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Big Top at London Wonderground Tickets
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About Big Top at London Wonderground
The Big Top at London Wonderground is a seasonal, temporary outdoor venue on London's South Bank. Historically hosted at Doon Street Car Park and the South Bank Big Top near the National Theatre, it’s a rotating festival space that has welcomed London Wonderground and Udderbelly productions. Think of it as a lively festival tent rather than a permanent theatre, with seating arrangements that have varied from cabaret-style tables to unreserved seating in a Spiegel tent.
Key notes: the site has shifted over the years, but the South Bank location remains central, with easy access via Waterloo and Embankment. Whether you’re catching a family-friendly cabaret or a daring circus show, secure your seats and plan ahead with reliable transport and nearby accommodations. We’ve got you covered with practical details, plus affiliate partner hotel and restaurant options to help you make the most of your visit.
Seating capacity has ranged by production: Udderbelly’s tent was described around 400 seats, while the central Spiegel tent used for London Wonderground was about 600 seats. These venues were designed to be flexible, with seating sometimes unreserved and other times cabaret-style. Parking options have included Doon Street Car Park, Belvedere Road coach parking, and street parking in the Belvedere Road area. For transit, Waterloo and Embankment stations service the South Bank with frequent tube lines and buses. Nearby hotels within walking distance include Sea Containers London at 20 Upper Ground and Park Plaza London Waterloo on Hercules Road. When planning a visit, check the specific show page for seating type and availability, since capacity and arrangement can vary by performance. For the best experience, book through trusted partners and plan your route from central London. If a date is to be announced or a show has been rescheduled, the listing will reflect that so you can adjust travel plans accordingly.
Good to know
Seating, Parking & Venue Information
- Locations have changed: The Big Top has appeared at Doon Street Car Park (Upper Ground, SE1 9PX) and at the South Bank Big Top on Upper Ground (SE1 8XX) behind the National Theatre. Nearest Tube for these sites is Waterloo. [Sources: The Big Top on the South Bank; South Bank Big Top]
- Venue type: It is a temporary outdoor tent/festival space used for London Wonderground and Underbelly events rather than a permanent London theatre. [Sources: WhatsonStage article on London Wonderground/Udd erbelly; Spiegeltent page]
- Seating/chart: Capacity varied by show; the Udderbelly tent has been described as around 400 seats, while the central Spiegel tent used for London Wonderground around 2012 was about 600 seats. Pictured seating arrangements have ranged from unreserved Spiegelten seating to cabaret-style table seating. [Sources: The Independent (Udderbelly 400-seat); 2012 London Wonderground Spiegeltent capacity cited by WhatsonStage/Evening Standard]
- Parking: Parking options include Doon Street Car Park as a Big Top site, plus Belvedere Road coach parking and street parking in Belvedere Road area. [Sources: The Big Top on the South Bank; AccessAble Jubilee Gardens]
- Transit: Most access via Waterloo or Embankment; South Bank area is well-served by multiple Tube lines and buses. [Sources: South Bank Big Top page; London Theatre Direct pages]
- Nearby hotels: Sea Containers London (20 Upper Ground, near the South Bank) and Park Plaza London Waterloo (Hercules Rd), both within short walking distance of the South Bank sites. [Sources: Sea Containers London official site; Sea Containers page on South Bank; Park Plaza Waterloo site]
- Notable events hosted: London Wonderground premiering in 2012 with a 600-cap Spiegel tent; Udderbelly’s festival runs at the South Bank with cabaret and circus acts; the site hosted Cantina/Tom Tom Crew-type acts during London Wonderground years. [Sources: WhatsonStage 2012 article; Evening Standard 2012 piece; FlavourMag 2015 listings; 2016 London Theatre/Standard coverage]
- Renaming/demolition note: The Big Top is not a fixed permanent London venue; the South Bank site's festival branding evolved (Udderbelly and the Spiegeltent figures prominently) and locations shifted as London Wonderground/Udderbelly operated at different times. [Sources: 2012 WhatsonStage article; 2012/2016 press coverage]