National Theatre

It is a cool modern building, and the theatre has very comfortable chairs to sit in. A marvellous theatre with finest if British actors. If you're in London to visit, don't miss out on seeing a play instead of a musical. Easy to buy tickets over the internet.

The National Theatre is a cultural gem in London, offering a wide range of top-quality performances that cater to all tastes. The productions are always thought-provoking and beautifully staged, with incredible acting and stunning set designs. The venue itself is modern and comfortable, with great views from almost every seat. Whether you’re into classic plays, modern drama, or experimental performances, the National Theatre delivers something special every time. It’s a must-visit for theatre lovers, and the experience is truly unforgettable!

Attending The Importance of Being Earnest at the National Theatre was a memorable experience. The building itself, with its imposing Brutalist architecture, stands as a testament to modernist design—an institution dedicated to the arts. Inside, the performance was a delight. The actors were brilliant, bringing Oscar Wilde’s witty dialogue to life with impeccable timing and charm. The set design was generous and outstanding, creating a rich visual experience that complemented the play’s sharp humor and satirical edge. While the first act felt a bit slow, the second act truly brought the story to life, drawing the audience into the absurd yet insightful world Wilde so cleverly crafted. After the play, we took a stroll along the Thames, taking in the breathtaking nighttime views of the illuminated Big Ben and the London Eye. The contrast between the city’s historic landmarks and its modern skyline made for a perfect ending to the evening—a reminder of London’s timeless ability to blend culture, history, and artistic brilliance in one unforgettable experience.

It was a happy, breezy, warm, and slightly cloudy Saturday on August 3, 2024. Strolling from London Bridge to the London Eye via Southbank, passing by the National Theatre, made for a perfect day out in London. I hope to catch a performance or musical at this theatre someday. Highly recommended!

Loved visiting this theatre - easy to get to, for a first timer in London with a sprained ankle no less! Industrial look to the outside, classy inside, comfy seats, great air flow (not stuffy at all), amazing sound, spectacular lighting, and found a cute bookshop (the bar was good too). Staff are super helpful as well 🙌 Saw Nye here in May - was totally blown away by the performance - then took an evening stroll along Southbank, enjoying the sights, bustle and hum of a city winding down on a weeknight. Magical!

Iconic Brutalist building by architect Denys Lasdun (1914-2001). Although much maligned by Prince Charles and others, Brutalist architecture has received a well deserved revival in recent years, epitomized by the new movie "The Brutalist" with Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones which debuted at the Venice Film Festival this year. Beautiful location right on the River Thames with spectacular views of the city skyline. We loved the performance of Coriolanus starring David Oyelowo.

I've seen multiple plays here and always had a wonderful time. They're well written and of good quality. As it's a theatre of course the price of food and drink are pretty high.

Super performance (Ballet Shoes) and not at all what I expected. An updated version of the classic tale of an eccentric family of how three orphans and an unconventional group of people triumph over adversity. Entertaining (and with only the necessary amount of ballet). The four stars is because the cafe on the ground floor served us a lovely casserole which was not that warm. We asked for it to be heated up and the staff were very helpful but had no means of warning it up. We were compensated adequately but manager please note: hot food should be served hot (preferable on warmed plates) and you should have some meals of reheating available.

I guess I didn't know what to expect coming to a tour of the National Theatre... Somehow, my silly American mind didn't put two and two together that the National Theatre we were going to was the very same National Theatre I see show clips from. I was under the misunderstanding that the National Theatre was a theatre turned into a museum. How wrong I was! Our tour guide, Matt, was absolutely lovely and thrilled us with the most fascinating information about the theatre, the shows, the architecture, and more! We got to see each of the stages - while they prepared them for the afternoon's shows - as well as behind the scenes in the storage areas, and the prop and set construction areas. This tour was definitely one of the best tours our class group enjoyed (and yes, much of it was due to our lovely tour guide).

