The Other Palace

The Other Palace opened in 2012 as St James Theatre, a new theatre complex built on the site of the former Westminster Theatre. Its arrival was notable because new purpose-built theatre spaces in central London are relatively rare, especially so close to the traditional West End.

The venue was created with a main auditorium and a smaller studio space, allowing it to host both full productions and more experimental or developing work. In 2016, it was acquired by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Theatres Group and later relaunched as The Other Palace, with a particular focus on musical theatre, new writing and work in development.

Although it sits just outside the classic Theatreland cluster, The Other Palace has become an important venue for audiences interested in musicals beyond the biggest West End titles. Its smaller scale makes it well suited to try-outs, transfers, cabaret evenings and productions where the audience feels close to the performers.

Victoria is the nearest Underground, National Rail and coach station, making The Other Palace one of the easier London theatre venues to reach by public transport. From Victoria station, it is a short walk along Victoria Street or Buckingham Palace Road towards Palace Street. St James’s Park and Westminster are also within walking distance.

The Other Palace is a good choice if you like discovering musicals and smaller shows before they become widely known. Because the venue is close to Victoria station, it works well for visitors travelling in and out of London, but the area can be busy around commuter times. Leave a little extra time if arriving straight after work.