Learn all about the different seating options and how to choose the right seats for you in West End venues.
You've decided the show you want to see. Now it's time to pick where you want to sit in the theatre auditorium. Deciding where to sit at the theatre can be tricky — working out your stall seats from your balcony benches isn't easy even for the keenest theatregoers.
Booking [theatre tickets](https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/whats-on) for a London show? We're here to help. Discover all the different parts of an auditorium and find the best seats for you.
What are Stalls Seats?
What are Premium Seats?
What is the Dress Circle?
What is the Upper Circle?
What is the Gallery?
What does Restricted View mean?
What does Box Seats mean?
What does Standing View mean?
Stalls seats are on the ground level of the theatre. Typically, stalls seats can be regarded as some of the best seats in the auditorium, due to their close proximity to the stage. If you're sitting in the first few rows of the stalls seats, you may even be able to touch the stage and see performers blink.
As is the case with the majority of West End theatres, there are numerous rows of stalls seats available to choose from. So, if you want to be in the thick of the action, or you want to be in the back, stalls seats offer ample opportunity to experience a West End show in a close, intimate manner. Stalls seats toward the back can sometimes be some of the cheapest seats for a performance, so you can definitely bag a bargain.
Alluded to in their name, premium seats are usually regarded as the best seats in the theatre. Often, they're not the closest seats to the stage. Typically, premium seats are a few rows back from the stage in the middle of the row, allowing audience members to see the entire stage without missing any action. As they're the best seats available, premium seating tends to come at a slightly extra cost. But, it's more than worth it to make sure you're in the top seats, and the envy of all other theatregoers.
Either called the dress circle or the royal circle (depending on the theatre), this refers to the second level or seating. If it's in a theatre with two levels, the dress circle will be the top level. Dress circle seating is a great option if you want to see every moment of a show from a higher level, rather than being on the same eyeline as the stage. This way, you can still be immersed by the action without worrying about missing anything that happens.
Many West End theatres have an overhang, meaning a higher level of seating can impact the audience sightlines of those in the back rows of a section. If you book seating towards the front of the dress circle, you could be as close to the stage as those towards the front of the stalls.
Either called the upper circle or the grand circle, this type of seating refers to the third seating level in an auditorium. Upper circle seats tend to be quite high, so you may not be able to work out the facial expressions of actors on stage. But, any performer will be able to carry their performance to the highest levels of the theatre. Upper circle seating is not recommended for those who suffer from vertigo either, but it's a perfect option if you're looking for a cheaper theatre ticket.
Either called a gallery or balcony seating, these are the highest seats around. There's only a couple of theatres with enough auditorium space to accommodate for gallery seating, with the Harold Pinter Theatre and Theatre Royal Haymarket allowing for four seating levels. To reach gallery seating at a theatre, you may have to climb additional sets of stairs and sit on benches. There may not plushy seats like lower levels, but if you're just wanting to be in the room, gallery seating is the way to go.
All seating levels in a theatre may have "restricted view" marked on specific seats. Each West End theatre will have varying numbers of restricted seats, labelled as such as there are obstructions that could impact the experience of viewing a particular show, including overhangs, safety rails and pillars.
If there's different scenic design in two productions at the same venue, there may be different restricted view seating. Before buying West End theatre tickets, you'll be able to see which seats are advertised with a restricted view. But don't worry about sitting in a restricted view seat, as you'll still be able to see the stage and catch a great show.
Want to see a show without sitting next to anyone else? Wishing you could have your own space in an auditorium? You can if you book box seats. Also known as a loge or loggia, box seating is great for small groups who are looking to stick together at the theatre without sitting in a line. Box seating is likely to be a more expensive seating option, but it's definitely worth it if you're looking for less interference around you.
The vast majority of London theatre tickets allow each attendee to have their own seat. But some theatres will let patrons in to stand. For example, audiences at Shakespeare's Globe can stand and watch a Shakespeare play, just like groundlings would have done centuries ago. Standing tickets may not be sheltered, so you'll have to pray that it's a sunny day. But a Shakespeare show at the Globe is a London must.
Adelphi Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
Ambassadors Theatre
Apollo Theatre
Apollo Victoria Theatre
Cambridge Theatre
Dominion Theatre
Duchess Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre
Garrick Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
Gillian Lynne Theatre
Harold Pinter Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre
London Palladium
Lyceum Theatre
Lyric Theatre
National Theatre
Noël Coward Theatre
Novello Theatre
Palace Theatre
Phoenix Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
Prince Edward Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
Savoy Theatre
Soho Place
Sondheim Theatre
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Trafalgar Theatre
Vaudeville Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 1,435 seats Address: 409-412 Strand
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in Box E.
