England’s capital city beckons travellers with its vast array of awe-inspiring attractions. London’s countless architectural wonders, cultural institutions, and rich history make the city a popular destination. 

Whether you are building an itinerary for a one-day trip to London Town or are fortunate enough to embark on a longer excursion, there’s plenty to do. We have curated a list of London’s top attractions to make for lasting travel memories. Stroll through the city’s many pristine parks,...

Top attractions in London

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Read our guide to London's top attractions to get tickets to, from Buckingham Palace to the London Tower, Wembley Stadium to Kew Gardens, and more.

Pop the champagne because *The Great Gatsby* is coming to the West End! The new Tony Award-winning musical, which opened on Broadway in April 2024, will arrive at the London Coliseum on 11 April 2025, running until 7 September.

An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, *The Great Gatsby* follows mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby, who hosts decadent parties but pines for his former flame Daisy Buchanan. The novel was adapted for the screen in 2013 by Baz Luhrmann, starring Leonardo...

'The Great Gatsby' musical to transfer to the London Coliseum 

1200 LT The cast of The Great Gatsby (c) Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

The new musical opened at The Broadway Theatre in April 2024, following a world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey in late 2023. 

Help is on the way, dears! Everyone’s favourite Scottish nanny – first inhabited in the 1993 comedy film by Robin Williams, playing a divorced dad who disguises himself as Mrs Doubtfire so he can see his children – is now a West End star.

The inventive, heartfelt and raucously funny stage musical adaptation has become a new audience favourite, packed with gags, big musical numbers, and a touching reflection on how family can come in different forms, as long as there is love.

As you prepare for...

Make a day out of 'Mrs Doubtfire' in London

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Make your family visit to West End musical comedy *Mrs Doubtfire* a sure-fire hit by adding even more fun activities to your London trip.

Further casting has been announced for the Brie Larson-led production of Sophocles’s [*Elektra*,](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/42608-elektra) which begins performances at the Duke of York’s Theatre in the West End on 24 January, 2025.

Larson, who is making her West End debut, will be joined by Stockard Channing (*The West Wing, The Good Wife*), Marième Diouf (*Romeo and Juliet*), Greg Hicks (*Grapes of Wrath, Coriolanus*), and Patrick Vaill ([*Stranger Things: The First...

Further casting revealed for Brie Larson-led 'Elektra' in the West End

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Stockard Channing, Marième Diouf, Greg Hicks, and Patrick Vaill will join Brie Larson in Anne Carson's translation of Sophocles's great tragedy.

The full cast has been announced for William Shakespeare's *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, which opens at the Barbican in London on 3 December, running until 18 January, 2025.

Joining Mathew Baynton (*Ghosts, Wonka*) as Bottom, is Andrew Richardson (*Guys and Dolls*) as Oberon/Theseus and Katherine Pearce (*Waterloo Road*), who returns to the RSC as Puck.

New company members also include Alexander Bellinfantie (Moth), Eliza Smith (Mustardseed), and Natalie Thomas (Peaseblossom).

They join...

'A Midsummer Night's Dream' announces full cast at the Barbican

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Joining Mathew Baynton as Bottom, is Andrew Richardson as Oberon/Theseus and Katherine Pearce as Puck. Eleanor Rhode directs Shakespeare's play about love, magic, appearance, and jealousy.

Lead casting has been announced for new musical *Hercules*, which opens in the West End next summer. Performances will begin at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 6 June, 2025.

Luke Brady will play the title role in the musical next year. His stage credits include *As You Like It* (RSC), *SuperYou* (Lyric Theatre), *Assassins* (Chichester Theatre), *The Prince of Egypt* (Dominion Theatre), *Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice,* and *The Taming of the Shrew* (Shakespeare’s Globe), while on screen he...

'Hercules' reveals lead casting in the West End

1200 LT Luke Brady to play Hercules in Disney-s Hercules - Photo by Phil Hill © Disney

*Hercules* has music by Alan Menken and lyrics by David Zippel, and a new book by Robert Horn and Young Vic outgoing artistic director Kwame Kwei-Armah.

There’s no better way to escape those dark winter nights than with a trip to the theatre. Happily, November is serving up plenty of exciting London shows to keep any winter blues at bay, with some major openings in the West End and beyond. 

Those who can't wait for *The Greatest Showman* musical to arrive in London can whet their appetities with [*Come Alive!*](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/show/37379-come-alive), a spectacular circus show based on the music of the hit 2017 film, with an...

Top theatre to see in London in November

1200 LT Álvaro Morte & Lily Collins - Barcelona - The Duke of York-s Theatre - Photo Credit Marc Brenner .1

West End

Find out the best shows to see in London in November 2024, from *Barcelona* with Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte, to *Dr. Strangelove* with Steve Coogan.

