From Theatre Breaks

Shaftesbury Avenue London W1

Shaftesbury Avenue is a famous street in the heart of London theatreland.

Theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue

Theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue include

• The Gielgud Theatre

• The Novello Theatre

• The Lyric Theatre - currently showing Thriller Live

• The Palace Theatre

• The Shaftesbury Theatre - currently showing Hairspray

• The Apollo Theatre - currently showing Carrie's War

History

Shaftesbury Avenue was created in 1877 - 86 to improve communications across the capital's busy West End. Although it was driven through areas of slums, following the route of an earlier highway, the shape of Soho to the north was kept. The street was named after the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, 1801-85, a social reformer, who attempted to improve housing condition.