How can I reach Criterion Theatre?

You can reach Criterion Theatre by bus, tube, taxi, or private car.

What are the different types of shows and productions that are staged at the Criterion Theatre?

There are numerous types of productions staged at the Criterion Theatre such as dance performances, musicals, plays, and more. Some of the notable productions include The Waltz of the Toreadors, Tom Foolery, Run for Your Wife and more.

What are the seating options available at Criterion Theatre?

Stalls, Upper Circle, and Dress Circle are the three seating options at Criterion Theater.

Is Criterion Theatre accessible to people with disabilities?

Yes, the Criterion Theatre offers a host of facilities and caters to the special requirements of people with disabilities. Some of these include wheelchair accessibility, adapted toilets, hearing assistance, captioned performances, and more.

How much do the Criterion Theatre tickets cost?

The price of the tickets depends on the show that you choose to watch and the timing of the same at the Criterion Theatre.

Where can I book my Criterion Theatre tickets?

You can book your tickets to shows playing at the Criterion Theatre online at <link linkType="internal" newTab="true" url="" id="GI2RMxBw" shortCodeType="link" relationTo="pages" documentId="683430b261379cead4a0568c" text="London Theatre Tickets" uid="www.london-theater-tickets.com" lang="en" />. You will get the best deals and discounts and all the information you need at your fingertips.

Are there any dining options available near Criterion Theatre?

Yes. Several dining options are available near Criterion Theater. Ham Yard Restaurant, Olives and Meze Soho, and Rowley's Restaurant are a few dining options near Criterion Theater.

What are some of the things to do or attractions to explore near the Criterion Theatre?

Criterion Theatre is very conveniently located in London and is close to numerous tourist spots including Trafalgar Square, St James' Park, Buckingham Palace and more.

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Criterion Theatre

218-223 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9HR, UK

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Frequently Asked Questions About Criterion Theatre

Criterion Theater is on Piccadilly Circus's southeast side, by The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (Eros).

About Criterion Theatre

The Criterion Theater has 589 seats.
There are three types of seats available for guests: Stalls, Dress Circles, and Upper Circles.
Each offers a different view of the stage, with each seat designed to provide a personal feel to the stage.
You can choose from 365 Stalls at the stage level, 159 Dress Circle seats at an elevation and 65 Upper Circle seats present at the maximum elevation from the stage.

Criterion Theater Seating Plan >

When catering company Spiers and Pond bought the site home to White Bear Inn, a 17th-century posting inn, in 1870, they didn’t have Criterion Theater on their mind. The company bought out the land to construct a concert hall, giving the design duties to Thomas Verity, a Victorian entrepreneur, after fierce competition.

However, plans were altered, and Verity designed a theatre instead. The unique structure was mostly constructed underground, with the main entrance and foyer the only two elements on ground level. The theatre’s doors were opened to the public on March 21, 1874, with HJ Byron’s An American Lady and Topseyturveydom by W S Gilbert.

Charles Wyndham quickly made Criterion Theater one of London’s leading comedy venues, and success continued in the following years and decades. The Criterion Theater Trust took over the theatre’s lease in the early 90s, overseeing a massive redevelopment project to protect the venue’s essence.

Criterion Theater, like most old structures, needed an upgrade.
The Criterion Theater Trust recently launched its most ambitious restoration act ever, making the theatre a safe, sustainable, and efficient space for the 21st century.
The Grade II listed structure has an aesthetic foyer ceiling cleaned and restored by specialist company Hales and Howe in 2019.
The same year, the handrails on the main stairway were repaired and polished to give a royal feel.
As for the Victorian wall tiles, they took a bit of leg work as the theatre trust needed someone who could replicate the original disappearing wall tiles.
They found W. B. Simpsons, the same company that incidentally made the first tiles installed at the theatre in 1874.
The amazing chandelier, hanging from the ceiling for decades, was taken down in 2017.
It took two years to redesign it, but the result was worth the wait!

