<< Go Back up to Historic Theatre Photography main page
Stand on the raked stage and observe the cantilevered tiers of circles, the private boxes and the orchestra pit. Wander the main auditorium and discover the secrets of the great stage, and learn about the flamboyant architect Frank Matcham, and our first theatre manager Thomas Sergenson. Explore the warren of staircases and head up to the star dressing rooms while perusing posters from the theatre’s history.
“Grand Opulence” Tour £12.50 (45min tour). “Backstage Secrets” Tour £20 (90min tour, followed by Tea and Cake). Book your ticket in person at the Box Office, online 
, or call the Box Office on 01253 290190 .
Tour guide Carl Carrington; Shakespeare Handel Muse of Drama and Music
Join us for a fascinating tour of the Winter Gardens Blackpool. Knowledgeable guides have many years’ experience at the venue and can offer a unique insight to the fascinating building and the many events its hosted. These tours are one of the best ways to relive the history of the venue and visit backstage areas not often open to the public. Tours will allow you to visit backstage of the Opera House and a chance to tread the boards so many famous faces have walked on before. The grandeur of the Empress Ballroom will be explored whilst the often-overlooked Spanish Suites will offer a unique insight into Blackpool’s largest entertainment venue.
Venue Tour admission price includes a tea or coffee in the Mazzei Cafe following the tour. Options are available to upgrade to include a traditional Afternoon Tea or with Fizz in the stunning Mazzei Cafe after your tour. Please note the Winter Gardens is a working building and we cannot guarantee access to all areas. Approxiamte tour time: 120 mins.
As of January 2023, tours take place according to theatre availability and visiting productions. Tours last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Tours do not include show ticket and are subject to availability. Routes may change and involve a number of stairs. Backstage access is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If you have any access needs, please do get in touch before your visit via email.
Private tours can also be arranged upon request. Please contact BristolCreativeLearning@theambassadors.com.
For more details see the Bristol Hippodrome’s Theatre Tour website . Advance reservations not required although recommended to ensure your chosen tour is not full.
The Britannia Panopticon is open for free general viewing Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 5pm. For additional details of events, or questions about visiting, see the Britannia Panopticon’s What’s On page . Please note that the Britannia Panopticon does not have disabled access (information correct as of July 2021).
The Buxton Opera House offers frequent tours to see behind the scenes at one of the country’s finest examples of a Frank Matcham theatre, one of only 21 still open today. As it is a working theatre with a very packed schedule tours are not provided on a consistent basis, and there may be days where certain parts of the theatre are not accessible.
For the current tour schedule check out the theatre’s Backstage Tours page . Duration 1hr 30mins; Price £10. They are also happy to arrange private tours, contact tours@boh.org.uk to inquire.
Backstage Tours last approximately 60 – 90 minutes. Tour schedule depends on productions and theatre availability so check the theatre’s Backstage Tour website page for the current schedule.
Tours do not include a show ticket. Backstage & stage and backstage access is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Tours may be cancelled last minute due to company rehearsals. Routes may change and involve a number of stairs. If you have any access needs, please do get in touch before your visit.
Tours of the Everyman, the oldest working Frank Matcham theatre in the world, are offered as regularly as production needs allow. As a busy working theatre, tour routes and backstage areas visited will vary depending on the show in residence. Please note that the tours are not suitable for some people with mobility issues due to the number of stairs.
For more information, current schedule, and online booking, go to the Everyman’s Theatre Tour page. The Everyman can also offer tours and talks for groups. To book a group tour contact Sally-ann Rhodes .
Theatre tours are scheduled according to theatre availability. The current schedule is available on the theatre’s website . Tours cost £10 per person (£8 for Friends) and run for 60-90 minutes. Note: Backstage access is dependent on the visiting company’s theatre operations on the day of your tour and is not guaranteed.
Tours run every Saturday at 10am, Easter through October. Tour duration 2hrs 15mins. Adults £8.50, Children (16 and under) £4.50, Family £19 (2 adults & 2 children). Private tours can be made by arrangement and further tours may be available during July and August. Note that due to the original features of the theatre, many parts of the tour are inaccessible for people with mobility related disabilities. Information correct as of January 2020. Check the Villa Gaiety website or telephone 01624 600555 for the most up-to-date information.
