The Tabernacle, London — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Tabernacle is a striking red-brick Victorian building on Powis Square in Notting Hill, originally built as an evangelical church and now serving as one of west London's most vibrant community arts venues.

The church was founded in 1869 by Gordon Forlong, a former barrister turned preacher. The current building, designed in a Romanesque style with two towers and broach spires, was constructed in 1887. By the 1970s, the congregation had dwindled and the building ceased functioning as a place of worship.

In 1973, squatters occupied the building, beginning its transformation into a community space. The Greater London Council later converted it into a Community Arts Building, and it has operated as a cultural venue ever since.

Today, the Tabernacle houses a theatre, meeting rooms, a music recording studio, an art gallery, a bar and kitchen, and a garden courtyard. It hosts live music, theatrical performances, community workshops, and cultural events throughout the year. The building is Grade II listed and retains much of its Victorian character.

The Tabernacle sits just off Portobello Road, one of London's most famous market streets, and a short walk from the Notting Hill Bookshop. The annual Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street festival, passes right by the building.

If you're on a Questo quest through Notting Hill, the Tabernacle is a stop where a Victorian church became a creative stage, and the neighbourhood's spirit of reinvention is on full display.