Located on Sloane Square in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Royal Court Theatre is a reputed West End house. One of the oldest theatres in London, the Royal Court Theatre opened in 1870 under the name The New Chelsea Theatre. One year later, Walter Emden was hired to remodel the theatre’s interiors and it was renamed the Court Theatre. After hosting some successful productions, the theatre underwent another remodel in 1888 under the stewardship of Walter Emden and Bertie Crewe. The theatre was renamed the New Court Theatre during this time and remains the site of the current theatre.
The ownership of the theatre was passed around a lot in its 149 years of existence and it was acquired by the English Stage Company in 1956, who own it to date. By the late 90s, the theatre, while still retaining its attractive facade and main auditorium, had began deteriorating rapidly and came very close to shutting down. To help the theatre stay afloat, a grant of £16.2 million was offered by the National Lottery and Arts Council. Stephen Daldry led the redevelopment and the new theatre opened in February 2000.
While the Royal Court Theatre hosted a variety of productions, the late 90s saw a growing prominence of international plays and new writing. Some of the notable productions hosted in the Royal Court Theatre include Look Back in Anger, Exit the King, A Patriot for Me, The Rocky Horror Show, My Night With Reg, The Weir, Crave, The Sugar Syndrome, The Seagull, That Face, Posh, Hangmen, The Ferryman and countless others. Our Royal Court Theatre seating plan guide has all the information you are likely to need.
Venue Details
Address: Sloane Square, Chelsea, London SW1W 8AS, UK
Opened: 1870
Seating Capacity: 389
Stalls : 213
Circle: 112
Balcony: 64
Seating Chart
Check out the Royal Court Theatre Seating Plan here.
Now Playing at Royal Court Theatre London
Practical Information
Section Accessibility
Stalls: The stalls can be accessed via 21 steps down from the foyer.
Circle: You can access the circle section via 11 steps from the foyer. Alternatively, you can take the customer lift available at the accessible entrance.
Balcony: The balcony section can be accessed via 18 steps up from the foyer. Patrons can also reach this section by taking the customer lift present at the accessible entrance.
Available Facilities
Wheelchair Accessible: In the stalls section, there are 5 wheelchair spaces available. There are three such spaces in the centre of row J and one each at the end of row K. There are two additional transfer seats available in the central aisle of row K. In the balcony, there's always at least one wheelchair space available, but this varies according to the show that's playing. Please check with the theatre staff before booking your tickets.
Restroom: Accessible toilets are available on the stalls and circle levels of the Royal Court Theatre. There are general men's and women's toilets available as well in the stalls, circle and balcony sections. All the toilets are fitted with an emergency pull cord flashing lights to warn patrons of a fire.
Bar: The Basement Bar is 11 steps down from the stalls section. The customer lift can also be used to access the bar. In the circle section, the bar can be accessed via the customer lift, which leads to the Bar and Kitchen section. Patrons seated in the balcony can visit the Balcony Bar on the first floor, which is 18 steps up from the balcony and levels with the seats. This bar is also accessible via the customer lift.
Assistive Listening System: Infrared systems can be accessed using Sennheiser headsets available at the cloakroom in the stalls section. The Royal Court Theatre also has an inbuilt induction loop for patrons who require hearing aids. Sennheiser necklaces are available for patrons to convert them into personal induction loops. These can also be collected at the cloakroom.
Cloakroom: A cloakroom is available in the stalls section to hold small bags and other items for patrons for the duration of the show.
Handy Tips
- Guide and hearing dogs are allowed inside the Royal Court Theatre. Please let the theatre management know about the guide dog when booking the tickets so that they can arrange either an aisle seat or arrange for a staff member to take care of the dog.
- The balcony section has very limited legroom and should be avoided by tall patrons. If you need extra legroom, opt for seats in row K of the stalls section.
- Captioned performances are available for deaf or hard of hearing patrons. These performances are also suitable for patrons who don't have English as their first language. Please contact the theatre box office for further details on captioned performances.
- The Royal Court Theatre is equipped with its very own restaurant, the Royal Court's Bar & Kitchen. The menu features simple yet flavor-focused dishes and an excellent selection of drinks. The Bar & Kitchen is accessible from street level through the theatre’s side entrance.
- If you're getting your own vehicle, take advantage of Q-Park's Theatreland Parking Scheme. To avail a discount of 50% on your parking fee, just present your Q-Park car-park ticket for validation at the theatre box office.
Getting There
Located in Sloane Square, the Royal Court Theatre is easily accessible via many means of public transport. Here are the most popular choices you can pick from:
Tube: The Sloane Square underground station, accessible via District and Circle lines, is located within walking distance of the theatre.
Bus: The Royal Court Theatre is just 15 minutes away from National Rail and Victoria Bus stations.
Vehicle: If you're bringing your own vehicle, there's a Q-Park in Pimlico, a mere 15 minutes away from the theatre. You can also opt for the Blue Badge parking bay on Sloane Terrace.The nearest car parks are located in Bloomsbury Square and Lincoln Inn Field. A NCP underground car park is also available in Parker Street.
Restaurants near Royal Court Theatre London
1. Caraffini: Dine on traditional Italian dishes with a modern edge served in a neat blue/cream dining room with framed art.
2. Colbert: This high-end French cafe features a trio of rooms with art nouveau, art deco and Victorian features.
3. Boisdale of Belgravia: Experience traditional Scottish delicacies at this restaurant that serves a variety of whiskies, a cigar terrace, and live jazz.
4. Enoteca Turi: Gorge on regional Italian cuisine and choose from a notable wine list at this elegant, family-run venue.
5. The Antelope: This traditional pub with wood paneling, etched windows, stripped floors and a classic English menu.
6. Oliveto: Visit this bright, lively restaurant behind an olive-coloured facade, for their regional Sardinian dishes and pizza.
More West End Guides
For more West End information, here are some helpful quick links!
FAQs: Royal Court Theatre London
