OlympiaAt a glance: Discover the all-new Olympia
What: A reimagined cultural destination bringing together day-to-night dining, entertainment, workspace and hotels
Where: West London, moments from Kensington (Olympia) station
Don't miss: Free live music, immersive art and headline gigs
Highlight: Iconic architecture, rooftop views and independent restaurants
For almost 140 years, Olympia has been a key part of London's cultural story. Since opening in 1886 as one of the capital's great Victorian exhibition halls, it has welcomed everything from international exhibitions to sporting events and music concerts. Now, following a £1.3 billion transformation, the west London landmark is entering a new chapter — evolving from a venue people visited for a single event into a destination designed to be enjoyed by everyone, from morning to night.
In this newest evolution, restaurants, public spaces, offices, live music, art and entertainment sit alongside Olympia's historic halls, creating a neighbourhood that feels connected to its past while looking firmly to London's future. The ambition isn't to reinvent Olympia's identity, but to build on it — creating a place where culture, creativity and community continue to come together.
Historic architecture meets modern design
Contemporary architecture, new public spaces and landscaped walkways complement Olympia's historic hallsOlympia/Josh BrattCo-designed by Heatherwick Studio and SPPARC, Olympia's redevelopment has been designed to respect the landmark's Victorian architecture and local character, while carefully adapting it for the way people want to experience the city today. Rather than replacing the original exhibition halls, the new buildings have been carefully layered around them, preserving the integrity of the historic streetscape while creating new routes, public spaces, bars, restaurants and cultural venues across the site.
Olympia Way creates a more welcoming connection between the station and Hammersmith Road, with generous pedestrianised walkways and landscaped public spaces encouraging visitors to explore. Above, elevated terraces weave between restaurants, bars, offices, venues and viewpoints, while contemporary additions — swathes of glass, swooping structural stone, intricate brickwork and timber lattices – complement, rather than compete with, the original architecture. Moments from the station, the carefully restored Grade II* listed Pillar Hall remains one of the development's historic centrepieces, now reimagined as a destination for dining, events and socialising that brings fresh life to one of Olympia's grandest interiors.
As part of the wider redevelopment, One Olympia brings 550,000 square feet of flexible workspace, some of London's largest office terraces, and a focus on sustainability and wellbeing, reflecting the ambition to create a neighbourhood where people can work, meet and spend time.
Live music, art and entertainment
From emerging artists in The Square to headline acts at British Airways ARC, live music is at the heart of OlympiaSound Of A PeachEntertainment has always been central to Olympia's story: now it’s something that can be enjoyed all day long. Over the decades, its halls have hosted some of the biggest names in music, from Jimi Hendrix and The Who to Pink Floyd and The Cure. The all-new Olympia builds on this rich cultural legacy, expanding it beyond the ticketed experience, into immersive spaces that are open to everyone.
In The Square, head to Art of the Playground — a bold open-air performance space where visitors can enjoy a free showcase of live DJs, bands and acoustic performances throughout the summer, with regular spots for emerging local talent. Whether you're meeting friends for drinks, stopping for dinner or heading to a show, it's a place to discover new artists before anyone else, explore diverse sounds and soak up the atmosphere.
Nearby, the Canvas is an 83-metre immersive screen stretching across the ceiling space of Emberton Walk. Set eight metres above ground level, it showcases large-scale digital artworks and installations that change throughout the day and for special events, turning the walk between venues into part of the experience.Just beyond sits British Airways ARC, the new purpose-built music and entertainment venue that continues Olympia’s long relationship with live performance. Its opening programme includes artists such as Khalid, Van Morrison and Yandel, bringing internationally recognised acts together with emerging talent, and reflecting its broad musical ambitions.
The 3,800-capacity venue has been designed to combine the scale needed for major touring artists with the atmosphere of a more intimate venue, with excellent sightlines, state-of-the-art lighting and acoustics and premium hospitality spaces offering an elevated experience.
The venue forms part of Olympia's broader ambition to create a fluid cultural destination. Visitors can spend the day moving between public spaces, bars and restaurants, and free live events from day into evening, with each experience naturally leading into the next.
Where to eat and drink at Olympia
From modern British dining to contemporary Japanese cuisine, Olympia's independent restaurants offer something for every tasteOlympiaThe new restaurants are as much a part of Olympia's transformation as the architecture itself, with a collection of independent concepts designed to take visitors from leisurely family brunches through to special occasion dinners and evening cocktails.
Housed within the restored Pillar Hall, Idalia pairs modern British dining with one of Olympia's most spectacular interiors. A marble-clad circular bar sits at the heart of the space, while generous banquettes, ornate crown mouldings, gold-leaf detailing and original pillars combine historic grandeur with contemporary design. For an aperitif, the signature Biba blends Dutch vodka, peach liqueur, pineapple, lemon and sparkling tea, while dishes such as kombu-brined sea bream and lobster linguine are among the culinary highlights. Below, the bohemian private members’ club channels Olympia's musical heritage, with images of artists who have played here through the decades spanning the staircase.
Across the destination, each venue has its own distinct character. Lillie's rooftop terrace offers al fresco dining amid lush surrounds (with heating and a retractable roof for year-round use), while the glossy Wolves of Tokyo brings contemporary Japanese dining to a bold, design-led space, where sashimi, nigiri, maki and robata-style dishes sit alongside tasting menus and sake-based cocktails. For something more casual (but equally stylish), Arbour Food Hall brings together artisan coffee at Cafe Modo, field to fork from The Rambler, Whammy Burger and Fry Baby, and cocktails at Bar Arriba under one roof, making it the perfect catch-all, whatever your tastes.
Luxury hotels and members' spaces
Two luxury hotels make it easy to extend your visit, whether you're staying after a show or planning a weekend exploring OlympiaOlympiaOlympia has been designed to reward a slower visit, whether you're staying overnight after a concert or making a weekend of it. Two new hotels — the five-star Hyatt Regency London Olympia and four-star citizenM London Olympia — make it easy to extend your stay. While the Hyatt brings luxury accommodation to the heart of the destination, citizenM offers a distinctive twist: its beautifully restored heritage ‘living room’, complete with grand columns, panelled doors and original architectural features, is open to visitors as well as guests, creating another welcoming place to pause.
What’s more, Olympia's evolution is far from complete. The British Airways Theatre, due to open in 2027, will become the next chapter in its transformation – adding another layer to a destination that's redefining London's cultural landscape, and connecting people along the way.
Discover more at Olympia