Travel to the NT
National Theatre
South Bank, London SE1 9PX
The National is on the South Bank, just minutes from Covent Garden and the West End and Waterloo.
Roadworks on Waterloo Bridge
The second phase of the planned roadworks on Waterloo Bridge begins on 1 June and will result in the closure of the footpath for most of the east side of the bridge. This means that the bus stop at the south east side of Waterloo Bridge will be suspended, and the adjacent steps down to the National Theatre closed, together with the pedestrian ramp that provides access to and from the IMAX subways from this footpath. A new bus stop has been established, further south on the bridge, and passengers can reach the National by the roadway adjacent to the bridge - watch out for cyclists going down and all other traffic gonig up this road.
The bridge will be reduced to two lanes which will result in delays to traffic during busy times. Night-time parking on the bridge will be suspended. These works will additionally affect night buses as well as some other bus routes listed below. Check the TfL website for updates.
The duration of these works is planned from 1 June to the end of August.
Plan your journey to the NT using Transport for London's Journey Planner. Enter 'Royal National Theatre' and select 'Place of interest' as the destination.
Walking to the National
Owing to the closure of the footpath on the east side of Waterloo Bridge and the ramp to the IMAX subway from June to August 2010, there will be pedestrian diversions in the area. The contractors will provide signage to assist pedestrians in finding their way to the National and other South Bank destinations.
Bicycle Racks
Outside the Espresso Bar on the corner of Theatre Square, and opposite the Cottesloe entrance.
Buses
Please note: The following information may be subject to change due to the roadworks on Waterloo Bridge from June to August. Updates on diversions etc. will be posted at the top of this page when known.
During these roadworks it is currently anticipated that northbound buses crossing Waterloo bridge will stop at the southern end of the bridge. Southbound buses will stop at their usual stops before the bridge and their next stop will be opposite Waterloo Station.
All the following buses cross Waterloo Bridge:
1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, X68, Riverside Bus (RV1 - which also stops on Upper Ground which runs by the back of the National Theatre).
77 (Upper Ground near the Festival Hall), 211 & 507 (Waterloo Road near the main station), 381 (Stamford Street).
45, 63 & 100 all stop at the southern end of Blackfriars Bridge, and there is a 10 minute walk along the riverside to the National.
Car Park
Opening times are 6am to 1am.
Spaces in the basement car park are £7.50 after 5.00pm or if you attend a daytime ticketed event and leave before 7pm. Combined matinee and evening show rate £12. Validation must be obtained from the Information Desk. Sundays/public holidays: up to 1 hour free, or £7.50 all day.
Free parking is available in the NT car park for blue badge holders.
Blue badge holders can park anywhere in the car park and there are spaces near the lifts reserved for use by disabled people. There is a ramped entrance with semi-automatic doors to the basement foyer and lifts.
For free parking, blue badge holders should take their badge, theatre ticket and car park ticket to the Information Desk in the main foyer.
There are also limited numbers of spaces for blue badge holders at ground level, on the east side of the buiding.
Saver Carnet for evening parking
Buy 6 tickets in advance for the reduced price of £35 (normally £45).
To buy a Saver Carnet, contact Olu Akinyemi:
Tel: 020 7620 0397
Email Olusola Akinrinde at Olusola.Akinrinde@apcoa.com
[Valid for one year, each ticket allows entry to and exit from the Car Park from 5pm Monday - Saturday, or at any time on Sundays and Bank Holidays.]
Congestion Charge
The National Theatre is inside the congestion charge zone. The daily charge of £8 applies between 7am-6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
For more information and to find out about ways to pay, visit Transport for London.
Coaches
Setting-down point in Upper Ground at the back of the National.
Rail
Waterloo, Waterloo East or walk over the Hungerford Bridge from Charing Cross.
Underground
The closest tube stations are Waterloo (on the Northern, Bakerloo & Jubilee lines), Southwark (on the Jubilee line) or walk over the the Hungerford Bridge from Embankment (on the Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle lines). See below for details of how to find your way to the National from Waterloo or Embankment.
Walking to the NT from Embankment or Waterloo
Visit http://stage.completedirections.com/directions/national_theatre/ and select the 'On foot' option from the drop-down menu at the top of the page, then click on the links in the 'Walking directions' boxes to see how to get to the NT.
South Bank information
For help planning your visit, and to find out what's happening on London's South Bank please visit South Bank London
Download:
Step free journey from Waterloo to the National
Filename: Waterloo_to_National_route_in_pictures.pdf
File Format: pdf
