London Coliseum opened on Christmas Eve in 1904 for the theatre impresario Sir Oswald Stoll, whose ambition (alongside architech Frank Matcham) was to create the largest and finest music hall of the age, described at the time as the "people's palace of entertainment". Since then The Coliseum has been used to stage countless events and shows for more than 100 years and has been the home of English National Opera and English National Ballet since 1968. In 2000, a four-year refurbishment began to restore some of the Grade II listed building's original Edwardian features and improve many of the facilities in the venue.
With a seating capacity of 2,359, the London Coliseum houses the largest auditorium in the West End, hosting many spectacular productions on its huge 80ft wide stage. In 1968 the Sadler’s Wells Opera Company occupied the building, and has been there ever since becoming the English National Opera in 1974. London Coliseum is also the London home of the touring English National Ballet, and acclaimed performances at the theatre include The Magic Flute, The Barber of Seville, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, as well as musicals Chess, Hairspray, My Fair Lady and We Will Rock You.
The London Coliseum is now home to the Tony Award®-winning musical The Great Gatsby until 7th September 2025 and is guaranteed to be the party of the century. Fresh from its current smash-hit success on Broadway, this “shimmering, sparkling spectacle” (Variety) “explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly) and is not to be missed.
Seating
Seats in the centre of the Stalls are typically the best in the house in terms of sight and sound. The Stalls also has access to the Veuve Cliquot champagne bar – the perfect spot for a luxury interval refreshment. Alternatively, sitting in the front of the Dress Circle ensures a cinematic view of the entire stage. For good value seats, front-side seats in each section are generally better value than rear-central seats.
Facilities
There are four bars on every level of the auditorium selling a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks. There are some delicious dining options also available. Ice creams are available on every level during the interval. There is a cloakroom in the foyer and toilets are available on all levels of the theatre. Accessible toilets are available on most levels.
Access
The London Coliseum is committed to making theatre available to everyone and for every performance a dedicated Access Supervisor is available to provide additional assistance to customers with access needs. There are dedicated spaces and provisions for wheelchair users, guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome inside the auditorium and for English National Opera performances, a screen is used above the stage to project English surtitles.
Details
- Address:
- St Martin's Lane
- WC2N 4ES
- Contact:
- https://londoncoliseum.org/
- 020 7845 9300
- Transport:
- Leicester Square and Charing Cross Tube stations