Capacity: 1,176 seats Address: 49 Aldwych
Ambassadors Theatre
The Amabassadors Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and the circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 444 seats Address: West Street
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre has four seating levels, the stalls, dress circle, grand circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 775 seats Address: 31 Shaftesbury Avenue
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Apollo Victoria Theatre
The Apollo Victoria Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and the dress circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the dress circle, and circle seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 2,384 seats Address: 17 Wilton Road
Cambridge Theatre
The Cambridge Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and upper circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 1,283 seats Address: Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street
Dominion Theatre
The Dominion Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 2,069 seats Address: 268-269 Tottenham Court Road
Duchess Theatre
The Duchess Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and dress circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 494 seats Address: 3-5 Catherine Street
Duke of York's Theatre
The Duke of York's Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, royal circle and upper circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 650 seats Address: 104 St Martin's Lane
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers offers a wheelchair space and companion seating in the dress circle.
Capacity: 718 seats Address: 2 Charing Cross Road
Gielgud Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 986 seats Address: 35-37 Shaftesbury Avenue
Gillian Lynne Theatre
The Gillian Lynne Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and the circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces and companion seats in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 1,108 seats Address: 166 Drury Lane
Harold Pinter Theatre
The Harold Pinter Theatre has four seating levels, the stalls, dress circle, royal circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the dress circle, with an accompanying companion seat, and circle seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 796 seats Address: 6 Panton Street
His Majesty's Theatre
His Majesty's Theatre has four seating levels, the stalls, royal circle, grand circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces and companion seats in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 1,160 seats Address: 57 Haymarket
London Palladium
The London Palladium has three seating levels, the stalls, royal circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 2,286 seats Address: 8 Argyll Street
Lyceum Theatre
The Lyceum Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, royal circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers six wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 2,100 seats Address: 21 Wellington Street
Lyric Theatre
The Lyric Theatre has four seating levels, the stalls, dress circle, grand circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair spaces in the dress circle boxes.
Capacity: 967 seats Address: 29 Shaftesbury Avenue
National Theatre
The National Theatre has three auditoriums. The Olivier has two seating levels, the stalls and the circle; the Lyttelton has the same; the Dorfman seating is flexible, so varies by production. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: Olivier (1,150 seats) Lyttelton (890), Dorfman (450) Address: Upper Ground
Noël Coward Theatre
The Noël Coward Theatre has four seating levels, the stalls, royal circle, grand circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair spaces and the option to transfer into a seat on the royal circle level, plus companion seating.
Capacity: 872 seats Address: 85-88 St Martin's Lane
Novello Theatre
The Novello Theatre has four seating levels, the stalls, dress circle, grand circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair spaces and the option to transfer into a seat on the circle level, plus companion seating.
Capacity: 1,143 seats Address: 5 Aldwych
Palace Theatre
The Palace Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, royal circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair user spaces in the stalls, and aisle seats are suitable for those wishing to transfer from their wheelchairs.
Capacity: 1,400 seats Address: 113 Shaftesbury Avenue
Phoenix Theatre
The Phoenix Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the dress circle, plus companion seating, as well as seats for wheelchair user transfer or patrons who require stair-free access.
Capacity: 1,012 seats Address: 110 Charing Cross Road
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, royal circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls.
Capacity: 1,232 seats Address: 16 Denman Street
Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and upper circle. This theatre also offers offers one wheelchair park space, one companion seat, and one transferring wheelchair space, all in the stalls.
Capacity: 786 seats Address: Northumberland Avenue
Prince Edward Theatre
The Prince Edward Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers one wheelchair space and a companion seat in the dress circle box, and there is wheelchair transfer seating available in the dress circle.
Capacity: 1,650 seats Address: 28 Old Compton Street
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and dress circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair spaces and wheelchair transfer seats in the stalls.
Capacity: 1,160 seats Address: 31 Coventry Street
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the dress circle, and some circle seats are suitable for those wishing to transfer from their wheelchairs, however it does involve negotiating two steps.
Capacity: 1,158 seats Address: Strand
Soho Place
Soho Place has three seating levels, the stalls, circle 1 and circle 2. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces and companion spaces.
Capacity: 602 seats Address: 2 Soho Place
Sondheim Theatre
The Sondheim Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair spaces and wheelchair transfer seats in the dress circle and the Schönberg Loge, along with companion seats.
Capacity: 1,074 seats Address: 51 Shaftesbury Avenue
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal Drury Lane has four seating levels, the stalls, royal circle, grand circle and balcony. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces in the stalls, and stalls seats can be used for wheelchair transfer.
Capacity: 2,196 seats Address: Catherine Street
Trafalgar Theatre
The Trafalgar Theatre has two seating levels, the stalls and dress circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair park spaces and companion seating in the stalls.
Capacity: 630 seats Address: 14 Whitehall
Vaudeville Theatre
The Vaudeville Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair user spaces in the stalls with companion seats adjacent.
Capacity: 690 seats Address: 404 Strand
Victoria Palace Theatre
The Victoria Palace Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, dress circle and grand circle. This theatre also offers wheelchair spaces and wheelchair transfer seats in the stalls boxes, along with companion seats.
Capacity: 1,517 seats Address: 79 Victoria Street
Wyndham's Theatre
The Wyndham's Theatre has three seating levels, the stalls, royal circle and grand circle. This theatre can also set aside seating for wheelchairs if you get in touch before booking.
Capacity: 750 seats Address: 32-36 Charing Cross Road
