21 New Globe Walk · Bankside · London SE1 9DT
The Globe: no roof, and the play goes on
A reconstruction of a 1599 playhouse, open to the sky over the yard, on a pedestrianised stretch of riverside. Performances continue in rain, umbrellas are not permitted, and no vehicle gets anywhere near the building. All three of those shape the evening.
The yard has no roof and the galleries are only partly covered. Shows run through rain, which is authentic and genuinely the thing most first-time visitors are unprepared for. Dress for standing outside for three hours.
Four things nobody tells you about the Globe
The theatre is wonderful. The practicalities are not obvious.
And the play continues
Performances are not cancelled for weather. Waterproofs yes, umbrellas no, because they block the view behind.
Standing, three hours
Groundling tickets are cheap and you stand on stone for the whole performance. Seats in the galleries are hard wooden benches.
Pedestrian only
The riverside walk takes no vehicles. Set-down and collection happen inland on Southwark Bridge Road or Park Street.
Indoors, and different
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is candlelit, indoor and runs in winter. Same site, completely different experience.
Two theatres, two seasons
Which space you are in changes the season, the weather exposure and the finish time.
| Space | Season | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| The Globe Theatre | April to October | Open air. Standing yard and covered galleries. Rain happens. |
| Sam Wanamaker Playhouse | Winter and year round | Indoor, candlelit, around 340 seats. Intimate and warm. |
| Yard, standing | Globe only | £5-ish tickets, three hours on your feet, and the best view in the house. |
| Gallery, seated | Globe only | Wooden benches. Cushions and backrests are worth the extra. |
| Matinees | Summer | Afternoon performances, so daytime traffic and an early return. |
Bankside from Kent
SE1 is on our side of the river, which makes this among the easiest central venues for us to reach.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Journey | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bexleyheath & Welling | 11 miles | 35–60 min | 25–40 min |
| Bromley & Orpington | 12 miles | 40–65 min | 30–45 min |
| Sidcup & Bexley | 12 miles | 35–60 min | 25–40 min |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 19 miles | 50–75 min | 35–50 min |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 24 miles | 55–85 min | 40–55 min |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 26 miles | 55–80 min | 40–55 min |
| Rochester & Chatham | 33 miles | 65–95 min | 50–65 min |
| Canterbury & Ashford | 58 miles | 90–120 min | 75–90 min |
Getting a Globe evening right
Dress for standing outside
This is the practical advice that matters most. Whatever the forecast said in the morning, the yard is open to the sky and a summer evening by the river gets cold after nine. Layers, and a waterproof rather than an umbrella. Groundlings in particular should treat it as an outdoor event that happens to have a stage.
The riverside takes no vehicles
Bankside is a pedestrian walk between Blackfriars and London Bridge, and the Globe fronts onto it. Set-down and collection happen inland, on Park Street or towards Southwark Bridge Road, which is a three to four minute walk through some genuinely pleasant streets.
It is on the right side of the river for us
Like the Southbank Centre, the Globe is in SE1, which means no bridge and no crossing from Kent. That takes real time off both legs and makes it one of the cheaper central London evenings we quote.
The winter playhouse is a different booking
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is indoors, candlelit and holds about three hundred and forty people. It runs when the Globe is closed for the winter and it is a completely different experience: warm, intimate and considerably shorter walks in bad weather. Tell us which space when you book.
Shakespeare's Globe questions
Weather, standing and access.
Do performances go ahead in the rain?
Yes. The Globe is open to the sky over the yard and performances continue in wet weather. Waterproofs are fine, umbrellas are not permitted because they block the view behind. Dress for an outdoor event.
Can a car reach the theatre?
No. Bankside is a pedestrian riverside walk. We set down and collect inland, around Park Street or towards Southwark Bridge Road, which is a three to four minute walk.
What is a groundling ticket?
Standing in the yard, in front of the stage, for the whole performance. Very cheap, the best view in the house, and three hours on stone with no roof above you.
Are the seats comfortable?
They are wooden benches. Cushions and backrests can be hired and are worth it for a full-length play.
What is the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse?
An indoor candlelit theatre on the same site, holding around 340, which runs when the Globe is closed for winter. Warm, intimate and a completely different evening. Tell us which space your ticket is for.
How long does it take from Kent?
Thirty-five minutes to two hours depending on where you start. SE1 is on our side of the river, so there is no crossing, which makes it one of the easier central venues.
Are there matinees?
Yes, through the summer. Afternoon performances mean daytime traffic and an early return, which is a considerably easier trip.
Is the fare fixed?
Yes, agreed at booking and unaffected by weather, traffic or an overrunning performance.
Riverside and open-air venues
The SE1 stages and the outdoor season.