The Almeida is one of London's most respected small theatres, a 325-seat house on a quiet Islington side street that consistently punches far above its size. Its productions — sharp new writing and fresh takes on the classics — frequently transfer to the West End or Broadway, and the intimacy of the room means even big-name actors play within a few metres of the audience.
The building, a converted Victorian literary institute, is plain and atmospheric, with a good bar. Tickets are in demand, so book ahead. A night at the Almeida pairs naturally with dinner on Upper Street a couple of minutes away, and it is the cultural anchor of the neighbourhood.