Theatres in West End

Standing here on Shaftesbury Avenue, you are on the street with more theatres than anywhere else in the world. Six grand theatres line this famous road in the heart of the West End, the district that has been the soul of British theatre for over 350 years. The West End refers to the area west of St Paul's Cathedral where approximately 40 theatres now stand, each telling stories that have moved audiences for generations. But this wasn't always a place of celebration. In 1642, the Puritans shut down every theatre in the land, silencing stages for 17 long years.

When King Charles II returned from exile in 1660, he breathed life back into theatre, and the West End began its transformation into the world's greatest theatre district. Theatre Royal Drury Lane opened in May 1663 and still welcomes audiences today, making it the oldest working theatre in the capital. The area witnessed another revolution in 1881 when the Savoy Theatre became the first public building anywhere in the world to be lit entirely by electricity, forever changing how performances could be staged.

The endurance of West End theatre is remarkable. The Mousetrap has run continuously since 1952, the longest running show in history. Les Misérables has been performed here since October 1985, holding the record as the longest running musical. More than 15 million people visit these theatres each year.