London attracts world class actors and top shows abound in the West End whether they be musicals or plays.

     But London also has lots of smaller theatres scattered through out the city. And no visit to London would be complete without taking in a show.

     London's theatres are generally divided into the West End, repertory theatres like The National Theatre and the Fringe. Most London theatres are closed on Sundays but open normally on UK Bank Holidays, except Christmas Day.

WEST END

As famous as Broadway and known throughout the world, these theatres mainly stage big productions lavishing a lot of money on them. The West End does have a lot of musicals runing, but there are still many good plays featuring famous actors and actresses .Prices can be high, sometimes as much as £60 for top price tickets, and much more. However, the cheapest can be as low as £15 depending on the day of the week.

NATIONAL THEATRE and GLOBE THEATRE

The National Theatre and the Globe Theatre are two of the most popular repertoire companies in London. Because they receive subsidies, they are not as commercial as the West End and can afford to take a gamble with new or unknown writers and plays that may not have wide general appeal. Some get transferred to the West End if they are successful.

The Royal National has three theatres, The Lyttelton, The Olivier and The Cottesloe. Most performances are in repertory, so you can take quite a few plays in one week. The Globe Theatre season runs from April to September.

THE FRINGE

Generally in smaller theatres or pub theatres in and around London. There are some good plays in these theatres and prices are far less than in the West End.