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West End and South Bank Theatre Walking Tour in London

4.9 Excellent 35 reviews
|
3h 30m
|
English
Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before Instant confirmation Live guide

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
35 reviews
5
33
4
2
3
0
2
0
1
0
Ratings collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor
Recommended by 100% of travellers: 35 four- and five-star reviews

Overview

Guidekin summary

Walk between the West End and South Bank to explore theatre history, with stops covering venues such as the Coliseum and Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Historic programmes and theatre artefacts are included; a moderate level of fitness is recommended. 4.94 from 35 reviews at €33 per person for 3h 30m.

From the guide

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!

Schedule & Availability

Runs daily
Departs: 10:30
Scheduled through December 2027

This tour runs daily, departing at 10:30. Scheduled through December 2027. These are the operator’s scheduled departures, not a live seat count: availability is confirmed at checkout. Schedule last checked October 1, 2026.

What's Included

Historic programmes & theatre artefacts

Itinerary

London Coliseum Stop 1
Learn the history of the Coliseum. The largest theatre in the West End!
5 min
Duke Of York Theatre Stop 2
Discover the many stars who made their debuts on this West End stage. Including Peter Pan!
5 min
Noel Coward Theatre Stop 3
Hear of the great productions of the past. The only theatre where two significant theatre giants ever shared a stage.
10 min
Learn of the history of this beautiful theatre Stop 4
See the bust of Shakespeare on the front - the only one in the West End!
5 min
Leicester Square Stop 5
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 min
Theatre Royal Haymarket Stop 6
A theatre favoured by both Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Judi Dench. There's also rumour of a haunting...
5 min
His Majesty's Theatre London Stop 7
The second oldest active theatre site in London. Also home to the second-longest running musical - The Phantom of the Opera!
5 min
Harold Pinter Theatre Stop 8
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 min
Prince of Wales Theatre Stop 9
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 min
Shaftesbury Avenue Stop 10
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 min
Lyric Theatre Stop 11
The oldest surviving theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue! Also the place where a British comedy icon tragically died...
5 min
Apollo Theatre Stop 12
The first Edwardian Theatre, opening in 1901. Also once home to a truly legendary production of our time!
5 min
Gielgud Theatre Stop 13
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 min
Sondheim Theatre Stop 14
Learn the history of Les Miserables, the world's longest-running musical. Also - a few famous faces who debuted here in the 80s!
5 min
Palace Theatre Stop 15
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 min
Ambassadors Theatre Stop 16
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 min
St. Martins Theatre Stop 17
Home of The Mousetrap - the world's longest-running play! Discover the history of this unlikely theatrical hit.
5 min
The Arts Theatre Stop 18
The West End's smallest theatre. Also once home to the most controversial play of all time!
5 min
Covent Garden Stop 19
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 min
Royal Ballet and Opera Stop 20
One of the oldest theatre spots in London - est 1732. Now home to the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet.
5 min
Fortune Theatre Stop 21
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 min
Theatre Royal Drury Lane Stop 22
The oldest active theatre spot in the West End. Discover the legends of the past who made their names on its legendary stage.
5 min
Lyceum Theatre Stop 23
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 min
National Theatre Stop 24
Hear about the history of our National Theatre. Also, the founder of the National, Laurence Olivier, stated the opposite.
10 min
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre Stop 25
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 min

Departure & Return

Start point

Across the street from Charing Cross Station.

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End point

Close to Shakespeare's Globe, with an excellent selection of food/drink places nearby and good transport links (London Bridge & Blackfriars.)

Additional Information

  • 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

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ daysFull refund
0-1 daysNo refund

Compared with other Walking Tours

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This tour · #50 of 92€333h 30m4.94 (35)shared
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Ranked #50 of 92 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €17 to €714, median €31; typical length 2h. 11 of 92 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 92 Walking Tours

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