Globe Theatre Exhibition and Tour

There are a couple of different ways to visit the Globe Theatre, located in this round, rustic looking building on the south bank.  If you want to know about the history behind Shakespeare's Globe and the theatre itself, the best way is to visit the Exhibition and Tour.  The other way is to really experience it for yourself, by booking to see a show.

Shakespeare's Globe and Exhibition

The exhibition is a self guided walk around part of the building attached to the Globe.  It contains much reading material and information about the historic past of the theatre.  It also contains some of the costumes, and you are able to take your time looking at your own pace.  Subject to there being no performance on, you can also take a guided tour around the theatre itself, and I would highly recommend doing this.  (Best to check whether the tours are running by checking first).  

This is a timed ticket, so you'll book and join a particular tour and then can look round the exhibition before or after.  The guide stops at various points inside the theatre so you can get a feel for how it would have been to be able to sit in the nicer seats or to be standing in front of the stage where the cheap tickets are.

View of the stage from one of the best seats

Since the Globe is an open air theatre, be prepared to get wet if the weather is bad :)

Ceiling in the theatre

Alternatively, when the season is running (check the website for details, the season runs from spring to autumn), it is possible to book tickets to go and see a show.  Watch out also for special deals, there have occasionally been tickets available for as little as £5 in the standing area, and there are a range of productions, from the expected Shakespeare plays to a few selected more modern ones.

View of the theatre from the inside

You'll also find there is a shop and a restaurant attached to the Globe theatre (but plenty of places to eat closeby as well).

Find out more about visiting by going to the official website.