The royal court is a place that divides opinions…read more Some call it pretentious, some innovative. Clearly being a stones throw away from Sloan Square Station it will attract the well-to-do spectator. The Royal Court Theatre is famed for its new writing, contemporary style and its inclusion of youth. It opens itself up to submissions from young writers and will often be overrun by budding play wrights and drama students. It sees big names in contemporary theatre such as Caryl Churchill and Jackie Kay but also sieves out some really interesting and varied performances from budding artists. I can't say everything I've seen there I'll be writing home about, but the last performance I went to see, Choir Boy in the upstairs space was the right mix of talent and entertainment, with a bit of moral dilemma thrown in. The space itself if pretty gorgeous. While the downstairs theatre is more traditional and larger, the upstairs space is more intimate. The audience are places so that they are literally staring directly at one another. Overall, I think it's a case of personal taste if you will bond with this theatre and its style.

It was a real thrill to get to return here on a recent re-visit to London…read more The theatre is well known in the arts community for its attention to new writing, experimental fare, and veteran artists, sometimes all in the same play. And it was clear that those objectives have remained a constant since the last time I was at the theatre in 2007. I had to book my ticket several weeks ahead from the USA, and appreciated that there were no extra service charges included in the purchase. Pickup was very efficient right at the main desk, and it seemed like the facilities have been attended to with care. Although my seat was in the middle of a horseshoe-shaped area of the theatre, it did not feel especially cramped. Thank you, Royal Court, for being a beacon of sustainability, class and creativity in London's theatre world!

An excellent venue. Comfortable seating. Courteous and efficient staff…read more Oliver! was a terrific production. The Sprague Terrace is an excellent add-on option for a quiet space, quality cocktails, and top notch bar staff. Plus, dedicated bathrooms usually with no line.

At 120 years old, the historic 1906 Gielgud Theatre still looks fine (with renovations). West End…read moretheatres are much smaller than most Broadway theaters, but I liked the intimacy to the stage. Many stars of stage and screen have graced Gielgud productions, including Maggie Smith, Alec Guinness, Michael Redgrave, Michael Gambon, Daniel Radcliffe, Richard Griffiths, Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Angela Lansbury. And of course the theatre's namesake Sir John Gielgud. We saw the latest production of Oliver! from director & choreographer Matthew Bourne. It was fabulous sitting in the Stalls Row E. It was a sold-out crowd, but the seats were comfortable and not too tight. My knees did not knock the seat in front of me. Acoustics were pretty good and we could see the back of the conductor's head. It was a bit difficult to get out during the Interval and make a beeline to the Gentlemen's room. More toilets in the theatre would be a huge plus. Sitting in the Stalls gave us a really quick side exit to the street after the show. For more Soho ideas, click the link below and Follow my Yelp Collection: London Soho & Chinatown Passport. https://www.yelp.com/collection/MxpW8LlXyDLsGWWpwuBssA/London-Soho-Chinatown-Passport

The Kings Head Theatre is one of the most famous theatres in London and it still produces excellent…read moreshows as well as a brilliant venue for live music. I used to come here every night when I was living in Angel. Its arty nonsense was a refreshing escape from social barriers of London life. Each night I would arrive about 9, alone with a sketchbook in hand, and within half an hour I would have made friends with artists, musicians, actors and television producers. Each night about 10pm, they have live music from regular bands, and jazz musicians singing their souls out. I felt completely comfortable being a girl on my own; I saw it as an education for life ;)

Five minutes walk from Angel tube station, the King's Head is a pub/theatre, and an ideal place to…read moredrink and enjoy a performance. Well recognised for a wide mix of classic and contemporary theatre it's famous for attracting an absorbing crowd to the admirable performances. We called to book tickets for a Wednesday evening, but we were told just to come along (I'd always ring to check though as popularity varies). So, after a drink in the bar area we headed upstairs to the theatre, wine glasses in hand. We watched 'The Rape of Lucrece', a narrative poem by Shakespeare. The acting was astonishingly good and I find it really remarkable to see a performance of such quality in such an intimate space. The theatre is the size of your living room and our seats were so close to the stage that I could see the sweat on the actor's face! After you can head back down to the bar to top up your wine and rave over what you just had the real pleasure of seeing. Often you're joined in the bar with the actors themselves which shows what a nice atmosphere this place has. For the love of theatre!

I visited Cadogan for the Stardew Valley music concert. It was an absolutely amazing music hall…read more They even had free water which was really nice. The sound was amazing, the acoustics are unmatched. I would love to see another orchestra here and would definitely go back.

