Alhambra Theatre

The Alhambra Theatre was a music hall and theatre building standing on Leicester Square in London's West End. Its design featured a grand central rotunda with extensive seating arranged across the main floor and in private boxes throughout the building.

The building opened in 1854 as the Royal Panopticon of Science and Arts, an ambitious project to display scientific exhibits and learning. It later transformed into a circus venue and eventually became the theatre that served London's entertainment scene for decades.

Ballet, light opera, and comedy shows drew crowds from across London to enjoy popular entertainment. These performances shaped how Londoners spent their leisure time and became part of the city's social calendar.

The theatre offered flexible seating from ground-floor stalls to private boxes suited to different audience preferences. Various facilities like canteens were available to make the visit comfortable for patrons spending an evening there.

Jules Léotard, a French acrobat, performed daring aerial acts suspended above the heads of dining guests, creating an entirely new form of entertainment experience. This unusual blend of dinner and circus artistry made the theatre a legendary spot for bold performances that combined food and spectacle.

Location: City of Westminster

Inception: March 18, 1854

Official opening: 1854

Address: 26 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LQ, England

GPS coordinates: 51.51049,-0.12930

Latest update: December 8, 2025 08:21