First time here at National Theatre and I was blown away by its grandiose interior despite the exterior being quite boring and mundane. Seems like they have multiple theaters inside this one building and many performances going on at the same time. Also there are quite a lot of vantage points inside which I very much appreciate as well as the super cool bookstore stocked with plays and LGBTQIA+ reading material. I came to watch the Hex at the Olivier Theatre. Although the musical was quite um... interesting (spoilers: think cannibalism), the theatre itself was absolutely beautiful. I got some cheap tickets so I sat at a not-so-good seat, but even that, I was able to see the entirety of the stage and the actor's facial expression. Also, did I mention that the chairs are wonderful - purple and plush. Overall, very beautiful theatre and one that I would put as almost a must-go tourist spot just to walk through the building. It's like what the old saying goes - "don't judge a book by its cover". You should definitely not do it with this place. The outside may be extremely ugly, but the inside and the contents in it are beautiful.

I highly recommend the backstage tour of the National Theatre. Andrew was an informed and passionate guide who walked us through this cultural gem. Even with a theater background, I was amazed and impressed with the capabilities and achievements of this theater.

I saw Translations and Absolute Hell at the National and I also took a tour of the space. The bookstore has fun novelty items and a vast selection of plays and monologue books. I would have spent all of my money there if I could have. Each of their spaces has fantastic views, even in the cheap seats!Although Absolute Hell was long, it was worth it. The production elements were GORGEOUS and the actors were phenomenal. One of the actors had a little trouble with his American accent, but his characterization was strong. Translations was one of the best plays I have ever seen. From production to performance, I have no complaints. Each one of the actors impressed me. The tour is worth it, you may see an actor or two and the National has an interesting backstory. What's not to love? Affordable, quality theatre in a great space.

We came here to see a performance of Macbeth. The prices were reasonable and the performance was good. I would say the theatre was a bit warm on a hot day so I took a star off for that...otherwise it was an enjoyable night out.

A great Theatre where we went to see Chiwetel Ejiofor in Everyman which was a great show! The Olivier Theatre was spacious and very modern, the seats were comfortable and we had a great view of the whole stage from row b in the circle. We loved the whole building which is quite ugly from the outside but its like a tardis in the inside its huge! There are many bars to relax before the show and they also have a balcony at the top which offers panoramic views of the Thames and the London skyline! You can also get great ticket offers at this awesome theatre with the Travelex £15 ticket offers. The national theatre also host many shows with big names so go check it out!

I used to hate the look of this place both on the outside and the inside. I now think is brutalst architecture at its best and love it!! The National Theatre was originally a theatrical group founded in 1963 when the company was based at the Old Vic theatre in Waterloo. In 1976 it moved to its present site, which was purpose built for the company. The first of the three theatres to open on the complex was the Olivier, named after Laurence Olivier, the National Theatre's first artistic director. The three theatres each have their own characteristics. The Olivier has a semi circle open space for a stage. The Lyttleton is a more traditional auditorium, and the Dorfman (formally the Cottesloe) is a small space which can be adapted to a traditional theatre set up or have plays performed in the round. It is also used as an open space to be rented out when there are no productions on. All theatres have clear views of the stage, and the sound systems are second to none. The beauty to me of the National, is the public areas. There are cafes, restaurants, live free music performances and my new favourite South Bank pub The Understudy has been built into one of the buildings corners. If ever you on on the South Bank, just pop-in to feel the atmosphere of this great place. It really does have a feeling of somewhere that belongs to the people.

I've warmed to Brutalist architecture thanks to places like this. So surprised at how warm and comfortable the interior is. People really feel at home in the lobbies. An incredible, riveting production of Amadeus was greatly enhanced by the acoustics and sightlines of the Olivier Theater (one of three in the complex).

I quite enjoyed the performance of Pinnochio here this weekend. The cast was wonderful, the set was magical and though I think it is more for ages 8 and up, it is pretty child friendly.

Picture Perfect The power of the picture is celebrated with a challenging, diverse selection of press photographs from 2010 currently showing at the National Theatre. The Press Photographer's Year exhibition grabs your attention from the first with a miraculous image of UKIP candidate Nigel Farage, walking away from an air crash. The inevitable war section is a sensitively handled, although be warned, as there are some distressing images of wounded soldiers. Other sections of the exhbiition cover, politics (look out for a striking three head montage of Clegg,Cameron and Brown which truly represents the hope, power and ultimate failure that political leadership embodies), entertainment, nature, sport, human rights and human interest. The most heartbreaking image for me in the whole collection was that of Amina an HIV positive school girl in Tanzania, forced to wear a red badge at school to denote her condition. She watches the other children she is excluded from playing with from behind the bars of her classroom window. This exhibition serves as a reminder of how in a split second a photographer's lens can define a moment, evoke feelings from those who view the image and turn it into first a memory then history.

