London Coliseum
About London Coliseum
- London Coliseum seats 2,359 guests, who can choose from four types of seats.
- Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle, and Balcony are the four seating areas in the auditorium.
- The 520 Stalls in London Coliseum offer an eye-line view of the stage.
- Dress Circle is the next level, with the theatre having 635 seats in this section. Seats are elevated but provide an excellent view of the stage.
- The Upper Circle and Balcony are the other two sections of the London Coliseum. The theatre has 610 and 498 seats in the two sections, respectively. They are further elevated and provide a view of the stage as well as the auditorium.
London Coliseum Seating Plan >
Sir Oswald Stoll was a famous theatre man in the early 20th century. By 1905, he managed almost every ‘Coliseum’ theatre in Great Britain, including London Coliseum. He envisioned creating a large ‘people’s palace of entertainment,’ tasking Frank Matcham, a prolific architect who built and rebuilt over 80 theatres from 1873 to 1913, to design the London Coliseum.
He completed the London Coliseum project within a year, with the theatre hosting its inaugural performance on 24 December 1904.In the following decades, London Coliseum underwent significant change. It became a canteen for Air Raid Precaution (ARP) wardens during World War II, a cinema in the 1960s, and the home of the English National Opera thereafter.
- London Coliseum is one of Matcham’s masterpieces.
- From its giant roof to the revolving stage and grand interiors, there’s nothing to dislike about the 2359-seater theatre.
- The stage measures 83 feet from front to back, with an average width of 120 feet.
- The roof is 80 feet high, while the “grid” sits 70 feet above the stage level.
- The revolving stage, with three concentric 25 feet wide rings that can revolve independently or together, is fantastic for special effects at shows and plays.
- Matcham used his expert knowledge of cantilevered steel to construct the seating area in the auditorium.
- His patented work allowed theatres to have balconies extending from the auditorium without using pillars.
Since its inaugural performance on December 24, 1904, London Coliseum has hosted musicals, plays, shows and cinemas. A few popular ones are included in the list below:
- The Hooligan
- White Horse Inn
- Annie Get Your Gun
- Kiss Me, Kate
- Gone With the Wind
- The Bible
- King Kong
- Bachelor in Paradise
- The Magnificent Showman
- Around the World in 80 Days
Know Before You Go
- Train: Charing Cross Train Station is the nearest station.
- Tube: Charing Cross Underground Station and Leicester Square Underground Station are nearby stations served by the Northern, Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines.
- Bus: You can take buses stopping on Charing Cross Road (24, 29 and 176) and Charing Cross Station or Trafalgar Square (6, 9, 11, 15, 23, 87 and 91).
- Parking: Parking in St Martin’s Lane and Charing Cross Road are decent options, but they’re picked up early. The Q-Park Trafalgar on Spring Gardens is an excellent option as it is six minutes from London Coliseum, and you can get a 50% discount.
- Cashless: You don’t need to carry cash to the London Coliseum. The theatre is a cashless venue for payments.
- Bars: The facility has bars on all levels, while a restaurant is present on the lower ground floor.
- Shops: You can buy programmes and merchandise on all levels and from the shop on the ground floor.
- Food: During the interval, you'll get ice creams available throughout the building. Vegan options are also available.
- Lifts: The foyer by the Box Office provides access to lifts for all levels of the facility.
- Toilets: Toilets are available on every level, and they’re cleaned throughout the day, before, during and after shows. Accessible toilets for individuals with mobility issues are on most levels.
Visual
- The London Coliseum provides an audio introduction, which can help guests with visual impairment understand the show. They can listen to it on headsets available free of charge. Guests can collect it from the information desk in the London Coliseum foyer.
- The theatre also provides the cast list and synopsis for the opera in Braille. Guests can also order it in advance.
Auditory & Speech
- The Sennheiser radio frequency system provides high-quality sounds to visitors with hearing problems. While devices are available, guests can bring their headphones having a 3.5mm jack.
- British Sign Language-interpreted performances are available, with an interpreter on stage to translate performances.
