The Criterion is one of London’s most unusual theatres, built almost entirely underground, about thirty feet below Piccadilly Circus. It has three seating levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle, and with just 588 seats it’s one of the most intimate venues in the West End.
The Stalls sit three levels below street level and give you the closest view of the stage. The seating isn’t steeply raked here, so if you’re behind a tall audience member your view can be partially blocked, but the front rows offer a great, close-up view of the action.
One level up from the Stalls, the Dress Circle offers good views of the stage, though a handful of seats have restricted views due to the pillars supporting the Upper Circle above. Worth checking the seating plan carefully before booking.
The Upper Circle is the closest level to street level, just 23 steps from the main entrance, and gives unrestricted views of the stage from every seat, making it a great, budget-friendly choice.
The Criterion Theatre sits right on Piccadilly Circus, so it couldn’t be easier to find. The nearest tube station is Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines), right on the doorstep, with Leicester Square also within easy walking distance.
The Criterion Theatre opened on 21st March 1874, designed by architect Thomas Verity, and it’s one of London’s most unusual theatres: the entire auditorium sits underground, roughly thirty feet below Piccadilly Circus. When it was built, licensing authorities initially refused permission over safety concerns about gas lighting and toxic fumes underground, and fresh air had to be mechanically pumped into the auditorium to make it viable.
Over the years the Criterion has hosted everything from Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears (which ran for over 1,000 performances in the 1930s) to Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, and a long run of The 39 Steps from 2006 to 2015. It underwent a major refurbishment between 1989 and 1992, and today retains a beautifully preserved, intimate Victorian auditorium. Since January 2025, it’s been home to the joyfully camp musical comedy Titanique.
The Criterion Theatre has a capacity of 588 across its three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Upper Circle.
It opened on 21st March 1874.
The Criterion is built almost entirely below street level, around thirty feet beneath Piccadilly Circus. It’s one of only a handful of underground theatres in the world, and fresh air originally had to be mechanically pumped into the auditorium.
Given its underground layout, it’s worth contacting the box office directly ahead of your visit to check accessibility and arrange the right seating.
This is an unusual one: the whole auditorium, including the circles, was built around 30 feet below street level, so you don’t get the towering upper tiers of a typical Victorian West End theatre. The Dress Circle is reached by 32 steps down from the foyer, while the Upper Circle has step-free access via the Jermyn Street entrance, though there are still a few steps between rows once you’re in. There’s no lift, but the underground design means you’re never sitting especially high above the stage.
Piccadilly Circus is right outside, with Leicester Square also within easy walking distance.
The Upper Circle gives unrestricted views from every seat and is great value. In the Dress Circle, avoid seats behind the supporting pillars, and in the Stalls, front and central rows give the best view.
Titanique opened at the Criterion Theatre in January 2025 and has been extending its booking window ever since.
You can book tickets for Titanique directly through the official Criterion Theatre website. I’d always recommend booking directly through the official venue site rather than a third-party reseller.
