London Coliseum

The London Coliseum stands as a monumental reminder of the ambition of Edwardian-era entertainment. When it opened on Christmas Eve in nineteen hundred and four, it was hailed as a people's palace of entertainment, designed by the celebrated theatre architect Frank Matcham for the impresario Oswald Stoll. Stoll wanted to move away from the rowdy reputation of traditional music halls and create a luxurious, family-friendly venue on a grand scale. He succeeded in building what remains the largest theatre in London, complete with an opulent Italian Renaissance frontage and a towering exterior that defines this part of Saint Martin's Lane.