Music hall converted from former church. Theater seating floor level. Second floor balcony 3 sides…read morewith church pews. Acoustic and lighting work was done to improve venue. Restrooms in basement

I love Wilton's music hall and what they've done with it: This is the oldest music hall in London…read morewhich over the last few years has been heavily restored. Turning a venue that was once in rack and ruin into a usable and stunningly unique location. It's just an absolutely spectacular, wonderfully warm, listed venue with amazing character. I adore everything about this place, the live music, the shows they put on, how you feel transported to another world, the vibe, the friendly and enthusiastic staff and they also have a fantastic selection of craft beers and do a decent glass of wine. They'll also recently opened an upstairs cocktail bar to coincide with work they've done to repair some of the rooms - converting these from unusable into spaces for performance work, rehearsals, meeting spaces. I recently dropped in with a friend whilst we were in the area, and were met with live music (free of charge) to accompany our drink and catch up. By chance we stood next to the building manager and fell into conversation with him. He pointed out how the local council had built the wall by the venue to be in keeping and with poster spaces, due to their support, described and pointed out the evidence of the old interior, the original features and how they'd decided intentionally to be sensitive to the re-construction, leaving the walls as they found them, to show the history, rather than to reproduce the interior in the image of a previous reincarnation, and thus not masking the signs of building evolution. Absolutely fascinating... They've also published a book about the history of the venue, on sale at the box office. I'd highly recommend a visit - It's one of my favourite haunts in this part of town, very reasonably priced too.

I was lucky enough to attend a KT Tunstall gig here as she launched her last album and was…read moreimpressed. It looks as if it is awaiting demolition, in fact we weren't sure we had the right place at first, but it is more than capable of hosting a top night. Wilton's oozes history and according to the website it is the world's oldest surviving grand music hall. The decor appears to be left exactly as it was whenever it was functioning full time and the run down tired look is actually part of its charm and character. It feels like you have broken into an abandoned auditorium and that you are experiencing something a little special and off the radar. The old wooden balcony may creak a bit but there's no chance of falling through. The stone walls are impressive too. It reminds me of the entrance to the Dragon's Den. Sadly Theo and the gang weren't there to give me any money so I had to settle with buying a drink instead. The staff here were very friendly and enthusiastic about the place and I can see why. The stage is quite low down and there weren't any barriers creating a void between you and the act. In fact people were practically on the stage. The acoustics were awesome too which really enhanced the acoustic songs which were performed that night. I loved my visit to Wilton's and if the opportunity to visit again arises I shall jump at the chance to go.

Got rush tickets to see Hadestown at the Lyric Theater. Easy check in process with minimal wait…read moreoutside. I wanted a program and the souvenir line was long. They did sell the programs at the bar. The restroom was nice and big and clean. We did have slightly obstructed view seating with some spots on stage not visible but overall did not disrupt the performance too much. It's a smaller theater so we could still see the action on stage clearly. Great show and it was cool to see it performed with a different cast.

Great theatre for Hadestown. Lines were quick and service efficient. There really isn't anything to…read morefuss about. All around small but excellent venue.

This is an interesting and historic pub just south of Angel tube, with a theatre upstairs and a…read moregood choice of real ales. There has been a pub on this site since 1453, although the current Grade-II listed building was designed by architects Eedle and Myers and completed in 1899. Thomas Paine wrote part of The Rights of Man in the previous building. Although it is hard to appreciate the architecture from the busy road outside, its listed status derives from the interesting amalgam of Classical, Renaissance and Jacobean styles in the façade, executed in red brick, granite and stucco, with lots of etched glazing and original ironwork. The front part of the interior, which includes the bar area, is also very traditional, with glazed wooden partitions, although the rear section is - in rather stark contrast - just a big empty space with dull maroon banquettes in need of some tlc. The main event is a good range of real ales (currently including Fuller's London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter, and Woodforde's Wherry Bitter) and, of course, the theatre upstairs, which specialises in Fringe and new writing. It has been listed in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide since 2009. Service was pretty good on my last visit, although unfortunately two of the beers ran out in quick succession. Busy after work and before the theatre starts.

This is a very nice olde style pub. The dominant red interior decor makes the place feel cosier,…read morewhich is obviously a bonus. The divider to the right as you enter is particularly attractive, although ultimately pointless. There is a theater upstairs if beer isn't entertaining enough for you. Or you can stick downstairs and play various games. Beers Sussex Best, Landlord and 1 less interesting beer I have forgotten. As common beers go, not a bad choice. Pub on this site for over 500 years, back when it was a village with fields n that.

I sat in the stalls and had a ball…read more I saw Back to the Future: The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre while I was in London for a week. I went after my first night in town, and it was so good that if someone offered me a ticket to see it again, I'd say, "I'm down." I was really puzzled by how they got the car to flip all the way around. Some of the songs are still stuck in my head. I even sing them right before going to bed. I'm so glad I saw this show. It felt like a gift wrapped up in a bow.

We came for the Sunday matinee of Back to the Future. Fresh off our flight from LAX, I never waste…read moreanytime fitting in as many shows as possible when in town. We had soooo much fun! This production is outstanding! We saw Back to the Future, Cabaret and Crazy for You this trip. I can't compare the three since all of them are completely different but I highly recommend this show for something fun and casual. You will not be disappointed. This is also a very family friendly show, the kids in the theatre seemed to enjoy it even if they aren't an 80s baby like me :) Very fun time! Can't ever do theatre in London without ice-cream at intermission, it's mandatory for me. This theatre doesn't have vegan options as our Cabaret production did but I'm consistently on mint chip as a little intermission refresher. If you get tix and haven't seen the movie in awhile I think it'd be fun to watch it first. I didn't have a clue about the movie since it's been forever since I've seen it, but still had a blast - so many laughs and so enjoyable.