23.00 latest.

Queueing,security & cloakrooms

When you arrive, you’ll be faced with a queue which goes down the side of the venue along Astoria Walk. Then you’ll get your ticket checked and bag searched as you go inside the entrance hall.

It’s important to remember that currently the venue only permits one small bag per person which cannot be bigger than A4 size. At the moment there is NO cloakroom at the venue.

Merch

Once you’re through the entrance hall and security you’ll see staircases on each side leading up to the upper level for standing tickets. Further ahead you’ll see the Merch Stand – where you can pick up a t-shirt, tote bag, record or whatever else the band has to offer.

Where’s the best place to watch the show?

Once you’re inside, it’s good to know where the best place to experience your favourite band is. Of course, right up at the front is always fantastic if you get there early enough, but there’s a sloping floor, meaning you can still get a decent view further back. If you’re further back, around the sound-desk is a good option.

If you want a bit more space between you and your fellow fans, then sitting upstairs is another option. You can get some fantastic views in the upper tier, particularly at the front and the rows are tiered as well. A great place to really see stage setups in all their glory. You can find the seating plan here.

For disabled access, there is a separate viewing area to the side of the stalls area with good views of the stage, though wheelchair spaces must be pre-booked.

Backstage/stage door entrance

Lucky enough to be on the guest list? Well, unlike some venues, Brixton’s stage door/backstage entrance is really easy to find – just go down 

the right alley where the main entrance queue leads (Astoria Walk) and it’s about 2/3 of the way down.

You can find an overview of upcoming events at the 02 Brixton Academy here.