The Criterion is on Piccadilly Circus south-east side, by The Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain (Eros).  The theatre entrance faces the statue.

Piccadilly Circus tube station, exit 4, brings you to the front of the theatre.    

Getting here
Arriving by Tube
● Piccadilly Circus (1 minute walk) - Piccadilly Line and Bakerloo Line
● Leicester Square (Approx 10 minute walk) - Piccadilly Line and Northern Line
● Green Park (Approx 10 minute walk) - Piccadilly Line and Victoria Line. This station has step free access to street level.

Arriving by bus
Regent street/St James  - outside Tesco
12, 88, 94, 453, N3, N15
Regent Street/ St James  - outside Tesco
6, 9, 139, 159, N9, N18, N97, N109, N136 
Haymarket/ Jermyn Street R - outside TigerTiger
6, 9, 139, N9, N15, N13

Driving There is limited street parking around the area with pay and display charges.  Please note that resident parking bays are not available for visitor parking.  The Congestion Charge is currently operational Monday to Sunday 7am - 10pm, including Bank Holidays.

The nearest car park is:

Q-Park Leicester Square
Whitcomb Street
London WC2H 7DT
Our theatre visitors can claim a discount on parking with validation of your parking ticket.  Please ask a member of staff during your visit.  For more information please visit: https://www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/london/leicester-square/

Our staff are available to assist you during your visit.  If you cannot find the information you require here or if you would like help in planning your visit, please contact our box office team on 0207 839 8811 or via email to boxoffice@criterion-theatre.co.uk

Access Performances

Pride & Prejudice (sort of)

Sunday 23^rd January 2022 2:30pm 

BSL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE.

There will be a BSL Interpreter on the right-hand side of the stage. The optimum seats to view the BSL Interpreter will be in the Stalls Auditorium left.

If you are registered with us online and have selected ‘I am a British Sign Language user’, you will be able to select the best available seats from the seating plan and receive the discounted access rate. The best seats will appear as stars.

For further information and assistance on booking please contact our box office on 020 7839 8811 or boxoffice@criterion-theatre.co.uk.

Thursday 3^rd February 2022 7:30pm

CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE 

Captions are similar to television subtitles and give people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing access to live performance.

The caption boards will be located on either side of the auditorium in the boxes on the Dress Circle level. The best view will be from the Dress Circle.

If you are registered with us online and have selected ‘I am a captioning user’, you will be able to select the best available seats from the seating plan and receive the discounted access rate. The best seats will appear as stars.

For further information and assistance on booking please contact our box office on 020 7839 8811 or boxoffice@criterion-theatre.co.uk.

Sunday 6^th February 2022 2:30pm

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE  

Facilitated by VocalEyes.

Audio description conveys in vivid language (fitted between the dialogue) the visual elements of a performance that a blind or visually impaired person might otherwise miss. It is listened to through a discreet stethoset receiver so the performance can be enjoyed with sighted friends and family.

If you are already registered with us online and have selected 'I am an audio description user', you will be able to select the best available seats from the seating plan and receive the discounted access rate. The best seats will appear as stars.

For further information and assistance on booking please contact our box office on 020 7839 8811 or boxoffice@criterion-theatre.co.uk.

Wheelchair access

We have level access to the Upper Circle in the auditorium with space for 2 - 4 wheelchairs depending on size.  If you would prefer to transfer to an auditorium seat we have seats available on this level.  Access is via the step free entrance beside the Stage Door in Jermyn Street, at the rear of the building.  On arrival at the front of the theatre one of our team will escort you to the Jermyn Street entrance or alternatively, on arrival at Jermyn Street, let our stage door keeper know you have arrived and one of our team will show you to the Upper Circle.  

Hearing Systems

Box Office/Foyer

There is an induction loop system available in the foyer for the Box Office.

 Auditorium

We have a Sennheiser infra-red hearing system that works in all part of the auditorium, although the signal is strongest when you are sitting in full sight of the Sennheiser emitters. It is advisable to discuss with Box Office prior to booking to ensure you are able to have the best experience. 

 How To Use

Upon arrival let any of our Front of House team know that you would like to use the Sennhesier system. We then have two options available to you; 

1) A Sennheiser receiver that you would use alongside your hearing aid. Switch your hearing aid to the T position, and then wear the receiver necklace to enable the system to communicate with your hearing aids. You have adjustable volume control and the staff member will ensure it is set to the correct channel for you. 

2) A Sennheiser in ear headset, with no hearing aid required. The headset should face forward to be able to receive the full signal and not be covered by anything such as scarves/ties/necklaces. You have adjustable volume control and the headset will automatically find the correct channel for you. 

 In the unlikely event that you should experience any problems with using your Sennhesier system please let any member of the Front of House team know and they will be happy to assist you.

 In line with our Covid-19 safety protocols all headsets and receivers are sanitised prior and after customer use. 

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome. For ease of access and comfort, we recommend purchasing a seat on the end of a row or in a box.  Alternatively we can provide a dog sitting service during the performance.  Please contact the Theatre Manager on 0207 839 8811 or at admin@criterion-theatre.co.uk for further information.

WCs

There is one accessible lavatory on the Upper Circle, with step free access from Jermyn Street.

Additional facilities are available on Dress Circle level.

Booking Tickets

Please contact our box office team directly on 0207 839 8811 or on boxoffice@criterion-theatre.co.uk to make your booking.  Our team will ensure you are booked into the best available seats for your requirements.  Access rate tickets are available for the access patron and one companion ticket.

For in person bookings, we have step free access to our foyer box office with a low level counter.

Limited Mobility

The auditorium is situated below street level with step free access only available to the Upper Circle.  Dress Circle is one further level down and the Stalls three levels below Jermyn Street level, and four floors below Piccadilly Circus.  Via the main entrance stairway there are 23 steps down to the Upper Circle, 32 steps down to the Dress Circle and 54 steps to the Stalls.  Unfortunately we do not currently have a lift facility in the Grade II listed building.  We can offer alternative access via our fire exit stairways to all levels via Jermyn Street upon request.  Although there are still steps they are reduced and are not part of the ornate curved stairway of our main entrance. Please speak to a member of our front of house team on arrival or contact us on 020 7839 8811 in advance of your visit.

Bars, Confectionery and Merchandise

Our bars are situated on the Dress Circle and Stalls auditorium levels.  Drinks may be taken into the auditorium and our staff can offer assistance purchasing beverages if customers are unable to access the bar areas.  You can also pre-order via our CrowdEngage pre-show text sent out on the day of your booking to pre-order for at seat service.

Parking

For information about blue badge parking in Westminster please visit www.parkingforbluebadges.com 

Our nearest Q-Park car park is at Whitcombe Street, Leicester Square.  Please note the Leicester Square car park is not currently part of the Q-Park theatreland discount scheme.  To access the discount available to theatre ticket holders our nearest car parks are Trafalgar Square or Chinatown. 

For more information on the discount scheme visit https://www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/theatreland-participating-theatres

The auditorium was built in 1874 and consequently has a number of pillars.

The extent of restriction or view limitation will vary depending on a production’s direction and set design. For specific ticket banding, prices and information on restricted view seats please refer to the individual production booking page.

In consultation with the producer and creative team, we check the view from all seats for each new production and set ticket prices accordingly.

Please contact our box office team for information and rates for group bookings: 020 7839 8811 boxoffice@criterion-theatre.co.uk