VICTORIA PALACE THEATRE

Victoria Street
London
SW1E 5EA

History

The Victoria Palace Theatre has been the home of Billy Elliot the Musical since the show’s West End debut in 2005. There has been a theatre on the site in some form since 1832, with the current 1550-seat auditorium having been in existence since 1910. The theatre has had a very strong emphasis on variety entertainment since its inception, spanning the music hall bills of its early days through a 10-year run of The Black and White Minstrel Show in the 1960s, Basil Brush’s Carry On London and the original London production of Annie. After a 6-year run of Buddy between 1989 and 1995 the theatre hosted a variety of productions including Fame, The Rocky Horror Show, Kiss Me Kate, Grease and the Rod Stewart musical, before Billy Elliot took up residence in March 2005.

Directions

The Victoria Palace Theatre is within walking distance of Victoria tube station, one of London’s busiest stations with many connections. The station is accessible via the Victoria, District and Circle lines, as well as being a main hub for National Rail trains across the country. Victoria Bus Station next door is also within easy walking distance of the theatre, and is the main point of arrival for most coaches into the capital including National Express and Megabus. Please see specific directions below:

…by Tube or bus 

The theatre is within walking distance ofVictoriatube station, one ofLondon’s busiest stations with many connections. The station is accessible via theVictoria, District and Circle lines, as well as being a main hub for National Rail trains across the country. Victoria Bus Station next door is also within easy walking distance of the theatre, and is the main point of arrival for most coaches into the capital including National Express and Megabus. If you are travelling to the theatre from somewhere else within the city and want to take the bus there are a lot of services that terminate atVictoria– just check the board on the front of the bus for details. For all Tube andLondonbus travel, a day travelcard or Oyster card afford good value for money and can be used for an unlimited number of times during a 24-hour period.

…by car or taxi 

If you prefer to drive to the theatre there are various meters on the roads surrounding it, including on Allington Street, Bressenden Place and Carlisle Place. The tariff for these is £2.00 per hour, although it can get busy so you may want to avoid this option at certain times of the day. Alternatively London Victoria Car Park is a 6 minute walk and will cost £22.00 to park for the day. You may find it cheaper and easier to hail a taxi from any of the ranks around the city.

Facilities

There is a bar located on each level of the theatre, and drinks are allowed into the theatre in plastic cups. The Grand Circle stairs are very steep, so seats in this area are not recommended for patrons with mobility issues. To ask about specific seating requirements, or to arrange for wheelchair access to the venue, contact the box office direct on 020 7834 1170.

Hotels and Restaurants

The Victoria Palace Theatre enjoys a fantastic central location close to a number of London’s most popular tourist attractions, shopping destinations and transport hubs including Westminster Cathedral and Victoria Station. Consequently there is a wide range of hotels and delightful restaurants within walking distance of the theatre to suit every taste and budget – we’ve handpicked a coupl of the nearest for you to consider for the next time you visit the Victoria Palace!

Restaurants

Wagamama (4.30ft)

Part of the Wagamama chain of restaurants, the Victoria branch is almost next door to the theatre and is a fantastic choice for a quick, affordable and tasty meal – three things that can sometimes be hard to find all in the same place! Wagamama is based on the concept of a traditional Japanese noodle bar, with dishes being delivered to your section of the long tables as soon as they are ready and with a great selection of noodle-based recipes (and free green tea!). It is a brilliant place to go with friends due to the smaller side dishes that are perfect for sharing, including ebi katsu (bread crumbed prawns with spicy dip) and yasai gyoza (steamed vegetable dumplings); alternatively, there are huge bowls of soup, delicious curries and classic noodle dishes such as yaki soba or amai udon on offer.

Roof Garden Level, cardinal place,London, SW1E 5JE

Giraffe (0.2miles) 

The Wilton Road branch of this successful restaurant chain carries on their ethos of packing world flavours into the menu, with influences from all over the globe making their way into the well-priced choices. From American burgers to Mexican burritos and Chinese noodles, you can find something to satisfy all taste buds – and the interesting range of cocktails that are served up makes it a great place to start your night! The restaurant is less than 5 minutes’ walk from the theatre and takes last orders until 10.30pm, so you can pop in before or after the show.

120 Wilton Road, Victoria, London, SW1V 1JZ

Hotels

Rubens at the Palace (0.2 miles) 

Situated on the road overlooking Buckingham Palace and Mews, Rubens at the Palace is a fantastic starting point from which to explore the capital’s many historical and tourist attractions. Each room has been decorated with individual touches to make your stay more comfortable, and the location allows great views of royal occasions and pageantry. The restaurant and lounge also offer delicious dinner and afternoon tea, and the staff is unrivaled for their attentive and helpful service.

Guests on TripAdvisor have awarded the hotel an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars from 850 reviews.

Rubens at the Palace,39 Buckingham Palace Road,Westminster,London,SW1W 0PS.

Goring Hotel (0.2 miles) 

The Goring is a luxury family-run hotel that was established in 1910 and has been going strong ever since. Located near to Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Palace Theatre, it was recently brought into the spotlight as the venue for Kate Middleton’s pre-Royal Wedding stay, and is also a favourite with London travellers for its fantastic large gardens and terrace area where you can enjoy a classic afternoon tea. The Goring is also renowned for its personalised service, with staff going out of their way to make your stay as memorable as possible.

Reviewers on TripAdvisor have given the hotel a deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Goring,1 5 Beeston Place,Grosvenor Gardens,London, SW1 W0JW.

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