Dress Circle at the Apollo Theatre
186 seats across rows A to G, and only 12 steps up from the foyer, which makes this the easiest level to reach in the whole building, including the Stalls.
Where to sit
Stay central and stay off the ends. The level runs in three blocks with two aisles, and those aisles shift inwards as the rows get shorter, so the block widths change as you go back.
Rows D to F have the best legroom on this level. Legroom is tight throughout the Dress Circle and it is tightest in rows A and B, which is the opposite of what people expect from a front row. Anyone much above 5ft 7 should think about it before booking the front of this level.
A centre aisle seat is the comfortable choice if you want room to stretch, and it is worth asking for specifically.
What to avoid
The outer seats do not face the stage. As the rows extend out to the sides, the seats stop pointing at centre stage and start pointing across it. The two seats at either end of rows A and B are the worst of it, and are side views rather than restricted views in the usual sense.
Row F, seats 7 to 10 and 23 to 28, are restricted by the curve of the balcony above.
Row G is a short 12-seat row in the centre only, seats 11 to 22, with no aisle. It is the back of the level and the smallest row on it.
Where this level sits on price
Cheaper than the centre Stalls and dearer than the rear Stalls, which is the comparison that matters here. Given how close the Stalls are in a theatre this size, we would take a rear Stalls seat over a side Dress Circle seat almost every time, and it usually costs less.
Getting to your seat
12 steps up from the foyer, and there is no lift. That is the shortest climb of any upper level in the building by a wide margin, which makes this the level for anyone who can manage a few steps but not forty.
The bar and the toilets for this level
The Dress Circle has no bar of its own, and the theatre lists no toilets on this level either. The nearest are down at the Stalls bar, 45 steps below you, or up roughly 29 steps at the Grand Circle. Either way it is worth going before the show rather than in the interval.
Dress Circle FAQs
How many steps to the Dress Circle at the Apollo?
12 up from the foyer, and there is no lift. It is the easiest level in the building to reach.
Where is the legroom in the Apollo Dress Circle?
Rows D to F. Legroom is tight across this level and worst in rows A and B, so the front row is not the comfortable choice here.
Are there restricted view seats in the Dress Circle?
Yes. Row F seats 7 to 10 and 23 to 28 are restricted by the curve of the balcony, and the seats at the far ends of rows A and B look across the stage rather than at it.