London is literally teeming with theatres and it's hard to not find one with over 100 to choose from. Take a wander around the streets and discover the often tumultuous past of London's most famous theatres.
Home to the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House was opened in 1732 in Covent Garden as one of only two that were allowed to present 'legitimate' theatre. Originally called the Covent Garden Theatre, it suffered from a terrible fire in 1808 which gutted the original. A new theatre was built but this also burnt down in 1856. The third and final theatre was built in 1892 and renamed The Royal Opera House before a 210 million refit in 1996.
Don't be surprised if you hear screams of "It's behind you!" at the Palladium, the home of the pantomime. Its history can be traced back to 1870, when a hall known as The Corinthian Bazaar was built on the site of the Duke of Argyll's residence - where the current theatre stands on Argyll Street. It is nestled neatly between some of London's most famous streets including Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street.
Built around 200m from the site of the original on the Southbank is the modern reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe, which we know today. It finally opened in 1997 after taking over 20 years to be built and was recreated to reflect as much of the original Globe as possible. It's an absolute must to visit when staying in cheap hotels in the city this summer for a theatre experience unlike any other.
If you can tear yourself away from the beautiful facade, The Royal Albert Hall is a must to visit. It was built to fulfil the vision of Queen Victoria's consort Prince Albert of a 'central hall' that would be used to promote the Arts and Science. He requested that it be built at the heart of the South Kensington estate and be surrounded by museums and galleries.
Home to the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House was opened in 1732 in Covent Garden as one of only two that were allowed to present 'legitimate' theatre. Originally called the Covent Garden Theatre, it suffered from a terrible fire in 1808 which gutted the original. A new theatre was built but this also burnt down in 1856. The third and final theatre was built in 1892 and renamed The Royal Opera House before a 210 million refit in 1996.
Don't be surprised if you hear screams of "It's behind you!" at the Palladium, the home of the pantomime. Its history can be traced back to 1870, when a hall known as The Corinthian Bazaar was built on the site of the Duke of Argyll's residence - where the current theatre stands on Argyll Street. It is nestled neatly between some of London's most famous streets including Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street.
Built around 200m from the site of the original on the Southbank is the modern reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe, which we know today. It finally opened in 1997 after taking over 20 years to be built and was recreated to reflect as much of the original Globe as possible. It's an absolute must to visit when staying in cheap hotels in the city this summer for a theatre experience unlike any other.
If you can tear yourself away from the beautiful facade, The Royal Albert Hall is a must to visit. It was built to fulfil the vision of Queen Victoria's consort Prince Albert of a 'central hall' that would be used to promote the Arts and Science. He requested that it be built at the heart of the South Kensington estate and be surrounded by museums and galleries.
About the Author:
Steve Alexander is a writer with a good knowledge of London. Click here for a detailed guide to the capital with information on top things to do, nightlife and shopping facilities.
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