Thousands of plays, shows, and musicals at the Criterion Theater have entertained guests through prosperous as well as challenging times. A few popular productions at Criterion Theater include:

An American Lady
The Great Divorce Case
Musical Chairs with John Gielgud
French Without Tears
The Waltz of the Toreadors
Tom Foolery
Can't Pay? Won't Pay!
Run for Your Wife
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery

Know Before You Go

Tube: Piccadilly Circus on the Piccadilly Line and Bakerloo Line is a one-minute walk from Criterion. Leicester Square on the Piccadilly Line and Northern Line is around 10 minutes away, while Green Park on the Piccadilly Line and Victoria Line is approximately 10 minutes away.
Bus: Bus lines 12, 88, 94, 453, N3, N15, 6, 9, 139, 159, N9, N18, N97, N109, and N136 stop outside Regent Street/St James - outside Tesco. It is the closest bus stop.
Parking: Q-Park Leicester Square in Whitcomb Street is the nearest car park to Criterion Theater. You can get a 50% discount for up to four hours with the Society of London Theatres and Q-Park Theatreland parking scheme.

Air Conditioning: The Criterion Theater is fully air-conditioned. Bring a coat or wrap if you are sensitive to cold.
Snacks and Drinks: Snacks and drinks are available inside the facility.
Bars: Stalls Bar and the Greene Bar (Dress Circle) are the two bars in the facility. They are accessible via stairs, but you can take drinks to your relatives in wheelchairs.
Toilets: Both the Stalls and Dress Circle levels have male and female toilets. An accessible toilet is also available in the Upper Circle.

Visual:

Audio-described performances are available for guests with visual impairment. The audio description describes the performance in vivid language, keeping guests engaged.
Guests with visual impairment can use headsets and enjoy the audio description of the performances. Headsets can be collected from the cloakroom.

Auditory & Speech:

Criterion Theater provides captions for guests with hearing difficulty. The Dress Circle level provides the best view of the caption boards, which shows captions like on television.
Guests can register with Criterion Theatre online and select ‘I am a captioning user.’ They can select seats offering the best view of the caption boards and get a discounted access rate.
A British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter next to the Stage describes the performance. Guests with auditory issues can book seats in the Stalls on the right of the auditorium.
The auditorium uses the Sennheiser infra-red hearing system for clear hearing.
The theatre also has an induction loop system in the foyer and an infrared hearing system in various sections of the theatre. You can collect headsets from the cloakroom.

Motor/Mobility:

Criterion Theater is wheelchair accessible, but step-free access to seats is available only in the Upper Circle section.
Guests must step down a few stairs to reach the Dress Circle and Stalls. However, guests can request access via the fire exit due to fewer stairs.

Other:

Assistance dogs are allowed inside Criterion Theater. You can also avail of a dog sitting service to take care of your assistance dogs during a performance.
An accessible lavatory is available on the Upper Circle. You can access it step-free from Jermyn Street.

Book Online: Book your Criterion Theater tickets online. They’re convenient and allow you to plan months in advance.
Public Transport: Public transport is the better option to reach the theatre. While parking is available, it may get crowded during peak hours.
Food Policy: Hot dishes and food are not allowed inside the theatre.
Dress Code: Dress appropriately for the theatre. Avoid wearing T-shirts, shorts, slippers, etc.
Recording Policy: Photography is also inside the theatre but not during performances. Also, avoid using flash.
Assistance Information: Inform the staff about specific requirements like a wheelchair before coming to the facility.

Rowley's Restaurant: Rowley’s Restaurant is just three minutes from Criterion Theater. It specialises in steaks, grills, and traditional British food and is perfect for business lunches, pre-theatre dinners, and group outings. The Daily Telegraph described the restaurant as “what may very well be the finest steak and chips joint in the land.”
Directions
to Rowley's Restaurant
Fallow: Fallow was founded by chefs Jack Croft and William Murray, and career entrepreneur James Robson in May 2019. It is four minutes from Criterion Theater and is recognised for its culinary creativity and hospitality. It has won several awards, including the Marie Claire and GQ ‘Sustainable Restaurant of the Year’ and the Caterer Award for ‘Best New Restaurant.'
Directions
to Fallow
Ham Yard Restaurant: Ham Yard Restaurant is 0.2 miles from Criterion Theater. It is one of the best European restaurants in London’s West End, offering a changing menu around the freshest, seasonal ingredients and the best of British produce. There is also a heated courtyard that can accommodate up to six guests.
Directions
to Ham Yard Restaurant
Olives and Meze Soho: Head to Olives and Meze Soho for delicious Mediterranean dishes! The restaurant is 0.1 miles from Criterion Theater and uses the finest ingredients sourced from local farmers, producers, and markets to produce delicious Mediterranean dishes. You can get takeaway menus from £9.50 while eating in costs £12.50.
Directions
to Olives and Meze Soho
Gaucho Piccadilly: Gaucho Piccadilly is 0.2 miles from Criterion Theater. The flagship steak restaurant is off Regent Street and offers excellent Argentine dishes and wine. The restaurant's top floor is a favourite among guests, thanks to its cocktail bar and secret courtyard inspired by the bar culture of Buenos Aires.
Directions to Gaucho Piccadilly

