1. © James Perry
    © James Perry
  2. courtesy Wilton's Music Hall
    courtesy Wilton's Music Hall
  3. © Rob Greig
    © Rob Greig
  4. © Mike Twigg
    © Mike Twigg

Wilton's Music Hall

This lovingly refurbished historic theatre is a real architectural gem
  • Theatre | Performing arts space
  • Wapping
  • Recommended
Rosie Hewitson
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Time Out says

What is it?

This Grade II-listed east London gem is the oldest surviving Grand Music Hall in the world. Opened in the mid-19th century by businessman John Wilton in buildings erected in the 1690s, Wilton’s has survived the intervening century and a half more or less intact, thanks in part to the efforts of one-time Poet Laureate John Betjeman and the Methodist Church.

These days it stages more 300 performances a year, encompassing an eclectic range of more than 80 different productions, from opera, musicals and concerts to touring dates for big-name theatre shows.

Why go?

Walking down Graces Alley towards Wilton's is like stepping back in time. The exterior – cobbled together from five Victorian house fronts – is chicly shabby, with peeling paint in mismatched colours, and long-extinguished gas lamps hanging along the walls beside flower baskets. A sensitive refurb back in 2015 made the wise decision to keep the same artistically crumbling vibes going in its church-like auditorium, adding modern lighting, heating and ventilation but retaining most of its faded period features. Inside you’ll find ‘barley sugar’ cast iron pillars, the sloping wooden floor, the carved balcony and the classical arches around the upper walls. And the attractively crumbling plasterwork, gilt, and exposed brickwork throughout the building make it one of London's most beautiful theatres.

Don’t miss

Wilton’s bohemian downstairs bar, where you can enjoy a quiet cocktail in one of its conspiratorial nooks, or hear the piano jangling at the occasional one-off cabaret shows.

When to visit

Save from occasional private hires, the building is open from 1pm on days with matinee shows, and from 5.30pm for evening shows.

Ticket info

Tickets to most events cost between £12 and £30, and the Box Office is open Monday to Friday from 11am to 6pm. 

Time Out tip

Want to learn more about the fascinating history of this architectural gem? Look out for the venue’s history tours, which happen sporadically throughout the year.

Details

Address
1-4 Graces Alley
off Ensign St
London
E1 8JB
Transport:
Tube: Tower Hill/Aldgate East
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