Situated in the City of Westminster and joining Pall Mall to Piccadilly Circus, Haymarket lies in London's famous Theatreland and is home to two auspicious theatres: Her Majesty's Theatre, whose present incarnation was built in 1897, and the Theatre Royal which was built by John Nash in 1820.
Both venues have played host over the years to many famous productions, from Phantom of the Opera for the stage to 80's TV favourite Live from Her Majesty's, on which legendary comedian and magician Tommy Cooper suffered a heart attack on stage and died. As well as staging more modern work, the district's theatres have long been the scene of artistic endeavour; many of Handel's operas were premiered at Her Majesty's.
In centuries past this area was perhaps best known for its reputation for prostitution, but in recent decades it has become a generator of wealth for altogether more legitimate reasons.