Regular tours are offered at the theatre and are scheduled to fit around the working requirements of the theatre. Tours include the Georgian Theatre Experience exhibition area, featuring the United Kingdom’s oldest stage scenery, plus the auditorium, stage, and dressing rooms. Tour route may be subject to change depending on production needs.
For the current tour scheduled see the theatre’s Georgian Theatre Experience Tour page. Tours run every hour on the hour from 10am - 4pm (last tour leaves at 3pm).
Led by one of the theatre’s knowledgeable Customer Experience Assistants, a tour gives you the chance to see the incredible results of the restoration of this iconic building, and explore the fascinating story of the Grand Opera House’s rich and colourful history from 1895 to the present day. Follow in the footsteps of Charlie Chaplin, Luciano Pavarotti and Darcey Bussell by walking out onto the iconic stage; see what happens behind the scenes during a show, and explore the symbolism and meaning of the gods, elephants, stars and other stunning architectural features inside Frank Matcham’s auditorium.
Theatre Tours last for between 45 minutes and an hour, and tour participants also have exclusive access to the heritage exhibition for 30 minutes before their tour start time. For current tour availability and booking, check out the theatre’s Tour page.
Regular tours of the 116-year-old Edwardian theatre, designed by the legendary theatre architect Frank Matcham, are 90 minutes long and are led by our enthusiastic volunteers. The tour explores the new and old sections of the city centre landmark, providing an opportunity to get onstage and see His Majesty’s from the eyes of a performer in one of the most beautiful theatres in Scotland. For current tour schedule click here .
Duration: 90 minutes. Tickets: £12.50. For access enquiries email hello@aberdeenperformingarts.com .
Like most Ambassador Theatre Group theatres, the King’s runs tours as production schedules allow. Check out the theatre’s Backstage Tour page for the current schedule. Tickets are generally £10 and tours last about one hour.
Theatre tours are offered as schedules permit. Check the Sheffield Theatres website for latest tour information. Tours give you access to many areas of the Crucible, Lyceum, and Playhouse theatres, including the backstage and cast areas, but are of course subject to daily operations. Each tour is unique and varies depending upon what is available on the day. Plans may be altered at short notice so we cannot guarantee in advance which areas you will visit.
The Richmond Theatre offers regular tours although the schedule is dictated by visiting productions. Tours last 1-1.5hrs and cost £15. A full tour schedule and online booking is available on the tour page of the theatre’s website . For more information or to book a private tour for a small group, contact richmondboxoffice@theambassadors.com .
Together with a friendly guide, you’ll take a peek at the royal areas of the Hall, see the breath-taking auditorium, and the stage that’s hosted some of the world’s biggest change-makers, history-shapers and stars – from Arctic Monkeys to Muhammad Ali, BBC Proms to Beyoncé, Cirque du Soleil to Winston Churchill, and Albert Einstein to Ed Sheeran. You’ll discover how the building was founded 150 years ago, the royal love story that made it happen, and how we solved one of the UK’s most enduring engineering challenges – the Royal Albert Hall echo. You might even be lucky enough to hear an artist in soundcheck!
Tours run most days every 30 mins, however check the hall’s Tour website for current schedule. Tours take approximately 60 minutes. Out of consideration for artists in rehearsal, we recommend that children attending tours are aged 5 and over. Tickets £18.50 (Adult), £16.50 (Concessions), £10.50 (Children). Book online at the hall’s Tour website .
The Lyceum runs tours (60 mins) backstage at the theatre, and at their theatre workshop and stores (offsite) for groups between 10 and 20 in size. Further details are available on the Lyceum Theatre’s website .
The theatre sometimes participates in the annual Edinburgh Doors Open Day .
Join us for a fascinating tour of the Winter Gardens Blackpool. Knowledgeable guides have many years’ experience at the venue and can offer a unique insight to the fascinating building and the many events its hosted. These tours are one of the best ways to relive the history of the venue and visit backstage areas not often open to the public. Tours will allow you to visit backstage of the Opera House and a chance to tread the boards so many famous faces have walked on before. The grandeur of the Empress Ballroom will be explored whilst the often-overlooked Spanish Suites will offer a unique insight into Blackpool’s largest entertainment venue.
Venue Tour admission price includes a tea or coffee in the Mazzei Cafe following the tour. Options are available to upgrade to include a traditional Afternoon Tea or with Fizz in the stunning Mazzei Cafe after your tour. Please note the Winter Gardens is a working building and we cannot guarantee access to all areas. Approxiamte tour time: 120 mins.
