London National Theatre Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the London National Theatre. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Flexible Thames River Cruise – One Way

• London: Landmarks Walking Tour & Harry Potter Walking Tour

• West End and South Bank Theatre Walking Tour in London

• London Eye to London Bridge (River Walk)

• Southbank Immersive Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour

The cost to visit the theater varies depending on the show. If you don’t mind a restricted view, you can sometimes bag a ticket for less than £30. There are also reduced-price tickets released every Friday at 1pm for the following week, and standby options are always available if your plans are flexible. Those aged 16–25 generally benefit from lower ticket prices across the board.

Yes, it's worth visiting the London National Theatre, especially if you enjoy live performances and musicals. Here, you can expect to find shows as well known as War Horse, Hadestown, and Hamlet, though the roster is refreshed regularly so there's always something new. If you can't snag tickets, many walking tours of London include the National Theatre on their itineraries, so you can still take a peek.

Per one customer who booked the West End and South Bank Theatre Walking Tour in London, "Wonderful, incredibly comprehensive and detailed tour of theatre history in the West End and beyond. I was impressed by the depth of knowledge and the amount of ground covered—it felt truly local, rather than a surface run for tourists. I'm relatively well-versed in theatre history on the other side of the pond, so it was truly a delight to learn so much!"

Tickets to a show at the National Theatre in London vary depending on the show, seat, performance time, and date of purchase. Expect to pay between £20 and £100 for a ticket. UK residents aged 16–25 can buy a limited number of tickets for £10 or less.

The Box Office at the National Theatre sells unsold tickets as standby tickets, 60 minutes before a performance. Standby tickets are up to £15 cheaper than regular tickets. Students, stage pass holders, SOLT and theater union members, NCA members, and the unemployed get these tickets for £20, when available.

You can buy tickets to London’s National Theatre online at the theater’s website, in person or over the phone from its Box Office. Tickets can also be bought online from Official London Theatre or another member of STAR, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers.

There are three auditoriums at London’s National Theatre: the Olivier theatre, Lyttelton theatre, and Dorfman theatre. For the best views of the stage, choose seats in the center of the stalls, partway up. The cheapest seats are close to the stage and at the edges — but they don’t provide the best views.

There is no dress code for the National Theatre in London, and you’ll be permitted entry wearing (almost) anything, but smart-casual dress is most appropriate. First previews, press nights, galas, and opening nights tend to have a fancier crowd than other shows, and smart-casual or low-key evening attire is ideal.

If you want to take the tube to London’s National Theatre, the nearest stations are Waterloo on the Northern, Bakerloo, and Jubilee lines, which is a 7-minute walk, and Embankment on the Northern, Bakerloo, District, and Circle lines, a 10-minute walk over the Hungerford Bridge across the Thames.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the London National Theatre. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in and around London:

• Buckingham Palace

• Tower of London

• Stonehenge

• Westminster Abbey

• London Eye

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in London.