Globe Theatre tickets run about $7–$116, with standing, seated, and guided-tour choices for different trips.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For most London trips, tickets to the Globe Theatre split into two very different choices: seeing a performance in the open-air Globe, or taking a guided tour when a show does not fit your dates. The cheapest way inside is usually a Groundling standing ticket, while the easier choice for comfort is a seated gallery ticket or the guided tour.
The modern Shakespeare’s Globe sits at 21 New Globe Walk on Bankside, beside the River Thames. The theatre is roofless, so the right ticket is not only about price: weather, standing time, visibility, and whether you want a play or a history-focused visit all matter.
Compare available performance dates and guided-tour slots before you choose a time:
Which Globe Theatre Ticket Should You Buy?
Globe Theatre ticket choice depends on whether you want the live-theatre atmosphere or a closer look at the building itself. Buy a Groundling standing ticket for the lowest price, a seated gallery ticket for comfort, or a guided tour if your main interest is the theatre’s history.
Performance tickets are the classic pick because the Globe was built to be used, not just viewed. The yard places standing visitors close to the stage, but you may stand for around 2.5 hours and the open-air yard has no roof.
A guided tour is better when you want a daytime visit, have limited mobility for standing, or are traveling with someone who would rather hear the story of the building than follow a full Shakespeare play. The tour ticket covers a guided theatre visit plus time in the exhibition.
How Much Do Globe Theatre Tickets Cost?
Globe Theatre prices currently start at about $7 (£5) for some standing performance tickets and reach about $116 (£88) for higher-priced seated gallery tickets. Adult guided tours cost about $40 (£30), and under-16 guided-tour tickets cost about $18 (£13.50).
US dollar estimates are rounded from current pound prices. The official box office sets the live price by production, seat type, and date, so check the exact performance page before paying.
| Ticket Choice | Good For | Current Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Groundling standing ticket | Lowest-price performance access in the yard | About $7–$13 (£5–£10) |
| Reserved gallery seat | A seat on a wooden bench with a clearer comfort trade-off | About $37–$116 (£28–£88) |
| Adult guided tour | A daytime theatre visit plus exhibition time | About $40 (£30) |
| Under-16 guided tour | Children visiting with an adult | About $18 (£13.50) |
| £5 Rush Groundling ticket | Last-minute standing access for selected next-week shows | About $7 (£5), released Fridays at 11am |
| Access Scheme ticketing | Visitors needing access guidance or suitable seating | Adjusted through the free Access Scheme |
| Group guided tour | Parties of up to 30 people | Discounted rate through the group booking form |
Globe Theatre Ticket Options: Seats, Yard, Tours
Globe Theatre ticket options fall into three practical buckets: standing in the yard, sitting in the galleries, or taking a guided tour. The official Globe Theatre Guided Tour page lists the current adult tour price at £30 and the under-16 price at £13.50, with a two-hour running time that includes a 50-minute guided tour.
Yard tickets put you closest to the stage, but the yard is standing only. Seated gallery tickets cost more, but they are the better fit for travelers who want a predictable view, need a break from walking, or are bringing children.
Guided tours work well when you are visiting during the day or outside a performance that suits your schedule. The tour is delivered in English, with information sheets available in several languages, and the route may include stairs depending on operations that day.
Performance Tickets Versus Guided Tours
Performance tickets suit travelers who want the Globe as a working theatre, while guided tours suit travelers who want architecture, history, and backstage context in a shorter daytime visit. A performance is more memorable if the weather cooperates; a tour is simpler if your London schedule is tight.
Pick a performance if you are happy to plan around a fixed start time and stay for a full play. Recent summer shows list running times around 2 hours 25 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval.
Pick the tour if you want a lower-commitment visit or are unsure whether everyone in your group wants a Shakespeare play. The tour ticket gives you the building, the story of the 1599 original, the reconstructed theatre, and exhibition time without needing to follow a full production.
- Lowest cost: Groundling standing tickets, especially £5 Rush when available.
- Most comfortable: Reserved gallery seating, ideally with a cushion if you dislike wooden benches.
- Shortest visit: Guided tour, about two hours with exhibition time included.
- Most atmospheric: An evening performance in the open-air Globe.
Where To Sit At The Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre seating is a trade between price, comfort, and how close you want to be to the actors. The yard gives energy and low prices; the galleries give a seat, more cover, and less strain.
The Groundling yard is not a casual standing room at the back. Standing visitors are directly around the stage, so the view can feel immediate, but there is no seat and no shelter from rain.
Gallery seating is arranged around the stage on wooden benches. Lower-gallery seats feel closer, middle-gallery seats can balance view and comfort, and higher-gallery seats usually feel farther from the stage but may cost less than the top seated prices.
Good to know: Umbrellas are not practical during performances because they block views, so pack a rain jacket instead.
Plan The Visit Around Bankside
Shakespeare’s Globe visit logistics are simple if you allow time for the riverside approach, security, and weather. Arrive earlier for standing tickets, access needs, or a first visit to Bankside.
The theatre is beside Tate Modern and across the Thames from St Paul’s Cathedral, so it fits well into a South Bank walk. Blackfriars is one of the easiest rail and Underground choices, while London Bridge and Southwark also work well.
| Visit Detail | What It Means | Best Move |
|---|---|---|
| Open-air theatre | Shows and tours can run in wet weather | Bring a waterproof layer, not an umbrella |
| No luggage storage | Large bags can cause problems | Store luggage before arriving |
| Tour route | Some tours may use several flights of stairs | Flag access needs during booking |
| Under-16 rule | Children must be with an adult | Book adults and children together |
| Blackfriars station | About a 10-minute walk | Use the South Bank exit |
| London Bridge station | About a 15-minute walk | Follow the riverside route when weather is good |
| Bankside Pier | About 10 metres from the theatre | Use the river bus for a scenic arrival |
Where To Stay Near Shakespeare’s Globe
London stays near Shakespeare’s Globe are easiest in Bankside, Southwark, Blackfriars, or the City of London. Pick Bankside or Southwark for walking access, and pick the City for a quieter night after an evening show.
Bankside is the most convenient base if the Globe is one part of a theatre-and-museum trip. Southwark gives strong Underground access and more hotel variety, while Waterloo works well if your London plans include the South Bank, Westminster, and rail links.
Use the map to compare hotels near Shakespeare’s Globe, Blackfriars, Southwark, and London Bridge:
The Right Ticket For Your Trip
Globe Theatre ticket verdicts are straightforward once you know your tolerance for standing, weather, and Shakespeare runtime. Most first-time visitors should choose either a performance seat or the guided tour; budget travelers should target Groundling tickets.
- Buy a Groundling ticket if you want the lowest price, can stand for the full performance, and like being close to the stage.
- Buy a gallery seat if comfort matters, if rain is likely, or if you are visiting with children or older relatives.
- Buy the guided tour if your priority is the building, the 1599 theatre story, and a shorter daytime visit.
- Use £5 Rush if your London dates are flexible and you can check availability at 11am on Friday.
- Join the Access Scheme first if seating, stairs, captioned performances, audio description, or relaxed performances matter to your group.
Check live dates before you commit, since standing tickets, seated prices, access performances, and guided-tour times shift by production and season:
References & Sources
- Shakespeare’s Globe.“Globe Theatre Guided Tour.”Supports current guided-tour prices, running time, age guidance, access notes, and booking details.