The tiny entrance of the Criterion Theatre is almost invisible among the massive advertisements, traffic and crowds of Piccadilly Circus. To ignore it, however, is to miss one of London's most enchanting theatres. Use of mirrors and stunning murals of clouds and cherubs turns this underground labyrinth into an airy paradise. It has shown a wide variety of fare since it opened in 1974, including the first UK production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot (1955). The Criterion's greatest successes have always come from bawdy comedy. A Little Bit of Fluff (1915) was blamed for the destruction of the public's morals with its brief flash of a woman's unclothed leg: it ran for 1241 performances. Run for Your Wife outdid this with a seven year run in the 1980s, and it recently played host to the Reduced Shakespeare Company, who performed their Complete Works of William Shakespeare more than 2000 times.
(Image: Criterion Theatre Exterior)
What's on at
Criterion Theatre
The 39 Steps 14th September 2006 - 13th February 2010 Hitchcock's 1935 movie is a masterpiece of sustained adventure, as...
The 39 Steps
Criterion Theatre, 2 Jermyn Street, SW1
Opens 30th September 2006 (previews from 14th September 2006)
Hitchcock's 1935 movie is a masterpiece of sustained... More
Otherwise Engaged
25 October 2005 - 28 January 2006
Witty publisher Simon Hench, a man of superior taste and total disregard for friends and family,... More
The main attraction of this traditional Victorian hotel is that it has many of London's famous landmarks, including Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, within minutes’ ... More
Set in between Trafalgar and Leicester Squares and right next to the National Portrait Gallery, the Thistle Trafalgar Square is a modern hotel set in ... More
Tackling one of the most iconic films of 20th century American cinema is a bold move - there's Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy dress, Audrey Hepburn's hairstyle, ...More
Stephen Wiltshire's art work would be impressive even if you didn't know who he is. But his intricate and architecturally accurate pen and ink sketches ... More
The sight of lost and lonely tourists wandering around Leicester Square is already a distant memory. LondonTown.com's London Information Centre, Leicester Square, is situated directly ... More
Lillywhite’s probably owes its landmark sport shop status to its position in Piccadilly Circus more than anything, but this would be ignoring its remarkable heritage.
Its ... More
As music and video giants go, Virgin's Megastore in Piccadilly (formerly Tower Records) is perhaps the most accommodating and rewarding choice. The gigantic store ... More
What makes the Criterion special is its truly spectacular neo-Byzantine interior which has been wowing diners ever since its doors swung open in 1873. Positioned ...More
Chilled-out, plush Lebanese restaurant with a contemporary twist.
The Noura brand has been spreading throughout London and Paris over recent years and deservedly so. Their flagship ... More
English [Out There!] takes a very hands-on approach to learning English. The course places an emphasis on using what you have learned. Students are taken ... More
Thai food is the cuisine of the moment - green curries, red curries, satays, are everywhere. To the uninitiated,it's very difficult to recreate at home. ... More
Catalyst personal trainers are among the best in London. Get fit without doing yourself an injury, lose weight with a specially devised programme or build ... More
If you're not up for the hectic atmosphere of Waxy O'Connors it might be worth slipping across the street to her infinitely more tranquil Little ... More
This
was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really
shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and
velvet curtains ... More
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The tiny entrance of the Criterion Theatre is almost invisible among the massive advertisements, traffic and crowds of Piccadilly Circus. To ignore it, however, is to miss one of London's most enchanting theatres. Use of mirrors and stunning murals of clouds and cherubs turns this underground labyrinth into an airy paradise. It has shown a wide variety of fare since it opened in 1974, including the first UK production of Beckett's Waiting for Godot (1955). The Criterion's greatest successes have always come from bawdy comedy. A Little Bit of Fluff (1915) was blamed for the destruction of the public's morals with its brief flash of a woman's unclothed leg: it ran for 1241 performances. Run for Your Wife outdid this with a seven year run in the 1980s, and it recently played host to the Reduced Shakespeare Company, who performed their 
![English [Out There!]](/lycos/assets/MN089802_85x142.jpg "English [Out There!]")
