Royal National Theatre
Royal National Theatre, Upper Ground
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1272324
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jun-1994
- List Entry Name:
- Royal National Theatre
- Statutory Address:
- Royal National Theatre, Upper Ground
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-05-23
- Reference:
- IOE01/04359/06
- Rights:
- © Les Kerry. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1272324
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jun-1994
- List Entry Name:
- Royal National Theatre
- Statutory Address 1:
- Royal National Theatre, Upper Ground
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:
- Royal National Theatre, Upper Ground
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Lambeth (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 31013 80383
Details
TQ 3180
963-/1/10022
UPPER GROUND (north-east side)
Royal National Theatre
GV
II*
Theatre complex, 1969-76 by Sir Denys Lasdun. Reinforced concrete, flat roofs. Square building, with lower 895-seat Lyttelton auditorium in line with and first floor 1165-seat Olivier auditorium at a forty-five degree angle to the main facades. These two linked at the level of the river embankment by paired foyers the full height of the building, with exhibition spaces and restuarants on several layers leading on to outside walkways. Projecting flytowers to the two main auditoria interrupt this sequence of horizontal forms. Workshops, rehearsal spaces and dressing rooms to rear, with separate entrance and foyer to 400-seater studio space, the Cottesloe theatre. Metal windows and doors. Interiors with original furnishings to foyer areas and auditoria.
The National Theatre is a major public building of the post-war period by one of its leading architects, and reflects new ideas in theatre design.
Listing NGR: TQ3101380383
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 449659
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Architectural Review in January, (1977)
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 04-Jun-2026 at 06:12:50.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry