Grand Circle at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Rows A to K, the third level up, and our value pick at Drury Lane. You see all of the stage, and you pay a lot less for it than downstairs.

Where we'd put you

The centre of rows A to C. It sits higher, but it doesn't feel cut off from the show the way a top level can elsewhere, and you take in the whole production at once.

Further back, the centre of rows J and K is a good deal when it costs less than the rows in front, because the view is very similar. Row K is raised above row J, which helps you see over heads and gives longer legs more legroom, but the Balcony above clips the very top of the stage from there.

If a show prices the front of the Grand Circle near the top of its range, drop a price band or two: you still see the whole stage, for noticeably less than the Stalls or Royal Circle.

For children, this is one of the two levels we'd book, because the rake means they're not looking over the heads in front. Skip row A for them, where the safety bar sits in a short person's eyeline.

What to avoid

• Row E. It sits lower than the rows in front, so heads get in the way more. Take D or F instead.
• The ends of row A. The five seats at each end curve round towards the stage and give a very side-on view, and the safety bar along the front of the row can cut into your eyeline.
• Side-block seats more than four in from the centre aisle. The rails along the front of the level come into view.
• The slip seats down the sides. You look down past the Boxes and see very little of the stage. The Balcony is better at the price.

There are no pillars on this level.

Legroom in the Grand Circle

Most people up to about 5ft 8 will be fine, and row A is slightly tighter. It was one of the parts of the building that gained most in the restoration.

Steps and the lift

It's 66 steps up from the ground floor, or take the lift. The lift arrives at row E on the low-numbers side, which is step-free and has the level's one wheelchair space. Rows D and F are two or three steps away.

The Grand Circle Boxes

The Grand King's Box and the Grand Prince's Box are at the sides, with Boxes K and L beside them. They're reached by a fairly steep staircase. The Boxes route covers them.

Drinks and toilets

There are toilets on this level, and an accessible one on the right-hand side as you face the stage, off row E. The Grand Saloon and The Terrace are one floor down at Royal Circle level, and the lift stops there.