Get ready to witness the greatest of Shakespeare's plays at Shakespeare's Globe including Much Ado About Nothing, Henry VIII, The Tempest, Julius Caesar, and King Lear. A new play about Joan of Arc called I, Joan will also be staged at Shakespeare's Globe in summer 2022. Watch the bard's greatest works the way they were intended to be watched in the majestic wooden 'O'.
Shakespeare Globe Theatre London - In a Nutshell
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 11 AM - 6 PM
Saturdays: 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Know before you go
Best time to visit: June - August
Starting Prices for Shakespeare Globe Theatre London Tickets cost £30 for an adult
Suggested duration: Most plays are about 1 hour duration
Location: London
Address
21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, United Kingdom
Just a 3-minute walk from the Millennium Bridge.
Get there
Where can I buy London Shakespeare Globe Theatre Tickets?
You can purchase Shakespeare Globe Tickets online and skip the hassle of waiting in queues at the ticket counter. Once you complete purchasing the Shakespeare Globe Tickets, you will receive your tickets via email. This ticket must be printed and presented at the counter for entry. Unfortunately, e-tickets are not accepted here.
Plays at Shakespeare Globe Theatre
Check out the plays currently running at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre and grab your tickets before they sell out!
Shakespeare Globe Theatre Tour Deconstructed
- The Shakespeare Globe Theatre is the ultimate ode to Shakespeare and his body of work. A perfect tour for literary and theatre enthusiasts, a visit to the theatre offers a fascinating peek into the history of English Theatre.
- The theatre is an authentic replica of the original Globe, right down to the materials used and the architecture. The building uses just wood and plaster and is closest to the historical description and archaeological remains of the old structure.
- Learn about Elizabethan Theatre and how plays were performed in the 16th century in the open-air theatre. From the creation of sound effects to the costumes and makeup, the tour offers an insight into the working of theatre.
- Discover objects, costumes, documents and other unique artefacts related to Shakespeare and the Globe in the exhibition, which is the largest exhibition dedicated to Shakespeare.
Shakespeare Globe Theatre London History
The 16th century was a dark period for theatre as it was associated with pleasures of the lowly classes. Yet, it didn’t stop the people from creating their own spaces for plays across the River Thames, outside the City walls. In 1599, Shakespeare’s play company ‘Lord Chamberlain’s Men’ built the Globe Theatre, which was burned down in a fire. The company resurrected the theatre in the same location but had to be destroyed by the Puritan government in 1642.
In 1997, Sam Wanamaker worked against the odds and replicated the Theatre in Southwark about 230 metres away from the original Globe Theatre. Today, it is a living shrine dedicated to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre history and continues to perform Shakespeare’s best plays!
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
- The schedule varies on the performances and plays held in the theatre.
- However the general timings are from 11 AM to 6 PM from Monday to Friday.
- On the weekends the theatre opens at 10 AM and closes at 6 PM on Saturdays and 5 PM on Sundays.
Getting to Shakespeare Globe Theatre
By Train and Underground
Closest Underground Stations to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre - Mansion House (District & Circle Lines), Southwark (Jubilee Line), London Bridge (Northern & Jubilee Lines), and St Paul’s (Central Line)
Closest Overground Station to the Shakespeare Globe London - Cannon Street, Waterloo and London Bridge
By Bus
The closest bus station is the Southwark Street stop, however these other stops are convenient and within 0.5 miles of the theatre.
- 381 to Southwark Street
- 45, 63, 100 to Blackfriars Bridge
- 15, 17 to Cannon Street
- 11, 15, 17, 23, 26, 76 to Mansion House
- 344 to Southwark Bridge Road
- RV1 to Sumner Street
By Boat
Bankside Pier located near Southwark Bridge is just 10 metres from Shakespeare’s Globe, and has services every 20 minutes until late night.
Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is available at 24 piers throughout London. They are accessible via prams, wheelchair and mobility scooters except for the London Bridge, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter and Cadogan piers. Book online to save your time and dime!
Parking
- Those with a blue disability card can access the limited parkings at the New Globe Walk.
- There is an NCP car park on Thames Exchange just a 10 minute walk away from the theatre
Best Time to Visit Shakespeare Globe Theatre
The warm weather and longer days make summer - June to August the best time to visit the Globe Theatre. You can enjoy outdoor performances of Shakespeare's plays, as well as other live entertainment. The theatre is also a great place to explore on a sunny day, with its thatched roof and open-air design.
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, autumn - September to November is a great time to visit the Globe Theatre. The weather is still pleasant and you can avoid the crowds that flock to the city in summer. You can also take advantage of the many Halloween events and activities that take place in London at this time of year.
Shakespeare Globe Theatre: Map
Get Directions on Google Map
Insider Tips for Visiting the Shakespeare Globe Theatre
- Since the Shakespeare Globe Theatre is a working theatre, you cannot enter without a ticket to the tour or a ticket to a show. Hence, it is a great idea to purchase tickets to the tour to experience it at any time of the year.
- The Shakespeare Globe Exhibition is access friendly and has wheelchair and lift access to all parts of the exhibition and tour. There are audio guide headphones, printed transcripts, and Braille panels all over the exhibition. There is also a dedicated Access Helpline and Desk for further assistance.
- Time your visit so you can enjoy the Afternoon Tea at Swan, the in-house restaurant at the Globe. The tea menu is inspired by Shakespeare’s popular play A Midsummer’s Night Dream
- Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop, literature enthusiasts will find a lot of quirky souvenirs and Shakespeare merchandise.
- If you are visiting the theatre only for the exhibition and tour then go early, preferably for the 9:30 AM tour as you can avoid the theatre crowds.
FAQs: Shakespeare Globe Theatre, London
We think that the first Shakespeare play to be performed at the original Globe was Julius Caesar, in 1599. Other playwrights wrote for the Globe too, including Ben Jonson, Thomas Dekker and John Fletcher. The Globe Theatre you see today in London is the third Globe.
What plays were performed at the Globe? Probably the first Shakespeare play to be performed at the Globe was Julius Caesar, in 1599. Some other Shakespeare plays first performed there are: As You Like It; Hamlet; Measure for Measure; Othello; King Lear; Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra.
London
The first Globe, based on the skeleton of the original Theatre of 1576, was unique not just as the most famous example of that peculiar and short-lived form of theatre design but because it was actually the first to be built specifically for an existing acting company and financed by the company itself.
By May 1599, the new theatre was ready to be opened. Burbage named it the Globe after the figure of Hercules carrying the globe on his back - for in like manner the actors carried the Globe's framework on their backs across the Thames.
