Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
ENTRY
from £7.50
WHERE
London
What it’s like
Watching a show under the sky in Regent's Park, with the plot only as gripping as the weather holds out.
This is theatre with no roof over your head, set in the middle of Regent's Park. You sit in an open-air auditorium and watch whatever's on that season, which is the bit you can't get from a leaflet: check what's actually playing before you book, since a family pantomime and a serious evening drama call for very different ages and very different bedtimes. The site doesn't spell out running times either, so it's worth getting that sorted before you commit an evening with a small one on your lap.
Pricing is banded and a bit of a puzzle. Standard admission runs from £15, under-18s get half price on most weeknight and Thursday matinee performances, and there's a hefty £45 senior rate that feels like it belongs to a different show. Groups of 10 to 19 save £5 a ticket on some bands, which is worth knowing if you're bringing more than one family along. Add a £2.50 booking fee per transaction, which stings a bit when you're already juggling several ticket types.
Because it's outdoors, the weather is part of the deal. On average 94% of performances go ahead each season, but if one's abandoned you get an exchange, not a refund, so a truly filthy forecast is a gamble you're taking on. Grass bank seating exists for some shows and gets released same-day at the box office, capped at two tickets each, but it can be properly damp.
There's covered dining on site for food and drinks before curtain up, though nothing's allowed into the auditorium itself. Wheelchair users get level access at Row J, but rows K to T are reached by steep steps, which rules those out for anyone with limited mobility. Baker Street tube, the nearest station, has no step-free route from platform to street, so pushchairs and wheelchairs are better off via Regent's Park station on the Bakerloo line.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Advance online and telephone booking available
- Parking
- Pay and Display Mon-Sat 9am-6.30pm (70p per 15 min, min £2.80, max 4 hours)
- Food
- Covered dining venue with pre-theatre dining and drinks options available
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair spaces available. Row J level access
- Dogs
- Guide, hearing and assistance dogs welcome
- Getting there by bus or train
- Baker Street underground station (10 min walk)
- Grass bank tickets are released same day at 11am for matinees or 5pm for evenings, box office only, two per person
- The £45 senior rate is a separate band from standard adult pricing
- Groups of 10 to 19 save £5 a ticket on some bands, but not Monday or Saturday evenings
- Parking is free after 6.30pm if you're staying for an evening show
Plan your visit
What show is on and is it suitable for kids?
The site lists whatever's currently programmed rather than a fixed family show, so check what's running before you book if you've got young children in tow.
How long does a performance last?
That isn't stated here, so it's best to find out the running time for the specific show before you plan your evening around it.
How much are tickets?
Standard admission starts at £15, under-18s get half price on most weeknight and Thursday matinee shows, and there's a £2.50 booking fee per transaction.
What happens if it rains?
You get your ticket exchanged for another performance, not a refund. Around 94% of performances go ahead each season, so cancellations are the exception rather than the rule.
Is there parking nearby?
Pay and display bays run 70p per 15 minutes on weekdays and 50p on Sundays and bank holidays, with a four or ten hour cap depending on the day. Blue Badge holders park free.
Can we bring a wheelchair or pushchair?
Row J has level access and there's a wheelchair space, but rows K to T are up steep steps. Baker Street tube has no step-free access, so Regent's Park station is the easier route in.
Can we eat there?
There's a covered dining spot on site for food and drinks before the show, but nothing can be taken into the auditorium.
Can we bring the dog?
Guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome, and they recommend booking an aisle seat and giving advance notice.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Pantomime & Family Theatre in London · Things to do in London
MAKE A DAY OF IT
