London Palladium

London Palladium history

From the outside

The London Palladium’s classical 1910 façade, with its Grecian-style decorated pillars and grand entrance, leads to an interior that’s just as exquisite as the outside, a visual feast for architecture lovers and theatre goers alike.

London Palladium Theatre architecture and history

Frank Matcham designed this wonderful building, which occupies a site previously home to a handful of historic buildings: a Corinthian Bazaar, an aviary, Henglers Grand Cirque and the National Ice Skating Palace. But the London Palladium is the site’s biggest success.

The Palladium started life in 1910 as a receiving house for various kinds of entertainment and ended up a specialist Variety venue. The escapologist Houdini played there, as did the famously scandalous samba singer Carmen Miranda and the well-loved comedians Laurel and Hardy, Judy Garland of Wizard of Oz movie fame, the Marx brothers and the wonderful Frank Sinatra.

During the ‘50s the London Palladium was called the Ace Variety Theatre of the World’, host to ATV’s Sunday Night at the London Palladium television programme, and for years it hosted the yearly spectacular Royal Variety Performance.

Sunday Night at the London Palladium became a British fixture between the ‘50s and ‘70s in a stage show that made Bruce Forsyth, the host, into a household name. But in the late 1960s it transformed itself into a top venue for large-scale musicals. There followed a run of hits including two stints for The King and I, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Sound of Music and Sister Act.

The venue is also famous for pantomime, with lavish performances starring Cliff Richard and the Shadows in 1964 and 1966, and a variety of household name starts in subsequent years. In ‘68 Sammy Davis Junior starred in Golden Boy, the theatre’s first musical.

The London Palladium was bought by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and another investor in 2000 and took its place in his stable of top theatres. The old revolving stage was taken out in 2002 to make room for the special effects in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Palladium’s longest running show with an impressive 1,414 performances.

From 2005 the London Palladium has been wholly owned by The Really Useful Group Ltd and offers an impressive 2298 seats, making it the West End’s largest musical venue.

Past shows at the London Palladium Theatre

Apparently the London Palladium almost hosted Elvis Presley, but his manager turned down the theatre because they weren’t offering enough money. The King and I has been staged there twice, the first time starring Yul Brynner. It has hosted the BAFTAs twice and continues to wow audiences from all over the world with top shows.

London Palladium Theatre access

The London Palladium offers wheelchair and scooter access.

London Palladium Theatre tickets

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