Summer tours of the historic London Palladium are set to resume next month, giving visitors a chance to step inside one of the West End’s most storied venues. The theatre, which sits next to Oxford Circus in central London, will open its doors for guided walks from 13th July through to 4th September, running most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Each tour is hosted by an actor-turned-tour guide and begins with a brief introduction to the building’s history before settling into what the theatre describes as an hour of name-dropping about the vast array of famous performers who have graced its stage over the decades, along with anecdotes about their time in London. Tickets cost £22.50 for adults and £15.31 for children, and can be booked online.
A storied past
The London Palladium first opened its doors in 1910, drawing on the legacy of the music halls and theatres of the Victorian era. For much of its life it operated as a variety theatre, though in recent decades it has become a more conventional West End venue, staging long-running plays and musicals. During its heyday, the Palladium was regarded as one of the most important stages for aspiring actors and performers seeking to catch the public’s eye. It also served as a stage where flagging American stars could often revive a moribund career, making the venue a transatlantic launchpad.
These days the theatre is particularly busy during the winter months, but in the summer it offers these guided tours as a way for the public to see behind the scenes. The tours themselves are designed to bring that history to life, with the guide sharing stories of the many famous faces who have performed there — from variety acts to Hollywood legends — and the moments that made their London stays memorable.
