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United Kingdom (UK)
Where to go and what to see in London to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Annabelle Thorpe.
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Overview >Bucket list experience:
Shakespeare plays at The Globe
Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Anyone who has ever found Shakespeare dry should make the pilgrimage to The Globe. This is Shakespeare as Shakespeare was meant to be experienced: bawdy, funny and heartbreaking.
In a project driven by actor and director Sam Wanamaker, this exact replica of the Elizabethan Globe theatre was built on the banks of the Thames, about 230m from the spot where the original stood in 1599. Rain or shine, the performance goes on, with theatregoers crammed into the open-air yard or huddled on benches in the sheltered, tiered seating. The atmosphere is electric.
While you’re there
As well as the annual programme of Shakespeare and other historic plays, there’s a museum element to the Globe. The exhibition is self-guided, with audio guides included in the price. Tours of the theatre are also possible with the Globe’s storytellers – an alternative way to see the interior if you’re not watching a performance.
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Overview >Price from: £10
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
Frequency: daily
When: April-October
Duration: 1-3 hours
Getting there & doing it
The nearest Underground station is London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee Lines) or Blackfriars (District and Circle Lines) via the Millennium Footbridge.
There are three tiers of seating and 700 x £5 standing tickets in the Yard for every performance. When watching a performance, either opt for the added extras and rent a cushion and blanket, or better still, save the money (and queues) and bring your own. It sounds daft, but the Elizabethan-style benches are hard and uncomfortable without.
Tours are self-guided, with audio guides included in the price. Guided tours of the theatre with the Globe’s storytellers are an alternative way to see the interior if you’re not watching a performance.
When to do it
The theatre season runs from the end of April until mid-October, with matinee and evening performances available daily. It’s an open-air theatre, so avoid rainy days (though more expensive seating is covered). The exhibition is open year-round, daily, with guided tours running every half hour.
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