Shakespeare's Globe
Faithful reconstruction of the 1599 Globe Theatre — open-air performances, standing groundling tickets and guided tours on Bankside
Faithful reconstruction of the 1599 Globe Theatre — open-air performances, standing groundling tickets and guided tours on Bankside
Shakespeare's Globe is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse where many of Shakespeare's greatest works premiered. Built in 1997 on Bankside, 230 metres from the original 1599 site, it was the lifelong vision of American actor Sam Wanamaker.
From May to October the oak-framed, thatched-roof theatre stages plays in daylight, open to the sky, with groundlings standing in the yard for just £5. Year-round guided tours reveal Tudor construction methods, and the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse offers an intimate Jacobean experience through winter.
Seeing a Shakespeare play here is unlike any other London theatre experience. The open-air playhouse has no artificial lighting, no microphones and no roof over the central yard — performances happen in daylight, with actors sharing the same weather as the audience. If it rains, groundlings get wet while the galleries stay dry under their thatched cover.
The atmosphere is electric. Groundlings press close to the thrust stage, actors make eye contact and address lines directly to the crowd, and the boundary between performer and audience dissolves in a way modern theatres cannot match. The summer season runs from May to October, typically offering four or five Shakespeare plays alongside new works and revivals.
The Globe was reconstructed using the same materials and methods available in 1599. The frame is English oak joined with wooden pegs, the walls lime plaster over hazel-lath panels, and the roof Norfolk water reed thatch — the first thatched roof in London since the Great Fire, requiring special permission and a concealed sprinkler system.
Sam Wanamaker, an American actor, first visited the site in 1949 and found only a bronze plaque marking the original theatre. He spent decades campaigning for its reconstruction, founding the Shakespeare Globe Trust in 1970. Wanamaker died in 1993; the theatre opened four years later under architect Theo Crosby's design.
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, opened in 2014, is a 340-seat indoor Jacobean theatre lit entirely by beeswax candles. Its intimate scale and flickering light create a hushed, immersive atmosphere, and it stages plays, opera and concerts throughout autumn and winter.
Year-round guided tours explore the main theatre and exhibition, covering Elizabethan staging, the reconstruction process and daily life in Shakespeare's day. The Bankside location puts the Globe within easy walking distance of Tate Modern, Borough Market and the Millennium Bridge — making it the centrepiece of a South Bank day out.
Groundling tickets are available on the day from the box office and online — arrive early for popular performances as they sell out quickly
Standing tickets cost just £5 but sell out quickly for popular productions. Book online as soon as the season is announced, or queue at the box office on the morning of the performance for returns.
The yard is completely open to the sky. If rain is forecast, bring a waterproof jacket — umbrellas are not permitted as they block the view. On sunny days, sunscreen and a hat are essential.
The doors open 30 minutes before curtain. Groundlings who arrive first get the best spots at the front of the yard, closest to the stage. Use the time to visit the exhibition and gift shop.
The candlelit indoor theatre runs from autumn to spring and offers an entirely different experience. It is more intimate, always dry, and the candlelight creates a magical atmosphere.
Head east along the Thames Path to Borough Market and the Shard, or west to Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge crossing to St Paul's. The Globe sits perfectly in the middle of London's best riverside walk.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: February 27, 2026