Shows at Criterion Theatre

About Criterion Theatre

The Criterion Theater has 589 seats.
There are three types of seats available for guests: Stalls, Dress Circles, and Upper Circles.
Each offers a different view of the stage, with each seat designed to provide a personal feel to the stage.
You can choose from 365 Stalls at the stage level, 159 Dress Circle seats at an elevation and 65 Upper Circle seats present at the maximum elevation from the stage.

Criterion Theater Seating Plan >

Criterion Theater, like most old structures, needed an upgrade.
The Criterion Theater Trust recently launched its most ambitious restoration act ever, making the theatre a safe, sustainable, and efficient space for the 21st century.
The Grade II listed structure has an aesthetic foyer ceiling cleaned and restored by specialist company Hales and Howe in 2019.
The same year, the handrails on the main stairway were repaired and polished to give a royal feel.
As for the Victorian wall tiles, they took a bit of leg work as the theatre trust needed someone who could replicate the original disappearing wall tiles.
They found W. B. Simpsons, the same company that incidentally made the first tiles installed at the theatre in 1874.
The amazing chandelier, hanging from the ceiling for decades, was taken down in 2017.
It took two years to redesign it, but the result was worth the wait!

Thousands of plays, shows, and musicals at the Criterion Theater have entertained guests through prosperous as well as challenging times. A few popular productions at Criterion Theater include:

An American Lady
The Great Divorce Case
Musical Chairs with John Gielgud
French Without Tears
The Waltz of the Toreadors
Tom Foolery
Can't Pay? Won't Pay!
Run for Your Wife
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
The Comedy About a Bank Robbery

Know Before You Go

Tube: Piccadilly Circus on the Piccadilly Line and Bakerloo Line is a one-minute walk from Criterion. Leicester Square on the Piccadilly Line and Northern Line is around 10 minutes away, while Green Park on the Piccadilly Line and Victoria Line is approximately 10 minutes away.
Bus: Bus lines 12, 88, 94, 453, N3, N15, 6, 9, 139, 159, N9, N18, N97, N109, and N136 stop outside Regent Street/St James - outside Tesco. It is the closest bus stop.
Parking: Q-Park Leicester Square in Whitcomb Street is the nearest car park to Criterion Theater. You can get a 50% discount for up to four hours with the Society of London Theatres and Q-Park Theatreland parking scheme.

Air Conditioning: The Criterion Theater is fully air-conditioned. Bring a coat or wrap if you are sensitive to cold.
Snacks and Drinks: Snacks and drinks are available inside the facility.
Bars: Stalls Bar and the Greene Bar (Dress Circle) are the two bars in the facility. They are accessible via stairs, but you can take drinks to your relatives in wheelchairs.
Toilets: Both the Stalls and Dress Circle levels have male and female toilets. An accessible toilet is also available in the Upper Circle.

Visual:

Audio-described performances are available for guests with visual impairment. The audio description describes the performance in vivid language, keeping guests engaged.
Guests with visual impairment can use headsets and enjoy the audio description of the performances. Headsets can be collected from the cloakroom.

