London
London theatre break: six hotels within walking distance of the West End
The curtain comes down just before eleven, and the whole of Covent Garden spills onto the pavements at once. That is when you want to be close enough to walk back. These are the hotels for a theatre break in London.
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The West End is London's theatreland, with around 40 stages packed around Covent Garden. A night at a musical is reason enough for many to visit. If that is you, the hotel should be among the theatres, not half an hour away on the Tube.
The six hotels below are a short walk from the big stages. Several have a backstory that would not be out of place in a play.
In short: hotels for a London theatre break
NoMad London occupies the former courthouse on Bow Street, directly opposite the Royal Opera House. The Savoy was built by theatre impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte and shares a block with the Savoy Theatre. Both are less than ten minutes' walk from most West End theatres.
Our first choice: NoMad London, for its Covent Garden location.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at NoMad London
Top picks
Closest to the opera: NoMad London
For theatre history: The Savoy
For design lovers: St Martins Lane
With its own theatre: Ham Yard Hotel
On Leicester Square: The Londoner
Covent Garden and the Strand
NoMad London
The hotel occupies the former Bow Street Magistrates' Court and Police Station, a listed building directly opposite the Royal Opera House. Its restaurant sits in a three-storey glass atrium styled on an Edwardian greenhouse. There are 91 rooms and suites. The opera is a minute away, and most Covent Garden theatres less than ten.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at NoMad London
The Savoy
Richard D'Oyly Carte staged Gilbert and Sullivan's operas and used the profits to build The Savoy, which opened in 1889. The Savoy Theatre stands in the same block on Savoy Court. The restaurant Kaspar's takes its name from a carved wooden cat made in 1927, which joins any table of 13 diners as the 14th guest. Ask for a room facing the Thames.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Savoy
One Aldwych
The building went up between 1907 and 1910 for the Morning Post newspaper, designed by the architects behind The Ritz. It opened as a hotel in 1998 and stands next to the Novello Theatre. There is a 17-metre chlorine-free pool and a private screening room. Ideal for a swim before breakfast and a show at night.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at One Aldwych
Ham Yard Hotel in Soho
Kit Kemp filled the rooms at Ham Yard with colour and pattern, and the hotel has its own theatre. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
St Martins Lane
Philippe Starck designed the hotel as a surrealist wonderland seen through British eccentricity. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows onto the streets of theatreland. The hotel sits between Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. A good fit if you like design and want a short walk home after the show.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at St Martins Lane
Soho and Leicester Square
Ham Yard Hotel
Tucked down a quiet side street near Piccadilly, the hotel has its own 190-seat theatre. There is a bowling alley shipped over from Texas, and a roof terrace with beehives. Kit Kemp designed the interiors in bold colours and patterns. Stay here for Soho, with the musicals of Shaftesbury Avenue around the corner.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ham Yard Hotel
The Londoner
The hotel stands on Leicester Square with nine floors above ground and six below. Underground you will find a two-screen Odeon cinema. With 350 rooms and 35 suites it is large, but you are in the middle of the West End. The Prince of Wales Theatre and Piccadilly Circus are a few minutes' walk away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Londoner
Before you book
Buy tickets first: Pick your show and date before you book a hotel. Popular musicals sell out at weekends.
Buy from the theatre or an official seller: Resale tickets can cost far more and may be refused at the door.
Eat before the show: Many Covent Garden restaurants serve pre-theatre menus early in the evening.
Matinées buy you time: Many theatres have afternoon shows midweek and on Saturdays, leaving time for dinner and a walk the same day.
Editor's pick
NoMad London
NoMad London makes a theatre weekend easy. You sleep in the old Bow Street courthouse, with the Royal Opera House across the road. Before the show, eat in the glass atrium, where palms grow under the roof. Afterwards you are back in your room within minutes, while the rest of the audience queues for the Tube. Rooms are bright, with tall windows and art on the walls.
Frequently asked questions about London theatre breaks
Where should I stay in London to go to the theatre?
Covent Garden is the best area for a theatre break, with the Royal Opera House and many of the big West End stages within walking distance. NoMad London, The Savoy and One Aldwych are all here. Soho and Leicester Square also work well, close to the musicals on Shaftesbury Avenue.
How many theatres are there in the West End?
The West End has around 40 theatres, clustered around Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Most are close enough together to walk between them in a few minutes. Stay in the area and you can walk to dinner and the show without the Tube or a taxi.
When should I buy theatre tickets in London?
Buy tickets before you book your hotel, especially for popular musicals and weekend performances. The best-known shows can sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy from the theatre or an official seller to avoid inflated prices and invalid tickets. Midweek performances are easier to get and often cheaper.
How long should a London theatre break be?
Two nights is enough for one show and a day in town, while three nights leaves room for two shows. Many theatres have a Saturday matinée, so you can see two shows in one day. Staying in the West End saves time on every trip.