Ambling around in London’s West End, you will be met with a plethora of theatres with a vast array of musicals, plays and stage shows.
Just a 10-minute walk from Bertrand’s Townhouse is London’s West End, the culture capital renowned for its theatres and shows.
Theatres in the West End
To get a taste of life in Bertie’s and Ottie’s time, consider Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre. Many theatres in the West End today were around in their early years.
Criterion Theatre
Opened in 1874
Lyric Theatre
Opened in 1888
Apollo Theatre
Opened in 1901
Take in the longest-running musical in the West End, Les Misérables, at Sondheim Theatre. For those seeking a more-recent play, we hear Stranger Things are going on at the Phoenix Theatre. Not just grand productions in their design, the shows in London’s West End regularly star famous faces.
Sit back, muse over the architecture from the Edwardian and Victorian eras and immerse yourself in the West End’s finest. To ease back to Bertrand’s Townhouse, take the Piccadilly Line from Piccadilly Circus Underground Station to Holborn, leaving just a short walk to the hotel.
Soho
Diverse, eccentric and humming with life, Soho is known for its pulsing, sometimes risqué nightlife and its series of boutique shops.
Taking a 20-minute stroll from Bertrand’s Townhouse, or cut the steps with a bus down New Oxford Street, and you’ll be in Soho. At its centre runs Carnaby Street with a variety of British and global fashion stores, from independent to flagship.
Just north of the street is Liberty London. With its unmistakable Mock Tudor exterior, Bertie would still recognise it today. Spanning 6 floors to explore, Liberty London offers a variety of fashion choices as well as many tasteful fabrics and accessories.
Soho’s restaurants offer comfort food, quick bites or more fine dining, adapting to your culinary taste. For multi-national dishes, head to Kingly Court’s food hub near Carnaby Street. Take in the courtyard’s atmosphere while sampling flavours of America, Greece, Italy, Japan and Morocco among many more.
Whether it’s casual pubs or secret bars, Soho has somewhere to drink that fits your style. A jazz night laced with whiskey might be just the unwind that you’re looking for.
Making the Most of the West End
Whether it’s the lively nightlife or simple sophistication you prefer, the West End has it aplenty.
Take a pause to sip a cup and browse the books in coffee shops. Explore the variety of cafés and restaurants and sample a mix of flavours in food courts. Seven Dials Market near Covent Garden or Kingly Court in Soho both have a vast selection. For more fine dining, consider Soho’s Michelin-starred restaurants such as Barrafina, Social Eating House and Yauatcha.
Walking around the streets with inquisitive nature, you’ll find several Blue Plaques commemorating significant people throughout history. Karl Marx, Thomas Sheraton and Mozart to name just a few.
Amble 10-15 minutes South from Soho to Leicester Square, known for hosting many premieres of big-screen films. You’ll also get a flavour of how many West End shows are within your reach with billboards and advertisements making a more modern, picturesque scene.
For a different scene, head just north of Leicester Square to walk around Chinatown and immerse yourself in East Asian food, decor and architecture. Regent Street and Oxford Street border Soho for more shopping experiences.
After you’ve absorbed London’s culture capital, you can take the Piccadilly Line from Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square or Covent Garden Underground Stations back to Holborn leaving just a short walk to Bertrand’s Townhouse.
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs)
We are just a 10-minute walk from the West End. You can also use bus and London underground routes to make your journey even easier.
Most of the West End’s theatres are within walking distance of Bertrand’s Townhouse.
Piccadilly Theatre is 20 minutes on foot from us. To save on steps, you can take the Piccadilly Line from Russell Square or Holborn to Piccadilly Circus, or step on a bus from Bedford Place to Trocadero / Haymarket.
Sondheim Theatre is a 20-minute walk from us. You can lighten the journey by taking a bus from Bloomsbury Square to Dean Street Chinatown.
Phoenix Theatre is a 15-minute walk from us. To cut down the walk, you can take a bus from Bloomsbury Square to Tottenham Court Road Station.
Bertrand’s Townhouse is well-connected to public transport, so if you don’t fancy the walk back to the hotel there are plenty of options.
The nearest London Underground stations to Bertrand’s Townhouse are Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines) and Russell Square (Piccadilly Line). Both stations are a 7-minute walk from the hotel.
The closest bus stops to Bertrand’s Townhouse are Bloomsbury Square and Bedford Place, each leaving a short walk back to the hotel.
You can buy tickets for London’s West End productions, musicals and shows at The Official London Theatre Ticket Booth in Leicester Square. Last-minute tickets are regularly available and you can get a physical ticket for the show you would like to book. If you’re not nearby, simply visit the website and you can book there too.
If you plan to visit for a particular show and date, book in advance online using the relevant theatre’s website.
If you want to get a feel for an experience from Bertie’s time, we recommend booking your seat for Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Piccadilly Theatre. The show is primarily set in 1899, in the middle of Bertie’s and Ottie’s days.
Whichever show fits your style, make the most of your time in London’s West End by pausing for a drink, whether it’s a strong coffee or a tall whiskey is up to you. As you explore the culture capital, keep your eyes open for Blue Plaques which commemorate historical people. Of course, Bertrand’s Townhouse will be ready and waiting for your return to unwind in comfort.
Decompress. Unwind and slow down your pace.
The West End is the city’s bustling cultural hub. Move to its addictive rhythm but don’t let its buzz consume you. Wind down in comfort when you feel the need.
