Most iconic theatres in London
Overview of London's theatre scene
The many extraordinary London theatre venues are a major reason why people love residing in or visiting the city. As well as hosting world-leading plays, musicals, comedies and family entertainment, many theatres are also significant architectural gems on their own.
There are around 250 theatres in London, the most famous of which are clustered in the city centre, known as the West End. A comprehensive London theatre map would extend out to the far reaches of the capital, but the major London theatre district – what we would consider 'Theatreland' – is based around the Oxford Street to Piccadilly area.
Many of the names of London theatres reflect their historic standing or royal approval, while others have been renamed in honour of great actors or artists – such as the Harold Pinter Theatre or the Gielgud Theatre. Sometimes the London theatre address also handily corresponds with its name, like the Shaftesbury Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.
Follow our guide to some of the most iconic theatres in London.
The enormous London Palladium often hosts large-scale musicals, including the upcoming revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita, starring Rachel Zegler.
Location: Argyll Street, London W1, close to Oxford Circus Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: Evita
Apollo Victoria Theatre
The Apollo Victoria Theatre is home to the West End's hit musical Wicked, which has played there since 2006.
Location: Wilton Road, London SW1V, close to Victoria Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: Wicked
Venue capacity: 2,328
London Coliseum
The London Coliseum regularly stages both opera and musicals. The current show is the musical adaptation of classic Jazz Age novel The Great Gatsby.
Location: St Martin's Lane, London WC2N, close to Leicester Square Tube station.
Adelphi Theatre
Popular mid-sized West End venue the Adelphi Theatre has been home to the jaw-dropping musical version of Back to the Future since 2021.
Location: Strand, London WC2R, close to Charing Cross Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: Back to the Future
South London theatres
Shakespeare's Globe
The Globe is an extraordinary reconstruction of an outdoor Elizabeth playhouse, allowing you to experience what it was originally like to watch a Shakespeare play.
Location: New Globe Walk, London SE1, close to Southwark Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: Romeo and Juliet
Buy tickets via Telegraph Tickets
Venue capacity: 1,570
Old Vic
The Old Vic is renowned for its varied, often star-studded programming, such as its newest show: the world premiere of Conor McPherson's play The Brightening Air.
Location: The Cut, London SE1, close to Waterloo Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: The Brightening Air
Buy tickets via Telegraph Tickets
Young Vic
The Old Vic's neighbour, the Young Vic, is a leading venue for cutting-edge work such as current show An Oak Tree, in which Tim Crouch is joined by a different actor every night.
Location: The Cut, London SE1, close to Waterloo station.
Current/upcoming shows: An Oak Tree
National Theatre
The National Theatre hosts an incredible array of work in three very different performance spaces. Currently you can watch Stephen Sondheim's final musical Here We Are.
Location: Upper Ground, London SE1, close to Waterloo Tube station.
Buy tickets via Telegraph Tickets
London arts centres
Royal Albert Hall
The iconic Royal Albert Hall is home to everything from the BBC Proms to pop concerts, comedy and dance – such as Christmas ballet favourite The Nutcracker.
Current/upcoming shows: The Nutcracker
Royal Opera House
Both the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet are based at the Royal Opera House, which produces world-leading work such as the current production of Bizet's Carmen.
Location: Bow Street, London WC2E, close to Covent Garden Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: Carmen
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre has a striking, contemporary theatre space where plays and musicals are staged – including the Olivier Award-winning revival of Fiddler on the Roof.
Location: Silk Street, London EC2, close to Barbican Tube station.
Current/upcoming shows: Fiddler on the Roof
FAQs
Where are the theatres in London?
London has numerous theatres spread all around the city. However, most of the big commercial theatres are gathered in the centre of the capital in what is known as the West End, close to Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly and Oxford Street.
How many theatres are there in London?
There are around 250 theatres altogether – with new venues opening all the time, including pop-up spaces. Around 40 theatres are classified as West End venues, which attract enormous audiences: in 2024, more than 17.1 million theatregoers went to a West End show.
What is the biggest theatre in London?
Many West End theatres have huge auditoriums: for example, the London Coliseum seats 2,359 and the Apollo Victoria seats 2,328. However, the Royal Albert Hall beats them all by capacity, with an astonishing 5,272 seats.
What is the oldest London theatre?
That title belongs to one of the grandest of all West End buildings. The majestic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, on Catherine Street, has remained in use since it opened in 1663. It is currently owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and it recently underwent an impressive £60 million restoration and refurbishment.
What is the best theatre to go to in London?
All of the city's historic theatres are well worth a visit, as much for their beautiful architecture and heritage as for the fantastic shows that they host. You can even take a tour of some venues, such as Shakespeare's Globe and the National Theatre, to learn more about them.
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