Shakespeare’s Globe

Shakespeare's Globe on Bankside is a reconstruction of the open-air playhouse for which Shakespeare wrote many of his plays, built close to the site of the original theatre. The project was championed by the American actor and director Sam Wanamaker, and the theatre opened in 1997. Made of oak with a thatched roof, the round, open-roofed auditorium recreates the experience of Elizabethan theatre, with standing groundlings in the yard and audiences in galleries around the stage.

Watching a play here is the main event. The summer season fills the Globe Theatre with Shakespeare and new writing, often in lively productions that use the whole space, including the yard. Next door, the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is an indoor, candlelit wooden theatre with cushioned benches, used for intimate performances especially in the colder months. If you cannot see a show, guided tours of the Globe Theatre explain how the building was researched and constructed and how Elizabethan audiences behaved; tours run in all weathers and continue through the winter months, currently until 31 January 2027.

The Globe suits theatre lovers, students, families with children who can manage a few hours on their feet, and visitors who want a sense of London's history on the South Bank. Standing in the yard gives the most immersive experience. If you prefer to sit, gallery seats are wooden benches, so cushions, blankets and seat backs can be hired. As the theatre is open-air, dress for the weather; rain ponchos and caps are sold on site.

The site is cashless, so bring a card or phone for payment. There are water refill points, and glass items are not allowed. The cloakroom charges per item and does not take luggage, and the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse has very little room for belongings. Food and drink are available at the Swan Bar and Restaurant, a café and the gift shop, with snacks and drinks sold before performances and during intervals. Accessible toilets and a quiet space in the upper foyer are available, and full access details are on the official website.

The Globe stands on New Globe Walk, a few minutes' walk from Blackfriars, Southwark, London Bridge and Mansion House stations, with the Millennium Bridge linking the area to St Paul's Cathedral. Tate Modern is immediately to the west, and Borough Market is a short walk east along the river.