The London Palladium is one of the most prestigious performance venues in the world. Opening on Boxing Day 1910, the theatre burst onto the scene with the first ‘grand variety bill’ of its kind featuring acts as diverse as musical hall star Nellie Wallace and classical actor Martin Harvey. An all-star series of famous bill-toppers hit the stage in the 1920s, including daring illusionist Harry Houdini, the multi-talented Gracie Fields, and all-round entertainer Ivor Novello.
The Palladium was built by Walter Gibbons in 1910 and designed by renowned theatre architect Frank Matcham and boasts beautiful period architecture, most of which has been retained today. One of the largest theatres in London, the Palladium has undergone several refurbishments and updates to ensure the best sight-lines and most lavish interior is always maintained. Now owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber's LW Theatres, the London Palladium sees a wide variety of musicals and one-off concerts and events performed on its vast stage. Notable productions include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Sound of Music . The Palladium is also regularly used to record television specials, such as BAFTA Awards and Britain's Got Talent. Pantomime has also been associated with the venue since it opened and some of the biggest stars of the day have performed in the annual Christmas tradition, such as Julie Andrews in Cinderella and Tommy Cooper in Robinson Crusoe.
Seating
The whole auditorium offers excellent views due to the wide stage and steep rakes. There are no pillars or restrictive bars, and the overhang from upper tiers is limited. The best seats are typically found in the centre of the Stalls or the front of the Dress Circle especially for large-scale musicals, as the high, vast stage ensures that nothing will be missed. Good value seats can be found in the front row of the Upper Circle or the front rows of the Stalls.
Facilities
There are four bars in the theatre – the Val Parnell Suite, the Variety Bar in the Stalls, the Cinderella Bar in the Royal Circle, and the Long Bar in the Upper Circle. All of the bars serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a range of snacks. Cloakrooms are available and the theatre has an 'air cooling' system in place.
Access
The London Palladium currently has 2 accessible toilets and wheelchair spaces are available; The Stalls Bar (Variety Bar) and The Val Parnell Bar are fully accessible; Assistance dogs are welcome; Induction loops are located in the box offices in the main foyer and the Val Parnell corridor; Infra-Red audio enhancement systems are available for hearing-impaired guests. There are periodic scheduled assisted performances, including Audio-described, Captioned, BSL Interpreted and Relaxed performances; Access Hosts are available. See website Access at LW Theatres.
EVITA arrives at The London Palladium for 12 weeks only from 14 June 2025.
Details
- Address:
- The London Palladium
- W1F 7TF
- Transport:
- Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus - Bakerloo Line, Central Line & Victoria Line. Bus routes: 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 23, 25, 53, 55, 73, 88, 94, 98, 113, 137, 139, and 159