How could it be not romantic to wrap up warm with a loved one and enjoy a free outdoor screening on a valentine's evening? Plenty of plays and poems @ the bookstore for pick-up lines. My favourite so far is Alan Bennett's new play, the Habit of Art. It reflects on growing old, on creativity and inspiration, and on persisting when all passion's spent: ultimately, on the habit of art. "Real artists are not nice people. All their best feelings go into their work and life has the residue." You might get lucky for the day return tickets and there's always a few for the standing tickets at £5, painful but worthwhile for the Habit of Art :) Despite tickets are often sold out early for either Olivier, Lyttelton or Cottesloe theatres, every day there is also free music in the main foyer, and exhibitions (from Congo with Love is on...), plenty of accompany in the South Bank color. The £10 travelex tickets are good deals with very high quality productions, often quite experiential such as the remake of Shakespeare's All's Well that Ends Well, and England People are Very Nice (cutters' mobs, Papists, Jewish anarchists and radical Islamists across four tempestuous centuries...). The whole world is in front of you...

This review is for the tour of the National Theatre. The backstage tour of the National Theatre was a wonderful experience. Our tour guide showed us the 3 smaller theaters WITHIN the National Theatre, explaining the advantages of each. One catered to a much more smaller, intimate audience while the Olivier theater was definitely for the headlining shows. We also go to go backstage to see all the craziness and inner workings that are involved with putting on a production. There was also an area where they replicate the stage and scenes for rehearsals, all the mish mash of props from various shows, and we were even able to go on stage in one of the theaters. Truly an engaging tour! If you are a theatre buff or like to see the technical aspects of shows, this is an absolute must!

The National constantly presents great work. Productions here are not to be missed. Be sure to sign up to their membership as tickets often go fast for Productions. They get some great actors through their doors and is always worth going to see something! Also a great space to work. It's quiet and private if you need to steal an hour to finish up emails on the go.

Could easily be my favourite theatre in London. I got seriously attached to the place when it was showing The History Boys about a decade ago - I loved it so much I came several times and queued for day tickets for the final show, which meant getting there at about 5am (and, er, skipping school to do so - literally the only time I ever did that #rebel) Because of this, the NT feels incredibly familiar and comfortable. I would happily spend plenty of time in any of its public spaces - whether a cafe, restaurant, bookshop or just hanging around. But obviously the point of it is the theatre. There's always a varied set of things on; while it covers some of the big hitters and traditional stuff, new writing and more alternative things definitely get a look in. The three theatres (Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfmann, the latter of which has replaced the Cottesloe) are all well-designed so I would generally say seats from all levels and angles tend to have a good view. (The top back row of the Dorfmann has quite a restricted view though, or at least it did when I was there recently.) Plus this has a really great location on the Southbank - so you can enjoy the views of the Thames before the show. I know some people don't like the brutalist architecture, but to me this is so much part of the NT that I've grown to like it!

Even though I visit the Southbank quite regularly, I haven't actually been to the National for quite a while. I went to a preview performance of in-i with Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan at the Lyttleton last night. It was just fantastic (if you can still get your hands on a ticket - book now!!). The concrete jungle of the Southbank architecture provides the perfect backdrop for all things creative. Modern pieces which rely on minimalist stage sets and the audience's imagination particularly benefit from the lack of distraction. Yesterday's stage design consisted of a square wall and two chairs only, but ever-changing atmospheres were created with the clever use of light. I felt completely immersed in the story. Comfortable chairs and good views from whereever you are make this the perfect theatre.

Despite the National Theatre being a bit of an institution in London, The Long bar is anything but stuffy. The layout is really open plan and airy, and there is a mixture of tables and chairs, alongside soft leather couches. The best time to go is at about 6pm on weeknights because they have different performers play there free of charge each evening for about an hour and a half. Last time I went there was a brilliant violinist who danced around the stage and composed his own music. Sometimes there are bands playing Salsa or Jazz. They have a list of events for the month at the front desk though so you can plan ahead. The drinks are reasonable, £4.40 for a small bottle of wine and £1.95 for a fizzy drink. The bar staff are friendly and really efficient and the whole atmosphere is quite fun and young. It gets pretty busy at about 7.30pm when people start to arrive for the evening performances in the main theatre so if you get there early hold on to your seat.

