One of the best places in London to hear music

I spent last night in one of my favourite places in the whole of London: Wilton’s Music Hall. Anyone who hasn’t yet been to the magical, near-derelict building which is hidden down Graces Alley near the Tower of London: go. A treat is in store for you. The place where the Can-Can was premiered—and promptly banned—it is the oldest surviving music hall in the world and is also included, sadly, in the world’s 100 most endangered buildings. Stepping from the blustery September wind into its warm, crumbling interior last night I was reminded of the wonderful sense of history that envelops you there: the faded gilt and mahogany holding the secrets of thousands of decadent performances, when the grand stars from the Royal Opera would rush over from Covent Garden fully costumed to sing bawdy music hall operettas and rub shoulders with the likes of George Leybourne, who created the ditty ‘Champagne Charlie’ on this very stage.