02/09/2026
We’re delighted to have been included in a list of 'Britain’s most underrated wonders' published by The Telegraph over the Bank Holiday weekend!
Ten regular contributors to Telegraph Travel were asked to reveal the lesser-known British places they believe deserve more attention — and we’re thrilled that our theatre in Richmond made the top 10. 🎭
Here’s what travel writer Paul Bloomfield had to say:
“Ever wondered what a theatrical performance looked (and smelt and sounded) like in Jane Austen’s day? Step inside Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal.
Built in 1788 by actor-manager Samuel Butler for his touring troupe, Britain’s most complete Georgian playhouse remains miraculously intact since it closed nearly two centuries ago, down to the pale green decor and boxes named for playwrights: Goldsmith, Sheridan, Dryden, Congreve and, of course, Shakespeare.
Back then, the 400 or so punters packed into pit, stalls and boxes, cheered, booed, and even threw things at actors throughout the show lasting five or six hours. Book tickets for a performance today and you’ll enjoy a much more elegant experience; better still, join an immersive backstage tour, admiring probably the oldest surviving stage set in the UK.
Then explore the winsome town’s hulking Norman castle and ruined Easby Abbey, pick up a slab of Wensleydale in the cobbled market square and pair with a slice of fruity Yorkshire tea loaf.”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/britain-underrated-wonders/
And we’re in very good regional company, with High Force in County Durham also making the top 10.
So, if you haven’t yet discovered this remarkable little piece of theatrical history, perhaps it’s time to find out what all the fuss is about by taking a tour or coming to see a show!
https://www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk/