Additional shows have been announced in the Bush Theatre's line-up for 2025, including a new play starring Olivier Award nominee and *It's a Sin* actor Omari Douglas.

He has been cast in Coral Wylie's new play *Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew*, which follows 19-year-old Pip as they dig into their family's past, unearthing old secrets. Directed by Debbie Hannan (Overflow), the cast also includes Wil Johnson, Pooky Quesnel, and writer Wylie. The show will run from 8 February to 22 March.

Making...

Bush Theatre announces new shows in 2025 season

1200 LT Lavender, Hyacinth, Violet, Yew

Work by Coral Wylie, babirye bukilwa, and Mohamed-Zain Dada will continue the Bush Theatre's programming in 2025, with Olivier Award nominee Omari Douglas returning to the stage.

New play *The Last Laugh* will run at the Noël Coward Theatre in the West End from 25 February to 22 March next year, ahead of a season in New York and a UK tour. 

Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the show re-imagines the lives of three of Britain's greatest comedy heroes: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse. *The Last Laugh* played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. 

Bob Golding, Damian Williams, and Simon Cartwright will all reprise their roles as Eric Morecambe,...

'The Last Laugh' to transfer to the West End

1200 LT THE LAST LAUGH. Bob Golding (Eric Morecambe), Damian Williams (Tommy Cooper) and Simon Cartwright (Bob Monkhouse). Photo Pamela Raith (1)

Written and directed by Paul Hendy, the show re-imagines the lives of three of Britain's greatest comedy heroes: Tommy Cooper, Eric Morecambe, and Bob Monkhouse.

Something wicked this way comes… and London is packed with spook-tacular shows and activities that are perfect for Halloween 2024. The annual fright night falls on 31 October, which is a Thursday this year, and if you just love everything about this spine-tingling holiday, then you’ll want to start thinking about your plans now.

One ghoulishly great way to celebrate Halloween is with a play or musical – perhaps one that centres on witches, like...

Top shows and attractions in London for Halloween

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Trick or treat! Discover a wide variety of fun activities and events to book for Halloween in London, ranging from spine-chilling shows to eerie attractions.

<a href="/actor-profile/ian-mckellen">Ian McKellen</a> is set to bring his one-man show to the West End next year following a UK tour celebrating his 80th birthday this year.Titled <a href="/show/ian-mckellen-on-stage">Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others and You,</a> McKellen will bring the show to the <a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre</a> from 20th September 2019 to 5th January 2020.Tickets are on sale now, using the module on the right-hand-side (desktop) or at the bottom of this article (mobile).&nbsp;Devised by McKellen and directed by Sean Mathias, the show sees the acting legend deliver personal anecdotes from his illustrious career both on screen and on stage, while also delivering passages and monologues from some of his highlight roles.Over the course of his career, McKellen has acted in many major Shakespearean productions, including his recent run in <a href="/show/king-lear">King Lear</a> at the <a href="/theatres/duke-of-yorks-theatre">Duke of York's Theatre</a> in the West End. He has also starred in The Tempest, Richard III, Othello, Macbeth and Hamlet on stage.On screen, his notable roles include Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Magneto in the X-Men films and the 1998 film Gods and Monsters.McKellen has won 5 Olivier Awards, one Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards and four Bafta Awards.The show is currently touring the UK to celebrate the actor's 80th birthday. It began at his local arts centre The Space in January, and visited a number of London theatres including the National, Old Vic, Young Vic, Duke of York's, Bridge, Rose Theatre Kingston, Hampstead, Arts, Royal Court, Donmar Warehouse and Questors Theatre.It continues to tour the UK, with a gala performance at the <a href="/theatres/olivier-theatre-national">Olivier Theatre</a> at the National closing the 80-date tour on 15th September. The production will then run at the <a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre</a> from 20th September.<a href="/show/ian-mckellen-on-stage">Ian McKellen on Stage</a> is at the <a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre</a>&nbsp;from 20th September to 5th January.<a href="/show/ian-mckellen-on-stage">Ian McKellen: Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others and You tickets</a> are available now.&nbsp;

Ian McKellen to bring one-man show to the West End in autumn 2019

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen On Stage In London [17060]

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Ian McKellen On Stage In London

