Guide to Shakespeare's Globe in London: Explore Elizabethan History and Open-Air Theater

Travelers visiting London can step back in time at Shakespeare's Globe, a half-timbered, open-air theater situated on the south side of the River Thames. Originally built in 1599 outside ancient Londinium's city walls, the theater served as the epicenter where playwright William Shakespeare acted, directed, and debuted famous works like Julius Caesar.

【1-Day Tour Routes】Departure from London | Leeds, Canterbury, White Cliffs & Greenwich Tour

Book today before 18:00

HKD 912 Start

Book now

A Storied History of Fire and Reconstruction

The original Elizabethan theater in the round accommodated thousands of playgoers until 1613, when a performance of Henry VIII set its thatched roof ablaze. Rebuilt with a safer tiled roof in 1614, it operated until Puritan authorities closed it in 1642. Today, visitors to the reconstructed Globe can appreciate the half-timbered architecture, thatched roofing, and history tied to Shakespeare, who was born in Stratford-Upon-Avon before establishing his career in London as a playwright, actor, and theater manager.

What Visitors Can Experience Today

Beyond taking in the theater's historic architecture, culture enthusiasts can spot the famous Shakespeare mural outside the building. Art and history lovers can also complement their trip by visiting London's National Portrait Gallery to view the only known contemporaneous portrait of Shakespeare created between 1600 and 1610.