Museums & Arts · Our pick in London
National Theatre
Three stages by the river
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Anthony O'Neil · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout National Theatre
The National Theatre moved into its building on the South Bank in 1976. Designed by Sir Denys Lasdun, its concrete terraces are among the best-known examples of Brutalist architecture in Britain. Inside are three theatres, the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Dorfman, staging new plays and classics, and there are foyers, bars, a bookshop and backstage tours. Waterloo station is about ten minutes’ walk away.
Why it's on our list
- Three auditoriums
- Lasdun architecture
- Backstage tours
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with National Theatre before you go.
On now and coming up
Plays in the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman theatres over the next two weeks.
Full programme and tickets at nationaltheatre.org.uk
Listings from Data ThistleAdd or update an event
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to National Theatre, as the crow flies.
- The Savoy0.3 mi7 min walk
- Sea Containers London0.3 mi7 min walk
- Strand Palace Hotel0.4 mi8 min walk
- One Aldwych0.4 mi8 min walk
- Corinthia London0.4 mi8 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from National Theatre are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 15 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations
- TempleDistrictCircle0.3 mi5 min walk
- WaterlooJubileeNorthernBakerlooWaterloo & CityNational Rail0.3 mi6 min walk
- Waterloo EastNational Rail0.3 mi6 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Cab Road0.3 mi6 min walk
- Taxi rank, Temple Place0.3 mi6 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- London Eye0.4 miWalk 7 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Covent Garden0.5 miWalk 10 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Trafalgar Square0.6 miWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Leicester Square0.7 miWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Westminster Abbey0.8 miWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- The British Museum1.0 miWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- The Shard1.2 miWalk 24 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Buckingham Palace1.3 miWalk 26 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Tower of London1.6 miWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 15 min
- Harrods2.2 miWalk 44 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
Main rail terminals
- Waterloo0.3 miWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 5 min
- Charing Cross0.5 miWalk 11 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- London Bridge1.2 miWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- Victoria1.5 miWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Liverpool Street1.5 miWalk 31 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 14 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.7 miWalk 34 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Euston1.7 miWalk 34 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 16 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)1.8 miWalk 36 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Paddington2.7 miCycle 17 minCar or taxi 23 min