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To celebrate his 80th Birthday, <a href="/actor-profile/ian-mckellen">Sir Ian McKellen</a> is bringing&nbsp;his one-man show, Shakespeare, Tolkien, Others and You to the West End's <a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre</a> following&nbsp;on an extensive tour of London and the UK visiting venues far and wide that have had a part to play in the actor's legendary career.&nbsp;Taking to the stage with stories and anecdotes from his illustrious career both on stage and screen, McKellen performs reprises extracts from his most-renowned performances, which include Shakespeare's Lear and&nbsp;Tolkien's Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, while engaging with audience members to help craft the show.&nbsp;Ian McKellen on Stage will be at the&nbsp;<a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre</a>&nbsp;from 20th September 2019 to 5th January 2020. Tickets are now on sale.Beginning his tour at his local arts venue The Space, McKellen will be taking the show across London to theatres including the <a href="/theatres/young-vic">Young Vic</a>, <a href="/theatres/old-vic">Old Vic</a>, <a href="/theatres/royal-court-theatre">Royal Court</a>, <a href="/theatres/donmar-warehouse">Donmar Warehouse</a>, Questor's Theatre and <a href="/theatres/theatre-royal-stratford-east">Theatre Royal Stratford East</a>.&nbsp;He will also be performing at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon, where he has appeared many times throughout his career, and The Albert Halls in his hometown of Bolton. It culminates with a gala performance in the <a href="/theatres/olivier-theatre-national">Olivier</a> at the National Theatre on 15th September 2019.&nbsp;Ian McKellen's career began in the 1960s when he made his professional debut at the Belgrade Theatre in Robert Bolt's&nbsp;A Man for All Seasons. His career went from strength to strength as he joined Laurence Olivier's National Theatre company at the Old Vic, with regular performances with the RSC and West End. Recent West End appearances include King Lear at the <a href="/theatres/duke-of-yorks-theatre">Duke of York's Theatre</a>, Waiting for Godot at the Haymarket and No Man's Land at Wyndham's, both opposite long-time collaborator and friend Patrick Stewart.&nbsp;Ian McKellen on Stage tickets are available now.&nbsp;

Ian McKellen On Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU

Ian McKellen on Stage Tickets | [node:field-show-api-venue:title] | Londontheatre.co.uk

Ian McKellen On Stage In London [17060] - TodayTix

An unadulterated love letter to the theatre, to the actor's life and the prose and poetry that fuel both, <a href="/actor-profile/ian-mckellen">Ian McKellen</a>'s latest one-man show is a thing of sheer joy and utter wonder: an act of selfless generosity and warmth in every regard.There is, of course, an ever-present danger in any one-person show that it could become an act of self-regard, and it is unquestionably true that McKellen, too, has a lot to be proud of, so he could be forgiven for indulging those qualities. But though false modesty is not one of his vices, this show is also an act of humility, humanity and gratitude; he is a vessel for the words of others - particularly his beloved William Shakespeare - that he communicates with spellbinding intensity and hushed intimacy.It is also his birthday gift to himself - and to the nation. The show was born as a public charity celebration of his 80th birthday, visiting some 80 theatres across London and the rest of the country, many of which he had a long and personal connection to, and allowing each theatre to designate the beneficiaries of the proceeds raised in each place.Now he has brought it to the West End for a further fundraising run of 80 more performances, just as he did when he previously brought a show called Acting Shakespeare to the <a href="/theatres/playhouse-theatre">Playhouse Theatre</a> in 1987 to benefit the London Lighthouse, a west London hospice for those affected by HIV and AIDS. &nbsp;The show is effortlessly structured in two distinct but well-honed acts. He begins with Gandalf - the role that made him internationally celebrated in the film versions of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings&nbsp;- and it includes a nod to his celebrity status when he invites an audience member on stage for a selfie with his Gandalf sword and autographed programme.But he is also regularly accessible, wandering the stalls in the interval and greeting exiting theatregoers in the foyer afterwards (where he holds a collection bucket for further donations that will benefit some ten charities working with a cross-section of people involved with the arts). &nbsp;The first act also contains much&nbsp;personal biography - we learn, for example, that long before he decided to become an actor he contemplated a career in hotel management, and also toyed with becoming a chef or journalist, but we also find out how the theatrical seed was planted young, when he saw a performance of Peter Pan at the age of three in his native Wigan, before his family relocated to Bolton which was a thriving theatrical hub with three theatres.We also learn of how a speech from Henry V secured him a scholarship at Cambridge, and how appearing in 21 undergraduate productions there set him on his way to becoming an actor, which he began doing professionally in fortnightly rep at the then-new Belgrade Coventry Theatre, earning £8 and 10 shillings a week to play as cast in plays by Shaw, Shakespeare and Agatha Christie, amongst others.&nbsp; &nbsp;It is poignant and revelatory to hear his anecdotes about this now vanished age: an oral history that needs to be preserved. We also hear of his official coming out as gay at the age of 47, on a radio programme that was pre-recorded with a right-wing newspaper editor Peregrine Worsthorne and his hurried trip back home to tell his beloved stepmother Gladys the news before she heard it publicly. (Though, of course, she had long known this). There's a delightful preview of Gus - the Theatre Cat that he will play in the forthcoming film version of TS Eliot and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, plus poetry from Gerard Manley Hopkins and others.But it is in the second act that McKellen really comes into his own, with a celebration of all 37 plays of William Shakespeare (though he admits he has nothing at all to say about Troilus and Cressida); acting scenes from many of them, and offering a rich treasure trove of anecdotes about other productions in which he did not appear (there's a truly priceless Gielgud story about the veteran actor Alan Badel).McKellen is a consummate stage actor, able to speak directly and intimately to every single person listening to his rapt delivery of this rich language.I've been privileged to see McKellen for some 40 years on stage; the first time I ever saw him on stage was in the original production of Martin Sherman's Bent at the <a href="/theatres/royal-court-theatre">Royal Court</a> in 1979. As a young gay man, it changed my life, offering a highly charged perspective on a chapter of gay history I knew nothing about. I am forever grateful to McKellen for his part in this; but I am now forever grateful, too, for the opportunity to share this remarkable journey through his life and career.<a href="/show/ian-mckellen-on-stage">Ian McKellen on Stage</a> is at the <a href="/theatres/harold-pinter-theatre">Harold Pinter Theatre</a> until 5th January 2020.&nbsp;<a href="/show/ian-mckellen-on-stage">Ian McKellen on Stage:&nbsp;With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and You tickets</a> are available now.&nbsp;&nbsp;Photo credit:&nbsp;Frederic Aranda

