Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a working West End playhouse in London, and one of the oldest in the city. A theatre has stood on this spot since 1720, and today's building by John Nash is the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. It is also known for its resident ghost, a former actor-manager who is said to like a good comedy.

The story behind it

The first theatre here opened on 29 December 1720, built by a carpenter named John Potter. Its early years were lively. In 1749 a hoax billed as The Bottle Conjuror drew a crowd that, when the promised act failed to appear, rioted and wrecked the building.

The present theatre was designed by John Nash and opened on 4 July 1821 with a performance of The Rivals. Its best-known legend belongs to John Baldwin Buckstone, an actor-manager who once ran the house. His ghost is said to haunt the theatre, turning up most often during comedies, as if he still enjoys the laughter. Sir Patrick Stewart is reported to have said he saw the ghost in the wings during a run of Waiting for Godot.

What to look for

• Look at the columned portico on the front of the building, a reminder that this is the work of John Nash, the architect behind much of Regency London.
• Check the posters and billboards outside to see what is currently on, because this is a busy working theatre rather than a museum.
• Walk around to Charles II Street and notice how the theatre sits tightly among the surrounding buildings of St James's.
• Pause near the stage door side and think of John Baldwin Buckstone, the ghost the theatre is famous for.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 10 to 15 minutes to see the outside. To see the interior, book a performance and check current listings.
• Come in the early evening, when audiences gather and the area has the most atmosphere.
• Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and St James's are all a short walk away, so it fits easily into a wider stroll.
• The exterior is free to see at any time. Check current opening hours for any tours or box office visits.

See it on a quest

Ghost Hunt in London suits this stop well, given the Buckstone legend. Play Ghost Hunt in London and you reach the theatre on foot as one stop of a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

If you prefer a mystery, Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in West End, London also passes the theatre. You walk between the stops through the West End, hear about each place as you get there, and solve a puzzle in front of it. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.