THE OLD VIC ULTIMATE GUIDE

Open: Mon - Wed: 8:30AM to 12:00AM

Thu - Fri: 8:30AM to 2:00AM

Sat: 5:00PM to 2:00AM

Time Needed: 2.5 hours

Price: £10 - £15

With a ton of award-winning plays, performances and musicals, to a royal and Kevin Spacey connection, The Old Vic shouldn’t be missed by any theatre fanatic during a visit to London.

Not only is The Old Vic one of the oldest theatres in London and one of the most famous theatres in the world, it’s also become known as “The Actors’ Theatre” thanks to jump-starting the careers of some of the best actors and actresses in British history.

The theatre now known as The Old Vic first opened in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, and was designed by architect Rudolph Cabanel. The Old Vic has gone through several refurbishments and name changes throughout its history, and was renamed as the Royal Victoria Theatre in 1833, the Royal Victoria Palace in 1871, and the Royal Victoria Hall in 1880 in honour of Queen Victoria.

Under the direction of Lilian Baylis (who acquired the theatre in 1912 after the death of her aunt, Emma Cons), The Old Vic became known around the world for showcasing countless Shakespearean productions such as Hamlet, Richard II, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and Othello, just to name a few.

The Old Vic has also helped catapult the careers of countless successful British actors and actresses, and some of the many famous names who have once performed on its stage include Ian McKellen, Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson to Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, AlbertIan Mc Finney, Peter O’Toole, and many, many more.

In recent years, The Old Vic has become synonymous with the famed American actor, producer and director Kevin Spacey, who spent 12 years working as the Artistic Director for the theatre between 2003 and 2015. Under his direction, the theatre has put on countless highly-raved about productions such as Cinderella, The Taming Of The Shrew, Dancing at Lughnasa, Kiss Me Kate, and many more.

The Old Vic Highlights

There are several different performances held at The Old Vic throughout the year, and each performance usually runs for about one or two months.

But besides watching an unforgettable and award-winning performance at one of the most prestigious theatres in the world, visitors can now take a tour around The Old Vic with the Stage Door Manager Ned Seago, learn more about the theatre’s most famous patrons, and even hear some ghost stories as well.

The tour covers some of the many famous actors and actresses who once worked at the theatre (such as Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Kevin Spacey, and Laurence Olivier), and will lead visitors through the backstage areas.

Every December, Ned also hosts the theatre’s ever-popular Christmas Tour, where visitors can sip on a glass of mulled wine and munch on mince pie after taking a tour around The Old Vic.

Special Tips

If you attend a show in the Old Vic, remember that the late-night basement bar is open after the show and serve cocktails and refreshments.

Be aware that the Dress Circle and Lilian Baylis Circle sections can only be accessed via steps, and is not recommended for anyone with mobility issues as there is no customer lift.

Be aware that the two rows around the edge of the balcony of the Lilian Baylis Circle are benches and can get quite uncomfortable after an hour or so.

Getting There

Address: The Cut, Lambeth, London SE1 8NB, United Kingdom.

By Tube: If you are travelling by tube, the nearest stations are Waterloo Station (three minutes' walk away), Blackfriars (12 minutes' walk away) and Southwark (five minutes' walk away).

By Train: If you are travelling by train, the nearest station is Waterloo Station, which is a three-minute walk away.

By Bus: If you are travelling by bus, you can get to The Old Vic by routes 1, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 68, N1, N171 and N68.

By Car: If you are travelling by car, there are car parks located at Hayward Gallery and Hungerford Bridge (daily from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.) and a Union Car Park located on Southwark Street (between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.).

Visiting The Old Vic

Try to dress as conservatively and respectfully as possible during your visit to The Old Vic (especially for a performance).

There is a cafe and bar at the premises, and toilet facilities located on every level of the theatre.

There is a cloakroom located in the foyer where you can keep your coats during the performance, but note that large bags or suitcases aren't admitted into the building.

It is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets either over the phone or online beforehand, as The Old Vic’s Box Office can get incredibly busy on performance nights. Customers can either have their tickets posted to them, or pick them up at the Box Office up until 7:30 p.m. on the night of the performance or 2:30 p.m. for matinee performances (however, make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of each show as the queues can get quite long).

If you arrive late for a performance, there will be a monitor so you can watch the show while you wait for a latecomer’s entry point, and all theatregoers can see more information on the performances at the front-of-house-boards on the night of each performance.

Ticket prices and Opening hours

There are three levels of seating (Stalls, Dress Circle and the Lilian Baylis Circle) which range in price and view, and tickets cost anywhere from £15 to £200 depending on which performance time or seat you choose. Evening performances are usually more expensive, while seats in Lilian Baylis Circle tend to be cheaper.

There are discounted tickets available for purchase on the day of a performance, as well as PwC £10 Previews tickets given out for the first five performances of every show.

Tickets can be exchanged, but only if the theatre is given more than 48 hours’ notice before the original performance, and there is a £1 exchange fee for each ticket.

Performances usually take place at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and The Box Office is open from Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Penny Bar at the theatre is open:

• Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
• Thursday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
• Saturday, 5:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. on matinee days) to 2:00 a.m.

If you're planning a visit to The Old Vic, be sure to check out some of the free tours in London to explore many more iconic sites.