Hotels for The Fray

A Monday night gig means an early crowd and a clear run home afterwards, with none of the weekend crush around the doors. Expect a mid-sized theatre setting rather than an arena, so the sound stays warm and the piano-led ballads carry to the back rows without losing their intimacy. Fans who grew up on the band's mid-2000s run of radio hits tend to travel in groups, trading favourite tracks in the queue beforehand. It's the kind of show where the singalongs outnumber the pyrotechnics.

A beautifully preserved art-deco theatre in Hammersmith, the Eventim Apollo is one of London's best-loved mid-size music venues, hosting touring bands, comedy and one-off gigs. The surrounding west London district blends riverside pubs along the Thames with the bustle of the Broadway's shops and cafés.

Hammersmith station, served by the District, Piccadilly and other lines, sits almost opposite the entrance. Booking a room nearby means you can spill out after the show straight into the neighbourhood's late bars and easy transport.