Novello Theatre
Novello Theatre, 5, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1066493
- Date first listed:
- 20-Jul-1971
- List Entry Name:
- Novello Theatre
- Statutory Address:
- Novello Theatre, 5, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-06-30
- Reference:
- IOE01/06513/31
- Rights:
- © Miss Patricia Philpott. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1066493
- Date first listed:
- 20-Jul-1971
- List Entry Name:
- Novello Theatre
- Statutory Address 1:
- Novello Theatre, 5, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Novello Theatre, 5, Aldwych, London, WC2B 4LD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- City of Westminster (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 30602 80949
Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 30 January 2023 to update the name and address, remove superfluous source details from text and to reformat the text to current standards
TQ 3080 NE
73/20
CITY OF WESTMINSTER
ALDWYCH, WC2 (North side)
No 5, Novello Theatre
(Formerly listed as The Strand Theatre, ALDWYCH)
20.7.71
G.V.
II
Theatre. 1905 by W.G.R. Sprague. Portland stone faced, concealed roof. Lively Free Classicism of vaguely Beaux Arts derivation, part of the Aldwych-Kingsway development and designed as a reverse pair to the Aldwych Theatre q.v. flanking the Waldorf Hotel q.v. in a symmetrical composition. Four storeys and attic storey. Identical three window wide elevations to Catherine Street and Aldwych linked by inset bowed two window wide corner entrance pavilion. Ground and first floors treated as rusticated podium with entrance to corner under canopy returned to both fronts. Arcaded first floor windows. Above first floor cornice rises a giant engaged Ionic order embracing the second and third floors with the second floor windows treated as steep pedimented Venetian windows. Tall attic storey above main entablature fronted to Aldwych and Catherine Street by applied pediments, attic cornice and blocking course surmounted by ball finials. Generous use of high and low relief statuary groups, swags and pendants. Catherine Street facade continued as lower, giant pilastered wing.
Interior has semi-elliptical vestibule; elegant foyer with marble dressings including Corinthian pilaster order; marble staircase with wrought iron and brass balustrades; ceilings compartmented in C17 style; elliptical "Dixhuitieme" dress circle bar; fine auditorium with three cantilevered balconies, domed frescoed ceiling and high quality stucco decoration in "Dixhuitieme" taste, particularly the tiers of boxes surmounted by putti groups.
Listing NGR: TQ3058880958
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 208537
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Mander, , Mitchenson, , The Theatres of London, (1975)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 19-Jun-2026 at 15:50:29.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.