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.

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.

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.

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 take the first left onto the slip road up to the Waterloo/IMAX roundabout, before driving under Waterloo Bridge.
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.

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.

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.