Motor/Mobility
- The theatre has two wheelchair spaces in the Stalls, two wheelchair spaces in the Dress Circle and four wheelchair spaces in the Stalls Boxes for individuals with mobility issues.
- Four transfer seats in the Dress circle and six on the Balcony are available for people capable of transferring out of their wheelchairs.
Other
- The basement, Stalls, Dress circle and Balcony have adapted unisex toilets for individuals with mobility issues.
- Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome inside the auditorium. You can also let the staff look after your guide or assistance dog during the show. Dogs get a water bowl, and the staff can take them for walks during the show.
- Payments: London Coliseum is a digital payment venue. Avoid carrying cash to the theatre.
- Book Online: Book your tickets to shows at the theatre online to save money and plan in advance.
- Special Requests: Call the staff about any special requirements you may have before coming to the venue.
- Transport: Public transport is the better option when coming to the London Coliseum. Parking may be challenging to find if you come by car.
- Food and Drinks Policy: The theatre has bars on all levels and a restaurant on the ground floor. Avoid bringing your own food to the facility.
- Dress Code: Dress appropriately. Avoid wearing T-shirts, shorts, slippers, etc.
- Recording Policy: While photography is allowed, ensure your flash is off and do not click during performances.
Prezzo Italian Restaurant London St Martins Lane: This popular Italian restaurant chain is one minute from the London Coliseum. It is present in several locations throughout the UK, serving classic Italian dishes like pasta, pizza, and risotto. The King Prawn Risotto is one of several standout dishes; it features juicy prawns cooked in creamy tomato sauce with Arborio rice.
Fumo: Fumo is 0.5 miles from London Coliseum. It is one of the latest restaurants launched by the award-winning San Carlo Group. The menu differs from the other Italian restaurants in London, with the entire menu centred around cicchetti - potions bigger than a starter, smaller than a main course, and perfect for sharing.
- Directions to Fumo
Bancone Covent Garden: Bancone Covent Garden is 1 minute from London Coliseum. It was founded in 2018 in Covent Garden, with a second branch opened a year later in Golden Square, Soho. Hand-made pasta inspired by Italy, London, and much of Europe is the hero of the restaurant’s menu. The wine list is also unique, championing lesser-known vineyards and growers with the usual suspects.
Lao Café: This restaurant, located one minute from London Coliseum, introduces you to flavoursome Laotian food. The cuisine is in the middle of northern Thai and Vietnamese cuisines but is just as delicious. The setting is adventurous yet peaceful and will take you on a trip down memory lane in South Asia.
Barrafina: Barrafina is a Michelin-star restaurant just one minute from London Coliseum. The menu features exciting dishes like scallop tartar and turbot with Ajada sauce. All the dishes are a carnival of flavours and will push you until your gut bursts out.
Frequently Asked Questions About London Coliseum
London Coliseum is situated in St Martin’s Lane in Westminster, between the tourist areas of Charing Cross and Leicester Square.
You can reach London Coliseum by bus, train, tube, taxi, or private car.
London Coliseum has staged several productions including musicals, ballet, plays, and operas. A few notable ones include Gone With the Wind, The Bible, and King King, among others.
Stalls, Dress Circles, Upper Circles, and Balcony are the seating options at London Coliseum.
Yes, the London Coliseum offers a host of facilities and caters to the special requirements of people with disabilities. There are lifts, accessible seating, adapted toilets, hearing assistance systems and more at the theatre.
The price of the tickets depends on the show that you choose to watch and the timing of the same at the London Coliseum.
You can book your tickets to shows playing at the London Coliseum online at London Theatre Tickets. You will get the best deals and discounts and all the information you need at your fingertips.
Yes. Several diverse dining options are available near London Coliseum. Prezzo Italian Restaurant London St Martins Lane, Bancone Covent Garden, and Barrafina are popular restaurants around the theatre.
London Coliseum is located at a very convenient place in London and is close to numerous tourist spots including Trafalgar Square, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace, and Huntfun Covent Garden.
