A Theatre Day Around Theatre Royal Haymarket: Piccadilly and St James’s

A day around Theatre Royal Haymarket is easy to keep compact: begin with art on Piccadilly, walk through St James’s, then have an early meal before the performance. The route below is designed for an evening show at Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, London SW1Y 4HT.

Information checked on 21 October 2026. Opening hours, casting and ticket availability can change, so confirm the official pages before travelling.

Suggested timetable

• 12pm: Royal Academy of Arts
• 2pm: Lunch around Piccadilly or St James’s
• 3.30pm: Walk through St James’s and visit St James’s Park
• 5pm: Early dinner or a drink near Haymarket
• 6.30pm: Arrive for a 7pm performance
• 7pm: Arrive for a 7.30pm performance

Allow around 15 minutes for each walk and 75–90 minutes for a sit-down meal. Exact walking times will depend on your route and where you enter and leave the park.

Begin at the Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts on Piccadilly is a natural first stop. Its usual opening hours are 10am–6pm from Tuesday to Thursday and on Sunday, and 10am–9pm on Friday and Saturday. It is closed on Mondays.

Check the current exhibition programme before visiting, as individual exhibitions may have different opening times or require advance booking. Allow between 90 minutes and two hours for the galleries. You can have lunch at the RA or elsewhere around Piccadilly before continuing towards St James’s.

Burlington House remains open through its Piccadilly entrance. The RA says that 6 Burlington Gardens will close to the public from 27 October 2026 and is expected to reopen in early 2027, so check the latest visitor information if travelling after that date.

Walk through St James’s

From the Royal Academy, allow around 15 minutes to reach the northern side of St James’s Park. A route through St James’s gives you a quieter break between the galleries and the busier West End.

Spend around 45–60 minutes in the park, depending on the weather. Some pedestrian gates are generally open from 5am until midnight, and food and drink are available within the park.

From the park, allow another 10–15 minutes to reach Theatre Royal Haymarket. If you want a full meal before the performance, reserve somewhere nearby and leave at least 75 minutes for service. For a lighter plan, have a drink or snack and eat after the show.

Evening at Theatre Royal Haymarket

The theatre’s autumn 2026 production is The Standard of Living, a world-premiere play by James Graham, directed by Nicholas Hytner and starring Rory Kinnear and Natalia Osipova. Its limited season runs until 12 December 2026.

Performances are scheduled for:

• Monday–Wednesday at 7pm
• Thursday–Saturday at 7.30pm
• Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm

The expected running time is two hours and 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. A 7pm performance should therefore finish at approximately 9.30pm, while a 7.30pm performance should finish at approximately 10pm. The production is suggested for ages 12 and over.

Tickets are listed from £25, subject to availability. The theatre states that online prices include its per-ticket booking fee and restoration levy. Direct bookings are issued as e-tickets, which can be shown on a phone or printed.

The appearance of an individual performer cannot be guaranteed. If you are booking specifically to see Natalia Osipova, check the cast information on the production page: the theatre lists several scheduled absences in October and November, during which Dannie Norman is due to play Lydia.

When to arrive

The theatre opens 45 minutes before each performance, while its bars open 30 minutes beforehand. Although the venue asks audiences to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start, planning to arrive 30 minutes early gives you more time for ticket checks, finding your seat and buying a drink.

There is no formal dress code, although the theatre asks visitors not to wear large hats. Its bars and sales points are card-only.

Transport, bags and facilities

Piccadilly Circus is the nearest Underground station, while Charing Cross is the nearest mainline railway station. Allow extra time at busy periods, particularly during the evening rush hour.

Toilets are available on the Stalls, Royal Circle, Upper Circle and Gallery levels. Small bags may be inspected, but the theatre cannot store suitcases or carry-on luggage, so avoid bringing large bags.

Accessibility

Contact the theatre’s access team before booking if you require step-free entry, a wheelchair space or other assistance. Access seats and wheelchair spaces cannot be booked through the standard online booking process.

There are two wheelchair spaces at the back of the Stalls and an adapted toilet on the same level. An alternative entrance provides step-free access to the Stalls and opens from 30 minutes before the performance. Other seating levels require stairs, so confirm the most suitable seats with the access team before purchasing.