A London Theater Itinerary: Four Days of Plays and Theater History

One of my favorite things to do is attend the theater, both at home and abroad. And without a doubt, London is one of my favorite destinations for a theater-themed vacation. If you love the theater as much as I do, this four-day London theater itinerary combines performances with some of the city’s fascinating theatrical history.

Day 1 — Begin Your London Theater Itinerary in Theatreland

One of the best ways to get your bearings in London is on foot. For a theater-themed trip, begin by exploring Theatreland, the heart of the West End. Wander through Leicester Square and toward Covent Garden, passing some of London’s historic theaters along the way.

Official London Theatre offers a free self-guided Theatreland audio tour narrated by Ian McKellen. It begins in Leicester Square and takes you through the streets of the West End while sharing stories about its theaters, actors and theatrical history.

Leave the afternoon open to explore at your own pace. Leicester Square, Covent Garden and the surrounding streets are filled with restaurants, shops and, of course, theaters. If you’re planning more sightseeing while you’re in London, you might also want to read about a better way to experience the Changing of the Guard.

Then it’s time for what you came for: dinner followed by your first West End performance.

Day 2 — Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Begin the day with a guided tour of Theatre Royal Drury Lane, one of London’s most historic theaters. More than 350 years of theatrical history are associated with this site, and today’s theater dates from 1812.

This theater has always been special to me because it was where Miss Saigon had its world premiere in 1989. The production had originally been planned for New York, but when a suitable theater wasn’t available, it opened in London instead.

And what a production it was. I’ll never forget the famous helicopter scene. Seeing that helicopter appear on the stage was awe-inspiring, and I’ve never seen the effect work quite as powerfully anywhere else.

After the tour, leave the afternoon free. You might spend more time exploring Covent Garden or perhaps make this your opportunity to see a matinee.

After all, a London theater itinerary should include plenty of time for performances. One is never enough.

Day 3 — A London Theater Trip to Shakespeare’s Globe and Bankside

No London theater trip would be complete without spending some time on the South Bank at Shakespeare’s Globe, a reconstruction of the open-air theater associated with Shakespeare and his company.

Take a guided tour of the Globe to learn about the original theater and what it was like to attend a performance in Shakespeare’s time. Seating surrounds the stage in the galleries, while standing tickets are available in the Yard. Standing puts you remarkably close to the action, but remember—you really do stand for the entire performance.

When I visited, the Globe tour wasn’t available that day, so I took a tour of Bankside instead. It turned out to be a fascinating alternative. We visited the site of the Rose Theatre, whose remains were discovered in 1989 when the site was being redeveloped. Many well-known actors joined the campaign to save it, and the new office building was redesigned so the remains could be preserved below. Our tour took us down to the lower level of the building to see the remains of this Elizabethan theater.

Spend the afternoon exploring the South Bank. Walk along the Thames, browse the book stalls and stop at Tate Modern before having something to eat.

Then return to the Globe for a performance. Seeing Shakespeare performed in this setting is an experience unlike seeing the same play in a traditional theater.

Day 4 — Royal Albert Hall

Today, move beyond the West End and visit another of London’s great performance venues, Royal Albert Hall.

Take a guided tour to learn about the history of this extraordinary building and go behind the scenes of a venue that has hosted everything from classical concerts and ballet to rock stars and major celebrations.

Royal Albert Hall is perhaps most closely associated with the BBC Proms, the annual summer season of classical music concerts. Its famous Last Night of the Proms is a rousing finale and one of Britain’s best-known musical traditions.

After the tour, leave some time to explore the surrounding area. Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and several of London’s major museums are nearby.

Then end the day with dinner and another performance. It might be another West End show, a concert, ballet or something completely different.

What to Do Between Performances

Of course, a London theater itinerary doesn’t mean spending all of your time inside a theater. Between performances, there is plenty of time to explore the city. You might visit a museum, take a walk through one of London’s parks or see one of its best-known traditions. If the Changing of the Guard is on your list, I’ve written about a different way to experience the ceremony that may be worth considering.

If you visit London during the summer months, consider a performance at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. With the stage and auditorium completely outdoors, it offers a very different theater experience from the West End.

And don’t overlook comedy. An English farce can be hilarious, irreverent and great fun.

A London theater itinerary can include so much more than West End performances. All the world’s a stage, and London has more than enough stages, venues and genres to offer something for everyone.