- The Tate Modern, located a short walk from the Globe, is one of the world’s leading contemporary art museums, offering a striking contrast to the historic theatre.
- St Paul’s Cathedral, easily reached via the Millennium Bridge just outside the Globe, provides a breathtaking architectural and cultural highlight across the Thames.
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Shakespeare’s Globe in London, a faithful 1997 reconstruction near the 1599 original, preserves the legacy of live entertainment. This open-air landmark continues staging Shakespeare’s plays and contemporary works, carrying forward a centuries-old theatrical tradition.
What to expect when you visit Shakespeare’s Globe
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Open-air, authentic Elizabethan experience
The Globe is entirely roofless; performances and tours proceed rain or shine. It’s wise to dress for the weather, and cushions or blankets are available for hire.
Architecture & ambience
Explore a three-tiered structure, ground level plus two storeys, accessed via staircases reminiscent of the original 1614 design. Experience the buzz of the crowd around a thrust stage in a true reproduction of the iconic “wooden O.”
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse
An atmospheric indoor Jacobean-style theatre within the Globe complex, modelled after the period’s Blackfriars Theatre and opened to the public in 2014.
Guided tours for all interests
Choose from a range of themed tours, award-winning guided explorations of the Globe’s history, Pride tours celebrating queer stories, ghostly family adventures, walking tours through historic Bankside, and more.
Immersive storytelling & stagecraft
Guides illuminate the storied past of the Globe, its survival through fire, plague, and political upheaval, even bringing early modern stage combat to life in sword‑fighting demos for families.
Tickets & tour options
Standard guided tours
A standard ticket includes admission to the Globe Theatre and the permanent exhibition. Visitors can learn about the theatre’s architecture, its reconstruction, and Shakespeare’s role in shaping English theatre.
Nearby attractions
About Shakespeare’s Globe
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions about Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe is located on London’s Bankside, along the south bank of the River Thames, in the Bankside Cultural Quarter.
The Globe theatre in London is well-connected by public transport. The closest Underground stations are Blackfriars, Mansion House, Southwark, and London Bridge. River bus services stop at Bankside Pier, just a short walk away.
The theatre mainly stages Shakespeare’s plays, often in innovative or traditional formats, along with works by his contemporaries. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse hosts candlelit productions, contemporary works, and experimental theatre.
The outdoor Globe theatre has standing space for around 700 people in the Yard and seating for about 870 in three tiers of galleries. The indoor Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is fully seated, with a capacity of around 340.
Yes. The Globe and Sam Wanamaker Playhouse offer wheelchair access, companion seating, adapted washrooms, lifts, and step-free entry. BSL-interpreted, captioned, audio-described, relaxed, and sensory-adapted performances are scheduled throughout the year.
Prices of Shakespeare’s Globe ticketsvary depending on the production, seating choice, and performance date. Standing Yard tickets are usually the most affordable option.
Yes. Swan at the Globe is the in-house riverside restaurant, offering modern British dining, afternoon tea, and drinks. A café-bar is also on-site, and there are plenty of restaurants and pubs nearby, including The Anchor and Zizzi.
Nearby highlights include the Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Borough Market, and the Clink Prison Museum, all within walking distance.
There is no official dress code, but as the Globe theatre in London is open-air, visitors are advised to dress for the weather.
Yes, children are welcome. Those under three can attend for free, though prams and strollers are not allowed inside the auditorium. Baby carriers are recommended.
Photography and video or audio recording are not permitted during performances, though photos are allowed before and after the show.
