Access and Facilities at the Lyceum Theatre

The Lyceum has a lift to its upper levels and a level entrance to the Stalls. Access bookings are handled by the venue, not by us: book them through the access team on the theatre's official site.

Getting in without steps

At the main entrance on Wellington Street there are three steps up to the foyer. Use the double exit door to the left of the five main doors instead; it's signed as the level entrance. Tell the doorman when you arrive and it will be opened for you. From there a gentle slope takes you past the accessible toilets into the Stalls and to the Stalls Bar, with no steps at all.

The lift is at a separate entrance, on Exeter Street, and it goes to the Royal Circle and the Grand Circle. It isn't only for wheelchair users: ask for it if stairs are a struggle. The Stalls aren't on the lift, because the level entrance gets you there instead.

How many stairs

• Stalls: a short flight down from the foyer, or none by the level entrance
• Royal Circle: 12 steps up to the landing. From the lift, which comes out at row H, it's 14 steps down to row A and 12 up to row P
• Ballroom Bar: 24 more steps above the Royal Circle landing
• Grand Circle: 83 steps. The lift stops by row B; row A is three steps up and three down, row M 33 steps up

Where the wheelchair spaces are

All six wheelchair spaces are in the Stalls, in row ZA at the back. Each space has a companion seat on either side. Not every space takes a larger wheelchair or scooter, so give the measurements when you book. If you'd rather transfer, any Stalls aisle seat works, and the side seats of row R, 2 to 15 and 33 to 46, are step-free with room to stretch out.

The theatre recommends booking them well in advance. Access seats, and any access concessions, are booked through the venue's own access team.

Accessible toilets

Two accessible toilets, one with a left-hand and one with a right-hand transfer, just inside the level entrance on the way to the Stalls. They may be locked, so ask a member of staff. Every other level has toilets, reached by stairs.

Hearing and sight

The GalaPro app gives you captions, audio description and translated subtitles at every performance, on your own phone or tablet. Subtitles come in French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. Staff can lend you a tablet if you need one.

Every performance also has Mobile Connect, which sends amplified sound to your own phone, through headphones or through your hearing aids with a neck loop. The theatre suggests avoiding the first four rows of the Stalls with it, and seats 1, 2, 48 and 49 in the Grand Circle. There are a few devices and headphones to borrow if you don't have your own.

Six seats in Stalls row C, 17 to 22, are set aside for partially sighted customers. Large-print and Braille programmes are available if you ask in advance.

Captioned, signed, audio-described and relaxed performances

The Lion King schedules all four through the year. At signed performances the interpreter stands on the left of the stage, and the seats sold for them are in easy view of both the stage and the interpreter. Audio-described performances are with VocalEyes, and anyone booked for one is sent an introduction to the show a week before. Relaxed performances have extra staff and quiet areas to step out to, and the theatre publishes a visual story and a sensory synopsis. The show's access page lists the dates.

Assistance dogs, help at your seat and the Stalls Bar

Bring your assistance dog into the auditorium with you, or staff can look after it while the show is on; mention it when you book. None of the bars has a lowered counter, so staff come to you: order from your seat and your drinks are brought over. The Stalls Bar, on the level route from the accessible entrance, is fully accessible, and so is the merchandise kiosk in the Stalls.

Smoke, fog and strobe

The Lion King uses theatrical smoke and fog and some strobe lighting. For the show's own guidance, see The Lion King's own page.

Bars

Four licensed bars. The Ballroom Bar, at the back of the Royal Circle, opens to ticket holders 90 minutes before the show, and there are more bars on each level. Drinks in the Stalls and the front rows of the two circles have to be in plastic, and you can order drinks and snacks to your seat ahead of time, which saves the interval queue.

Toilets on every level

Male and female toilets on every level. In the Stalls, the Ladies is one step up from the side of the auditorium or ten steps down from the Stalls Bar, and the Gents is off the Stalls Bar.

Bags and the cloakroom

Every bag is checked on the way in, and the theatre asks you to leave suitcases, rucksacks and large bags at home. The cloakroom opens with the doors, 90 minutes before the show. It takes suitcases, heavy bags, rucksacks and pushchairs, but not coats.

Tips for the night

• The foyer gets busy with families before the show, so arrive with time to spare.
• The bars and toilets are busiest at the interval. Go as soon as it starts.
• If stairs are any kind of problem, ask for the Exeter Street lift, or book the Stalls and use the level entrance.