Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
Photos & Highlights
- Trace the evolution of London theater, from outlawed art form on the South Bank to the spotlight of the West End.
- Reconnect with the drama and wonder of your favorite plays and see how their legacy still shapes the city’s identity.
Select a date
Tour Description
How does one grapple with the role of theater in a city like London? Whether you once performed Shakespeare in school, thrilled at curtain calls in your hometown theater, or studied English lit with fascination, you already know that London has long been the beating heart of the dramatic arts.
With more than 240 theaters and a stage legacy stretching back to 1663, unraveling London’s theater history is best done with a local expert. Join a theater professional or social historian and learn to see London through the eyes of performers and playwrights—past and present.
From Shakespeare’s rebellious South Bank to the glittering stages of the West End, we’ll explore how theater evolved alongside the city itself: as a mirror, a battleground, and a source of joy and meaning for generations.
Choose this tour if…
- You want to understand how London theater evolved—from raucous performances on the South Bank to the prestige of the West End.
- You’re fascinated by Shakespeare and want to see where his legacy began, in the gritty, rebellious world of early modern drama.
- You once loved drama or literature in school and want to reconnect with the thrill of performance and storytelling that first sparked your imagination.
- You’re curious how an art form once feared and censored became central to British identity—and how it still reflects the tensions and triumphs of society today.
Any discussion of the English theater should, of course, start with Shakespeare. Begin your walk on the South Bank not far from the Globe Theatre, a powerful symbol of rebellion and reinvention. In Shakespeare’s day, the theater was considered dangerous, even immoral, and so it was banished across the river beyond the reach of polite society. But here, something extraordinary took root: a new kind of storytelling that gave voice to everyday people, questioned authority, and captured the full spectrum of human emotion.
Your expert will transport you to a time when playhouses stood beside brothels and bear pits and audiences were rowdy, passionate, and deeply invested. Explore why these stages mattered so much—and how Shakespeare, an ambitious writer from the provinces, broke through with works that still speak to us today.
From there, cross the Thames and travel forward through time to the refined facades of Covent Garden and the grand stages of Drury Lane. This was where theater earned royal favor, though it was often still performed on the edges of slums and scandal. Step inside one of these historic venues (when possible) and explore how performers fought for respectability, how social class shaped access to culture, and how London’s stages evolved into the polished institutions we know today.
Over the course of your exploration, you’ll discover how performance gave voice to the marginalized, challenged authority, and helped shape the very soul of this city. You’ll stand where Shakespeare’s words first stirred a crowd, and where centuries later, actors still chase the same thrill of connection under the lights.
Whether you’re rekindling the excitement of the stage, reconnecting with stories that once stirred your imagination, or simply seeking to view the city through the eyes of a performer, this tour offers more than history. It’s a return to the joy, drama, and wonder that first made you fall in love with stories.
- The Globe Theatre
- Drury Lane Theatre
- Covent Garden
Do we go inside the Globe during this tour?
No, our walk includes a discussion of the Globe and the Swan theatre, but we don't go inside. The Globe offers group tours led by the theatre staff. However, we visit part of the Royal Opera House and Drury Lane Theatre.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your docent will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
Is this tour good for kids?
Yes! We have some excellent family friendly docents who can appeal to the learning styles of children. Please book privately if you have children under 13. Feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible docent. Read more about a family experience on our walk.
Is this a walking intensive tour?
Generally, we cover about 2 miles at a gentle pace.
Where You'll Start
–
47 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Our docent's knowledge of the subject was exceptional and approachable, he was personable and likeablel! He kept the day engaging, great starting point location and the layout of the walk made not just geographical sense, but the walk really told the story of the theater from its early days to now modern times in London.
Joana
Aug 16, 2017
Our docent started by having us sit down and telling him about ourselves. This allowed him to gear his tour toward our desires and likes - that was smart of him. We saw things that we had walked by in the past but for which we now have a far greater appreciation. Also, his amazing connection to Mark Rylance and Eddy Redmayne re: Twelfth Night just floored us. It was a jolly fun time that helped make our London visit exceptional.
Brian
Aug 15, 2017
Our docent was fabulous! He was knowledgeable and fun and entertaining and accommodating. He kept up with our questions, added in little extra stops he thought we would like even though they were a bit off theme, and gave us good advice about traveling here in general. One of the best days I have ever spent touring. Really wonderful.
Emily
Aug 7, 2017