Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

For all the effort that went into creating this spectacular replica, it is disappointing that you don't get much time to appreciate it. The only way to get in (other than to see a performance) is to take a tour, although I'm not sure you can call it a tour when there is only 1 stop. You meet your tour guide in the basement waiting area for an orientation of London in Shakespeare's time, then follow the guide into the Globe and sit in the gallery. Some Q&As and you're done. You get to stand briefly in the yard in front of the stage, and then you are ushered off to the gift shop. If there are actors rehearsing (as there were on this day) you are not permitted to take photos.

The "tour" is essentially just a way to control people in the theater, which I get, but it's a shame because as a result you get very little opportunity to really look around and no opportunity to explore. Still, it is very cool to see what the Globe was probably like, especially if you already have a connection to it. I think it would be a great experience to see a show here. For a visit, though, your best bet is really to disregard the tour guide and take in everything you see while you're there, because it won't be for long.

Informative tour of The Globe Theatre made interesting by our leader, Mike. He kept us enthralled with stories of how performances were put on in Shakespeare's time. Most of the group had no idea of the origins of The Globe, or its restoration by the American actor, Sam Wanamaker. One North American visitor, who had not heard of Sam Wanamaker or other "famous" actors who had belonged to the Company, asked whether any had gone on to "become mainstream actors", to general groans from the rest of the party.
Would have been good to have seen some of the costumes, props etc.

We purchased tickets for a Shakespeare production months before the show. The weather was "iffy" with rain falling at the beginning of the production. Before the end of the show the ushers were providing sun visors. The quality of the production is worth the price of admission. Highly recommended.

Have visited the Globe on many occasions to watch plays so on this London visit we decided to take part on a tour to see behind the scenes. It didn't start very well by a very jobsworth man at the entrance saying we didn't have tickets just a voucher. After telling him several times this is what we had been sent and that we had been told we just had to show the email, he eventually checked to see our names on the booking list and let us in. It was quite a big tour group, maybe 30 people, and we were all given earphones so we could hear the guide. Actors were rehearsing on the stage and we were advised that we had to be quiet whilst walking around the building and could not take photos if the actors were there . We started the tour outside with a little of the history of the theatre and Shakespeare before moving to the groundlings section of the Globe before making our way up into the seating area. There were a lot of other groups on tours that day, maybe too many , and sometimes with all the guides and guests talking it was hard to hear the guide even with headphones. It felt like they were crowding in as many groups as possible as it was Easter holiday, However the information was very interesting and I learnt lots of new things about the theatre. Its not really a behind the scenes tour as you only visit where you would go as a ticket holder to a play, I had thought we might go behind the stage and see the costumes , props or even pay a visit to see the new indoor theatre. It is advertised as a 2hr immersive tour, but the actual tour itself is just 50 minutes . The last part is next to the gift shop after you have handed in your earphones so the poor guide has to shout over the noise of the theatre shop and other theatre visitors. We were then told that our tickets allowed us to go into the exhibition at any time on that day. We went straight away and had the exhibition to ourselves. For us there was too much writing/information on the walls , after reading a couple of paragraphs you wanted to move on, it seems a bit old hat in exhibitions nowadays. The best part of the exhibition was the hands on interactive displays, we loved trying on costumes ,and working out the sounds and smells from the props department . The cost of the tour which last year was £17 for just the 50 minute tour , has now gone up to £25 per person to include the museum tour . I am not sure its worth the increase and would have expected more behinds the scenes and seeing things that you would not normally see when visiting the Globe. Although we enjoyed it I was a little disappointed

For the price tag of the tour, the experience was underwhelming. Our guide shared interesting stories and was able to answer several obscure questions from our group but tended towards promotion of the attractions creator too regularly.

It would have been good to see more of the theatre and particularly the inner workings and backstage area or have the opportunity to explore it independently.

We turned left after crossing the Millennium Bridge and saw the Shakespeare Globe Theatre which is a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, an Elizabethan playhouse for which William Shakespeare wrote his plays in the London. The modern Globe Theatre is an academic approximation based on available evidence of the 1599 and 1614 buildings. It is considered quite realistic, though contemporary safety requirements mean that it accommodates only 1,400 spectators compared to the original theatre's 3,000. We did not go in as you have to buy tickets to get in.

Pay extra for a good seat. I recommend the front row on the upper levels so you can lean against the railing. There aren't seat backs, so be aware that you'll have to sit up straight without any support like you did when you were a kid in school.

The stage is very barren and the plays performed here capture the spirit I imagine they had 400 years ago when they were being performed in Shakespeare's time. It's just actors on a stage, feeding on the reactions of the audience. No microphones, no screens. It's very cool.

A family day out with kids lead us back in time to Shakespeares Globe Theatre. After watching a demonstration of sword fighting we took the tour. Our guide was extremely informative and conveyed his knowledge with good humour. He took questions from the audience even when in mid stream and nothing phased him. A fantastically well built new version of what probably stood on the bank of the Thames.
Totally enthralled by the whole experience so much so that we are going back to watch a play in the open air theatre in April and can’t wait

The tour began on time, and the tour guide, Michael, was very fun, energetic and informative. It was a great experience! Afterwards, we went to a play at the Sam Wanamaker indoor theater and saw the play Swive. It was worth the price. The actors did a splendid job and the staff was always courteous and patient with theater goers.

Unique theatre in this day and age, marvellous that this building can be operated in the centre of London with London city centre costs. Nevertheless Shakespeare will always be an attraction and it should continue for a long time. Our guide was an actor himself and loved to express himself in a theatrical way whilst describing about the building and its history. Worth the money and a unique experience, only need an hour at the most.