The Theatre Royal

London, United Kingdom

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Wheelchair access: Accessible

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, is a Grade I listed theatre in London's Covent Garden, facing Catherine Street and backing onto Drury Lane. The present building, which opened in 1812, is the fourth theatre to occupy the site since 1663, making it the oldest continuously operating theatre location in London. The original Theatre Royal in Bridges Street was built in the early 1660s at the behest of Thomas Killigrew during the English Restoration, and featured prominent performers such as Nell Gwyn and Charles Hart. After a fire in 1672, a larger theatre opened in 1674 under the same name, operating for nearly 120 years under celebrated managements including those of David Garrick and Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Following the demolition of that structure in 1791, a successor theatre opened in 1794 but burned in 1809, leading to the current building's construction. For its first two centuries, Drury Lane was considered London's leading theatre and held monopoly rights as one of a handful of patent theatres producing legitimate spoken drama. In modern times, it has hosted celebrated long-running musicals including *My Fair Lady* and *Miss Saigon*, and is currently owned by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.