
The Novello Theatre, one of London's more impressive theatres, first opened in 1905 designed as a companion for the almost identical Aldwych Theatre, positioned on the other side of the Waldorf Hotel.
Located on Aldwych by The Strand, it was originally named the Waldorf Theatre, changing in 1909 to the Strand Theatre, again in 1911 to the Whitney Theatre, reverting back to the Strand Theatre (as it is commonly known) in 1913.
There are many good hotels within walking distance of the theatre. Most are located in the Covent Garden area.
The year 1930 saw the theatre undergo its first round of renovations, followed by more in 1970. However it was in mid 2005 when the theatre underwent six months of major work and, when you see the results including the beautiful foyer and marbled floored auditorium, you'll appreciate the no expense spared refurbishment.
The theatre reopened in December 2005 under the new name the ´Novello Theatre´, in honour of the great Welsh actor, composer and playwright Ivor Novello who lived in a flat above the theatre for many years.
The theatre has had a successful history, with the first long-runner, ´Mr Wu´, opening in November 1913. Comedian Leslie Henson presented a series of farces beginning in 1930 with ´It's A Boy´ followed by ´It's A Girl´ then ´Aren't Men Beasts´ in 1936 and in December 1942 Joseph Kesselring´s new comedy ´Arsenic and Old Lace´ began its record breaking run of 1,337 performances.
Successes in the following years include Peggy Mount's star-making performance in the 1955 comedy ´Sailor Beware´ and Stephen Sondheim's UK premiere of the Broadway production ´A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum´ opened in 1963.
A succession of comedies began in 1970 opening with ´Lie Down, I Think I Love You´, ´When We Are Married´, followed the UK´s longest running comedy ´No Sex Please - We're British´, which starred Michael Crawford, and is the theatre's most successful production to date.
Barry Humphries and his alter ego ´Dame Edna Everage´ starred in over 200 sell-out performances in ´Back With a Vengeance´ during 1987, the rock´n´roll musical ´Buddy´, a musical-bio on Buddy Holly, ran for almost 7 years until 2002 and the spectacular production ´The Rat Pack´, celebrating Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr and Dean Martin, began its run here in June 2003.
The Royal Shakespeare Company has recently been presenting a fantastic season at the Novello from December 2005 - March 2006 with the last of four plays, ´As you Like It´, finishing its run at the end of March.
Following in April 2006 was the musical adaptation of the classic 1980´s Kevin Bacon film ´Footloose´.
Charing Cross underground and rail station and Covent Garden underground station are the closest to the Strand Theatre.
When purchasing tickets for mainstream theatre productions, it is important to keep the following in mind. The cheapest way to buy tickets is to buy directly from the theatres´ box office where the show is playing. Or, purchase your tickets from the ´Half Price Ticket Booth´ (AKA ´tkts´) located in Leicester Square, where they sell ´on the day´ tickets for all of the West End shows at a discount rate.
The booth is open Monday to Saturday from 10am - 7pm and Sundays from 12pm - 3.30pm. There is a service fee of £2.50 per ticket and a maximum of 4 tickets per person.
Avoid touts hanging about the theatres and any other ticket agencies around the West End that appear a little dodgy as tickets may not be legitimate.
Always ask if your seat is in a restricted viewing area. You can also purchase a theatre and hotel package which saves money all round. However, the best thing to do if you have your heart set on seeing a particular show is to book ahead. You will be guaranteed a good seat, a great view and a fab night out.
