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
- Park Theatre N4 3JP 195 upcoming events
- Soho Theatre W1D 3NE 194 upcoming events
- Royal Court Theatre SW1W 8AS 185 upcoming events
- Globe Theatre SE1 9DT 169 upcoming events
- Sadler's Wells Theatre EC1R 4TN 140 upcoming events
- Lyric Hammersmith W6 0QL 133 upcoming events
- Young Vic SE1 8LZ 130 upcoming events
- Donmar Warehouse WC2H 9LX 124 upcoming events
- Greenwich Theatre SE10 8ES 106 upcoming events
- Hampstead Theatre NW3 3EU 89 upcoming events
- Theatre503 SW11 3BW 86 upcoming events
- Sadler's Wells East E20 3AB 83 upcoming events
- Soho Theatre Walthamstow E17 4QH 79 upcoming events
- Peacock Theatre WC2A 2HT 76 upcoming events
- Queen's Theatre RM11 1QT 74 upcoming events
- Riverside Studios W6 9BN 66 upcoming events
- London Coliseum WC2N 4ES 60 upcoming events
- Trinity Laban SE13 6LF 45 upcoming events
- The Bridge Theatre SE1 2SG 41 upcoming events
- Sam Wanamaker Playhouse SE1 9DT 40 upcoming events
- Wilton's Music Hall Wapping 36 upcoming events
- The Lion and Unicorn Theatre NW5 2ED 29 upcoming events
- Bush Theatre W12 8LJ 23 upcoming events
- Arcola Theatre E8 3DL 23 upcoming events
- The Place WC1H 9PY 21 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.