Tour and Travel

In a conversation that took place in 1777, the writer Samuel Johnson told his friend and future biographer, James Boswell, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”

It is perhaps the most famous quote about London — and the truest. Johnson was not only talking about the energy of the city, but also about the unique opportunities it afforded in the way of dining, entertainment, and particularly, theatre. The maxim proves that, as far as London is concerned, some things remain constant, and today, centuries later, you could paraphrase Johnson’s statement to read, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of theatre.”

No city in the world offers the incredible scope, breadth and diversity of theatre as does London. The perfect theatre & hotel London package could include tickets to see a new drama, comedy or musical, or a revival of a classic theatre piece. The most famous stars of the British stage and cinema can be found performing on London’s stages throughout the year. In addition, the Christmas season offers theatregoers a chance to see their favourite stars in limited-engagement runs of beloved traditional pantomimes, which are a staple of holiday theatre fare.

For the adventurous, the London theatre scene also includes a glimpse at new works making their debut before a London audience. For every sold-out classic show in the theatre district, there is another soon-to-be classic show opening, giving theatregoers a memorable chance to see theatrical history being made right before their eyes.

Operagoers also have the opportunity to hear some of the world’s finest singers in performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, or at the English National Opera. The Royal Opera House is also home to London’s famed Royal Ballet, and the venue also plays host to visiting opera and ballet companies from around the world.

While it may seem impossible to get tickets without waiting in long queues, the reality is that downtown London has a large number of ticket kiosks with good seats available to even the most popular shows. While it’s true that, with a bit of planning, an avid theatregoer can see just about any show in town, it’s also true that there are usually plenty of last-minute, standby seats available to most shows as well. It’s entirely possible to take a quick weekend holiday and arrive in town just in time to get a pair of tickets to the most popular musical, comedy or drama well before curtain time that same evening.

London’s historic importance to the world of theatre is immeasurable, and theatregoers know that, to enjoy theatre at its highest level, it’s absolutely necessary to experience it in London. To avid theatregoers from around the world, there is truly no London without theatre — and equally, there is no theatre without London.