How many london theatres are there? and what are the best known venues

London, West End & Fringe Theatre Venues

London is renowned for its theatre scene, and the West End is the hub of this entertainment industry. With dozens of theatres throughout the city, it can be hard to keep track of them all. However, if you’re planning a trip to see a West End show, you’ll want to know about the best-known venues, including those on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Table of Contents

The West End is home to over 40 theatres, each with its own unique character and history. These venues have been showcasing the best of London’s theatre productions for decades and attract visitors from around the world. Among the most famous venues on Shaftesbury Avenue are:

Apollo Theatre: The Apollo Theatre has a rich history, having been in operation since 1901. It has been the home of many successful productions, including The Sound of Music and Wicked.
Lyric Theatre: The Lyric Theatre opened in 1888 and has a seating capacity of over 900. It has hosted many notable productions over the years, including the original production of Blood Brothers.
Palace Theatre: The Palace Theatre is one of the largest venues in the West End, with a seating capacity of over 1,400. It has been the home of many high-profile productions, including Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera.
Queen’s Theatre: The Queen’s Theatre opened in 1907 and has a seating capacity of over 1,000. It is currently the home of Les Miserables, which has been running at the venue for over 35 years.
Shaftesbury Theatre: The Shaftesbury Theatre has a rich history, having been in operation since 1911. It has been the home of many popular productions, including Hairspray and Motown the Musical.
Apollo Victoria Theatre: The Apollo Victoria Theatre is one of the largest venues in the West End, with a seating capacity of over 2,300. It has been the home of many successful productions, including Wicked and The Lion King.
Prince of Wales Theatre: The Prince of Wales Theatre is a historic venue that has been in operation since 1884. It has hosted many notable productions over the years, including The Book of Mormon and Mamma Mia!
Gielgud Theatre: The Gielgud Theatre opened in 1906 and has a seating capacity of over 900. It has been the home of many successful productions, including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Company.
Noel Coward Theatre: The Noel Coward Theatre is a historic venue that has been in operation since 1903. It has been the home of many successful productions, including The Inheritance and The Children’s Hour.
Savoy Theatre: The Savoy Theatre opened in 1881 and has a seating capacity of over 1,100. It has been the home of many notable productions over the years, including Gypsy and Dreamgirls.

In addition to these venues on Shaftesbury Avenue, there are many other notable theatres throughout the West End. These include the Adelphi Theatre, Aldwych Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Dominion Theatre, Duke of York’s Theatre, Garrick Theatre, Harold Pinter Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, London Coliseum, London Palladium, Lyceum Theatre, Playhouse Theatre, St Martin’s Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Trafalgar Theatre, Vaudeville Theatre, Victoria Palace Theatre, Watergate Theatre, and Wyndham’s Theatre.

Full list of London theatres (or at least the most notable one’s).

Adelphi Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
Ambassadors Theatre (London)
Apollo Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Arts Theatre
Cambridge Theatre
Criterion Theatre
Dominion Theatre
Duchess Theatre
Duke of York’s Theatre
Garrick Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
Harold Pinter Theatre
Her Majesty’s Theatre
London Coliseum
London Palladium
Lyceum Theatre, London
Lyric Theatre, London
Palace Theatre, London
Peacock Theatre
Phoenix Theatre, London
Piccadilly Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
Prince Edward Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
St Martin’s Theatre
Savoy Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
Theatre Royal Haymarket
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Trafalgar Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Watergate Theatre, London
Wyndham’s Theatre