Royal Circle at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

The Royal Circle is for anyone who wants the best view in the building and is happy to pay for it. It's 24 steps up from the foyer, eight rows, A to H, split into a wide middle block and two side blocks.

Where we'd put you

Front and centre, rows B to E, in the middle block. You're close to the stage, a little above it and looking straight at it, so you get the actors' faces and the whole set at once. Behind row E the stage starts to feel further off, though the centre of rows F to H still sees everything and costs less.

Row A in the middle is good too. The rows are raked enough that you see over the row in front.

What to avoid

The Royal Circle curves round towards the stage, so the side blocks lose the front corners of the stage, and the seats right at the ends of row A are the worst of them. The last seat or two at each end of rows G and H is sold as restricted.

The Upper Circle hangs over the back of the Royal Circle, and it clips a little, but the view holds.

Legroom, stairs, the bar and toilets

It's an old theatre, so the seats are on the narrow side and the legroom is tight, as they are on every level here. If you're tall, ask for the seat at the end of the centre block, next to the aisle.

It's 24 steps up from the foyer, and there's no lift. Its bar, the Royal Circle Bar, is on the same floor, so there are no stairs at the interval, and if you order before the show, your drinks will be waiting. There are toilets on the level too, though the Ladies is small and queues at the interval.