Shakespeare's Globe Centres
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Shakespeare's Globe brings London's theatrical past back to life on Bankside, where the open-air Globe Theatre and the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse make Shakespeare feel immediate rather than museum-distant. It is one of the rare London cultural stops that still feels vividly alive, not only preserved.
For a first visit, start with the standard Globe Theatre Guided Tour, because it gives you the clearest feel for the site, its history, and its working-theater atmosphere before you commit to a performance.
For a first visit, start with the standard Globe Theatre Guided Tour, because it gives you the clearest feel for the site, its history, and its working-theater atmosphere before you commit to a performance.
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Some experiences and attractions are seasonal and might close temporarily.
Some experiences and attractions are seasonal and might close temporarily.
6 tips for visiting the Shakespeare's Globe Centres
1
Pick your first format
If this is your first time on Bankside, start with the Globe Theatre Guided Tour. If your priority is atmosphere, book a performance instead, because the open-air auditorium only fully reveals itself once the audience arrives. Making that choice before you get to the river keeps the stop focused instead of indecisive.
2
Let the weather vote
The site is partly open to the sky, and tours and performances still run in rain, wind, or surprise sunshine. Bring one extra layer and a compact waterproof even on bright days, especially if you plan to stand in the yard or stay after dark. That keeps the mood Elizabethan, not miserable.
3
Arrive light
The maximum bag size is 40 x 35 x 19 cm (15.7 x 13.8 x 7.5 in), oversized bags are not admitted, and luggage is not stored. If you are coming straight from London Bridge or a hotel change, sort that out before you reach New Globe Walk. This saves you a very avoidable queue-side problem.
4
Give the site real time
The standard guided tour takes about 2 hours, including the self-guided exhibition time, and a performance needs a longer block. If you treat Shakespeare's Globe like a quick photo stop between Tate Modern and Borough Market, the place will feel thinner than it should. Leave breathing room, so the building and the storytelling can do their job.
5
Use Bankside pairings well
For a clean cultural stretch, pair the site with Tate Modern next door or walk across the Millennium Footbridge to St Paul's Cathedral. If you want the most Tudor-flavored add-on, the nearby Golden Hinde makes more sense than racing across central London. Staying local lowers transfer stress and keeps the day coherent.
6
Families should plan stroller strategy
Prams can use the public areas and tours, but they are not allowed in the auditorium during performances, and upper Globe levels are not stroller-friendly. If you are arriving with younger children, decide in advance whether this is a tour stop, a family event, or a full show. That way you do not end up negotiating stairs, naps, and Shakespeare at the same time.
How to plan a Shakespeare's Globe stop on a Bankside day
The key decision is not whether the site is worth your time. It is whether you want the stop to feel historical, theatrical, or a little of both, because that choice changes the rhythm of the whole Bankside stretch.
Start with the guided tour if you are new
Best for most first-time visitors: begin with the Globe Theatre Guided Tour. It is the clearest route into the 1599 story, the reconstruction, and the feel of a working theater without asking you to give over the whole evening. If you want the site to make immediate sense, this is the cleanest first booking. Book now.
Choose a performance for atmosphere
Choose a performance when your priority is emotional payoff, not orientation. Once the benches fill, the yard wakes up, and the open-air auditorium stops feeling like heritage architecture and starts feeling like a living theater again. Couples, Shakespeare lovers, and repeat visitors usually get the bigger memory from this format. Book early.
Use the Playhouse when you want intimacy
If open skies and bigger summer energy are not your thing, the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse gives you the site's quieter counterpoint. The room is smaller, darker, and more concentrated, which often suits colder months, shorter daylight, or visitors who want the drama without the weather variable. It is the same institution, but a very different mood.
Keep the rest of the day nearby
The site works best when you build around Bankside rather than commuting across central London between every stop. Pair it with Tate Modern for a strong art-and-theater stretch, cross to St Paul's Cathedral if the river walk matters, or add Golden Hinde if you want one more Elizabethan-flavored chapter. Staying local makes the day feel curated instead of fragmented.
History of Shakespeare's Globe
What makes the site compelling is not only that it remembers Shakespeare. It stages the idea that theater history can be rebuilt, argued with, and used again, right on the river where modern London keeps moving past it.
The first Globe opened in 1599
The original Globe opened in 1599, built by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, the company William Shakespeare wrote for and part-owned. It was a place where plays like Julius Caesar met a huge public quickly and noisily, which is part of why the modern reconstruction still feels more energetic than solemn. From the start, this was popular culture, not a shrine.
