Grand Circle at the Vaudeville Theatre

The top level: 156 seats in rows A to J (there's no row I). It's one stepped block running straight back, with row J raised on a step at the very back, and nothing overhangs it.

Where to sit

The Grand Circle suits people on a budget, and people who don't mind height. It's the highest level and it feels it, but because it runs straight back instead of curving, every seat looks square at the stage, just from further away.

The front row gives you the whole stage from height for a good deal less than the levels below. Legroom in row A is tight, so it suits shorter people best, and the two end seats, A1 and A16, sit behind a stretch of the front rail that rises to double height. Wherever you sit up here, stay towards the centre of the row for the clearest view, with 9 and 10 in the middle.

Seats to think twice about

The first and last two seats in every row have a poor view of the stage. Row B can suffer if people in front lean: the rail makes people in row A lean forward, and that gets in the way of the row behind.

Legroom up here is the worst of the three levels: poor for anyone over about 5ft 6, and worst of all in row A and rows D, E and F. If you're tall and set on this level, the end seats of row B have nothing in front of them, though from the end you see less of the stage. For similar money the back of the Stalls is usually far more comfortable, and if height isn't for you either, spend a little more and stay lower.

Stairs, drinks and toilets

It's 54 steps up from the foyer, on narrow stairs with handrails either side. There's no lift, and we wouldn't recommend it for anyone who finds stairs difficult. The Grand Circle bar is by the entrance to this level, and there are Ladies and Gents up here too, so you don't need to go back down the stairs.