London Theatre History and Exploration Tour

Discover 400 years of stage history in the theatre capital of the world! A journey across the West End and the South Bank featuring the biggest names, greatest successes & most infamous disasters.
Theatres covered on the tour include: The Coliseum, Duke of York's, Noel Coward, Wyndham's, Her Majesty's, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Harold Pinter, Prince of Wales, Lyric, Apollo, Gielgud, Sondheim, Palace, Ambassadors, St Martins, The Arts, ROH, Fortune, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Lyceum, The National, Shakespeare's Globe...plus a top-secret final location!

Meeting Point

Oscar Wilde Statue

3 Adelaide St, London WC2N 4HZ, UK

Across the street from Charing Cross Station.

What's included:

• Historic programmes & theatre artefacts

What to expect:

Duration: 3 hours, 30 minutes

London Coliseum

St Martin's Lane, , London, WC2N 4ES

Learn the history of the Coliseum. The largest theatre in the West End!

5 minutes

Duke Of York Theatre

104 St. Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4BG

Discover the many stars who made their debuts on this West End stage. Including Peter Pan!

5 minutes

Noel Coward Theatre

85-88 St. Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4AU

Hear of the great productions of the past. The only theatre where two significant theatre giants ever shared a stage.

10 minutes

Wyndham's Theatre

Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0DA, UK

Learn of the history of this beautiful theatre. See the bust of Shakespeare on the front - the only one in the West End!

5 minutes

Leicester Square

London, WC2H 7LU

Discount ticket booth - how to get great West End seats at low prices! Old music hall spots - historic theatres such as The Alhambra & The Empire.

5 minutes

Haymarket Theatre Royal

18 Suffolk Street, , London, SW1Y 4HT

A theatre favoured by both Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench. There's also rumour of a haunting...

5 minutes

His Majesty's Theatre London

Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4QL

The second oldest active theatre site in London. Also home to the second-longest running musical - The Phantom of the Opera!

5 minutes

Harold Pinter Theatre

6 Panton Street, , London, SW1Y 4DN

Opening in 1881, the Harold Pinter Theatre is one of the oldest playhouses in the West End. Hear of the stars that have caused a great sensation here - including Marilyn Monroe!

5 minutes

Prince of Wales Theatre

31 Coventry Street, Westminster, London, W1D 6AS

Now home to The Book of Mormon, the Prince of Wales has had a rich history of comedy & musical spectacles. Famous names who've appeared here include The Beatles, Peter Sellers and Barbara Streisand!

5 minutes

Shaftesbury Avenue

London

The road with more theatres than any other! Hear about the history of Shaftesbury Avenue and theatres including The Lyric, Apollo, Gielgud, Sondheim & The Palace.

10 minutes

Lyric Theatre

29 Shaftesbury Avenue, , London, W1D 7ES

The oldest surviving theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue! Also the place where a British comedy icon tragically died...

5 minutes

Apollo Theatre

Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES

The first Edwardian Theatre, opening in 1901. Also once home to a truly legendary production of our time!

5 minutes

Gielgud Theatre

Shaftesbury Avenue, , London, W1D 6AR

Now named after the great Sir John, the Gielgud has seen a few famous faces give their West End debuts. Including Harry Potter himself!

5 minutes

Sondheim Theatre

51 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA

Learn the history of Les Miserables, the world's longest-running musical. Also - a few famous faces who debuted here in the 80s!

5 minutes

Palace Theatre

113 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 5AY

Once a famous music hall venue, now home to Harry Potter & the Cursed Child. Discover the origin of the phrase 'bring the house down'.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Ambassadors Theatre

West Street, London, WC2H 9ND

Although unremarkable on the outside, the Ambassadors has had a rich theatre history. Legendary theatre stars who debuted here include Vivien Leigh & Paul Robeson.

5 minutes

St. Martins Theatre

West Street, London, WC2H 9NZ

Home of The Mousetrap - the world's longest-running play! Discover the history of this unlikely theatrical hit.

5 minutes

The Arts Theatre

6-7 Great Newport Street, London, WC2B 7JH

The West End's smallest theatre. Also once home to the most controversial play of all time!

5 minutes

Covent Garden

London

See the legendary Covent Garden Market! Also, London's official Actors Church, street theatre spots and two of the oldest theatre sites in London.

10 minutes

Royal Opera House

Bow Street, , London, WC2E 9DD

One of the oldest theatre spots in London - est 1732. Now home to the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet.

5 minutes

Fortune Theatre

Russell St, , London, WC2B 5HH

Home to The Woman in Black - the longest-running horror play ever. Hear of the spooky stories that have occurred during the play's 30+ year history...

5 minutes

Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Catherine Street, London, WC2B 5JF

The oldest active theatre spot in the West End. Discover the legends of the past who made their names on its legendary stage.

5 minutes

Lyceum Theatre

21 Wellington Street, London, WC2E 7RQ

Now home to The Lion King, going since 1999 and still a hot ticket! Hear of the leading actors of the Victorian era who once dominated the Lyceum's stage - Sir Henry Irving & Dame Ellen Terry - and also the genesis of a famous gothic horror creation.

5 minutes

National Theatre

Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PX

Hear about the history of our National Theatre. Also, the founder of the National, Laurence Olivier, stated the opposite.

10 minutes

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

21 New Globe Walk, , London, SE1 9DT

Discover the history of Bankside - where Shakespeare made his name. See the famous reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe and a final top-secret theatre location!

15 minutes