Theatreland Tour with Ian McKellen

(1025 reviews)

London audio tour: Theatreland Tour with Ian McKellen

This is a 2mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

Free

Access all 57 locations offline with the VoiceMap app

Reviews

About the Tour

Play the starring role in a tour of London’s historic West End with the help of British acting icon Ian McKellen.

This tour takes you from theatre to theatre on a route from Leicester Square through to Covent Garden, Embankment and The Strand. Along the way, Ian will whisper secrets of the stage and tell the story of some of the capital’s most fascinating buildings.

You’ll travel back in time to experience Theatreland as it was for actors and audiences 300 years ago, before electric lights and moving sets, when audiences showed their disapproval by throwing fruit at the stage. You’ll also learn the stories of the actors, architects and managers who shaped this unique part of London, turning it from one of the city’s most disreputable slums into the glittering heart of British theatre.

As you wind your way through the backstreets and alleyways of the West End, you’ll discover a theatre that started out as a public toilet, and another that began a banana-ripening depot. You’ll visit the sites of the murders and arrests that shocked the theatre world, as well as the favourite haunts of actors past and present.

Ian will also recount fascinating stories from his illustrious career on the stage as you walk – his favourite venues, his least favourite performances and where he made his professional acting debut.

A must for thespians and history lovers alike, this tour recounts the captivating story of London theatre and reveals the secrets of one of city’s most iconic districts.

Tour Producer

Official London Theatre

2 tours

Official London Theatre is the capital’s leading theatre website bringing you closer, taking you backstage and putting you in the spotlight of the exhilarating world of the West End. We aim to bring you the very best information about London shows, the hottest London theatre shows news, fantastic features with the stars and creatives from shows in London, and a safe, trustworthy place to buy your London theatre tickets.

Preview Location

Location 12

Seven Dials

When you reach the monument of Seven Dials stop. Have a look.

Lets do a bit of acting, a little bit of imagining.

[crowd atmos] I want you to imagine, if you can, the carriages of the last century rumbling past, [carriage jolts past] a lady of the night is beckoning you ... Read More

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Major Landmarks

West End
Royal Opera House
Leicester Square
Somerset House
National Theatre
National Portrait Gallery
Trafalgar Square

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Getting There

Route Overview

VoiceMap tours follow a route from a set starting point. It’s how we give turn-by-turn directions and tell a story greater than the sum of its parts.

Start location
Official London Theatre Ticket Booth, Leicester Square, London WC2H 7DE, UK
Total distance

3km
Final location
Orange St, London WC2H, UK
Distance back to start location

43.75m

Directions to Starting Point

TUBE: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross

From Leicester Square underground station: Exit onto Charing Cross Road. Head west along Cranbourn Street. At the end of Cranbourn Street, you will enter Leicester Square. Turn left and head to the south of the square. TKTS is the building next to the park, opposite the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel.

From Piccadilly Circus underground station: Exit onto Coventry Street. Head east until you cross Wardour Street and approach Leicester Square. Once in the Square, turn right and head to the south of the Square. TKTS is the building next to the Park, opposite the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel.

From Charing Cross underground station: Exit onto The Strand. Walk towards Trafalgar Square and then turn right onto St Martin’s Place, which becomes Charing Cross Road further up the street. Walk towards the National Portrait Gallery with Trafalgar Square on your left and St Martin’s in the Field church on your right. After you’ve passed the National Gallery you will need to turn left onto Irving Street and continue on Irving Street right into the heart of Leicester Square. You will be able to see TKTS Ticket Booth straight ahead of you.

BUS

176, 24, 29, N20, N279, N29, N41, N5 from Leicester Square underground station

CAR

We recommend parking at Q Park Leicester Square, 39-41 Whitcomb Street, London, WC2H 7DT. If you buy a ticket for a show at the TKTS booth, make sure you validate your parking ticket at the theatre to get 50% off. (Participating theatres only).

NATIONAL RAIL: Charing Cross station (See Tube Directions Above)

For more information on travelling in London and to find help planning your journey visit http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/theatregoers-guide/travel/.

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

Shopping: Wander Seven Dials and Neal’s Yard, home to many small boutiques and independent shops and cafés. Those in search of further culture should visit an exhibition at Somerset House or browse the collections of antique books in Cecil Court.

Drinking: Go for a drink in a traditional pub such as The Coal Hole or The Nell Gwynne, or visit The American Bar at the Savoy for cocktails based on the different areas of London.

Eating: Mix with the stars at The Ivy restaurant, or visit Rules, London’s first restaurant. For an authentic British experience, take traditional afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel. There are also plenty of cafés and casual restaurants along the route.

Best time of day

You can take the tour at any time of day, but it’s best to avoid busy hours outside theatres; immediately before and after performances. As a general rule, performances start at 7.30pm and finish around 10pm. Matinee performances may also be busy.

Precautions

There are many ticket touts in the area – make sure you only buy from a Secured Tickets Authorised Retailer (STAR) such as the TKTS booth. This is a very busy area, so ensure you cross roads at marked crossing points.

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App Store Review

“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”