Auditory & Speech:

Criterion Theater provides captions for guests with hearing difficulty. The Dress Circle level provides the best view of the caption boards, which shows captions like on television.
Guests can register with Criterion Theatre online and select ‘I am a captioning user.’ They can select seats offering the best view of the caption boards and get a discounted access rate.
A British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter next to the Stage describes the performance. Guests with auditory issues can book seats in the Stalls on the right of the auditorium.
The auditorium uses the Sennheiser infra-red hearing system for clear hearing.
The theatre also has an induction loop system in the foyer and an infrared hearing system in various sections of the theatre. You can collect headsets from the cloakroom.

Motor/Mobility:

Criterion Theater is wheelchair accessible, but step-free access to seats is available only in the Upper Circle section.
Guests must step down a few stairs to reach the Dress Circle and Stalls. However, guests can request access via the fire exit due to fewer stairs.

Other:

Assistance dogs are allowed inside Criterion Theater. You can also avail of a dog sitting service to take care of your assistance dogs during a performance.
An accessible lavatory is available on the Upper Circle. You can access it step-free from Jermyn Street.

Book Online: Book your Criterion Theater tickets online. They’re convenient and allow you to plan months in advance.
Public Transport: Public transport is the better option to reach the theatre. While parking is available, it may get crowded during peak hours.
Food Policy: Hot dishes and food are not allowed inside the theatre.
Dress Code: Dress appropriately for the theatre. Avoid wearing T-shirts, shorts, slippers, etc.
Recording Policy: Photography is also inside the theatre but not during performances. Also, avoid using flash.
Assistance Information: Inform the staff about specific requirements like a wheelchair before coming to the facility.

Rowley's Restaurant: Rowley’s Restaurant is just three minutes from Criterion Theater. It specialises in steaks, grills, and traditional British food and is perfect for business lunches, pre-theatre dinners, and group outings. The Daily Telegraph described the restaurant as “what may very well be the finest steak and chips joint in the land.”
Directions
to Rowley's Restaurant
Fallow: Fallow was founded by chefs Jack Croft and William Murray, and career entrepreneur James Robson in May 2019. It is four minutes from Criterion Theater and is recognised for its culinary creativity and hospitality. It has won several awards, including the Marie Claire and GQ ‘Sustainable Restaurant of the Year’ and the Caterer Award for ‘Best New Restaurant.'
Directions
to Fallow
Ham Yard Restaurant: Ham Yard Restaurant is 0.2 miles from Criterion Theater. It is one of the best European restaurants in London’s West End, offering a changing menu around the freshest, seasonal ingredients and the best of British produce. There is also a heated courtyard that can accommodate up to six guests.
Directions
to Ham Yard Restaurant
Olives and Meze Soho: Head to Olives and Meze Soho for delicious Mediterranean dishes! The restaurant is 0.1 miles from Criterion Theater and uses the finest ingredients sourced from local farmers, producers, and markets to produce delicious Mediterranean dishes. You can get takeaway menus from £9.50 while eating in costs £12.50.
Directions
to Olives and Meze Soho
Gaucho Piccadilly: Gaucho Piccadilly is 0.2 miles from Criterion Theater. The flagship steak restaurant is off Regent Street and offers excellent Argentine dishes and wine. The restaurant's top floor is a favourite among guests, thanks to its cocktail bar and secret courtyard inspired by the bar culture of Buenos Aires.
Directions to Gaucho Piccadilly

Criterion Theatre

Frequently Asked Questions About Criterion Theatre

About Criterion Theatre

Know Before You Go

Shows at Criterion Theatre

About Criterion Theatre

Know Before You Go

Accessibility & Facilities

Criterion Theatre

Accessibility & Facilities

Shows at Criterion Theatre

Criterion Theatre

Frequently Asked Questions About Criterion Theatre

Where is Criterion Theatre located?

How can I reach Criterion Theatre?

What are the different types of shows and productions that are staged at the Criterion Theatre?

What are the seating options available at Criterion Theatre?

Is Criterion Theatre accessible to people with disabilities?

How much do the Criterion Theatre tickets cost?

Where can I book my Criterion Theatre tickets?

Are there any dining options available near Criterion Theatre?

What are some of the things to do or attractions to explore near the Criterion Theatre?

About Criterion Theatre

Know Before You Go

Shows at Criterion Theatre

About Criterion Theatre

Know Before You Go

Accessibility & Facilities

Criterion Theatre

Accessibility & Facilities

Shows at Criterion Theatre