The Royal National Theatre is so much more than a performance hall! The space is amazing! In addition to having numerous stages in the multi-floored venue it has restaurants, cafes and so much more. On Saturday, we grabbed a drink at the espresso bar and had intended just to sit and talk. After a few moments we were able to enjoy a live jazz trio playing Christmas carols. I have a feeling this is something that happens on a regular basis because everyone else seemed to be expecting music. I enjoyed the beautiful venue and you can even take backstage tours. We didn't take a tour but we did take advantage of the venue and purchased tickets to see War Horse, which is supposed to be amazing. I'm looking forward to the show!

ALWAYS a slice of theatrical nirvana/perfection/bliss and it was a delight to be back in the building yesterday for the first time in a couple of years. Having seen and enjoyed many plays here since 2004, all with unique subjects, production values and stellar presentation, this is one of the first places I think of when London theatre comes to mind. There's not just theatre here, and part of the fun of visiting the building stems from the atmosphere of the place. Pick something up in the bookshop, where displays change regularly based on the current shows, or go over to the restaurant or corner cafe, and stay for awhile.

I arranged a tour here for a group of people and we had someone not show up, so instead of bundling off back to the office, I stuck around for the tour and I'm glad I did! The National Theatre may not look like much from the outside, but inside it's full of interesting things and loads of innovative techniques and technology to make it a really unique theatre. I highly recommend the Backstage Tour. It's bookable online and costs around £10, and lasts about 90 minutes. As with any tour, of course, a huge part of it is the guide, and I'm not sure if we were lucky or if they're all that good, but our guide Sarah was a gem, confident and full of stories that really brought things to life. I've never seen a show at the NT but after the tour and hearing her talk about the rehearsals and seeing some of the sets being built, I went home and bought tickets for Peter Pan in January - and I very rarely pay full price for tickets to anything, so that's saying a lot. So yes, do a tour, learn things and see things you might otherwise miss out on! If you aren't sure, there is a new-to-all-of-us-on-the-tour thing called the Sherling High-Level walkway, where you can go in (for free) and look down on some of the workshops and watch things being made for the shows (https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/your-visit/sherling-high-level-walkway).

The seats in the national theatre are what theatre seats should be. So much more comfortable than many of the old West End theatres. That right there is worth a lot. Not to mention, they have wonderful, new and creative shows and great new interpretations of old plays. One of my favorite stage plays I've ever seen was there- (Coram Boy, 2007) and I haven't been disappointed since. I saw Amadeus and Macbeth there last season. Prices are affordable (especially in comparison to American ticket prices) and I love the vibe of the theatre itself- it's a hang-out spot for people all day long, with students and artistic types along with tourists and all types of folks who seem to congregate both in the lobby and in the bar/attached coffee shop, and in the riverfront outside area. It's a very pleasant atmosphere. They also have a good gift shop. Keep it up, the National Theatre is a real gem! Also- if you can't get tickets to a specific show, check back closer to the show because they sometimes release the reserved handicapped seats closer to the time of the show.

True, it seems extraordinary that no-one has reviewed the National here, before now (although I think specific productions have featured) still we are putting that to rights! BushGirl has explained comprehensively why the National is such a treasure, and a must-visit, so I'll just add a few personal highlights I have seen two of the best productions ever, here: The Rose Tattoo (Tennessee Williams, with Zoë Wanamaker, in 2007) and The Sea with Judi Dench, several years ago - both for a bargain ticket price and long to remain in my memory. The Cottesloe - the most informal and smallest space - is often set-up in the round, and especially audience-friendly. The Travelex and last-minute ticket offerings make good theatre accessible to all, so long as there are still tickets available for your chosen performance Don't miss the National Theatre, it's one of London's star-turns!

