Upper Circle at the Criterion Theatre

Three rows, 65 seats, and the level nearest the street, 23 steps down from Piccadilly Circus. Nothing structural blocks the stage from here, which is not true of either level below. Because the whole auditorium is underground, three rows is genuinely three rows: you are not looking down from a great height the way you would from the top of a larger theatre.

Who the Upper Circle suits

Anyone after a clear view for less money, and anyone who'd rather not walk down 54 steps to the Stalls. It's also the step-free level.

How it's laid out

Two blocks of seats with an aisle down the middle. Row C at the back is raised above rows A and B, which suits shorter people and keeps you clear of anyone leaning forward in front.

Where we'd put you

The centre, and row C if it's available. The view is clear from every seat, and the centre is worth the small step up in price.

What to avoid

The ends of the rows, where the side of the stage starts to go. At the outer ends of row C you lose a large part of the stage.

And the legroom at the front of this level is poor, worst of all at the sides. These are the cheapest tickets in the building and the trade is a fair one, but if you are tall you should know what you are taking on.

Steps and step-free access

From the main entrance it's 23 steps down. From Jermyn Street, round the back, there's a step-free way in, down a slope into the back of the Upper Circle, and that's where the two wheelchair spaces are, in row C. The access page has the detail.

Drinks and toilets

You'll need to go down a floor for a drink: the nearest bar is the Lord Attenborough, on the Dress Circle level, where pre-ordered interval drinks are collected too. The accessible toilet is on the Upper Circle level.