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
- Royal Court Theatre SW1W 8AS 173 upcoming events
- Lyric Hammersmith W6 0QL 131 upcoming events
- Young Vic SE1 8LZ 124 upcoming events
- Park Theatre N4 3JP 115 upcoming events
- Greenwich Theatre SE10 8ES 105 upcoming events
- Sadler's Wells Theatre EC1R 4TN 94 upcoming events
- Soho Theatre W1D 3NE 88 upcoming events
- Sadler's Wells East E20 3AB 83 upcoming events
- Globe Theatre SE1 9DT 77 upcoming events
- Peacock Theatre WC2A 2HT 76 upcoming events
- Theatre503 SW11 3BW 76 upcoming events
- Donmar Warehouse WC2H 9LX 69 upcoming events
- Hampstead Theatre NW3 3EU 68 upcoming events
- Queen's Theatre RM11 1QT 58 upcoming events
- London Coliseum WC2N 4ES 52 upcoming events
- Eventim Apollo W6 9QH 46 upcoming events
- Soho Theatre Walthamstow E17 4QH 39 upcoming events
- Riverside Studios W6 9BN 34 upcoming events
- Wilton's Music Hall Wapping 29 upcoming events
- Clapham Picturehouse SW4 0AT 23 upcoming events
- Pleasance Theatre N7 9EF 23 upcoming events
- The Place WC1H 9PY 22 upcoming events
- Phoenix Arts Club WC2H 8BU 22 upcoming events
- Old Red Lion Pub & Playhouse EC1V 4NJ 21 upcoming events
- Conway Hall WC1R 4RL 20 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.