The Lyric Theatre London opened on 17th December, 1888 with the hit comic opera, ‘Dorothy’. The theatre was designed by renowned architect, C.J Phipps for Henry J. Leslie, who financed the construction of this new theater from the profits he made from ‘Dorothy’. The Lyric Theatre, today, is one of four theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue, the others being the Apollo, Gielgud, and Queens.
An interesting fact about this theatre is that it still uses water to operate its iron curtains. Originally this water was sourced from the Thames River using hydraulically operated lifts, but now this is done using an electric pump.
Some of the most popular and well received productions to have graced the stage here include ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘Five Guys Named Moe’, ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’, and ‘Cabaret’.
Venue Details
Address: 29 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London W1D 7ES, UK
Opened: 1888
Seating Capacity: 887
Stalls: 356
Dress Circle: 148
Upper Circle: 178
Balcony: 205
Seating Chart: Check out the Lyric Theatre London Seating Plan here.
Practical Information
Accessible Seating
Wheelchair user access is located in the Dress Circle Boxes, which are at street level. Wheelchair spaces are in boxes C, D, and E and each box can accommodate 3 people.
Available Facilities
Assistive Listening System: There is no assistive listening system in place at the venue.
Bar: There are bars located at each level of the theatre.
Cloakroom: There is a cloakroom at the theatre, where large bags and pushchairs can be checked in for £1.
Guide Dogs: Lyric Theatre allows guide dogs in the theatre. In case you deem the sound too loud, the theatre staff is happy to look after your guide dog. Please note that the theatre can dog sit only two dogs at a time.
Toilets: There are male and female toilets on each level of the theatre. The disabled toilets can be accessed from the Dress Circle.
Handy Tips
- Make sure you book your tickets as soon as possible. The earlier you reserve your seats, higher the chances of you getting good seats at a decent price.
- Ensure that you come on time for your show. Most West End shows do not entertain latecomers and the few that do, expect you to be as quiet as a mouse as you try to find your seats. Better to save yourself and others the trouble and be there at least 10-15 minutes before the show.
- Snacks can be brought into the auditorium but please note that hot food will not be allowed inside.
- The theatre is air conditioned, so be sure to carry a light sweater in case it gets chilly.
Getting There
Tube: The nearest tube stations to the theater are Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly Line) and Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly Lines).
Bus:
For Shaftesbury Avenue: 12, 14, 19, 38.
For Regent Street take: 6, 15, 23, 88, 93, 139, 159, 453.
Rail: The nearest station is Charing Cross.
Restaurants near Lyric Theatre London
1. Jamie's Italian: Featuring recipes loved and used by Jamie Oliver, Jamie's Italian brings delicious traditional Italian dishes, which are perfect for a meal before or after the show.
2. Wok to Walk: Another healthy fast food outlet, this place offers great woks and chinese starters at amazing prices. Wok to Walk is one of London’s most highly rated eateries.
3. Gelupo: For all you people with a sweet tooth! Gelupo is famous for its mouth-watering gelatos, ice creams and sorbets. Perfect for a post-theatre snack.
4. Wasabi: A Japanese restaurant located at 33 Shaftesbury Avenue, Wasabi is well known for its sushis and super fast service.
5. Rainforest Cafe: A simple cafe serving up some American and European comfort food like burgers, steaks and sandwiches, this place is perfect for families and little kids.
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