Take a guided tour of the National Theatre and discover the secrets of one of the most iconic buildings on the South Bank.

Led by one of our expert guides, our 75-minute tour takes you on a journey behind the scenes to discover how we create our world-class productions.

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What We Offer Visiting Schools:

We offer two tours for Schools:

Schools Tours, recommended for KS3:
Bring your class on an inspiring journey through iconic theatres, backstage workshops, and the rich history of this cultural landmark. Perfect for aspiring theatre-makers and curious minds, this tour offers a unique opportunity to see how the creative process shapes the final production.

As a working theatre with three auditoriums, as well as ongoing rehearsals and stagecraft, there’s always something exciting happening onsite.

Careers in Action recommended for KS4:
Step behind the curtain and into the world of theatre-making with a ‘Careers in Action’ schools guided tour at the National Theatre.

Learn about the roles, careers and departments it takes to create world-class theatre.

Perfect for aspiring theatre-makers and curious minds alike, it’s an exclusive peek into jobs and careers at the NT.

Why Choose Us for an Educational Visit:
Our tours give you a unique insight into careers available in the theatre. We are a producing house and make everything you see on our stages in our Southbank building. We’ll introduce you to our Young People’s Programme and the training opportunities offered at the NT. It’s an ideal complement to a National Theatre performance or your studies with the National Theatre Collection.

Our Careers in Action tour was co-created with 6^th form students, ensuring it is relevant and interesting for your class.

It’s easy to combine our tour with a visit to see a show, Tickets are priced 10 or 12 per ticket for UK schools. More information here:  https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools/tickets/

Subjects and Topics Covered:

• Drama, English (Lit & Lang)
• Technical Theatre (production and design)
• History and work of the National Theatre
• Architecture and theatre design
• Previous and current National Theatre productions, including several set texts on the UK curriculum
• Outlines career pathways for roles in the theatre sector

Tour guides do not follow set scripts and actively encourage questions throughout the tours, tailoring the content to suit the interests of the group.

Accreditation and Awards:
5-star rated on TripAdvisor
Travelers’ Choice 2024

Group Sizes Catered For:
There are 20 places per tour with multiple tours available for larger groups.

Itineraries, Resources, and Workshops:
Each Guided Tour is a unique experience and varies according to what is available on the day. As a busy working theatre, our routes may be altered at short notice, but we can promise that our expert guides will always make it an unforgettable visit.

Risk Assessment:

The tours are fully risk assessed to ensure that guests are safe in our environment. This is available on request and reviewed annually or when any major changes take place.

Education Department Information:
Please contact Tours@nationaltheatre.org.uk

Pricing Information:

Private tour rate: £290
State school or community project discretionary rate: £240

Facilities:
There are toilets and cafe spaces on site. There are large public foyer spaces should you wish to bring a packed lunch.

Accessibility and Disabled Facilities:
The tour can be delivered completely step free for anyone with mobility issues.
For the hearing impaired (including hearing aid users) the Contego system, an easy-to-use wireless listening device, is available for use on Guided Tours. Please do e-mail us if you have any specific access needs.

Opening Hours:
Tours are generally run 10:00-18:00 Mon-Sat