Nothing beats browsing in one of London’s great theatre bookshops such as French’s Theatre Bookshop, the National Theatre or Dress Circle, to hunt down that lost play script or theatre memento
Going behind the curtain can be an eye-opening experience. The sheer scale of West End theatres such as Drury Lane, the National or the Royal Opera House is hugely impressive and a backstage tour is a great opportunity to see the hidden world of costume departments, scene-building and technical magic.
Whilst the loss of the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden is still keenly felt, there are a number of opportunities to dip into the history of London’s theatre scene – from the V&A’s new Theatre & Performance space, to theatres such as the National and the Globe.
Even the most dedicated theatre buff cannot live on showbiz alone, which makes Afternoon Tea the perfect meal to schedule in before that evening performance. Here we pick five of the best, from the glitzy Ritz to the alternative oriental afternoon tea of Yauatcha.
The time between a matinee and an evening performance is better known as “the cocktail hour”. Here we reveal five tributes to all things shaken and stirred in our run down of fabulous cocktail bars in London.
It has taken London centuries to appreciate that skill is involved in making a decent cup of coffee, but we’ve finally made some progress thanks to a wealth of outside help. Find the perfect cup of coffee in the West End with our handy guide.
Enjoy London to the max by complimenting your theatre visit with a London tour or attraction
Tips and advice on getting from London’s airports to the centre of town, and using public transport to get around London.
The global economic crisis has seen hotel rates fall by up to 10% in London. That means there are some great deals out there – you just need to find them.
