Camden could be getting a brand-new cultural space

Not too long ago, Camden Town was the epicentre of cool counterculture in London. These days, it’s more known as the sort of chaotic tourist attraction that locals avoid at weekends – but don’t write it off. There’s still loads to love about Camden if you know where to look (just have a browse through our area guide), including its world-famous cultural legacy. From the Roundhouse to The Dublin Castle, music gigs, comedy shows and art exhibitions still happen all over Camden Town every day of the week. And a proposed new cultural venue may bring even more. 

The Camden Town Xchange is a proposed development for 180 Arlington Road, a site formerly occupied by Mecca Bingo (which vacated last year) and an Odeon cinema, which will be closing down in 2026. Camden Vision, the team behind the plans, says that this site is ‘a missing piece of the jigsaw in the heart of Camden Town – full of potential and something that could be really special’.

That special something that Camden Vision wants to create is a mixed-use space, which would include student housing, regular affordable housing, shops and an entertainment venue. It also wants to reconstruct the building’s facade and renovate its interior which developers have described as ‘outdated, inefficient, and at the end of its life’.

The proposals envision a ‘cultural space such as Lightroom’ and a connected restaurant space ‘similar to the Young Vic’. Camden Vision has also been exploring the possibility of a music venue with a capacity for up to 500 people, of a similar size to the nearby Dingwalls. 

Camden Vision said: ‘While the cinema’s imminent closure marks the end of an era, it opens the way for a new cultural use that will honour Camden’s creative spirit and see this landmark site enter its next exciting chapter.’

Public consultations for the project were held earlier this summer and there was apparently ‘strong support’ for the new affordable housing and ‘real enthusiasm’ for the proposed entertainment space, though there was ‘less support for another large music venue’. There were also some worries over the  the impact on services and transport infrastructure. 

Developers hope to submit a planning application to the London Borough of Camden in the autumn. After that, the council will run its own consultation so that more local residents and businesses can give their input. Whether or not the final plans will include a music venue is yet to be seen. You can find all the details on Camden Town Xchange here. 

In the meantime: dive into the best of Camden with our ultimate area guide and have a look at all the best live music going on in London here.