Balcony at the Lyric Theatre

The top level, rows A to J, 60 steps up, splitting into three blocks from row E. It's high, and from about row F the stage is a long way off. You look down on the show from up here rather than across at it.

Who the Balcony suits

Anyone for whom the budget is the budget. These are the cheapest seats at the Lyric rather than the best value ones, and the difference matters. It's very steep, though not to the point of making most people dizzy.

Our advice: look at the Grand Circle first

Spend about £10 more than the Balcony and you can sit at the front of a side block in the Grand Circle, rows B to E, far nearer the stage. If the budget has that much give in it, that's the better buy.

If you do book the Balcony

The centre block, as far forward as you can get. For the lowest price, sit at the back: the centre of rows H and J is the cheapest in the building. The far ends of the side blocks are just as cheap, but the safety rails are there.

What to avoid

There are no pillars up here, which is the good news. There are safety rails instead, looping round the ends of each row from row E back, and a rail behind row C cuts across the view from D7 and D20. C2 and C24 are sold as restricted view.

Legroom on the Balcony

Rows A to C suit people up to about 5ft 4, and row D about 5ft 6. It gets better further back, and in the side blocks F6, F21, H6 and H21 have nothing in front of them.

Steps

Four steps up from the pavement into the foyer, then 60 steps up to the Balcony, and there's no lift.

Drinks and toilets

There's a bar at the back of the Balcony, with seating, so you can stay up here at the interval. There are Ladies and Gents toilets on this level too.