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| HOTEL / APARTMENT | POSTCODE | MILES | STAR | 23 May | 24 May | 25 May | 26 May | 27 May | 28 May | 29 May | 30 May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strand Palace Hotel | WC2R 0JJ | 0.16 | 3 | Full | £217.63 | £112.00 | £112.00 | £112.00 | £162.00 | £184.00 | £162.00 |
| Kingsway Hall | WC2B 5BX | 0.35 | 4 | £274.80 | £190.80 | £118.80 | £154.80 | £130.80 | £166.80 | Full | £214.80 |
| Radisson Blu Edwardian, Leicester Square | WC2H 7HL | 0.59 | 4 | £366.00 | £366.00 | £214.80 | £238.80 | £214.80 | £246.00 | £306.00 | £306.00 |
| Chancery Court Hotel, London | WC1V 7EN | 0.61 | 5 | Full | £300.00 | £216.00 | £216.00 | £216.00 | £300.00 | £300.00 | £300.00 |
| Citadines Prestige Holborn-Covent Garden | WC1V 6LF | 0.63 | 4A | £265.20 | £212.40 | £212.40 | £265.20 | £186.00 | £186.00 | £212.40 | £212.40 |
| Radisson Blu Edwardian, Hampshire | WC2H 7LH | 0.65 | 5 | £336.00 | £288.00 | £214.80 | £214.80 | £204.00 | £204.00 | £252.00 | £252.00 |
| The Kingsley - A Thistle Hotel | WC1A 2SD | 0.76 | 4 | Full | £240.00 | £162.00 | £180.00 | £168.00 | £192.00 | £240.00 | £228.00 |
| Royal Horseguards | SW1A 2EJ | 0.76 | 5 | £396.00 | £276.00 | £252.00 | £252.00 | £240.00 | £312.00 | Full | Full |
| Radisson Blu Edwardian, Bloomsbury Street | WC1B 3QD | 0.83 | 4 | £282.00 | £186.00 | £270.00 | £178.80 | £162.00 | £174.00 | £214.80 | £214.80 |
| The Royal Trafalgar - A Thistle Hotel | WC2H 7HG | 0.87 | 4 | £358.80 | £214.80 | £178.80 | £178.80 | £178.80 | £286.80 | £286.80 | £286.80 |
| Radisson Blu Edwardian, Kenilworth | WC1B 3LB | 0.89 | 4 | £264.00 | £222.00 | Full | Full | £118.80 | £162.00 | £198.00 | £198.00 |
| BEST WESTERN PREMIER Shaftesbury Piccadilly Hotel | W1D 6EX | 0.89 | 4 | Full | Full | £149.00 | £189.00 | £109.00 | £159.00 | £179.00 | £179.00 |
| Grange Holborn | WC1B 4AR | 0.90 | 5 | £299.00 | £335.00 | £203.00 | £239.00 | £126.00 | £203.00 | £299.00 | £299.00 |
| The Lancaster Hotel | WC1B 5JD | 0.94 | 3 | £150.00 | £150.00 | £162.00 | Full | £96.00 | £78.00 | £90.00 | £90.00 |
| The Portland Hotel | WC1B 5JH | 0.97 | 4 | Full | £323.00 | Full | Full | £126.00 | £227.00 | Full | Full |
| St Giles Hotel and Leisure Club | WC1B 3AS | 0.97 | 3 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £92.00 | £90.00 | Full | £129.00 |
| The Bloomsbury Hotel - A member of The Doyle Collection | WC1B 3NN | 0.98 | 4 | £366.00 | £234.00 | £162.00 | £186.00 | £186.00 | £186.00 | £198.00 | £378.00 |
| Grange Blooms Town House Hotel | WC1B 5BP | 0.98 | 3 | Full | £203.00 | Full | Full | £126.00 | £191.00 | £251.00 | Full |
| Montague on the Gardens - A Red Carnation Hotel | WC1B 5BJ | 1.01 | 4 | Full | £186.00 | £174.00 | £174.00 | £174.00 | £174.00 | £186.00 | £186.00 |
| Beauchamp Hotel | WC1B 5JH | 1.03 | 4 | £275.00 | Full | Full | Full | £126.00 | £167.00 | £227.00 | Full |
| The Wellington | SE1 8UD | 1.03 | 3G | £94.95 | £94.95 | £94.95 | £94.95 | £60.00 | Full | Full | £94.95 |
| Mercure London Bloomsbury | WC1B 5AF | 1.04 | 4 | £229.00 | £169.00 | £139.00 | £159.00 | £139.00 | £129.00 | £219.00 | £189.00 |
| Atelier EC1 by BridgeStreet | EC1N 8AF | 1.10 | 4A | Full | £189.99 | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full |
| Mad Hatter Hotel | SE1 9NY | 1.11 | 3 | £210.00 | £185.00 | £155.00 | £165.00 | £75.00 | £185.00 | £185.00 | £185.00 |
| SACO London - Holborn | WC1N 3LT | 1.17 | 4A | £250.00 | £170.00 | Full | Full | £170.00 | £170.00 | £170.00 | £170.00 |
| myhotel Bloomsbury | WC1B3HD | 1.17 | 4 | Full | Full | £226.80 | £226.80 | £118.80 | £130.80 | £178.80 | £238.80 |
