Apollo Theatre

Opened in 1901, the Apollo Theatre was one of the later theatres to arrive on Shaftesbury Avenue, joining the district as the West End entered a confident Edwardian period of expansion. Over the decades it built a reputation for quality drama, revivals and productions that favour atmosphere over sheer scale. Its auditorium retains a strong sense of traditional theatre architecture, and that intimacy is one of its great strengths. The Apollo’s story has included restoration and renewal, but it continues to feel like a proper West End theatre in the classic sense: decorative, central and steeped in performance history.

Piccadilly Circus is the easiest Tube option for most visitors, and Leicester Square is also nearby if you are already in the heart of Theatreland. Because the theatre is so well placed for Soho, Chinatown and the surrounding streets, there are plenty of places to eat before the show. The area can be very busy at peak times, so public transport generally beats driving.

This is a good theatre for people who like a classic West End atmosphere without the sheer scale of the largest venues. Its central Soho setting makes it ideal for pre-theatre drinks, but it is worth arriving with time to spare because the pavements outside can get crowded quickly.