Shakespeare’s Globe is situated at 21 New Globe Walk which is on the Bankside of the river Thames, next to Tate Modern.  The theatre is best accessed by the Millennium Bridge and is on the opposite side of the river to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Customers arriving by public transport should note that the routes from the nearest train stations are complicated.  The major local stations are London Bridge, which is a 15 minute walk from the theatre, Cannon Street, a 10 minute walk, Blackfriars, 15 minutes, and Waterloo, - 25 minutes along the riverwalk, with flat surface all the way.

By underground the local stations are Mansion House, Blackfriars and Cannon Street on the District and Circle Lines, London Bridge on the Northern and Jubilee Lines, Southwark on the Jubilee Line, and St Paul's and Bank on the Central Line. They are all a 15 minute walk from the theatre.

The nearest bus stop is on Southwark Bridge Road, which is served by bus number 344, and there are more bus stops on London Bridge, which are served by bus numbers 17, 21, 35, 40, 43, 133 and 141.  The 381 and RV1 Buses stop at the intersection of Southwark Street and Southwark Bridge Road and serve Waterloo station.  There’s a taxi rank outside the main entrance of London Bridge station.

If you require detailed information about public transport links, you can call Transport for London on 020 7941 4500 or go to their website at www.tfl.gov.uk.

Customers arriving by car or taxi can be dropped off outside the main foyer entrance on New Globe Walk.  Although parking for the general public is not allowed on New Globe Walk or the surrounding area, it is permitted if the driver displays a blue badge.  There’s an NCP car park at the north side of Southwark Bridge but please note that this closes at 7.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Globe also has two parking bays reserved for disabled customers in the stage door car park, to the left of the main entrance, which are allocated on a first come first served basis.  If you would like to book one of these, please call Ben Davis at the Globe on 020 7902 1409.  

When leaving the theatre, black cabs can be found outside the Globe’s main entrance.  Visitors can also make use of a free direct telephone to a local mini-cab service, located to the right of the glass doors in the main foyer.

There are 4 heavy glass doors at the entrance to the theatre. The door on the far left is automatic and opens slowly towards you when a button is pressed. The button is on a short pole to the left of the door. The other three doors are operated manually and open both ways.

On entering the foyer, about 12 paces diagonally to your right is the box office and to the right of that, a lift.  Please note that slightly to the left as you enter the main doors is a glass casement that holds a model of the Globe.  At the far end of the foyer is the information desk.  Headsets and cast lists will be available from the information desk one hour before the performance starts.  The right hand side of the counter is lower for customers using wheelchairs. 

If you would like to listen to the introductory notes, you should collect your headset in good time to take your seat 15 minutes before the start of the performance. This is also a good opportunity to check you are happy with the reception through your headset. Please contact a Steward or member of staff if you are having any difficulties.

On the immediate left of the information desk is a flight of 16 stairs which leads up to the Piazza level.  Here you will find the coffee-snack bar, the Theatre bar, Shakespeare’s Globe shop, the toilets, stalls selling refreshments and programmes, and entrances to the auditorium.

To get to the Theatre Bar from the top of the stairs, turn sharply to the right, and go through one set of closed double doors.  The Bar has a terrace open to customers with tickets.   To get to the Coffee-snack bar from the top of the stairs turn left.  The coffee bar is ahead of you and the seating area for it is sharply to the left at the top of the stairs on a balcony that overlooks the foyer. It’s open from 10am until the end of the interval on evening performances.  For matinees it will be open after the show.

To get to the shop from the top of the stairs, bear gently to the left for about 10 paces.  The shop is open plan, with no doored entrance.

To get to the toilets bear left past the shop. The entrance to the ladies' toilet is to the left.  The gentemen’s toilet is also on the left about 14 paces further on. There are accessible toilets either to the left, just before the ladies, or further on to the right. 

To get to the refreshment stalls and to the entrances to the auditorium from the top of the stairs, go straight ahead about 8 paces to a pair of heavy glass double doors.  These will be tended by Stewards who will need to see your tickets.  The doors lead onto the open air part of the piazza which has a smooth concrete, slightly sloping floor.  Diagonally to your right, are a number of stalls selling various refreshments and programmes. 

The entrances to the auditorium are on this level.  As the building is circular, there are a number of entrances situated at various points.  Depending on where you are sitting, you will be directed to enter via a particular door or stair tower.  Seating is on three levels, or ‘galleries’, which encircle a yard.  In the yard there’s standing room for up to 600 customers, who are known as ‘groundlings’.  Unlike the yard, which has no roof, the gallery seating is covered.  Seating consists of wooden benches. The lower gallery is on ground level, but the aisles have steps.  The middle gallery has a flight of 12 steps up to it, and then more stepped aisles between the seating.  Please note that the steps are quite steep.  

This information has been supplied by the venue and although every effort has been made to check details, you may still have some queries. In this case, we would ask you to contact the theatre direct for clarification.

Useful information and contact numbers

At the Globe Guide dogs are welcome in the auditorium but please note that there is not much leg room in the seating areas which might make it difficult for some dogs to sit comfortably.  Theatre staff can look after dogs during the show.  If you require this service, it is essential that you let the theatre know beforehand.  If you have not already advised the theatre, please call Ben Davis on 020 7902 1409 or Celia Gilbert on 0207 902 1480. 

You can also call the information desk on 0207 902 1520  and they will help you with any further queries.  If you have any difficulties getting through, particularly at weekends, please call the Front of House office on 0207 902 1480. You may need to leave a message, but someone will return your call.

Seat-backs and cushions can be hired for the duration of the performance from the carts in the upper foyer, to the left of the glass doors, and on the piazza to the right of the main auditorium entrance.

Please note that there are no cloakroom facilities at Shakespeare’s Globe and because the auditorium is only partially roofed, you are strongly advised to wrap up warm or come prepared for hot weather. The bench seating in the galleries is covered, but the yard has no roof.

Transport for London can be contacted on 020 7941 4500 or at www.tfl.gov.uk.  Staff at the Globe will also be happy to help with transport directions.