Museums & Arts · Our pick in London
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare in the open air
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Till Westermayer · CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe, opened in 1997, is a reconstruction of the open-air playhouse where many of Shakespeare’s plays were first staged, close to the original site. From spring to autumn you can watch from the galleries or stand in the yard like the audiences of the 1600s. In winter, plays move into the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Guided tours run most days.
Why it's on our list
- Open-air plays
- Standing tickets in the yard
- Candlelit playhouse
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Shakespeare’s Globe before you go.
On now and coming up
Performances at Shakespeare’s Globe over the next two weeks.
Full programme and tickets at shakespearesglobe.com
Listings from Data ThistleAdd or update an event
Hotels nearby
The closest hotels in our guide to Shakespeare’s Globe, as the crow flies.
- Sea Containers London0.4 mi8 min walk
- The Ned0.5 mi10 min walk
- Shangri-La The Shard0.5 mi11 min walk
- Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square0.8 mi17 min walk
What’s nearby
Distances from Shakespeare’s Globe 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
- Mansion HouseDistrictCircle0.3 mi6 min walk
- Cannon StreetCircleDistrictNational Rail0.4 mi7 min walk
- BlackfriarsCircleDistrictNational Rail0.4 mi7 min walk
Nearest taxi ranks
- Taxi rank, Holland Street0.2 mi4 min walk
- Taxi rank0.4 mi7 min walk
Black cabs can also be hailed in the street: a lit yellow TAXI sign means the cab is available.
Key sights
- The Shard0.5 miWalk 11 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Tower of London0.9 miWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- London Eye1.0 miWalk 21 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Covent Garden1.1 miWalk 23 minCycle 7 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Trafalgar Square1.3 miWalk 27 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 13 min
- Leicester Square1.4 miWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Westminster Abbey1.4 miWalk 29 minCycle 9 minCar or taxi 14 min
- The British Museum1.5 miWalk 30 minCycle 10 minCar or taxi 14 min
- Buckingham Palace2.0 miWalk 41 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Harrods2.9 miCycle 19 minCar or taxi 25 min
Main rail terminals
- London Bridge0.6 miWalk 11 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Waterloo0.8 miWalk 16 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 9 min
- Liverpool Street0.9 miWalk 18 minCycle 6 minCar or taxi 10 min
- Charing Cross1.3 miWalk 25 minCycle 8 minCar or taxi 12 min
- King’s Cross St Pancras1.9 miWalk 39 minCycle 12 minCar or taxi 17 min
- St Pancras International (Eurostar)2.1 miWalk 42 minCycle 13 minCar or taxi 18 min
- Euston2.1 miWalk 42 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Victoria2.1 miWalk 43 minCycle 14 minCar or taxi 19 min
- Paddington3.4 miCycle 22 minCar or taxi 28 min