National Theatre – Lyttelton Theatre London

Venue Information

National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre
Address: Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PX
Nearest Tube or Train: Waterloo (Jubilee line, Northern line, Bakerloo line)
Nearest Buses: 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, RV1

Get Directions

Google Map

Apple Map

What3Words

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to the National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre?

Public transport is recommended to travel to the National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre. The nearest tube stations are Waterloo (Jubilee line, Northern line, Bakerloo line). If arriving by bus, then the nearest bus lines are 1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, RV1 .  For directions to the National Theatre - Lyttelton Theatre see our Google Maps directions or Apple Maps directions.

Theatre Quick Facts

Date opened: 16 March 1976
Designer: Sir Denys Lasdun and Peter Softley
First production: Shakespeare's Hamlet
Number of seats: 890

Theatre History

The Lyttelton Theatre auditorium at the National Theatre is named after Oliver Lyttleton, the first chairman of the National Theatre Board. The Queen officially opened the National Theatre complex on 25 October 1976.

Designed by Denys Lasdun, the Lyttelton is a proscenium theatre, conventional in its basic shape though exceptional in the excellence of its sightlines and acoustics.

The first production in the Lyttelton was on 16 March 1976, with a performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet starring Albert Finney, directed by Peter Hall.