Globe Theatre Tour

Attraction Information

Shakespeare's Globe tour is the ideal addition to any London Theatre break. A thrilling insight into the world of William Shakespeare and his world-famous theatre is the perfect way to get you in the mood for a show. Explore the history of the Globe itself, a building that has crossed the Thames and seen premieres of Shakespeare's work. Learn about how the Globe was reborn and what the original building meant to the people of Elizabethan London. Shakespeare's Globe tour gives an interesting and well balanced introduction to Shakespeare's life, the theatre for which he wrote so prolifically and the London he called home.

Opening Times:

Monday - Saturday 1pm to 5pm (From 23rd April the tour will be taken to the Rose Theatre site)
Sunday: 9am - 11.30am

NB: There is no access to the theatre during matineé performances. Visitors will be taken to the nearby site of the Rose, Bankside's first playhouse.

Tours begin every 15-30 minutes during opening hours

Nearest Underground: Mansion House, Blackfriars, Cannon Street (District and Circle lines)
London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee Lines

MAP for Globe Theatre Tour

It is not often you get the opportunity to take a step back in time to the 17th Century. Shakespeare's Globe is offering the opportunity to do just that. Knowledgeable tour guides with intimate understanding of the Globe will lead you on a journey of discovery, explaining the complex history of the extraordinary theatre in a friendly conversational manner suitable for all the family.

You will learn about Shakespeare's life, his work and the theatre where he first staged many of his world-famous plays. A Globe guided tour is a truly unique opportunity to discover the secrets of Shakespeare's life, times and work.

During matinée performances in the theatre guided tours of the Globe are not possible. Guests will be taken to the site of the Rose, Bankside's very first theatre. The Rose was the theatre that Christopher Marlowe and Ben Johnson wrote their best works for and it was at the Rose that Shakespeare learned his craft. The Rose is the only Elizabethan playhouse that has been excavated on a major scale by archaeologists.

Interesting Facts

• In Shakespeare's day at the start of a play, after collecting money from the audience, the admission collectors put the boxes in a room backstage - the box office.
• Colour coding was used in the Elizabethan era to advertise the type of play to be performed - a black flag meant a tragedy , white a comedy and red a history.
• The original Globe theatre was destroyed by a fire caused by a stage cannon igniting the thatched roof. The theatre was rebuilt in 1614 and was eventually closed down by Puritans.