I know nothing about theatre. But I really enjoyed coming here. A great example of how some decent lighting can make even the worst looking building look, well, quite interesting. It's certainly distinctive. I remember not being able to buy bitter in the interval, but perhaps one should be drinking wine under these circumstances. You get very, very close to the actors. So have to be quiet. And you can always pretend you're watching Heat if you get bored

The National is definitely one of my favourite theatres, it's absolutely brilliant. There are three auditoriums in this rather clunky, 60s style building. The Olivier is the largest and there isn't a bad seat to be found. The auditorium is fan-shaped, spreading around the circular, rotating stage. Stage design is always fantastic and appropriate for the show, I've seen over ten plays here and have never been disappointed. The Lyttleton is a bit smaller, but still has a great layout with good views from most seats. I've only been to this one once, so don't know it as well as the Olivier, productions are of the same quality here though! The third theatre is relatively small and I've personally never been, I would assume they work to the same standards throughout all of the national theatre. There's a large book and gift shoo downstairs as well as cafés for all your snacking and drinking needs. The cloak room is free to use, definitely take advantage of that when you're going to one of the smaller auditoriums, they don't have a lot of space under the seats. Productions range from classic through modern to fringe plays and there are quite a lot of cheap tickets from £15 available.

I love this theatre. From it's Travelex season that does amazing tickets for amazing prices. They do traditional plays as well as fringe plays. They have cafes, restaurants, free music performances in the summer. It was built in the 1960's so the architecture is not the best looking, however it is part of the London view. The shop has sooooo many plays. You can get lost in the shop for days.

A classic of "Brutalist" architecture on the Southbank, designed by Denys Lasdun, this is a stunning Grade II listed building and a wonderful place to watch both modern and contemporary theatre. Famously loathed by our very own architectural guru Prince Charles; this in itself makes it worthy of a visit, if only to make your own mind up. Others have given a good run down on the three separate auditoria, which have housed some of the most notable productions in the UK over the past four decades. So I thought I'd mention some of the other great stuff the "National" has to offer the Londoner, or the out of towner, in search of a little bit of this great city on the cheap. Don't feel that you need to have booked a ticket to see one of the many fine productions which are "on" at the National to put this on your itinerary for a day out South of the river. The foyers, terraces and bars/restaurants are all open free to the general public and you could do much worse than spend an afternoon chilling with the National. This Saturday I dropped in to check out some extremely fine Cuban music in the foyer provided by the Sugar Kings, a great trio from Havana. They played an absolutely storming set and it was just perfect to be able to grab a cold Corona from the bar and then get a seat not more than a few feet from the stage. Until the summer, when the schedule slows down and you get more stuff outside, you will find music by some top notch artists pretty much every day of the week before the theatre performances and the lunchtime sessions at the weekend are always worth checking out. After the Sugar Kings set I wandered upstairs to check out the free exhibition of Allen Ginsberg photographs: "Angelheaded Hipsters". Most of these pictures will probably already be pretty familiar to you if you are a fan of the Beats but it's a well-staged exhibition and I spent a very enjoyable hour wandering about. If you are interested in modern American literature and the "lions" from the 40's, 50's and 60's you will find this fascinating. Another great thing about the National are the "platforms"; a series of events associated with the plays or exhibitions. These are reasonably priced lectures or happenings led by experts in the field which are run to coincide with, and complement, what's going on at the theatre. There is a "Discovering the Beat Movement" event on 19 February for a fiver which will see Barry Miles and the poet Michael Horovitz amongst others talking the stage to give you their insight into Kerouac et al - to my mind a bit of a bit of a bargain. On your way out make sure you hang onto your wallet and check out the very well-stocked bookshop. Lots of interesting, and often hard to find, stuff and I rarely leave without a package being tucked into the man bag - I like to persuade myself that having had a free afternoon's entertainment this represents a good way of putting some money back into the theatre. So anyway; the National Theatre, the Southbank and Brutalist architecture - I salute and thank you.

I love this theatre; although enormous,it feels intimate. I especially like the Olivier. Grade 11 Listed Denis Lasdun building & it still looks modern! And now I can afford tickets with the new Travelex system : great at £10 & £12. Best theatre in town And outside on the approach they have a lawn for open air concerts : fabulous idea while you wait for your performance Just been to see The Curious Incident at the Cottesloe - best play in years a fantastic production

I managed recently catch Enter Wonder.land digital exhibition in there. Albeit being much smaller than expected it was excellently executed. 360 VR music video watched on the loo was an experience on its own.

