Golders Green Hippodrome

The Golders Green Hippodrome stands beside the Underground station in the London Borough of Barnet. Built in 1913 by Bertie Crewe, the Grade II listed building opened as a 3,000-seat music hall. It later became a television studio for the BBC in the 1960s before serving as a radio studio and concert hall. The venue hosted performances by stars such as Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich and Queen. It also featured in early British films and hosted annual pantomimes and touring opera companies. The Hippodrome has played a key role in London’s cultural life for over a century. It was home to the BBC Concert Orchestra and broadcast programmes like *Friday Night Is Music Night*. Rock bands including AC/DC and Jethro Tull performed there, and comedians like Monty Python recorded shows. After the BBC left in 2003, the building fell into disrepair and was placed on English Heritage’s ‘buildings at risk’ register. A Christian group later bought it, followed by a Shia Islamic centre in 2017. Today the Hippodrome remains a landmark in Golders Green. Its grand façade and historic interiors reflect its past as a music hall and studio. Though no longer a working theatre, its presence continues to shape the area’s identity. The building has also served as a vaccination centre during the pandemic. Its future remains uncertain, but its cultural significance endures.