Designed in 1812 by Benjamin Wyatt on a site occupied by theatres since 1663. The present building is the oldest theatre in the world still in use. Nell Gwynne and David Garrick played here. Kings George I and III survived assassination attempts here. An unknown man who was murdered and walled up in the upper circle is said to revisit the theatre as a ghost – usually during matinees. Since the war it has staged a more or less constant stream of hit musicals including Oklahoma (1947) and My Fair Lady (1958) and Miss Saigon (1989). Arguably the most famous theatre in the world.

Décor: Grand, wood-panelled foyer, undecorated except for lists of names everywhere (war dead, current cast and previous management). A centre-piece of the foyer is a statue commemorating Sir Noël Coward (see below).

Imperial, wood-panelled auditorium reeks of history. Lovely cupola-topped atrium with grand staircase on either side with huge paintings of Edwardian scenes. Monographs of the famous (Kean, Sheridan, Grimaldi, Byron, Garrick) panelling.

The Grand Salon Bar – the most famous theatre bar in London – is a huge, imperial drawing-room full of classical statues and chandeliers.

Capacity 2,237