Hotel near the New London Theatre

New London Theatre,172 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5PW
Nearest Tube: Holborn / Covent Garden

Another theatre that proved so lucky for Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber that he promptly went and bought it, this was the venue where Cats spent 21 happy years in its record-breaking run from 1981-2002.

A newcomer to the West End which only opened in 1973 and has been used as a snooker championship venue and TV studio since, it wasn't quite so lucky for two of the biggest West End white elephants of recent times: Gone With The Wind - The Musical at which some of the audience left before the finale on opening night due to the epic running time, and Imagine This, the "Holocaust musical" of which one writer said, "made Springtime for Hitler look like The Sound of Music." Neither hung around for long after critical pillorying, and both shows failing on each other's heels in 2008 spelt troubled times for the New London, which is currently up for sale.

On the upside, The Blue Man Group had a hugely successful run here earlier in the decade, and despite the modernity of the building the site itself is actually full of heritage, its Drury Lane location being home to various taverns, music halls and dens of performance-based iniquity since Elizabethian times with Nell Gwynne, King Charles II's actor-mistress prominent in its past.

This theatre is air conditioned and also has amplification for the hard of hearing. There are three main tiers of seating at the New London Theatre; the moving seating at the front of the auditorium, the stalls and the dress circle. Capacity 1106 approx.

Directions: The New London Theatre is on the corner of Drury Lane and Parker Street.

Parking: there is an NCP car park in Drury Lane.

The Strand Palace is only a very few minutes easy stroll to Covent Garden, the London Eye and Drury Lane. The hotel is located on the Strand in the West End and is close to many theatres, restaurants and bars. To its north lies Holborn and Russell Square, an area that is home to the British Museum, whilst to the east lies Tottenham Court Road, Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery.

Our most popular tried and tested 3 star hotel in the West End of London. The St Giles is only a short walk away from the New London Theatre