Best value and top notch performances. Provides theatre access if you're on a budget with world class quality. What a gem

I love the national theatre! The Theatres within it are gorgeous and huge, and you can almost always get a good view of everything. There are some fantastic shows at all times of the year, so do catch a play if you can. I love the shop as well, as it's filled with quirky gifts and SO MANY PLAYS. You'll be dumbstruck at how much you can spend on DVDs and scripts, but really, just wow.

We LOVE the National Theatre! Our group of forty from Arizona enjoyed a private tour of this wondrous facility! We learned of the history and founding of this treasure in London! We viewed all three theatres in differing stages of making ready for performances! It would seem there is not a bad seat in any of the three! We then ventured backstage to view all of the inner workings, then upstairs to look down into the costume shop! What a simply amazing and unique experience! The gift shop offered many unusual items! The cafes were busy on this humid day! Our pre tour discussion on the outdoor terrace offered an amazing view!

Places like the National Theatre are why I love living in London. It is located on the South Bank not far from Waterloo, on the outside it looks like a concrete mess but inside there are a number of stages (I can't remember how many there are) so there are a wide range of performances. My employer is a corporate sponsor so I was lucky to be based there for a team building away day in one of the rooms upstairs last October. We had a behind the scenes tour which included going backstage in the Lyttleton theatre, it was really good to see the props and the set designs. I have sampled two plays there which were both good, I particular like the clear sight lines and comfortable seats that are missing from the West End theatres. Tickets are not too expensive so it is worth snapping some up if you are in the area.

I love the Brutalist architecture and general atmosphere of the NT and surrounding area. Great theatre to catch a performance. I always enjoy my visits.

From a geeky engineer's point of view, the national's building alone garners it some stars - it's an interesting structure. Not to everyone's taste, but you can't deny it makes wandering around inside more interesting, and despite being nook and cranny-y, it's actually very spacious and well designed. Plus check out the concrete formwork finish, should you want to geek out like me. Nice. On a more theatrically-relevant note - you can't beat the 10 pound tickets at the National. Unlike the West End, the cheap seats won't give you a nose bleed and vertigo, and they're genuinely cheap. None of the theatres are so big that you get a bad view. Yes, I've seen some not-so-great productions here, but I've also seen some mind-blowing ones. Every Good Boy Deserves favour, on at the moment, was interesting and a good length (short) - not the best theatre review ever, I'll admit - not my cup of tea, but for a tenner, worth a shot. Whenever they put on the classical Greek stuff, I'm there like a shot and it's never disappointed. Those will never make it to $100-a-ticket Broadway (pah) but plenty on here in past years did. The bars are well designed so you don't die getting a drink at the interval; the shop also sells a good range of stuff. Now the South Bank's been revamped, there are plenty of places nearby to get a bite to eat so make an evening of it and head here.

In my whirlwind tour of London (all done in 2.5 days!), I had the opportunity to check out the Royal National Theatre (aka, run inside to use their facilities). I love how this theatre is on the affordable side. I've been to plays and musicals in London in previous trips but never here. I was impressed with the way the theatre is laid out and excited that there are outdoor entertainers during certain months. I absolutely love the oversized couch and armchairs when I was visiting. It provided a lot of photo opportunities and to know that it used to be the set for an outdoor play is fantastic of them to allow the public to have fun. The bf got a refreshing drink for us to share afterwards as we soaked in a bit of the atmosphere and the live music wafting around us. Next time we're in London, I'm picking up tickets to see a play here.

One of the best places to go in London to see such a wide array of performances from classical, to musicals, to local playwrights and international ones, The Royal National Theatre has it all. Not to mention, the lobby of the theatre hosts musicians for pre-performances music, usually some local photographer or artist's work on the top level, and it's got a very nice cafe/restaurant. Plus... entensive book store for plays, if you're into to that, which I am. best view of the theatre is at night, walking across the Embankment bridge.

