Free Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
Free Cancellation
October 21100% refund
October 22No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Please select a travel date and travelers to show booking options.
Inclusions / Exclusions
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Historic programmes & theatre artefacts
Overview
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!
Itinerary
London Coliseum
Learn the history of the Coliseum. The largest theatre in the West End!
5 minutes
Duke of York's Theatre
Discover the many stars who made their debuts on this West End stage. Including Peter Pan!
5 minutes
Noel Coward Theatre
Hear of the great productions of the past. The only theatre where two significant theatre giants ever shared a stage.
10 minutes
N/A
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The oldest surviving theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue! Also the place where a British comedy icon tragically died...
5 minutes
Apollo Theatre
The first Edwardian Theatre, opening in 1901. Also once home to a truly legendary production of our time!
5 minutes
Gielgud Theatre
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
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
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
Ambassadors Theatre
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
Home of The Mousetrap - the world's longest-running play! Discover the history of this unlikely theatrical hit.
5 minutes
The Arts Theatre
The West End's smallest theatre. Also once home to the most controversial play of all time!
5 minutes
Covent Garden
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
One of the oldest theatre spots in London - est 1732. Now home to the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet.
5 minutes
Fortune Theatre
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
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
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
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
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
Sample Menu
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Free Cancellation
October 21100% refund
October 22No refund
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
5 stars
27
4 stars
2
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
We perform checks on reviews
We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her
Reviews by TravelOne travelers
Showing 1-5 of 27 reviews with 5 stars
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Really informative and enjoyable tour - highly recommend
Published on Mar, 2025
Charlie was an extremely informative and friendly guide. We had a small group of only three on my tour, which meant we were able to ask lots of questions of Charlie as we wandered to each of the theatres. Not only did we learn about the history of the theatres, Charlie pointed out a number of significant spots around the West End and Covent Garden that I hadn't realised the significance of when wandering the streets on my own.
The tour route was more or less completely flat with a number of regular stops (including bathroom and rest stops) so is suitable for almost anyone. If you're not a big walker, I wouldn't recommend adding on the Southbank portion of tour as it does end up being a big walk but if you like a good walk, then it's definitely worth doing as you get to learn about the National Theatre and see the Globe.
Very good value and an enjoyable day out in London - thank you, Charlie!
Excellent walking tour! ...
Published on Sep, 2024
Excellent walking tour! Charlie does a great job! Didn’t realize there were that many theatre's in the West End.
Excellent walking tour! ...
Published on Sep, 2024
Excellent walking tour! Charlie does a great job! Didn’t realize there were that many theatre's in the West End.
A MUST-DO TOUR FOR FANS OF LONDON THEATRE AND/OR ITS HISTORY
Published on Apr, 2024
Charlie is EXCELLENT. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the West End and its theatre history and he conveyed it authoritatively. He also was genuinely interested in our own knowledge and interests. He supplements his verbal narratives with interesting and possibly rare printed materials relating to the individual theatres; plays and musicals; actors and actresses; and city history. This tour is a MUST if you are a fan of London's rich theatre history. By the way, the weather was not good: signficant wind; cloudy skies with intermittent rain; chilly temperatures. Yet his tour was so good the weather didn't bother us until towards the very end of the tour. We enjoyed it so much!
A MUST-DO TOUR FOR FANS OF LONDON THEATRE AND/OR ITS HISTORY
Published on Apr, 2024
Charlie is EXCELLENT. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the West End and its theatre history and he conveyed it authoritatively. He also was genuinely interested in our own knowledge and interests. He supplements his verbal narratives with interesting and possibly rare printed materials relating to the individual theatres; plays and musicals; actors and actresses; and city history. This tour is a MUST if you are a fan of London's rich theatre history. By the way, the weather was not good: signficant wind; cloudy skies with intermittent rain; chilly temperatures. Yet his tour was so good the weather didn't bother us until towards the very end of the tour. We enjoyed it so much!
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