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Getting here

Useful travel information to help you plan your visit, whether you’re coming to the Olivier, Lyttelton or Dorfman theatres, for a drink at The Understudy, or just to relax in our foyers and terraces.

Exterior of the National Theatre from the south east.

New Year’s Eve travel restrictions in central London

Significant road closures are planned in and around the South Bank for road users and pedestrians.

Road closures from 2pm

Car park users will need to arrive before 2pm in order to enter the car park or drop off guests and leave before 6pm when the car park will close.

Due to the road closures there will be only one route when leaving the car park, which is east along Upper Ground to Blackfriars Road, at which point you will only be able to turn south.

View/download a map of the driving route (Word docx 819KB)

Pedestrian closures from 2pm

Waterloo Bridge and the Golden Jubilee footbridges will be closed from 2pm so people will need to use alternative routes if needing to cross the River Thames.

For people leaving the National Theatre on foot, there is only one route available after 5pm: To leave the area you must walk via Upper Ground, then right onto Cornwall Road straight down to The Cut.

Once on The Cut you will be able to access Waterloo Sation via Waterloo Road for underground services or Spur Road for Network Rail services.

View/download a map of the walking route (Word docx 1MB)

Transport for London have details of public transport services on New Year’s Eve.

Travelling to the South Bank

However you’re travelling to us on the South Bank, you’ll find we’re well connected with multiple travel options to choose from:

Performances at other theatres

For The Lehman Triolgy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Drury Lane, and Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre details are available below.

How to find us

For the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman theatres.

National Theatre, Upper Ground, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX
Get directions

By train

Plan your journey on London underground or national rail services.

London underground

Our nearest tube stations are Waterloo (5-minute walk), Southwark (10-minute walk) or Embankment (10-minute walk). You can plan your journey using the TFL journey planner

National rail

Waterloo, Waterloo East and Charing Cross stations are all a 10–15-minute walk from the National. You can check train times and service updates on the National Rail website.

By bike

New Year’s Eve travel restrictions in central London

Significant road closures are planned in and around the South Bank for all road users.

Road closures from 2pm

You will need to arrive before 2pm in order to use your usual routes.

Due to the road closures there will be only one route when leaving the National Theatre, which is east along Upper Ground to Blackfriars Road, at which point you will only be able to turn south.
You might be also be allowed to push your bike along the pedestrian route to The Cut.

View/download a map of the driving route (Word docx 819KB)

Cycle routes and storage

You’ll find bicycle racks outside our Espresso Bar on the corner of Theatre Square, and opposite the Dorfman Theatre on the east side of the building.

We recommend using Cyclestreets to help plan your route.

Santander Cycle Hire

There are three docking stations near the National Theatre – two on Upper Ground (one below Waterloo Bridge) and one in Concert Hall Approach. Visit tfl.gov.uk/SantanderCycles for more information.

By bus

New Year’s Eve travel restrictions in central London

Significant road closures are planned in and around the South Bank for road users and pedestrians.

Please consult Transport for London’s details of public transport services on New Year’s Eve if you are planning to travel to the National Theatre that day.

Our nearest bus stops are on Waterloo Bridge, Upper Ground, Waterloo Road and Stamford Street.

For a full list of services and connections, please use the TfL Journey planner.

By Car

New Year’s Eve travel restrictions in central London

Significant road closures are planned in and around the South Bank for drivers.

Road closures from 2pm

Car park users will need to arrive before 2pm in order to enter the car park or drop off guests and leave before 6pm when the car park will close.

Due to the road closures there will be only one route when leaving the car park, which is east along Upper Ground to Blackfriars Road, at which point you will only be able to turn south.

View/download a map of the driving route (Word docx 819KB)

To avoid fines, please note: Lambeth Council are trialling changes to traffic flows along Upper Ground and Belvedere Road (the road behind the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall). If you turn right onto Upper Ground when exiting our car park and continue westbound under Waterloo Bridge onto Belvedere Road, you will incur a fine.
There are two options to leave the area: either turn left out of our car park onto Upper Ground and then take the immediate right onto Cornwall Road and exit out of the area via that route. Or, turn right out of our car park onto Upper Ground and then, before driving under Waterloo Bridge, take the first left onto the slip road up to the Waterloo/IMAX roundabout.
Full details of the scheme are available on the Lambeth Council consultations page (this link opens a new tab)

Parking

We have an underground car-park with 290 spaces. The car park can be accessed via the south-west corner of the National Theatre, on Upper Ground. The height restriction for vehicles using the car park is 6’2” (1.88m).

Car Park Opening Hours

The Car Park is open Mondays to Fridays from 6am to midnight, and Saturdays and Sundays 7am to midnight.

Pricing 

National Theatre car park hourly rate are as follows:

  • Up to 2 hours  £7
  • Up to 4 hours  £11
  • Up to 8 hours  £16
  • Up to 12 hours  £24
  • Up to 24 hours   £28

Evening rate from 5pm – midnight: £8.50, no validation required
Public holidays: £8.50 all day, no validation required.

Parking validation

We offer concessionary rates for daytime ticket holders attending a matinee performance.

  • Ticket holders attending a matinee performance at the National Theatre: £8.50 up to 7pm
  • Ticket holders attending a matinee and evening performance at the National Theatre: £15 all day

For these ticket holder prices, please validate your card park ticket in person at the ground floor Box Office. Lost tickets will be charged at full daily rate.

Payment

There are four payment machines: one in the car park near the entrance to the theatre, one in the car park towards the BFI exit, and two in the basement lobby. All the machines take card payment only.
Touch cards can also be used at the exit barriers.

Motorcyles

The opening time and fee information in the Car Park section above also relates to motorcycles.

Blue Badge holders

When attending a performance, 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.

Free parking is available in the National Theatre Car Park for Blue Badge holders attending a performance. Blue Badge holders should take their badge, theatre ticket and car park ticket to any Box Office in the foyers for validation, prior to leaving.

When visiting the Dorfman theatre, disabled patrons can park opposite Stage Door. To arrange a space, please call our access line.

For further Access information please contact boxoffice@nationaltheatre.org.uk or call the Access line 020 7452 3961.

AccessAble Click for Access Information

Taxis

Taxis should be encouraged to drop-off behind the National Theatre, on Upper Ground.

For wheelchair users and customers with additional access requirements
The step-free drop-off point is on the private road to the east of the National Theatre, between the National Theatre and the IBM building. This will ensure you a step free route to the Olivier, Lyttelton and Dorfman theatres.

By riverboat

Uber boat services by Thames Clippers run a regular river bus services stopping at Embankment pier. Routes, timetables, prices and service updates can be found on the Thames Clippers website.

 

Other London theatres

The Lehman Trilogy at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

Playing from 24 Septembery 2024 – 5 January 2025.

The Gillian Lynne Theatre is located on Drury Lane.
166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW

Get directions to the Gillian Lynne Theatre on Google Maps

Visit the Gillian Lynne website for details to plan your visit

Visit our show page for The Lehman Trilogy

Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre

Now playing.

The Lyric Theatre is located at 29 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7ES.

Get directions to the Lyric Theatre on Google Maps

Visit the Lyric Theatre website for details to plan your visit

Visit our show page for Hadestown