What’s On at The O2 Arena: Events, Tickets & Visitor Guide

The O2 Arena in Greenwich is the busiest music venue in the world by ticket sales — and keeping track of what is on at the O2 Arena this month takes some doing, because there’s genuinely something on most nights. Here’s how to check listings, buy tickets without overpaying, and make the most of your visit.

How to check what’s on

• The official site (theo2.co.uk): the definitive listings calendar — concerts, comedy, sport, exhibitions. Always check here first.
• Songkick / Bandsintown: set a London alert and the O2’s shows come to you.
• DICE and Ticketmaster: for tickets and on-sale announcements.
• The O2’s social media: presale announcements and last-minute additions appear here first.

Typical programming mixes global touring acts (the biggest names play multiple nights), stand-up comedy, boxing and darts, Disney on Ice and similar family shows, and the occasional residency. There’s rarely a truly empty week.

Buying tickets: the smart way

• Buy from the official site or recognised sellers (AXS is The O2’s official ticketing partner, plus Ticketmaster). Avoid resale markups where possible.
• O2 Priority: O2 mobile customers get 48-hour presale access — genuinely useful for big shows, and free with any O2 contract or PAYG SIM.
• Seating: the arena holds 20,000. Lower tiers (100s) are closest; upper tiers (400s) are high but the sightlines are good throughout — it’s a well-designed room. Floor standing is best for atmosphere, seated for comfort.
• Prices: typically £55-£120 for concerts plus fees — and the journey home is the perfect time for free mobile games to pass the commute.
• Last-minute: production releases and returns appear in the final days — check back.

Getting there

• Tube: North Greenwich (Jubilee line) — the station is built for arena crowds, 2 minutes’ walk. This is how 90% of people arrive.
• Bus: multiple routes serve North Greenwich.
• Uber Boat: the Thames Clipper to North Greenwich Pier — slower but scenic, and a lovely way to arrive.
• Cable car: the IFS Cloud Cable Car from the Royal Docks — great views, fun experience.
• Driving: possible but painful — parking is £20+ and the roads clog. Don’t, unless you must.

Leave promptly after the show if you want to beat the Tube crush — or linger in the bars and restaurants inside The O2 complex for 45 minutes and travel in comfort.

Inside the venue

• Food and drink: the full range inside — restaurants, bars, fast food. Prices are arena prices (£7+ a pint); eat beforehand if budget matters.
• Merch: stands inside; queues are worst right after doors. Buy during a support act or after the show.
• Bag policy: small bags only — check the current policy before you go. There are no large lockers.
• Up at The O2: the rooftop climb over the dome — book separately, a brilliant daytime activity (£35-£40).

Making a night of it

The O2 complex has bars, restaurants and a cinema — many people make an evening of it. Greenwich itself is worth exploring earlier in the day: the market, the park, the Royal Observatory. And if you’re weighing up entertainment options, hiring a private karaoke room in London makes a very different (and often cheaper) group night out.

What is on at the O2 Arena this month: how to never miss a show

Big O2 shows sell out fast — here’s the system for always being first in line. O2 Priority is the cheat code. Any O2 mobile customer (contract or PAYG — even a £10 SIM qualifies) gets 48-hour presale access to most O2 Academy and O2 Arena shows. For major tours, the presale allocation is substantial — often the difference between floor standing and upper-tier leftovers. If you’re a serial gig-goer, an O2 SIM is the cheapest ticket advantage in the business.

The presale stack, in order: artist fan presale (sign up on artist mailing lists — usually 24-48 hours before general sale) → O2 Priority or venue presale → general sale. Each tier gets an allocation; by general sale, the best seats are often gone. For the biggest shows, set alarms for each presale tier — don’t wait for the general sale and hope.

Seating strategy for the O2 specifically: the arena’s layout rewards knowledge. Floor standing: best atmosphere, worst views if you’re short — arrive early for a barrier spot or accept screens. Lower tier (100s): the sweet spot — close, elevated, great sound. Blocks 101-102 and 112-113 (side-on) are often cheaper than the ends and have excellent sightlines. Upper tier (400s): high but the rake is steep, so views are better than you’d expect — and prices are 30-40% lower. Avoid: seats behind the stage (sold for some shows — check the seating map) and the very back of the upper tier for production-heavy shows where the staging matters.

The resale safety net: for sold-out O2 shows, AXS (the official partner) operates official resale, and Twickets lists face-value fan resales. Prices on unofficial platforms for O2 shows are routinely 2-3x face value — never worth it when the official channels exist. And last-minute releases are real: production holds (seats kept back for the tour party) get released 48-72 hours before the show. Check the official site on the Wednesday/Thursday before a weekend show — some of the best seats appear then.

For the definitive listings, on-sale dates and seating maps, The O2’s official site is the source of truth — check it before trusting any third-party listing.

The O2 for non-music events

It’s not all concerts. The O2 hosts boxing and darts (some of the atmosphere’s best nights — a fight night crowd is electric), comedy (arena stand-up from the biggest names), family shows (Disney on Ice, Cirque du Soleil, monster trucks), and basketball, tennis and esports. The non-music programming is often cheaper (£25-£60) and easier to get tickets for — and for many visitors, a darts final or a boxing night is a more memorable first O2 experience than a gig. Check the full calendar, not just the music listings; the venue’s range surprises people.

The takeaway

Check theo2.co.uk for listings, use O2 Priority presales if you can, buy from official sellers, take the Jubilee line, and eat before you arrive. The O2 is a machine — efficient, huge, and reliably good. Plan the logistics and enjoy the show.