Occasional tours are offered at the theatre, during which you can take a look at areas usually off-limits to patrons and spend time taking-in the opulent interiors and resplendent auditorium. Tours will last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and involve a number of stairs. If you have any access needs please do get in touch before you visit via email. Stage and backstage access is subject to availability as per the wishes of the production and is not guaranteed.
For current tour schedule and online booking go to the theatres Backstage Tour page. Private tours can also be arranged upon request. Please contact SunderlandCreativeLearning@theamabassadors.com .
The theatre runs regular tours, generally Thursday and Saturday mornings, which last one hour and during current Covid restriction costs £50 for a group of up to 6. Spaces regularly included on the tour: the new Bristol Old Vic foyer; the Georgian Auditorium, Stage, Gallery, and Pit passages; the Paintshop and Paint Frame; the Weston Studio; and Coopers’ Hall. Access is subject to theatre operations at the time of your tour and some areas may be restricted. Check the theatre’s website for further details and online booking.
The theatre has previously participated in the annual Bristol Open Doors event and may do so again in the future.
Tours of the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall are offered as regularly as production needs allow. Tours glimpse behind the curtain to areas usually hidden to the public. Due to the number of stairs involved, special arrangements need to be made to accommodate customers with impaired mobility. Tour suitable for all ages. Tour route may alter due to nature of being a working theatre and different production needs.
For the latest tour schedule check out the theatre’s Backstage Tour page. Duration 1hr 30mins, Tickets £15 or £12.50 for under 26.
Guided Tours are given in English and last approximately 1 hour. There are 20 spaces available per tour. Tours meet in the main foyer/lobby. Theatre Royal Drury Lane is a working theatre, so no two tours are the same. Sometimes the route will need to change due to other events taking place in the building. This is a walking tour with numerous steps and backstage areas so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Tour schedule: Wed & Fri: 10:30am, 12pm, 2:30pm. Thu & Sat: 10:30am, 12pm. Sun: 10:30am. Tickets £18.50 (no booking fee).
Booking line 020 7087 7748 , or online at the theatre’s tour website , which also includes additional information about the tour.
These limited, intimate tours allow you to embark on a historical journey of discovery of the renowned Victorian building, including the Ballroom, Circus, and more! Our guides will give you an insight into how this stunning Grade I listed building was created and the incredible stories it has witnessed, from the magnificence of the Ballroom to the sheer splendour of the Circus. Our guides will take you behind the scenes, reveal hidden secrets and tell forgotten tales as you embark on your Blackpool Tower Heritage Tour.
Tours take place on some Wednesdays, and most Saturdays and Sundays at 10am. Tour cost £15, which includes a full day entry ticket onto the Ballroom balcony. Your ticket also gives you 50% off Ballroom ground floor entry. To check availability by date and to book online visit The Blackpool Tower’s Tours page .
These limited, intimate tours allow you to embark on a historical journey of discovery of the renowned Victorian building, including the Ballroom, Circus, and more! Our guides will give you an insight into how this stunning Grade I listed building was created and the incredible stories it has witnessed, from the magnificence of the Ballroom to the sheer splendour of the Circus. Our guides will take you behind the scenes, reveal hidden secrets and tell forgotten tales as you embark on your Blackpool Tower Heritage Tour.
Tours take place on some Wednesdays, and most Saturdays and Sundays at 10am. Tour cost £15, which includes a full day entry ticket onto the Ballroom balcony. Your ticket also gives you 50% off Ballroom ground floor entry. To check availability by date and to book online visit The Blackpool Tower’s Tours page .
The one hour tour of the building explores all areas, including the understage, backstage, and many other secret areas never seen on a normal visit. Your tour guide will reveal the theatre’s fascinating history, and highlight tales of its stars, its shows and even its ghosts. Tours cost £6. Maximum of 25 people per tour. Visitors with restricted mobility will have limited access as the tour includes lots of steps. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Bookings can be made online here , via the Eventim booking hotline on 0844 249 1000 , or in person at the theatre Box Office.
Photographs copyright © 2002-2024 Mike Hume / Historic Theatre Photos unless otherwise noted.
Text copyright © 2017-2024 Mike Hume / Historic Theatre Photos.
For photograph licensing and/or re-use contact me here .
| Follow Mike Hume’s Historic Theatre Photography: |  |
 |
