Dress Circle at the Palace Theatre

Rows A to J, one floor above the foyer and 30 steps up. Around 275 seats in two blocks either side of a centre aisle, and the most comfortable level in the building.

Where we'd put you

The middle of the Dress Circle, rows B to F. It gives you a wide, balanced overview that's ideal for the large-scale effects, you see the whole height of the stage, and rows B to D in the centre are as good as anywhere in the theatre.

For value, the Stalls trick works here too: sit about a third of the way across the row rather than dead centre.

What to avoid

• Row A. The legroom is very poor, the seats near each end have a handrail in the view, and lights hanging from the front of the circle can get in the way. Start at row B.
• The ends of rows A to C. The outermost seats have a side view of the stage.
• Row J. It's only two short sections at the far ends of the circle, tucked under a low ceiling, and the value is poor.

Where the Grand Circle cuts in

The Grand Circle is overhead from row C, but in practice it only bites at row G. Behind that a little of the top of the stage goes, so for this show we'd stay in front of row G if the price allows.

Legroom in the Dress Circle

The best in the building, from row B to row J. Most people up to about 6ft are comfortable, and the seats either side of the centre aisle, 18 and 19, give one leg a little more room.

Stairs and the lift

There's no lift, so the Dress Circle means 30 steps up from the foyer. The access page has the step counts for every level.

Drinks and toilets

The Dress Circle has a bar and toilets of its own, so nobody has to head downstairs at the interval.