Savoy Theatre at a glance
The Savoy has three levels, and – like most West End theatres – where you sit changes the show. Here’s my take on each one.
The Stalls put you right up close to the stage, and the sightlines from the central seats are hard to beat. I’d avoid the very back few rows though, as they can sit under the Dress Circle overhang, and steer clear of the far ends of rows too as the angle gets awkward.
This is where I’d point most people. The Dress Circle gives you a lovely panoramic sweep of the stage, especially from the front few rows. Just be aware the very front and very back rows can catch the safety rail, so aim for the middle if you can.
The Grand Circle is the cheapest way in, right at the back and up high, but you still get a clear view of the stage. The venue’s own guidance is worth repeating here: it’s high up, so if you’re prone to vertigo or don’t love heights, it’s not the section for you. Rows F and G also sit behind a safety rail that can slightly restrict the view.
The Savoy Theatre sits just off the Strand, tucked down Savoy Court – one of the only streets in Britain where traffic drives on the right, a quirk left over from the days of horse-drawn cabs picking up outside the Savoy Hotel. It’s an easy walk from four tube stations.
If you’re arriving by train, Charing Cross station is about five minutes away along the Strand.
Driving into central London isn’t really recommended as the Congestion Charge applies and parking is expensive. If you must, Q-Park at Covent Garden offers a discount if you book ahead.
The Savoy Theatre opened on the Strand in 1881, built by impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte specifically to stage the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan – and it holds a genuinely brilliant claim to fame: it was the first public building in the world lit entirely by electricity, using around 1,200 incandescent lamps. The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company called it home for over a century, premiering eight of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operas here, including The Mikado in 1885.
The theatre was rebuilt in 1929 with a striking Art Deco interior designed by Basil Ionides, then rebuilt again in 1993 after a serious fire in 1990. Today it’s owned and operated by ATG Entertainment, and over the years its stage has hosted everything from Oscar Wilde’s Salome to Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit.
The Savoy Theatre has 1,132 seats across three levels (Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle).
The Savoy Theatre is on Savoy Court, just off the Strand, London WC2R 0ET.
Charing Cross (on the Bakerloo and Northern lines) is the closest tube station, about five minutes on foot. Embankment and Covent Garden are both around seven minutes away.
The Savoy Theatre is owned and operated by ATG Entertainment, formerly known as Ambassador Theatre Group.
Yes. There’s wheelchair access to the Dress Circle via a street-level entrance on Carting Lane, with space for a wheelchair user and companion. There’s an adapted toilet on the Dress Circle level and an infrared hearing loop throughout the auditorium.
The bars usually open one hour before the performance starts, so it’s worth arriving early to grab a drink and a seat.
Yes – there’s a cloakroom for a small charge. Handy if you’ve got a coat or a bag you don’t want to have on your lap all evening.
See the “Now Playing” section at the top of this page for the current show, and “Coming Soon” for what’s next.
You can book tickets directly through the official ATG website, which is sometimes the best option so you don’t end up paying extra fees.
However, other websites like London Theatre Direct, Today Tix and Love Theatre can sometimes have discounted tickets available which can be a good deal.
I always recommend looking at several different websites and comparing which has the cheapest seats for where you want to sit.
