As a London Mums Magazine reporter who is constantly out and about discovering what London has to offer, I have to admit something slightly embarrassing: 15 August 2026 was my first time at Crystal Palace Bowl. And now I’m wondering why on earth I waited so long!
After this experience, I am already regretting all the concerts I didn’t book there. Easily accessible from London by train or bus, I even had the luxury of a door-to-door bus journey. Bliss. I arrived early, determined to make the most of the whole afternoon of live music and festival atmosphere.
And then I discovered something that may be the Crystal Palace Bowl’s best-kept secret for vertically challenged concert-goers like me. The stage sits slightly downhill, while the standing audience is positioned up the hill in front of it. Which means that even a short person can actually see the entire concert! No giant person suddenly appearing directly in front of you. No desperate tiptoeing. No craning your neck until the end of time. For the first time in decades, I enjoyed a standing concert with an excellent, uninterrupted view. Hallelujah!The crowd was wonderfully mixed, with several generations turning up to sing along to Lenny’s greatest hits. There were families too, which is worth mentioning: mums, if we have somehow missed reporting on this festival until now, consider this our official catch-up! Crystal Palace Bowl felt very family-friendly, so don’t be afraid to bring the kids along for a concert here.
Before the main event, there was plenty of live music to enjoy. And while supporting acts sometimes get treated as background entertainment, I genuinely enjoyed the first two performers. Both were very pleasant to listen to, and I suspect they may have earned themselves a place on my playlist.
Then came Joss Stone. What can I say? I simply cannot understand how one person can combine sweetness, sassiness and such a gloriously bad-ass attitude at the same time. And of course an incredible voice. She was brilliant – and, dare I say it, definitely one of us!
During the act immediately before Lenny I really needed a little break. The performer was perfectly OK, but for me the set went on a little too long. So I sensibly abandoned my precious spot for a food-and-drinks recharge and, most importantly, a loo stop. Concert survival skills, mums!
And then… Lenny.
Ah. The God.
What a sight.
He appeared looking like the dictionary definition of rock ’n’ roll: iconic sunglasses, leather jacket, guitar and an attitude that said, yes, I know exactly how good I look. The crowd was instantly in awe.
And the man can still rock. For a full two hours, Lenny sang and played brilliantly, delivering hit after hit from his extraordinary catalogue. And what a catalogue it is – although, to be fair, he has had around 30 years to write all those masterpieces!
From Are You Gonna Go My Way and Fly Away to It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over and Let Love Rule, the evening became one enormous sing-along, with happy faces everywhere you looked.
And let’s not forget the band. They were absolutely phenomenal. In fact, I have a theory that their contracts must have included a very specific “high sex appeal” requirement. There was not an average-looking musician on that stage. Honestly, Lenny clearly doesn’t believe in compromising on either musical talent or aesthetics!
By the end, Crystal Palace Bowl was buzzing with that wonderful feeling you get when thousands of people have just shared something genuinely joyful. Generations singing together, gorgeous summer air, brilliant musicians and one seriously iconic rock star doing what he does best.
Needless to say, I’ll be back at Crystal Palace Bowl next year. And this time, I’ll need more tickets.
A fabulous summer concert experience with great music, a family-friendly atmosphere, a brilliant crowd and – crucially – excellent visibility for short mums.
What’s not to love?
Hi, I’m Francesca! I live in central London and I’m rarely home — there’s always a gallery, gig, or show pulling me out the door. My real loves are music, art and theatre, but I’m just as happy exploring history, sport, or whatever’s newly opened and worth talking about. I’m on a constant search for London’s most enriching experiences, big and small, and I’m here to help you find them too.