Review - Ian McKellen on Stage at the Harold Pinter Theatre

Ian McKellen on Stage

Your Lie in April - LON [40886]

Your Lie in April

Due to phenomenal demand, critically acclaimed Your Lie in April will transfer to the Harold Pinter Theatre for 12 weeks only. 

The Harold Pinter Theatre, established and adorned with Victorian architecture in 1881, is one of the most notable theatre venues in the heart of London. Originally known as the Royal Comedy Theatre, it later adopted the name of 'Harold Pinter', honouring the famous playwright. The theatre is situated conveniently in the centre of the bustling West End, an ideal location for tourists and locals alike. The interior is decorated with an impressive array of original features aligned with its historical era of inception, creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere for theatre-goers. The theatre has an audience capacity of 796 people across four levels, with the seats divided into Stalls, Dress Circle, Royal Circle and Balcony. Over time, it has been home to many outstanding performances, including shows like 'The Homecoming', 'Moonlight', and 'Betrayal'. The Harold Pinter Theatre undoubtedly offers a memorable and culturally enriching experience for all those who visit.

### How to Get to the Venue 

Harold Pinter Theatre is accessible and well-connected, located at Panton Street in the City of Westminster. The closest Underground stations are Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, both within a short 5-minute walk. Numerous buses service the area regularly, making it straightforward to reach using public transport. For those driving, the MasterPark at Whitcomb Street and NCP at Denman Street are the nearest parking options.

Harold Pinter Theatre - LON

Harold Pinter LON

Harold Pinter Theatre

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Harold Pinter Theatre - TodayTix

The Harold Pinter Theatre opened on 15 Oct. 1881 as a comic opera house. Its name on opening was the Royal Comedy Theatre, though its ‘Royal’ epithet was dropped in 1884.

The Comedy Theatre helped establish the New Watergate Club in 1956, a society which helped overturn the stage censorship enforced by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The formation of the Club meant that the plays banned by the Government could be performed at this venue as it was now being run as a private club rather than a commercial entity. Notable plays in this category include Arthur Miller’s *A View from the Bridge* and Tennessee Williams’ *Cat On A Hot Tin Roof*. The censorship was finally overturned in 1968. 

Harold Pinter's works were often performed here: *The Homecoming*, *The Caretaker*, *Moonlight*, *No-Man’s Land* and *The Hothouse* all enjoyed successful runs, and Pinter directed a production of *The Old Masters* here in 2004. After his death, it was thought fitting to bestow the honour of naming a theatre after him, and the name was officially changed on 13 Oct. 2011 to the Harold Pinter Theatre. The Ambassador Theatre Group own the Harold Pinter Theatre.

## Harold Pinter Theatre Seating Information

The auditorium has four levels – Stalls, Dress Circle, Royal Circle and Balcony. The top three levels are a horseshoe shape around the stalls.

The Stalls is a single block of seats, and offers good sightlines. Some seats are impaired by supportive pillars and the overhang of the Dress Circle.

The Dress Circle doesn’t offer a great raking in the seating, but the view is not affected by the overhang of the Royal Circle. 

The Royal Circle seats curve towards the stage more noticeably than the Dress Circle.

The Balcony feels very high in this theatre.

Harold Pinter Theatre - London Theatre

Opened in 1881 as the Royal Comedy Theatre, it became the Harold Pinter Theatre in 2011. It features four seating levels and hosted notable uncensored plays.

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The Harold Pinter Theatre is a historic venue in London's West End, known for hosting many notable performances. Convenient and easily accessible by public transit.

Ian McKellen to bring one-man show to the West End in autumn 2019

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