London’s theatres and cinemas

The majority of London's "theatre land" theatres are around Shaftsbury Avenue

The Dominion Theatre is a theatre located on Tottenham Court Road. Originally a cinema, it is still sometimes used for movie premieres, but mainly hosts live stage shows and concerts.

Theatre Royal Drury Lane a cockpit of a large house owned by Drury family was converted into a theatre during the reign of King James 1 of England and many of Shakespeare’s plays were on. After the Great Fire of London it was rebuilt by Christopher Wren. Nowadays it is one of the West End’s largest seating a audience of well over 2,000. It is now used for major productions such as Miss Saigon and My Fair Lady.

London’s Palladium is the most famous of London’s West End theatres. If you top the bill at the Palladium, you’re a star. In the 1950s it was the setting for the top-rated ITV variety show Sunday Night at the London Palladium which was broadcast live every week. Since 2002, the Palladium has played host to a theatrical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Prior to this, the theatre was home to a theatrical version of The King and I for several years. The Palace Theatre is an imposing red-brick building that dominates the west side of Cambridge Circus. It has been the home of Les Mesérables for 16 years. Sadler’s Wells is a theatre complex on Rosbery Avenue. The name Sadler’s Wells originates from the founder Thomas Sadler and the medicinal wells that were originally on the site. It is best known for its ballet, but modern dance and opera are also part of the repertoire. The current theatre is the fifth on this site and opened in 1998 after being rebuilt with money from the National Lottery. Savoy Theatre is on the site of the old Savoy Palace in London as a showcase for the works of Gilbert and Sullivan which became known as the Savoy Operas as a result. Originally the theatre’s building was a palace in which ruins, later was built hospital and part was used for a military prison. After fire burnet everything except the stone walls, and the property sat empty until in 1880 the Savoy Theatre was built there. Cinemas

If you want to go out to the cinema in London you will be spoilt for choice. From cutting edge art-house movies to Hollywood blockbusters, there is something to suit everybody's taste, and wallet.