Shakespeare's Globe

Visitors who want to get inside Shakespeare’sGlobe have two options: either buy tickets to a show (the standing-only, yard tickets are cheapest) or join a 30-minute guided Globe Theatre tour. London Pass holders can enter for free. Tours include access to the theater itself, as well as entry to the interactive Globe Exhibition, which focuses on Elizabethan theater. On select days, tours of the indoor, Jacobean-style, candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse are also available.

Guided tours of the Globe can be combined withA Midsummer Night's Dream–themed afternoon tea, a Thames cruise, or a visit to other Shakespeare-connected London sites such as Southwark Cathedral, where Shakespeare worshipped, and the Anchor Bankside pub, a centuries-old tavern at the heart of the Shakespeare-era theater district.

• Shakespeare’sGlobe is wheelchair accessible.

• Performances usually last 2.5 to three hours and include a break.

• As the theater is open-air, visitors will be exposed to inclement weather during tours and performances. Bring rain gear if necessary, as tours and performances run in all weather. (Umbrellas are not allowed during shows as they can obstruct the stage.)

• Complimentary audio guides are available for the exhibition.

Shakespeare’s Globe stands on London’s South Bank. Take the Tube to St. Paul’s (Central line), Mansion House (District and Circle lines), or London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines). All three stations are within easy walking distance.

Plays are staged from mid-April to mid-October, and tours take place year-round. During summer, it’s best to arrive in the morning as tours end early in preparation for matinee performances.

The best seats in the house are not seats at all, but rather standing tickets. These give you access to the yard, where about 700 “groundlings” (standing audience members) stay on their feet during the entire performance. Not only do these tickets put you close to the action, but they also offer the best stage views. Alternatively, book tickets for the gallery, which has bench seating.

Yes, Shakespeare’s Globe is worth it. The theater meticulously replicates the original Elizabethan theater destroyed in a 17th-century fire and offers a culture-rich program of Shakespeare plays and other dramatic performances. It regularly tops lists of London’s top attractions, and for good reason.

You can visit Shakespeare's Globe without a tour to see a live performance onstage. However, a tour is the best way to experience the structure's rich history. Different tours run for limited periods, such as pride-themed and child-friendly tours. You can visit the exhibition space for a discounted rate if tours aren't running on the day of your visit.

Standard tours of Shakespeare’s Globe last 50 minutes and typically depart every hour, depending on the performance schedule. They help you delve deeper into the history and construction of the Globe Theatre. After your tour, you’ll have a chance to explore the exhibition space at your own pace, so put aside 20 minutes for that.

Shakespeare's Globe is an open-air venue, and performances take place come rain or shine, so it’s a good idea to dress for both occasions, especially considering London’s weather is prone to change. If you’re visiting for an evening performance, bring a jacket for when temperatures drop. The dress code is casual.

Yes, Shakespeare’s Globe has an accessible entrance with automated doors. You can buy wheelchair-friendly tickets in advance for performances in both of the Globe’s playhouses. Tours of the theater are also wheelchair accessible, and the Globe offers signed and audio-visual performances and plenty of options for visitors with neurodivergent.

Like they would have done during the Elizabethan era, performances at Shakespeare’s Globe occur during sunshine and showers. While you’re advised to bring a rain jacket and to dress for all weather, audience members are asked not to erect umbrellas as this obstructs the view for other people.