Access and Facilities at the Gielgud Theatre

There is no customer lift, and that shapes everything else on this page. From the foyer it is 16 steps down to the Stalls, 23 steps up to the Dress Circle and 60 steps up to the Grand Circle.

Access bookings, assisted performance dates and anything not covered here are handled by the venue's own access team, not by us.

The step-free way in

Step-free access is to the Dress Circle, through the third side exit door on Rupert Street. Ask a member of staff to open it. There is a 12cm step up to the front of the Dress Circle and a ramp is available. The venue is suitable for scooters, and staff can store a wheelchair or scooter during the show. Row B of the Dress Circle is also reachable by a single step or the ramp.

Where the wheelchair spaces are

In the Dress Circle. Seats A3 to A6 and A30 to A33 are removable, giving space for up to four wheelchairs, each with a companion. You can stay in your wheelchair or transfer into the seat.

Toilets

An adapted toilet is in the foyer near the bar, and there are toilets on every level.

Access hosts

Trained access hosts are on duty, so make yourself known to a member of the team when you arrive.

Hearing and sight

The theatre runs Auracast, which covers the whole auditorium. Receivers are collected from the cloakroom and come with headphones or a personal induction loop, and Auracast-enabled hearing aids connect over Bluetooth.

There is a visual story for the theatre if it would help to know what the building looks like before you arrive.

Signed, captioned and audio-described performances

Delfont Mackintosh schedule these production by production, and the venue's access team has the dates for Oliver!.

Assistance dogs and help at your seat

Assistance dogs are welcome, and staff will look after a dog during the performance if you would rather. Entry isn't guaranteed for other animals, such as emotional support animals. If getting to a bar is difficult, staff will bring what you order to your seat.

Parking

Disabled parking bays are on Archer Street and Rupert Street, and a drop-off on Rupert Street leaves you by the step-free door.

Bars

Five bars, including the Sprague Terrace, the bar at Dress Circle level. The foyer bar is three steps up from the foyer, and there is a step-free route to it from the wheelchair spaces along a side corridor. The Stalls bar is four steps down from the back of the Stalls and its seats are fixed. They all serve drinks and snacks, but no hot food, and the theatre is cashless, so bring a card.

Cloakroom and bags

The cloakroom takes coats and small bags only, for a small charge, and it cannot take large bags or suitcases. There are bag checks on the way in, so leave time.

The house lights

They do not go fully down anywhere in the theatre, so people can get in and out of their seats. It is noticeable before you settle in, and forgotten once the show starts.

Tips for the night

• Order your interval drink at the bar before the show and it will be ready at the break.
• The Stalls have no aisles. If you might need to slip out, a seat near the end of a row saves a lot of people standing up.
• If stairs are a problem, book the Dress Circle, the one level with a step-free way in.
• Bring a layer. The air conditioning errs on the cold side.