Stalls at the London Palladium
Rows A to W, then X and XX: 1,023 seats, almost half the theatre, plus 20 standing places at the back. Front and middle Stalls are the best seats in the building, and this is the level we'd pick first for most shows.
Where we'd put you
Rows D to M, a third of the way across the row, next to the aisle in the centre block. The centre block runs from about seat 13 to about seat 32, depending how wide the row is. From there you see the full stage from a comfortable distance, you get in and out without climbing over anybody, and you don't pay for dead-centre. Do not be put off by the other side of the aisle: those are still very good seats, and the view softens gradually towards the end of a row rather than falling off a cliff.
| Rows | What you get |
|---|---|
| A to C | Very close. Less legroom, and children may miss staging because of the stage height |
| D to M | The sweet spot. Full stage, comfortable distance |
| N to T | The Royal Circle above starts to close in. Noticeable from about row R |
| U to W, X, XX | Really noticeable from row U. A bit letterbox, and priced accordingly |
The value seats, and legroom
The back of the Stalls is one of our value picks. The last four or five rows feel a little like looking through a letterbox, but rows W, X and XX are the cheapest way to stay downstairs rather than going up to the Grand Circle. The price gap to a prime seat can be close to threefold, and that saving is the reason to book them.
The overhang matters less here than the rows suggest, because the Palladium does not always use the full height of the stage. Ring us on 020 7193 9050 and we will tell you whether the show uses the top of the stage on your date.
The far ends of the rows are restricted and priced much lower. They're worth having for comedy and concerts, where the action stays centre stage, and worth avoiding for a musical or the panto, which use the corners.
Legroom is average at best on every level here, and row A is the tightest. Front Stalls is a straight trade, less legroom for a closer view, so if you're tall, rows W, X and XX are the ones with more room.
What to avoid
- Rows A to C with children. The stage is high and the front of the Stalls is fairly flat, so a child can miss what happens at the back of the stage. Further back, or the Royal Circle, is better for them.
- The seats right beside the sound desk. In the middle of the back rows, W sits in front of the desk and X and XX beside it, and the desk blocks some of the view from the seats nearest it. The ends of those rows are clear.
- The far ends of the rows, for a musical. Fine for a concert, a real loss for a show that uses the whole stage.
Getting there, drinks and toilets
From the main entrance it's 3 steps up, then 14 down to the Stalls bar, kiosks and toilets, and the floor of the Stalls slopes down towards the stage. The Stalls are the only level with step-free access, by the ramp to the left of the main doors and a lift. The access page has the detail.
The Variety Bar is the Stalls bar and the biggest in the building, slightly below ground. The Val Parnell Bar is step-free, with an accessible toilet inside it, and there's a second accessible toilet at the rear of the Stalls on the left as you go in.
Stalls FAQs
Are the back rows of the Stalls good at the London Palladium?
For the money, yes. The Royal Circle overhang is noticeable from about row R and really noticeable from row U, but the Palladium doesn't always use the top of the stage, and rows W, X and XX are the cheapest seats downstairs.
Are the front rows of the Stalls good?
Very close, with less legroom. The stage is high, so for children or anyone short, row D onwards is the better buy.