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Set against the historical background of Elizabethan Bankside (the City of London's playground in Shakespeare's time) this is one of the finest spaces in the world for watching theatre, and also one of the most astonishing buildings in London. Opened in 1997 - thanks to the campaigning efforts of actor Sam Wanamaker - this painstaking, piece-by-piece reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre is located just 200 yards from the original playhouse on the banks of the river Thames.
With stunning wooden timbers and a fantastic thatched roof (the first on London to receive planning permission since 1666 and the Great Fire) there is little to separate it from the original. Similarly, in keeping with the fashion of the time, both the theatre’s stage and seating are outdoors. If you really want to experience the true Elizabethan theatrical experience buy a ticket as a “groundling” and watch the production standing up in the pit in front of the stage. It can get pretty tiring and you do run the risk of being rained on and bumped into by marauding actors, but experiencing the play in this way is much more authentic and really quite fun.
The season traditionally runs from May to September or October each year and usually mixes Shakespearian classics with works by other Renaissance playwrights. The standard of performance is consistently high and reassuringly traditional in its approach. Exhibitions, lectures, workshops and walking tours provide year-round interest. The Globe offers a superb historic, theatrical and architectural experience.
Located on the river it’s also right next to a raft of major attractions – a great way to approach the theatre is along the river from Waterloo taking in the Tate Modern, the Oxo Tower and the South Bank en route. Stop off for food at Gabriel’s Wharf or eat at the restaurant in the theatre before the show. Oh, and remember to take a rainmac just in case - umbrellas are most definitely out.
Best for:
Shakespearean theatre, timbers and thatch, drama and dining.
Did you know?
The Globe is repainted every year. |
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Local
Event Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Event |
| Shakespeare's Globe Season - Totus Mundi |
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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0 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| The magic of Shakespeare's Globe is not just a consequence of its Elizabethan beauty (though it is certainly one of the capital's most romantic summer...More...
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| London Event |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream |
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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0 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| The lost lovers, incompetent actors and mischievous fairies of A Midsummer Night's Dream make an annual London appearance at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre,...More...
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| London Event |
| The Merry Wives of Windsor |
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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0 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| The Merry Wives of Windsor is not, if truth be told, the Bard's finest hour (some of the wordplay is so execrable that the RSC...More...
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| London Event |
| Timon of Athens |
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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0 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Timon of Athens is a much-praised philanthropist, but when he falls on hard times, his friends abandon him and he becomes a foul-tempered misanthrope. Timon...More...
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| London Event |
| Liberty |
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Shakespeare's Globe, 21 New Globe Walk,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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0 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Shakespeare would have found rich material in the backstabbing orators of the French revolution, but since he lived a little early, Glyn Maxwell has taken...More...
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Local
Hotels Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Hotels |
| Bankside House |
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24
Sumner Street,
SE1
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3 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Bankside House can accommodate over 800 people in a variety of rooms which all feature their own telephones and are serviced daily. The ground floor ...More...
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| London Hotels |
| Hilton London Tower Bridge |
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5
More London
Tooley Street
London,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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16 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| The south end of Tower Bridge isn't the most attractive spot in London, but it's in easy walking distance of some of the Capital's best ...More...
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Local
Event Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Event |
| London African Music Festival |
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Queen Elizabeth Hall,
Belvedere Road,
Lambeth,
London,
SE1
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21 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Running the whole length of a continent with a billion people and 2000 languages is a pretty tall order for one weekend, but the sixth ...More...
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| London Event |
| Borough Market |
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Southwark Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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7 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Nestled in-between Borough High Street, Bedale Street, Stoney Street and Winchester Walk lives "London's Larder", more formally known as Borough Market. This gourmand's delight is ...More...
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Local
Sights and Attractions Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Vinopolis |
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1
Bank End,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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4 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Wine tasting on the South Bank.
If you like wine, an afternoon spent exploring the alcoholic delights of Vinopolis is the perfect pursuit. This self-guided tour ...More...
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| London Sights and Attractions |
| Tate Modern |
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Bankside Power Station,
25
Sumner Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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4 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Located along the banks of the River Thames, Tate Modern opened to great acclaim in 2000 and has since welcomed millions of visitors through its ...More...
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Local
Shopping Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Shopping |
| Konditor & Cook |
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10
Stoney Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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6 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Konditor & Cook specialise in the creation of amazingly tasty cakes which are also sold on to some of the finest restaurants in the city. ...More...
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| London Shopping |
| O W Loeb |
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3
Archie Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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7 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Specialists in fine German wine, this shop has moved to larger premises and taken its customers with it - they have a deserved reputation for ...More...
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Local
Dining Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Dining |
| Wagamama |
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1
Clink Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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4 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Taking inspiration from Japanese ramman-noodle bars, Wagamama is the ultimate in high-quality, fast food. Huge bowls of steaming, soupy noodles, chicken dumplings with a chilli-soy ...More...
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| London Dining |
| Cafe 2 (Tate Modern) |
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Second floor,
Tate Modern,
Sumner Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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4 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| A brasserie at Tate Modern. It's really good! No really, given the lack of choice around here you might expect average to good food at ...More...
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Local
Leisure Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Leisure |
| Floatworks |
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1
Thrale Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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4 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Float your cares away in ten inches of super-saturated salt solution, the only situation where your body is completely free from gravity. It's like being ...More...
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| London Leisure |
| Fitness Exchange |
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Cottons,
Tooley Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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12 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| A relatively new player in the health and fitness market, the Exchanges offer well equipped gyms, as well as classes, beauty therapy and swimming. New ...More...
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Local
Pubs Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Pubs |
| The George Inn |
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77
Borough High Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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8 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| Dating back to 1676 this is the only original galleried inn left in London.
Borough High Street was once crammed full of old coaching inns, providing ...More...
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| London Pubs |
| Hogshead |
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52
Stamford Street,
Lambeth,
London,
SE1
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12 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| One arm of the Laurel Pub Company empire. These large chain pubs are an attempt to replicate the best of traditional pubs with added comfort. ...More...
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Local
Nightlife Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Nightlife |
| SeOne |
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41-43
St Thomas Street,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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14 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| With 30,000 square feet of to dance in, and a capacity of 3000, SeOne is the largest true nightclub in London. It's a classic rave ...More...
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Local
Business Near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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| London Business |
| Shakespeare's Globe Theatre |
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New Globe Walk,
Bankside,
Southwark,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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0 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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| ...More...
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| London Business |
| Novotel London City South |
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53-61
Southwark Bridge Road,
Southwark,
London,
SE1
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3 minutes distance from Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
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