Hippodrome

The London Hippodrome stands at the corner of Cranbourn Street and Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster. Built in 1900 for £250,000 by Frank Matcham for Moss Empires, it opened with a music-hall revue called Giddy Ostend. The building once housed a vast water tank beneath its stage, capable of holding 100,000 gallons, used for aquatic spectacles with fountains and even floating boats. Its auditorium had cantilevered galleries to improve sightlines and a retractable painted-glass roof that could be lit at night. Entry was through a bar designed like a ship’s saloon, adding to the venue’s theatrical charm. The Hippodrome also served as the headquarters of Moss Empires, a major theatre empire of the time. The venue has played host to some of the most significant performances in British entertainment history. In 1910, it presented the English première of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, with Olga Preobajinska as the Swan Queen. The first official jazz gig in the UK took place here in 1919, performed by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. It later became known for lavish revues like High Spirits and productions starring stars such as Julie Andrews, who made her stage debut here at age 12. The building also hosted legendary figures including Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and The Jackson 5 during its time as the nightclub The Talk of the Town. Today, the building operates as the Hippodrome Casino, restored to Matcham’s original designs after a £40 million investment. The restoration linked the Hippodrome to the adjacent Cranbourn Mansions, doubling its floor space with a new structure in the light well. The interior now reflects the opulence of the Edwardian era, with rich reds and golds, while still accommodating modern casino gaming. The space blends historic grandeur with contemporary entertainment, offering a glimpse into London’s theatrical and social past. Visitors can experience both the grandeur of the original architecture and the lively atmosphere of a working entertainment venue.