Best theatres in London
London theatre runs from the West End down to the smallest fringe room above a pub, and the city rarely goes dark. Plays, musicals, one-off performances and previews fill the calendar across every borough, and the stages that earn a reputation are the ones with something on most nights, switching between runs and giving new work a place to land.
The theatres below are ordered by how busy their calendar is, drawn from the number of performances each has coming up. It is a snapshot of where the activity is rather than a judgement on the productions, so a stage near the top is one with plenty on that you can go and see in person.
25 places ranked right now
- Soho Theatre W1D 3NE 257 upcoming events
- Royal Court Theatre SW1W 8AS 255 upcoming events
- Globe Theatre SE1 9DT 231 upcoming events
- Park Theatre N4 3JP 223 upcoming events
- Young Vic SE1 8LZ 208 upcoming events
- Greenwich Theatre SE10 8ES 184 upcoming events
- Sadler's Wells Theatre EC1R 4TN 169 upcoming events
- Lyric Hammersmith W6 0QL 165 upcoming events
- Hampstead Theatre NW3 3EU 163 upcoming events
- Donmar Warehouse WC2H 9LX 158 upcoming events
- Soho Theatre Walthamstow E17 4QH 111 upcoming events
- Theatre503 SW11 3BW 110 upcoming events
- Sadler's Wells East E20 3AB 106 upcoming events
- Peacock Theatre WC2A 2HT 94 upcoming events
- Bush Theatre W12 8LJ 65 upcoming events
- The Bridge Theatre SE1 2SG 58 upcoming events
- London Coliseum WC2N 4ES 51 upcoming events
- Sam Wanamaker Playhouse SE1 9DT 39 upcoming events
- Kiln Theatre NW6 7JR 34 upcoming events
- King's Head Theatre N1 1QN 28 upcoming events
- Trinity Laban SE13 6LF 23 upcoming events
- The Comedy Store SW1Y 4EE 17 upcoming events
- Cadogan Hall SW1X 9DQ 16 upcoming events
- Downstairs at the Kings Head N8 8AA 14 upcoming events
- Lilian Baylis Studio EC1R 4TN 14 upcoming events
More best of London and hubs
Frequently asked questions
How are these ranked?
They are ordered by the number of upcoming theatre events each venue has listed, so the ranking reflects how active a stage is rather than a review score. A theatre near the top is simply one with a lot on in the days ahead.
Are these events in person?
Yes. OnlyHere only lists events you can physically attend in London, so every show here is one you watch in person, never a livestream or an online recording.
How many best theatres in london are ranked right now?
There are 25 places ranked on this page right now. It updates daily.