Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Guided Tours

Learn about Shakespeare’s plays at the Globe Theatre

Discover everything there is to know about how shows were produced in Shakespeare's time; from writing and rehearsals, to music and the performances on immersive Shakespeare’s Globe guided tours.

The Globe Theatre is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse in which William Shakespeare worked. Your dedicated guide will lead you on a fascinating tour of the auditorium where you will learn more about the original 1599 Playhouse, the Globe reconstruction process in the 1990s, and the London that Shakespeare would have known in the Tudor era.

History of the Globe Theatre

Opened in 1599 and originally located in London’s Bankside, The Globe presented many of Shakespeare's greatest plays over 14 years: from Hamlet, to Othello, King Lear and Macbeth, they were all first performed within the theatre walls. 

Disaster struck the Globe in 1613 during a performance Henry VIII when some wadding from a stage canon ignited the thatched roof and destroyed the entire structure in less than two hours. Thankfully, no one was harmed when the theatre burnt down. However, there was a close call when a man’s breeches caught fire, luckily, a bystander put the flames out with his bottle of beer!

The company quickly built a second Globe Theatre; this time with a tiled roof and more decorations (since they could now afford them), and the place remained the home of Shakespeare's company until the closure of all the theatres in 1642 by the England's Puritan administration. No longer in use, the theatre was demolished in 1644.

The new Shakespeare’s Globe:

While visiting London, American actor and director Sam Wanamake was shocked to find only a faded plaque on a wall to commemorate one of the most influential sites in English theatre. A crazy idea took hold and he spent the last 23 years of his life campaigning, fundraising and overseeing the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in every detail. His vision and determination led to the construction of a perfect replica of Shakespeare's Globe that celebrates the history of English theatre.

Please note that information sheets and audio tours are available in multiple languages:

• English
• French
• German
• Spanish
• Italian
• Japanese
• Simplified Chinese
• Russian

How to use your eTicket

Important: Upon booking your tickets for a Shakeskeapre’s Globe guided tour, you will receive immediate confirmation of payment, and then be emailed a PDF e-Ticket directly from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre within 4 working days. You must print your PDF e-Ticket and bring it with you, and present it to the tour ticket desk.

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Guided Tours

Professional guide-storytellers provide fascinating tours of the auditorium, recreating colourful stories of the original Globe and the reconstruction process in the 1990s.

Opening times

• Tours depart every 30 minutes from 9.30am.

Closures

Your ticket for guided tours of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre will not be valid for entry over the Christmas holiday. This includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

• 24 – 26 December

Please note: as The Globe is a working theatre, Theatre Tours are not always available. When Globe Tours are not available your ticket includes a tour of the nearby archaeological site of the Rose Theatre: Bankside's first playhouse.

Group Size

• There is a maximum of 45 people per tour.
• Please note group bookings (15 people or more) cannot be booked online as a specific time slot needs to be arranged.
• Please contact us if you wish to visit with 15 people or more and we will arrange this for you.

Accessibility Information

• There are no lifts or ramps within the theatre, however it is possible to adjust the tour to accommodate wheelchair users. Please contact us at the time of booking if you require any assistance.