| Staunton Hotel | WC1E 6HE | 1.19 | 4G | Full | £189.00 | £189.00 | £189.00 | £159.00 | £159.00 | £189.00 | Full |
| Park Plaza County Hall | SE1 7RY | 1.23 | 4 | £286.80 | £226.80 | £178.80 | £178.80 | £190.80 | £190.80 | £202.80 | £214.80 |
| Le Meridien Piccadilly | W1J 0BH | 1.23 | 4 | £358.80 | £334.80 | £310.80 | £310.80 | £334.80 | £322.80 | £322.80 | £322.80 |
| Hotel Russell - London, Bloomsbury | WC1B 5BE | 1.24 | 4 | £358.80 | £226.80 | £166.80 | £130.80 | £154.80 | £142.80 | £262.80 | £262.80 |
| The Academy, The Bloomsbury Town House | WC1E 6HG | 1.27 | 4 | Full | Full | Full | Full | £102.00 | £162.00 | £186.00 | £246.00 |
| The Rathbone Hotel | W1T 1LB | 1.37 | 4 | £390.00 | £210.00 | £126.00 | Full | £102.00 | £174.00 | £210.00 | £210.00 |
| Sanderson - A Morgans Hotel | W1T 3NG | 1.38 | 5 | Full | Full | £310.80 | £310.80 | £310.80 | £274.80 | Full | Full |
| The Cavendish London - Piccadilly | SW1Y 6JF | 1.39 | 4 | £499.00 | £289.00 | Full | Full | £259.00 | £239.00 | Full | £249.00 |
| Garth Hotel | WC1E 6HJ | 1.42 | 2 | £155.00 | Full | £69.00 | Full | £79.00 | £69.00 | £94.00 | £79.00 |
| Rookery Hotel | EC1M 6DS | 1.45 | 4 | Full | £306.00 | £198.00 | £306.00 | £325.00 | £210.00 | £276.00 | £228.00 |
| 3, Ryder Street Chambers - St James's - Piccadilly Serviced Apartments | SW1Y 6PY | 1.47 | 4A | Full | £265.00 | £310.00 | £269.00 | £185.00 | Full | £235.00 | £205.00 |
| Hotel Cavendish | WC1E 6HJ | 1.54 | 4 | £225.00 | £195.00 | £105.00 | Full | £95.00 | £95.00 | £105.00 | £105.00 |
| Mercure London Bridge Hotel | SE1 0JA | 1.56 | 4 | Full | £190.00 | £160.00 | £190.00 | £145.00 | Full | Full | Full |
| The Zetter Hotel | EC1M 5RJ | 1.59 | 4 | Full | Full | £185.00 | £185.00 | £130.00 | £222.00 | £294.00 | £342.00 |
| Brown's - A Rocco Forte Hotel | W1S 4BP | 1.60 | 5 | £558.00 | £438.00 | £354.00 | £402.00 | £354.00 | £402.00 | £438.00 | £438.00 |
| Malmaison London | EC1M 6AH | 1.61 | 4 | Full | £294.00 | £186.00 | £186.00 | £234.00 | £270.00 | £342.00 | £294.00 |
| The Westbury Hotel - Bond Street London | W1S 2YF | 1.63 | 5 | £442.80 | £370.80 | £202.80 | £310.80 | £238.80 | £238.80 | £442.80 | £442.80 |
| The Sanctuary House Hotel | SW1H 9LA | 1.66 | 3 | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | Full | £160.00 |
| Euro Hotel | WC1H 9EL | 1.68 | 3G | Full | Full | Full | Full | £110.00 | £63.00 | £150.00 | Full |
| Avonmore Hotel | WC1H 9EL | 1.71 | 2G | £189.00 | £199.00 | £189.00 | £119.00 | £169.00 | £169.00 | £169.00 | £149.00 |
| Saint Georges Hotel | W1B 2QS | 1.75 | 4 | £227.00 | £227.00 | Full | Full | £117.00 | £187.00 | £197.00 | £197.00 |
| Days Hotel Waterloo | SE1 7BJ | 1.76 | NC | £169.00 | £169.00 | £149.00 | £149.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 | £129.00 |
| Grange Langham Court Hotel | W1W 6BU | 1.78 | 4 | Full | £191.00 | Full | Full | £126.00 | £191.00 | Full | £239.00 |
| The May Fair | W1J 8LT | 1.78 | 5 | £514.80 | £358.80 | £298.80 | £346.80 | £262.80 | £310.80 | £406.80 | £358.80 |
| Station | Zone | Line(s) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covent Garden Station | 1 | Piccadilly | 0.38 miles |
| Temple Station | 1 | District - Circle line | 0.38 miles |
| Holborn Station | 1 | Central - Piccadilly | 0.57 miles |
| Charing Cross Station | 1 | Bakerloo - Northern | 0.57 miles |
| Embankment Station | 1 | District - Bakerloo - Northern - Circle line | 0.58 miles |
| Station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Charing Cross London Station | 0.61 miles |
| London Waterloo International Station | 1.06 miles |
| London Waterloo East Station | 1.09 miles |
| London Blackfriars Station | 1.10 miles |
| London Waterloo Station | 1.14 miles |