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Things to do

Bright ideas to help you make the most of your visit.

Nationla Theatre building exterior west side with flytowers and terrace balconies.

Take a guided tour

Journey behind the scenes to see what’s being made in our on-site workshops.

Led by one of our expert guides, you’ll explore the design and unique features of our renowned building.

Take a guided tour

A tour guide talking to a tour group in the Olivier theatre auditorium. The tour participants wearing orange high-visibility vests.
photo by Ludo des Cognets

Free exhibitions

The Reset exhibition

Peek behind the curtain to see how our stage teams prepare the theatres for each performance. A photography exhibition by Laura McCluskey, Max Miechowski and Callum Su.

At the Lyttelton Lounge, in our Lyttelton Theatre circle foyer space.

The Reset exhibition
A near abstract image of the National Theatre building in yellow, red, black and white oblongs.

Amelia Lancaster exhibition

View our building’s iconic architecture through a new lens in Amelia Lancaster’s debut solo exhibition.

Runs to Autumn 2024 in the Wolfson Gallery in our foyers.

Amelia Lancaster exhibition

Browse our bookshop

Browse our unrivalled selection of playtexts and specialist performing arts titles, as well as a carefully curated range of books and exclusive gifts.

Visit us on the South Bank, or:

Visit the online shop

A brightly lit bookstore with numerous books on tables and shelves. The central display features colorful children's books and decorative items. Shelves on the sides are filled with books of various genres, and a large open space leads to the back of the store.

Peek behind-the-scenes

The Sherling Backstage Walkway offers visitors views into our busy production workshops for set construction and assembly, scenic painting and prop-making.

The Sherling Backstage Walkway is open on Wednesday and Saturday, 12-6pm only.

Due to building works in the Dorfman Theatre, it may need to close at short notice. If your visit depends on the Sherling Backstage Walkway, please call Stage Door on 020 7452 3333 to confirm that it will be open before travelling.

Entry is free and no booking is required.

Open Gallery Dialog: 5 images A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway, with a blurred figure walking away, backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments
A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway, with a blurred figure walking away, backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments
A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway, with a blurred figure walking away, backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments
View 5 images
A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments, and with wall texts and video screen. A shot of the Sherling High Level walkway backstage at the National Theatre, a balcony overlooking the set and prop-making departments
An image of a hand holding a mobile phone with the Bloomberg Connects app open. The app is showing an exhibition titled 'Explore backstage'

Download Bloomberg Connects

Explore behind the scenes at the National Theatre with an exclusive backstage tour or dive into our current exhibitions and learn more about our iconic building. For all this and more, download Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app.

Bloomberg Connects provides access to museums, galleries, and cultural spaces around the world anytime through digital guides, content from artists, curators, and experts.

 

Download Bloomberg Connects

Visit the archive

Photo of a desk with a hand writing on a notepad and National Theatre programmes, including Atttempts on Her Life, and other indistinct objects.
Play Video
Play Video

Find some new creative inspiration, for free

Our Archive holds a treasure trove of material relating to theatre and performance, from props to prompt scripts, photographs to recordings, costume and more.

If that sounds like heaven to you, a visit is free and open to everyone by appointment.

Book your visit to the Archive