We have seen productions at all three theatres here - the Olivier, the Lyttelton, and the Cottesloe - and have reservations about only the last, which has uncomfortable seats on both levels and restricted views from the gallery. Among the productions we enjoyed at the National long before they transferred to Broadway were "Amadeus," "Arcadia," "Copenhagen," and "The History Boys." You can take a 75-minute tour conducted by knowledgeable guides who discuss the history of the complex while leading you through the three auditoriums and their backstage areas and the workshops where sets are constructed. The charge is only £5.90. Mezzanine is a casual restaurant with Continental cuisine that offers a two-course meal with a glass of wine for £17. If it's a nice day, you can dine al fresco at Terrace Bar and Food, which offers a variety of tapas-like plates in addition to more substantial entrees. Free pre-performance concerts are presented in the foyer Monday through Saturday. The NT shop has a nice selection of posters, books, CDs, gift iems. Be sure to allow time to wander through the permanent exhibit, located in the Olivier Circle Gallery, focusing on the National's history from 1848 to the present.

If there is a better theatre in London, or indeed the UK, then I'd like to see it. In particular the main theatre space, the Olivier, is outstanding and even sitting in the back row of the circle you'll have a good view of whatever you're seeing. The spaces are all very modern and adaptable though so from elaborate scenery to minimalistic staging, the National can handle it all. The National puts on some really incredible theatre, much of it brand new, by world-famous writers and ground-breaking theatre companies and everything I've seen here has been excellent. This is made all the more affordable by the fantastic Travelex ticketing scheme which offers decent seats in a lot of plays for just £12 per ticket. I strongly advise signing up for the advance membership scheme, which is only £15 a year, and gives you the ability to book new plays a few days before the general public. Beyond the theatre itself the building is an iconic and beautiful piece of brutalism, especially attractive when lit up at night, with excellent outside spaces including the square and a number of terraces. Bars are in plentiful supply and live music often features on the ground floor. There is also a gift/book shop and there are usually exhibitions on too. Add to that the fantastic location and the NT is a MUST for theatre lovers.

A place to be proud of as a Londoner, the National is a myriad of theatre spaces, cafes, restaurants, galleries and shops. Even if you're not coming to see anything (but why not?) it's definitely worth a visit when on the South Bank. Striking and normally lit up in bright colours, this place stands out on the riverside. The inside is just as interesting - an industrial warren of cubby-holes and hidden rooms. They regularly have cheap theatre tickets available, and at least 3 shows to choose from on any given day. The bookshop offers a great selection and the nunmerous cafes and bars are an ideal place to rest up and get your nose into a new play. Sign up for the mailing list and keep an eye out for the offers.

It's funny to think that when the RNT opened all those years ago, there were so many critics of the building's architecture. These days, it's hard to imagine the South Bank without its familiar form. My favourite of the theatres inside has to be the Cottesloe: big enough to lose yourself in, but small enough for the performance to feel intimate still. As other reviewers have remarked, the quality of plays and performances staged here is consistently excellent.

Sort of an intellectual theatre multiplex with multiple stages replacing screens, The National is the most reliable place in London to see some really quality theatre. Playing host to all the big names of the stage with frequent innovative stagings of everything from Shakespeare to Pinter. Tickets don't have to be frighteningly expensive, you can get £10 student deals quite easily. The terrace is also one of my favourite places for an interval drink with a twilit view of the river and some good people-watching. The 50s Brutalist architecture is also amazing.

Perhaps the proudest of South Bank institutions, the Royal National Theatre truly does set the standard for large scale theatrical production in England. As a former theatre actor I have looked to this place since childhood as beacon of accomplishment, taste and sometimes daring, and one would be remiss to disregard it as stuffy owing to its official nature. Just saw Ralph Fiennes in a new Oedipus and not for a moment did I want to poke my own eyes out. Brilliant.

I can't praise the National quite high enough. I have seen so many good plays here, and also a couple bad of course - but that's the point of an establishment like this. If you're canny, the tickets are cheap and readily available. Embrace the £10 Travelex tickets - a fantastic idea if ever I saw one. The Olivier is stunningly impressive, with a moving stage and huge capacity for set changes. The Lyttleton is more of the "traditional" theatre, stalls and a circle - not that that detracts from the fact that one of the best pieces of theatre I have ever seen, The White Guard, blew me away in there. Finally, the Cottesloe has an unusual set-up, with some side facing seats, but again, this somehow works. Please try this place out if you haven't already - it really is a cut above the rest.

