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For more than three centuries, London's theatres have radiated their inimitable blend of artistic magic with the caustic wit that Londoners are famous for. Nowadays there are hundreds of theatres in London and the choice can seem daunting but all you really need to know are the three terms for describing theatre in London: 'West End', 'Off West End' and 'Fringe'.
'West End' refers to the larger theatres littered not just around the West End but also further afield. The South Bank's theatres, for example, would fall under the banner 'West End' as would the Apollo (Starlight Express) in Victoria. Some of the plays and musicals on in the 'West End' have been running for years and years - The Mousetrap has been going for 60 years (and we wish it would just go!), Les Miserables and Miss Saigon have been on since the eighties. Cats somehow has managed to survive since the seventies.
"Off West End" refers to the smaller, lower budget venues. These are venues who somehow just manage to get by, produce some of London's most original theatre. Actors will often go unpaid, or will put up the budget themselves just to get the play aired. Good "Off West End" theatres are the Donmar Warehouse in the West End or the Almeida in Islington.
"The Fringe" represents the rest of the theatres scattered all over London. Big or (more often than not) small; plays are often tested in the Fringe prior to a West End debut.
For a complete rundown of what's on in town check out the following articles or go to the London Online Box Office.
Theatre Articles
Adelphi Theatre
ADDRESS The Adelphi Theatre The Strand London WC2E 7NA TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Charing Cross/Embankment Exit via Charing Cross Strand exit. Turn right (east) onto the Strand. The Adelphi Theatre is about 200m up the... more »Albery Theatre
ADDRESS The Albery Theatre St Martin's Lane London WC2N 4AU TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square (Piccadilly/Northern lines) Exit station on Charing Cross Road east side/Long Acre exit. Walk along Long Acre (slightly north of the tube... more »Aldwych Theatre
ADDRESS The Aldwych Theatre Strand London WC2B 4DF TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line)/Temple (Circle & District line) From Covent Garden turn right (south) towards the market. Turn left and... more »Alexandra Palace
ADDRESS Alexandra Palace Alexandra Palace Way Wood Green London N22 7AY TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Wood Green [Piccadilly line] (for W3 bus) Nearest Rail: Alexandra Palace Station (from Kings Cross/Finsbury Park)... more »Apollo Theatre
ADDRESS The Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6NA TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly/Bakerloo lines) Take east exit for Shaftesbury Avenue. Nearest Rail: Charing Cross Take Bakerloo line to Piccadilly Circus. Parking: Masterpark Cambridge Circus. NCP Newport Place,... more »Apollo Victoria Theatre
ADDRESS Apollo Victoria Wilton Road SW1 TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Victoria Nearest Rail: Victoria (Victoria/Circle & Districct lines)... more »Cambridge Theatre
ADDRESS Cambridge Theatre Earlham Street Seven Dials London WC2H 9HU TRAVEL Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) Turn left from Covent Garden station (away from the market) and turn left again on Long Acre. Take... more »Criterion Theatre
ADDRESS Criterion Theatre Piccadilly Circus London SW1Y 4XA TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly/Bakerloo lines) The Criterion is clearly visible from tube exits on the south side of the circus. Rail:... more »Dominion Theatre
ADDRESS The Dominion Theatre Tottenham Court Road W1T 7RQ TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Tottenham Court Road (Northern/Central lines) The Dominion Theatre is directly outside the Tottenham Court road east side exit. Travelcard Zone: 1 Rail: Charing Cross - Northern line... more »Duke of Yorks Theatre
ADDRESS Duke of York's Theatre St Martin's Lane LONDON WC2 TRAVEL Nearest Tube: Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines) Turn right up Long Acre, and turn right again at the first major junction for St Martin's Lane. The... more »Fortune Theatre
ADDRESS Fortune Theatre Russell Street London WC2B 5HH TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line) Turn Right from Covent Garden tube towards Covent Garden Plaza. Turn left around the Plaza... more »The Garrick Theatre
ADDRESS The Garrick Theatre Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0HH TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Charing Cross (Northern/Bakerloo lines)/Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines) From Charing Cross turn left onto the Strand towards Trafalgar Square. Turn right at Trafalgar Square... more »Her Majestys Theatre
ADDRESS Her Majesty's Theatre Haymarket SW1Y 4QL TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus (Picadilly/Bakerloo lines) Exit Piccadilly Circus via south/east exit for Haymarket. Her Majesty's Theatre is about 250 metres down... more »The London Coliseum
The London Coliseum, which is London's largest theatre, is cited as being architect Frank Matcham's crowning achievement. In its 100 year history it has played host to many... more »The London Dungeon
Extremely popular and, again, you'll be queuing, the London Dungeon, based in Tooley Street, is a bloody, gruesome display of the less attractive side of London history. The venue is suitably... more »The London Eye
The London Eye is one of London's newest landmarks specially-built to open the 21st century, although it was not open for the New Millennium celebrations as planned. At 135 metres, it... more »The London Palladium
ADDRESS London Palladium Argyll Street London W1F 7TF TRAVEL Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus (Central/Victoria/Bakerloo lines) Exit via Argyll Street. Turn left (away from Oxford Street). Palladium is 50 metres on... more »The Lyceum Theatre
