Waterloo’s Theatre Scene: A Pre‑Theatre Guide from Crust Bros
- Daniel Turner
- Sep 4
- 2 min read
Waterloo is one of London’s great cultural crossroads: five stellar venues, packed schedules, and a whole lot of hungry theatre‑goers. Happily, Crust Bros Waterloo sits right in the middle of it all, so you can move from hot, blistered‑edge pizza to curtain‑up in minutes. Whether you’re dashing to a matinee or easing into an evening show, use this guide to pick your stage and time your slice.
The Old Vic (≈30 seconds walk)
Visit The Old Vic → Why go: A legendary, independent theatre that pairs big‑name performers with bold programming—there’s always a buzz on show nights. Good to know: The building’s intimate auditorium means great sightlines almost everywhere. If you’re tight on time, grab your pizza here first and stroll the short hop to Victoria Street/Waterloo Road.
Young Vic (≈30 seconds walk)
Visit the Young Vic → Why go: Innovative, contemporary productions from world‑class creatives. It’s where fresh ideas land before everyone else is talking about them. Good to know: The bar and courtyard are fun pre‑ and post‑show hangouts—but if you’re racing the overture, eat with us and saunter up The Cut.
National Theatre (≈5 minutes’ walk)
What’s on at the National Theatre → Why go: Three stages under one iconic roof (Olivier, Lyttelton, Dorfman) covering blockbuster hits to boundary‑pushing new writing. Good to know: The foyers are lively, and the river walk from Waterloo is half the joy. If your tickets are for the Olivier, allow a couple extra minutes once you reach the building.
Royal Festival Hall (≈5 minutes’ walk)
Royal Festival Hall at Southbank Centre → Why go: A Grade I‑listed concert hall with orchestras, talks, film screenings and special events—right on the Thames. Good to know: Check the seating plan and access info on the Southbank Centre site; the balcony views are iconic. A scenic stroll via the riverside gets you there in good time after a quick pizza.
The Vaults Theatre (≈5–7 minutes’ walk)
Explore The Vaults → Why go: Immersive, underground theatre in graffiti‑lined tunnels beneath Waterloo Station—edgy, playful and brilliantly off‑beat. Good to know: Entrances vary by production (often via Leake Street). If you’re new to the tunnels, leave a minute or two to find your way.
Why Crust Bros is the perfect pre‑theatre stop
•Fast, fresh, Neapolitan: Dough proved, hand‑stretched, fired hot—so you’re fed and out the door on schedule.
•Make it yours: Build your own or pick from our faves. Vegetarian and gluten‑free bases available.
•Plays well with others: Shareable garlic breads, dips and desserts that keep things light before a long act one.
•Walk‑ins welcome (but bookings help): If you’ve only got 45 minutes, tell us your curtain time and we’ll pace the service.
Suggested timings (so you don’t sprint to your seats)
•Matinee (2:30pm curtain): Aim to eat 1:15–1:45pm.
•Evening (7:30pm curtain): Eat between 6:00–6:45pm for a relaxed walk over.
•Late shows & encores: Back to us post‑show for a nightcap slice—ask the team about last orders on the day.