Fire changed the story in 1613
In 1613, a misfired prop cannon during Henry VIII set the thatched roof alight and destroyed the first theater. A second Globe rose within a year, but that version was eventually shut down in 1642 when Parliament closed the theaters. The break matters because what you see now is not a survivor. It is a return.
Sam Wanamaker refused to leave it as a plaque
When Sam Wanamaker came to London in 1949, he found only a plaque near the historic site. He began campaigning in 1970, founded the Shakespeare Globe Trust in 1971, and although he died in 1993, the rebuilt Globe Theatre opened in 1997. That long struggle is why the place feels argued into existence rather than casually restored.
The Playhouse completed the idea in 2014
The site became richer again when the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse opened in 2014. Unlike the open-air Globe Theatre, it draws on the indoor playhouses Shakespeare's company used from 1609, so one Bankside address now lets you feel two very different sides of early modern performance culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Shakespeare's Globe and the Globe Theatre?
Shakespeare's Globe is the whole site and organization. The Globe Theatre is the 1997 open-air reconstruction, while the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is the second on-site performance space.
Read more.Should I book a guided tour or a performance first?
Most first-time visitors get more orientation from the Globe Theatre Guided Tour, especially if the site history matters to them. Choose a performance first if you already know you want the emotional, live-theater version, or pick the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse if you prefer a more intimate indoor room.
Read more.How long should I plan for the visit?
The standard guided tour currently runs about 2 hours, including self-guided exhibition time. A performance needs a larger block, so treat the site as a real stop on your day, not a quick riverside detour.
Read more.Is it good for children?
Yes, but choose the format carefully. The site runs family events and welcomes all ages on tours, while regular productions vary by content and stamina demands. Anyone under 16 must be with an adult, and prams are not allowed in the auditorium during performances.
Read more.What happens if it rains?
The open-air venue still runs in wet weather, and the yard is exposed. Bring layers and waterproofs, and remember that an evening performance can feel cooler than a daytime walk along the river.
Read more.Is it accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, both theatres and the guided tours are wheelchair accessible. There is a lift beside the Welcome Desk, accessible toilets on site, assistance dogs are welcome, and the venue provides induction loops, hearing enhancers, and a quiet space. If you need specific seating or tour support, arrange it in advance.
Read more.Can I bring bags or luggage?
Only smaller bags. The maximum bag size is 40 x 35 x 19 cm (15.7 x 13.8 x 7.5 in), oversized bags are not admitted, and luggage is not stored. Travel light if you can.
Read more.Can I take photos?
Usually yes around the site, and often on guided tours, but the tour guide can restrict photography if there is rehearsal or education activity on stage. Inside the auditorium during performances, cameras and recording devices are not allowed.
Read more.General information
address
Shakespeare's Globe
21 New Globe Walk
Bankside
London SE1 9DT
United Kingdom
21 New Globe Walk
Bankside
London SE1 9DT
United Kingdom
how to get there
The site sits on Bankside, next to Tate Modern and across the river from St Paul's Cathedral. The Millennium Footbridge is about 50 m (164 ft) away, Blackfriars is about a 10-minute walk, London Bridge about 15 minutes, and Bankside Pier about 10 m (33 ft) from the site for river-bus arrivals.
accessibility
Both theatres and the guided tours are wheelchair accessible. There is a lift beside the Welcome Desk, accessible toilets on site, assistance dogs are welcome, and the venue also provides induction loops, hearing enhancers, and a quiet space. The yard platform in the Globe Theatre is outdoors, so weather still matters.
security
Expect bag checks on entry. The current maximum bag size is 40 x 35 x 19 cm (15.7 x 13.8 x 7.5 in), oversized bags are not admitted, and glass items are prohibited. If you need to carry medical or childcare equipment, staff may inspect it.
cloakroom
A cloakroom operates whenever possible and currently costs £2.50 per item. During performances and tours, prams and buggies can also be stored out of the way, but they are left unattended and at your risk.
luggage
The site does not store luggage. If you are between hotels or coming in with airport-style bags, plan a separate bag-drop before you arrive and keep only a smaller day bag with you.
photography and filming
Inside the auditorium during performances, cameras and recording devices are not allowed. On guided tours, photography can be restricted if rehearsal or education activity is on stage. The venue may also photograph or film around the site for its own archive and promotional use.
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