Opened in November 1899, almost 119 years back, the Wyndham's Theatre is a popular West End house. The theatre is located at St. Martin's Court on Charing Cross Road in Westminster. Charles Wyndham, a famous British actor and manager, opened this theatre, along with the Criterion Theatre. Work on the theatre began in 1898 under the supervision of architect W G R Sprague and opened in 1899 in the presence of the Prince of Wales. The theatre features a Victorian-style exterior and is ideal to host both plays and musicals. Transfers from the National Theatre and the Royal Court are regularly hosted in the theatre. While the original design of the theatre featured only three seating sections, the refurbished theatre has four distinct seating sections. In 2005, the theatre was acquired by Cameron Mackintosh's Delfont-Mackintosh Ltd but closed temporarily in 2008 for renovation. In 2006, the theatre was officially Grade II listed by the English Heritage.
Since it first opened in 1899, the Wyndham's Theatre has played host to some truly iconic productions, ranging from big splashy musicals to quiet, reflective plays. Some of the most memorable performances include The Living Room, Godspell, Up for Grabs, As You Like It, Honour, Sunday in the Park With George, The History Boys, Ivanov, Twelfth Night, Madame de Sade, Hamlet, The Kite Runner, Relatively Speaking, The Price, and many others.Let's take a closer look at the details pertaining to Wyndham’s Theatre.
Venue Details
Address: Charing Cross Rd, Covent Garden, London WC2H 0DA, UK
Opened: 16 November 1899
Seating Capacity: 746
Stalls : 363
Royal Circle: 173
Grand Circle: 114
Balcony: 96
Seating Chart
Check out the Wyndham's Theatre Seating Plan here.
Practical Information
Section Accessibility
Stalls: The stalls are accessible via 21 steps down from the foyer with support handrails in place. There's an alternate entrance on Charing Cross road which also connects to the stalls via 8 steps down.
Royal Circle: This section can be accessed through 23 steps up from the foyer. You can also reach the royal circle section via an accessible entrance on Charing Cross road. This entrance is just three steps to the wheelchair spaces in box 3.
Grand Circle: You can reach the grand circle by climbing up 40 steps from the foyer. This section is not recommended for patrons with limited mobility.
Balcony: The balcony is a whopping 96 steps from the foyer although there are handrails in place. Again, patrons with limited mobility should definitely avoid this section.
Available Facilities
Wheelchair Accessibility: Only the royal circle section has provisions for wheelchair users. The box 3 has wheelchair spaces and transfers are also available in this section.
Restroom: There are men's and women's toilets in the stalls that can be accessed via 8 steps. Men's and women's toilets are available in the royal circle, grand circle, and balcony sections as well. A partially adapted toilet is available in the royal circle box but it cannot accommodate a wheelchair.
Bar: The stalls bar is the biggest in the theatre and also offers at-seat service for patrons unable to access it. The royal circle bar is not step-free and doesn't have seating available. There's no bar in the grand circle section and a no-seats bar is available in the balcony.
Assistive Listening System: The Wyndham's Theatre is equipped with an infrared system to enhance sound quality. There are 20 pair of headsets available at the stalls kiosk and cloakroom. Photo ID is required to get the headset and given the limited quantity available, you should try and get yours as soon as possible.
Cloakroom: A cloakroom is available in the theatre where patrons can store their small bags and luggage.
Handy Tips
- Unlike most other theatres, Wyndham's Theatre allows for guide dogs inside the auditorium. If the patrons so wish, the theatre staff can look after the dog for the duration of the show.
- For children and adults on the autism spectrum, the theatre provides a visual tool the parents or carers can use during the performance to ensure everyone has a good experience.
- The Wyndham's Theatre offers luxury packages like the Champagne packages and VIP packages to give their patrons a truly special West End experience. Call the theatre management to learn more about these packages and how you can avail them.
- Since there are no customer lifts in the Wyndham's Theatre, the theatre staff is always on hand to assist patrons. In the royal circle section in particular for wheelchair transfers, the staff can assist with navigation and other access needs.
- If you are looking for seats with decent legroom, opt for seats in rows C to E of the royal circle.
Getting There
Located between the prime London localities of Leicester Square and Covent Garden, the Wyndham's Theatre is pretty easy to get to. Here are some of the most feasible public transport options you can choose from.
Tube: Alight at the Leicester Square tube station which is right next to the Wyndham's Theatre. This station is serviced by the Northern and Piccadilly lines. You can also get off at Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden stations.
Bus: There are plenty of bus lines passing through the Wyndham's Theatre including 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 23, 24, 87, 88, 91, 139, and 453.
Parking: The closest car parks from the Wyndham's Theatre are the Q-Parks located in Chinatown and Trafalgar Square.
Restaurants near Wyndham's Theatre London
1. Sartori: Enjoy Neapolitan wood-fired pizza and Southern Italian cuisine in a modern, exposed brick dining room.
2. Piazza: Featuring a whitewashed interior with wooden floors and beams, this diner serves pizza, pasta, and char-grilled dishes.
3. Five Guys: This famous American fast-food chain serves made-to-order burgers, fries and hot dogs plus free peanuts while you wait.
4. Spaghetti House: This contemporary chain restaurant features a rich, 60-year long history and serves Italian pizza and pasta dishes.
5. Wagamama: Visit this Asian-inspired, Japanese chain restaurant where dishes are served to long communal tables.
6. Sticks'n'Sushi: Try this Japanese restaurant based on a famous Danish concept for their sushi and grilled yakitori skewers.
Frequently asked questions about Wyndham's Theatre
Where is Wyndham's theatre, London located?
What is the seating capacity of Wyndham's theatre, London?
Does Wyndham's theatre, London have accessible seating?
What are the facilities available at Wyndham's theatre, London?
Which is the nearest tube station to Wyndham's theatre, London?
More West End Guides
For more West End information, here are some helpful quick links!
