Hotels near Coliseum Theatre

8 Saint Martin's Lane, WC2N 4ES
Nearest Tube: Leicester Square

Designer Frank Matcham took impresario Edward Stoll's brief to create the "finest people's palace of entertainment of its age" in 1904 and came up with the Coliseum, a variety house of such huge proportions that its 92ft-deep stage even dwarfs that of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

It's hard to miss; you'll find it halfway down St Martin's Lane behind Leicester Square, or simply head for the spinning metal globe that crowns the Coliseum's tower and stands out in the central London skyline.

The theatre was always a bit classier than its rivals; deliberately built without a 'pit' - where the rowdier plebians would stand, drink and heckle the performers in a rich heritage of anarchy dating back to Restoration times - and luxurious throughout, the Coliseum's USP was to be a variety theatre for family audiences.

A total failure at first, the Coliseum hit its stride by 1907 and was the centre of variety entertainment until 1931, when their first big musical comedy, The White Horse Inn, proved a massive hit; Casanova next was an even bigger smash, until the two actors doubling the lead roles had a fist-fight onstage during a curtain call and provided the Daily Mirror with a lurid front page splash in 1933.

As musicals fell out of vogue in the late 50s cinema became a big draw, and MGM leased the theatre for the London run of Gone With The Wind. In 1968, the Sadler's Wells Opera Company renovated the orchestra pit and produced Don Giovanni in the Coliseum - finally the theatre had found its perfect creative match, and under their new name of English National Opera, the company have been there ever since.

Now fully owned and restored by ENO, the Coliseum resounds to the lavish and accessible productions of this wonderful company - everything's sung in English, tickets start at just £5 - and there's a great programme of works with regular re-interpretations of popular favourites like Carmen, Aida and Madame Butterfly as well as obscurer scores for the purists.

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 Coliseum Theatre

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.