ADDRESS The Lyceum Theatre Wellington Street London WC2E 7RQ TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) From Covent Garden turn right (south) towards the market. Turn left and walk around... more »Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue
ADDRESS The Lyric Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue London W1V 7HA TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly/Bakerloo lines) Take east exit for Shaftesbury Avenue. Nearest Rail: Charing Cross Take the Bakerloo line to Piccadilly Circus. Parking: NCP Wardour Street, Newport Place,... more »The The Millenium Dome
... more »New Ambassadors Theatre
ADDRESS New Ambassadors Theatre West Street WC2H 9ND TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly Lines) From station head up Long Acre (east) then head left up Monmouth Street at the major junction... more »New London Theatre
ADDRESS The New London Theatre Drury Lane London WC2B 5PW TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line)/Holborn (Piccadilly/Central lines) From Covent Garden head away from the piazza and turn right onto Long Acre. The New London... more »Novello Theatre
ADDRESS The Novello Theatre (formerly The Strand Theatre) Aldwych WC2B 4LD TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line)/Temple (Circle & District line) From Covent Garden turn right (south) towards the market.... more »Old Vic Theatre
ADDRESS Old Vic Theatre The Cut Waterloo Road London SE1 8NB TRAVEL Nearest Tube: Waterloo (Northern/Bakerloo/Jubillee/Waterloo & City lines) Make your way to Waterloo railway station. Take exit 2 from station and turn right. The Old Vic... more »Palace Theatre
ADDRESS The Palace Theatre Cambridge Circus London W1D 5AY TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square (Piccadilly/Northern lines)/Tottenham Court Road (Norther/Central lines) Rail: Charing Cross - Northern line north to Leicester Square Kings Cross/St Pancras - Piccadilly line west/south... more »Phoenix Theatre
ADDRESS The Phoenix Theatre Charing Cross Road London W1 TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square/Tottenham Court Road (Northern/ Piccadilly/ Central lines) Tracelcard Zone: 1 Nearest Rail: Charing Cross ACCESS Wheelchair Access: Yes... more »Piccadilly Theatre
ADDRESS The Piccadilly Theatre Denman Street London W1D 7DY TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus Nearest Rail: Charing Cross ACCESS Wheelchair Access: Yes... more »Prince Edward Theatre
ADDRESS Prince Edward Theatre Old Compton Street London W1D 4HS TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines) Head right (north) up Charing Cross Road in the direction of Cambridge Circus.... more »Prince of Wales Theatre
ADDRESS The Prince Of Wales Coventry Street W1D 6AS TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Piccadilly Circus Nearest Rail: Charing Cross Travelcard Zone: 1 ACCESS Wheelchair Access: Yes NOTE All tickets sold include a mandatory 75p restoration fee levy. Funds raised are paid directly... more »Purcell Room
Each year, the South Bank Centre attracts over 3 million visitors to its world class performances of music, dance and literature, free foyer events, and range of riverside shops and... more »Queens Theatre
ADDRESS The Queen's Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 6BA TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Picadilly Circus (Piccadilly/Bakerloo lines) From Piccadilly Circus take east exit for Shaftesbury Avenue. Nearest Rail: Charing Cross Take Bakerloo line to Piccadilly Circus. ACCESS Wheelchairs: Entrance to the... more »The Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall, which opened in 1871 as part of a national memorial to Prince Albert, is now one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. The... more »Royal Opera House
ADDRESS Royal Opera House Bow Street Covent Garden London TRAVEL Nearest Rail: Charing Cross Nearest Tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line)... more »Sadlers Wells Theatre
ADDRESS Sadler's Wells Rosebery Avenue Islington EC1R TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Angel (Northern line) Nearest Rail: Kings Cross (Northern line to Angel) Turn left out of Angel station and cross the road at the crossroads for St John... more »Savoy Theatre
ADDRESS Savoy Theatre Strand London WC2R 0ET TRAVEL Nearest Tube: Charing Cross (Northern/Bakerloo lines) From the front of Charing Cross station turn left up the Strand. The Savoy Theatre is next to the Savoy Hotel... more »Shaftesbury Theatre
ADDRESS Shaftesbury Theatre 210 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8DP ADDRESS Nearest Tube: Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines)/Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) Exit Leicester Square via Charing Cross Road east exit. Turn right then right again into Longacre. Take... more »St Martins Theatre
ADDRESS St Martin's Theatre West Street Cambridge Circus WC2H 9NZ TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square (PIccadilly/Northern lines) From station head up Long Acre (east) then head left (north) up Monmouth... more »Theatre Royal Drury Lane
ADDRESS Theatre Royal, Drury Lane Catherine Street WC2 TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Covent Garden Turn Right from Covent Garden tube towards Covent Garden Plaza. Turn left around the Plaza and follow it round, taking the first... more »Theatre Royal Haymarket
ADDRESS Theatre Royal Haymarket Haymarket SW1Y 4HT TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Leicester Square (Northern/Piccadilly lines)/Piccadilly Circus (piccadilly/ Bakerloo line) From Piccadilly Circus head southeast for Haymarket. The Theatre Royal is 150m down on the left. Rail: Charing Cross -... more »Vaudeville Theatre
ADDRESS Vaudeville Theatre Strand London WC2R 0NH TRAVEL Nearest Underground: Charing Cross (Northern/Bakerloo lines) Exit Charing Cross via Strand exit (Villiers Street exit from Embankment). Head right (east) up the Strand. The theatre is 150m on... more »Victoria Palace Theatre
ADDRESS Victoria Palace Theatre Victoria Street London SW1E 5EA TRAVEL Nearest Rail: Victoria Nearest Tube: Victoria (Victoria/Circle & District lines)... more »
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