Balcony at the Noël Coward Theatre

132 seats at the very top of the theatre, on the third floor: rows A to E in the centre, plus slip seats, row AA, which are benches along the side walls.

Where the value is

Row D, then row E. The main block is among the cheapest seats in the theatre, and there's a double-height safety bar across the front of the level. Rows D and E see over it best: the centre of row D first, then the centre of row E. The seats have been renewed and they're comfortable, though the backrests in row E are more upright than most.

Before you book up here

It's a long way up. The Balcony is at least 54 steps above the foyer, it's steep, and the drop down to the stage is a big one, so it isn't the level for anyone who minds heights. Give yourself a few extra minutes to climb up before the show.

What to avoid

Row A is the one to skip. The safety bar is right in front of it, tripled in places, and legroom is cramped for anyone over about 5ft 4, tightest of all at the very ends of the row. The slips, row AA, are for when everything else has gone: they're benches, you have to lean over a long drop to see much, and this is the worst level in the theatre for vertigo.

Legroom and toilets

Anyone up to about 5ft 11 will be fine in rows B to E, and row A is the tight one. There's a gents' toilet on the Balcony level but no ladies', so the nearest ladies' toilets are one level down, in the Grand Circle, and it's worth going before you climb.