The Old Vic
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
London
What it’s like
A proper West End style theatre near Waterloo with e-tickets, a script library and a cafe that's open to anyone, ticket or not.
This one's about sitting still and watching a show, so it suits kids who can manage that for a couple of hours with an interval in the middle. There's a firm line on under-3s though: they're not allowed in the auditorium at all unless a specific performance says otherwise, with an exception made for babes in arms under 18 months at Relaxed performances. Anyone under 16 needs an adult with them, which is fine if you're going as a family but worth knowing if you were hoping to send an older one off to sit with a friend.
Tickets only come through as e-tickets, emailed a week before and followed by a text with a wallet link the day before. You show it on your phone at the door, no printing allowed, and if you haven't got a smartphone you're looking at a phone call to sort something out instead. That's a bit of a faff compared with a normal ticket in your pocket.
The interval runs 15 to 20 minutes, roughly halfway through, enough time to grab a pre-ordered drink or get to the toilet and back. In the auditorium itself the rules are strict on food: no glass, no hot food, and sweets have to be the sort that don't rustle, so leave the crinkly wrapper bag at home. The Backstage Cafe and Bar is a different story and open to anyone, ticket or not, with proper breakfast, lunch and dinner, a free script library to browse and an outdoor terrace if the weather's decent.
Getting there is easy: it's two minutes' walk from Waterloo station, which covers the Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Waterloo & City lines plus South West trains, and there's a second entrance on Waterloo Road with lift access for wheelchair users straight up to the Box Office and inner foyer.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age kids and up; under-3s are turned away except at Relaxed shows
- Food
- Backstage Cafe & Bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks
- Wheelchairs
- Waterloo Road entrance has lift access
- Dogs
- Assistance animals welcome. Contact access@oldvictheatre.com or 0344 8717628 to arrange
- Getting there by bus or train
- 2 mins walk from Waterloo station (Northern, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Waterloo & City lines, South West rail)
- Book ahead, this isn't a turn-up-and-buy venue.
- Card and contactless only for food and merchandise sold by ushers in the auditorium.
- There are toilet blocks with baby change on the basement and third floor levels, plus one inside the auditorium itself.
- Assistance animals are welcome but you'll need to contact the theatre in advance to arrange it.
Plan your visit
Can toddlers come to a show?
Not usually. Under-3s aren't allowed in the auditorium unless the specific performance's age guidance says otherwise, though babes in arms under 18 months can attend Relaxed performances.
Does my teenager need an adult with them?
Anyone under 16 has to be accompanied by an adult, so no dropping them off to watch with mates alone.
How do we get our tickets?
They come by email as e-tickets a week before, then a text with a wallet link the day before. You show them on your phone, they can't be printed.
What if we don't have a smartphone?
You'll need to call the theatre to arrange another way in, as e-tickets are the standard method.
Can we eat during the show?
Sweets and chocolate are fine as long as they're quiet ones, but no glass and no hot food in the auditorium.
Is there somewhere to eat if we're not going to a show?
Yes, the Backstage Cafe and Bar is open all day to anyone, ticket or not, with breakfast through to dinner and a terrace outside.
How long is the interval?
Usually 15 to 20 minutes, about halfway through, enough time for a drink or the toilet if you keep your e-ticket handy for getting back in.
Is it accessible if we need a wheelchair or lift?
The Waterloo Road entrance has lift access up to the Box Office and inner foyer, and there are wheelchair spaces plus an Access membership scheme for seat selection.
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