How about a theatre with virtually no bad seats? I saw "Fela" at the National Theatre and was blown away, not just by the performance but the actual venue itself. Online booking lets you click on certain seats on the map of the venue in order to see the view of the stage from that particular spot. I ended up booking a bit late so was placed on the far left. Amazingly they turned out to be fantastic seats - upon looking up behind me I realised that there really aren't any bad seats here. The sound system was also great, location easy to find, they let me take my beer and sandwich into the theatre at intermission, and the staff was friendly. The only drawback were that the machine that lets you swipe your card in order to automatically get your tickets wasn't working, and the selection of drinks and food at intermission was standard (could have done with a wider selection, but oh well...). Highly recommend this venue - two thumbs up.

I can't believe no one has reviewed the National! A stalwart of British Theatre since it's inception in the 60's/70's and production house of many great shows over the last few decades. This is the National Theatre, where all that is good in British Theatre should end up at or come from. There are three seperate auditoria in the building, The Olivier (the largest, for the big time shows) , The Lyttleton (smaller, but still nearly 1000 capacity) and Cottesloe Theatre - an adaptable studio space for more experimental or developmental work. By all accounts it's an ugly building from the outside by day, by night it's lit in various colours making it less of an eyesore on the lovely Southbank. Inside, it's almost labyrinthian, with bars, cafes and the multiplicitous theatres snaking off in different directions. Since 2003 Travelex sponsorship has allowed many NT tickets to be sold for £10, which is really terrific value for this type of stuff. Recent highlights have included, Complicite's Measure for Measure, Jerry Springer the Opera, The History Boys and His Dark Materials. There are so many shows produced by the NT across the whole range - new writing, old classics, reworkings, star casts, star writers, new talent. It's a place teeming with theatrical activity. Another good spot for coffee and people watching on the Southbank, there are often free outdoors performances on the terrace in the Summer. Essential for any theatre lover.

A brilliant theatre, especially when it comes to attracting young people - it doesn't just put on plays but also supports loads of projects for schools and students, including open days, tours and workshops. It's an organisation that really lets people get involved. All three theatres in the complex have their own type of space and layout, and the productions have these in mind. There are alos great last minute ticket offers, for students and non-students alike!

The National Theatre is a London landmark worth visiting. There is always something going on here whether it's a live band in the foyer or the matinee of the latest RSC production I recommend you visit this place. There are a number of different theatres in the one building (4 in total I think) and usually the best productions take place in the Olivier or the Lyttleton. The tickets are really reasonable prices (compared to those of theatres in the West End) and if you are under 26 you can apply for a membership card which means all tickets are only a fiver!

I visit the National regularly and have never been disappointed by any production here. Absolutely at the forefront of British theatre, the NT champions new work as well as old masterpieces, which keeps the range fresh at all times. While the Lyttelton and Olivier are spectacular performance spaces (and having seen the epic two-part staging of His Dark Materials I really feel that I have seen the revolve stage put to its best use), I personally love the more intimate Cottesloe most of all, and have seen some some excellent new material here. From farcical comedy to Greek tragedy, it's all happening in this iconic building - and you can get a really decent meal, too: check out the top level restaurant for really good pre-theatre mezze platters at a decent price, or if you want to go up-market, the Mezzanine restaurant is a brilliant dining experience and is one of my favourite in London - you don't have to be seeing a play to eat here, and it's well worth the trip.

As has been mentioned in previous reviews, this is a seriously ugly building from the outside. However they have done a good job making the inside a really nice place to be. Unsuprisingly I love the bookshopIts brilliant for plays, biographies and other drama related text books, and I can happily while away hours in there. The bars are all done differently, but are all nice, and they have entertainment and music in the evening in the main foyer. In the summer the outdoor theare has a great mixture of shows that are free and often great fun. Even if your not much of a theatre goer, the christmas shows at the National are always brilliant, and pitched well to be great for whole families from grandparents down to toddlers.

This lump of concrete on the south bank produces endless amounts of world-class theatre. With three theatres inside the building, producing 18 plus shows a year, and at ten pounds a ticket for many shows, it's cheaper and better than most london cinemas. It should be made part of law that people should visit the National. If you've never been, go. If you do go, go more. And if you see everything there, then you're probably a critic.