On weekend theatre breaks, take a cushion and a bottle of something sparkly and enjoy an al-fresco evening in the company of world-class opera singers, Shakespearean actors or lithesome ballet dancers. Often, the setting will be as stunning as the performances. Make the most of theatre breaks by taking in a show of every type, from dramas to musicals to children’s plays. And theatre trips don’t need to be restricted to the city. Smaller towns and villages host touring arts companies and stage regular music and performing arts festivals of their own.
Elaborate plots, professional actors and the chance to play detective.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Discover one of the South Coast’s best kept secrets, with hidden gardens, secluded walkways, outdoor Shakespeare and rock pooling.
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex
Experience theatre performed in the open air, amid the beautiful, green surroundings of Regent's Park.
Location: Regent's Park, Greater London
Worthing’s four distinctive venues bring an ever changing combination of nostalgic and cutting edge theatre.
Location: Worthing, West Sussex
Absorb yourself in rich performances and visual arts in Leicester’s cultural quarter and enjoy architectural splendour and fine dining.
Location: Leicester, Leicestershire
Norwich becomes a hotbed of international art and performance every May.
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Looking for something to do when it rains that'll keep the kids entertained and adults smiling? Try a show or creative workshop at the egg.
Location: Bath, Somerset
The Good Old Days are back with a little help from the country’s top-performing acts.
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Every autumn the world-renowned Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) heads north to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal for their annual season.
Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Visit the historic attractions of Shakespeare’s England and see the places that played a role in the playwright’s life.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Shakespeare’s England, home to Romeo and Juliet - the greatest love story of all time, is the perfect place for a romantic escape.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Find an exotic Royal palace, classical concerts, West End shows and fine art all within a moment’s walk of each other.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
If your only experience of Shakespeare is being bored rigid in a school classroom, then it’s about time you gave the great Bard another chance.
Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire
Watch stand-up performances from some of the world’s top comedians, then learn the tricks of the trade for yourself.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
The intimate surroundings of the End of the Road Festival give you the chance to get up close and personal with the bands and their music.
Location: Larmer Tree Gardens, North Dorset
Carved into a granite cliff face on the southern tip of Cornwall, the Minack Theatre is a wonderfully unique theatrical experience.
Location: Porthcurno, Cornwall
Steeped in history and packed with West End tours and local community displays, the Bristol Hippodrome is ideal for theatre buffs and newbies alike.
Location: Bristol
Take in the bright lights of London’s prestigious West End and its many fantastic musicals on a short break in the capital.
Location: London
Not many luxurious English hotels come complete with their own open-air theatre, but Kilworth House has always been a little bit special.
Location: Kilworth, Leicestershire
Plan a theatre trip to Birmingham and enjoy classic performances by the famous Birmingham Royal Ballet, comedy, drama, opera and fun-filled musicals.
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Commemorate the First World War with a cultural holiday in Brighton and Hove, roaming around the city’s lively cultural quarter.
Location: Brighton & Hove, East Sussex
VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes.