Camden named London's leading borough for producing rock music
London's borough of Camden has been revealed as the top area for producing rock music.
Camden has officially claimed the crown as London’s leading borough for rock music, according to exclusive new research released ahead of National Album Day (18.10.25).
Long celebrated for its vibrant street performers and legendary grassroots venues, Camden topped the charts thanks to the global success of bands like Coldplay and The Libertines, who first emerged from the borough’s creative underbelly. The study ranked London’s 32 boroughs based on the chart performance of UK rock studio albums released over the past 30 years — and Camden came out swinging.
Using data from the Official Charts Company, the research analysed the top 500 rock albums by British artists since 1994, factoring in physical sales, digital downloads, and streaming figures. Each act was traced back to its roots — solo artists to their hometowns, and bands to the boroughs where they first formed.
Camden edged out the City of Westminster, where Pink Floyd’s founding members first crossed paths, and Lewisham, the birthplace of Britpop legends Blur. Other boroughs making the top nine include Kensington and Chelsea, Wimbledon, Bromley, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, and Ealing.
London is also the top UK region for birthing successful rock artists, including David Bowie, Florence + The Machine, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and The Who.
In second place is the North West England - home to The 1975, The Beatles, Oasis, and The Smiths.
The Top 5 is completed by South East England (The Cure, Wet Leg), Wales (Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics), and Yorkshire and the Humber (Arctic Monkeys, Pulp).
London’s Top Rock-Producing Boroughs:
Camden
City of Westminster
Lewisham
Kensington and Chelsea
Wimbledon
Bromley
Tower Hamlets
Southwark
Ealing
