If you’re planning to visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England do not make the same mistakes I made! I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of the works of Shakespeare. Perhaps it’s because I’m a university English major? Or it could be because I’m a professional communicator, or simply because I’m a self-proclaimed bookworm. No matter the reason – I just really enjoy Shakespeare.
On our trip to London, I knew had to stop to see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and go on a tour. In my research, I only looked up the following things: where the theatre was located, and how much tours cost. Because I wasn’t sure when i would actually get to the theatre, I didn’t plan properly to see this attraction, and want to help you avoid my mistakes. Here are 3 tips for visiting Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
1. Purchase tour tickets in advance
In all of my trip planning, I left this to the very end. I knew I wanted to go on a tour, but because I didn’t know what my London itinerary would look like, I decided to wait until we got there to purchase the tickets. This was a big mistake! First of all, the tours only run at a certain time. Secondly, they sell out fast! If you plan to go on a tour, I would strongly encourage you to book online well in advance of going. You can purchase tickets upon arrival, but if you are doing that make sure you get there very early.
2. Purchase performance tickets in advance
Upon arrival, we were told that there were no more tours for the day, but there were two plays – an afternoon and an evening show. The evening show was sold out, but we got the last tickets for standing room to see the afternoon show (Twelfth Night). It was an amazing experience! The performance was fantastic, and as an English major and bookworm, it was such a neat experience to be in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre watching a play. So although we weren’t able to go on an actual tour, we did get to see a performance and experience the famous Globe Theatre. But don’t be silly like us! If you really want to see a performance, book it in advance.
3. Dress for the weather
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is an open-air theatre. All seats are covered, however depending on the time of day (whether you are seated or standing) the shines in and it can get very hot. When we were there, only half of the standing room/seats were in the shade, and the other half of the theatre where the sun was shining was unbearably hot. Make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather, have a hat and sunglasses and stay hydrated!
Additional points to note:
– Shade visors are provided but are not effective against the heat!
– In standing room, if it’s too hot you can at least move to the shade.
– Yard (standing) tickets only cost 5 pounds each – a great deal!
– You are not permitted to take photos or record while inside the theatre for a performance, so sadly we have no photos inside the theatre. You are permitted to take photos while on a tour.
If you’re looking for more ideas of what to do or see while in London, England, check out my itinerary for 2-Nights in London, England.
