The Criterion Theatre opened in 1874, an unusual dance complex with an underground theatre. It made its name initially as a place for light comedy. During World War II, the building was taken over by the BBC to act as a bomb-proof studio. It didn’t go back to being a theatre until 1945. One of its most successful productions since then was The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, which ran for 9 years from 1996.
The building is air conditioned and has 2 licensed bars. It’s a small theatre with space for just 588, which is arranged over 3 levels. Iron pillars obstruct the views from the back 4 rows of the Stalls and the back 5 rows of the Dress Circle.
Disabled access is through the ramped entrance in Jermyn Street. This leads to the Upper Circle, where there are 2 spaces for wheelchair users. There is an adapted toilet along the way. The auditorium has a loop system for hearing aid users.
The theatre is opposite Piccadilly Circus tube station. For car drivers, there are Masterparks at Whitcomb Street and Trafalgar Square or the NCP in Denman Street.
In our travels around the web, we found these Criterion Theatre web pages useful. Contact us at team@tubehotels.com to list your favourite Criterion Theatre website here.
| 5 | 22 Jermyn Street | 0.1km |
| 5 | W London Leicester Square | 0.2km |
| 5 | Le Meridien Piccadilly | 0.2km |
| Haymarket Hotel | 0.2km | |
| 1 | Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel | 0.2km |
| 3 | Thistle Piccadilly | 0.2km |
| 2 | Regent Palace Hotel | 0.2km |
| 5 | Sofitel St James London | 0.3km |
| 5 | Sanctum Soho Hotel | 0.3km |
| 4 | Hostel 4 Star at Piccadilly Guest House | 0.3km |
| 3 | Thistle Royal Trafalgar Square | 0.3km |
| 4 | Best Western Premier Shaftesbury Hotel | 0.3km |
| 4 | De Vere Cavendish London | 0.3km |
| 5 | Radisson Edwardian Hampshire | 0.3km |
| 4 | Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square | 0.3km |
| 3 | Chancery Lane Apartments (EC1R) | 0.4km |
| 4 | Ryder Street Chambers | 0.4km |
| 4 | Hazlitts | 0.5km |
| 5 | Soho Hotel | 0.5km |
| 5 | St Martins Lane | 0.5km |