West Street, Covent Garden — just 6 minutes on foot
There’s nowhere quite like St. Martin’s Theatre for a proper night of West End theatre history. It’s home to the world’s longest-running show, and an evening here is worth beginning properly with a relaxed Italian dinner, rather than a rushed bite on the way.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant is around 0.3 miles from St. Martin’s Theatre’s door on West Street is a 6-minute walk. It’s one of the closest proper Italian restaurants to the venue and has been serving Covent Garden for over 25 years. If you want the evening to feel unhurried before the mystery begins, this is where to start it.
What’s On at St. Martin’s Theatre Right Now
The Mousetrap
Currently booking, open-ended run — now in its 75th year | Tickets from £25 | Age guidance: 7+ | Running time: approximately 2 hours 5 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap needs almost no introduction. Having opened in the West End in 1952, it’s the world’s longest continuously running show, having now clocked up well over 30,000 performances and been seen by more than 10 million people. Seven strangers become snowed in at a remote country guesthouse, only to discover that a killer is among them and in true Mousetrap tradition, audiences leaving the theatre are asked not to reveal whodunnit, a tradition that has held for more than 70 years.
It’s a genuinely atmospheric evening, staged in the intimate, Edwardian surrounds of St. Martin’s Theatre itself, and remains one of the most purely British nights the West End has to offer.
Please note: the production includes mild peril, a gunshot, and references to murder and child cruelty within the plot, which some younger or more sensitive viewers may find unsettling. Children under 5 are not permitted into the theatre, and anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Performances run Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm. There are no Sunday performances.
La Ballerina: 6 Minutes from St. Martin’s Door
St. Martin’s Theatre sits on West Street, WC2H 9NZ, just off Seven Dials in Covent Garden. La Ballerina is a short walk away at 7-8 Bow Street. It’s a touch further than some of the other Covent Garden houses, but still a comfortable 6 minutes on foot, no tube, no taxi, no stress.
That matters more than it sounds with a show as beloved as this one. A 6-minute walk still leaves plenty of room either side of the performance, so you can enjoy your meal properly rather than rushing the last course before curtain-up.
Coming Out After the Show?
La Ballerina stays open late — until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, which lines up neatly with The Mousetrap’s own schedule, as St. Martin’s doesn’t currently stage Sunday performances.
The Mousetrap runs to roughly 2 hours 5 minutes including its interval, so a 7.30pm evening performance should have you finishing by around 9.35pm, leaving time for a late table at La Ballerina from around 9:45 PM. A 3pm matinee, by contrast, wraps up by around 5.05pm ideal timing for an early dinner instead.
Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Options
La Ballerina caters well for varied dietary requirements. Vegetarian options include the Margherita and Quattro Formaggi pizzas, Penne Arrabbiata, Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci, Caprese Salad and Minestrone Della Nonna. Vegan dishes are available too, including a Vegan Lasagne, and gluten-free options can be discussed with the team when you order. The restaurant is also child-friendly, with a welcoming atmosphere for families useful for anyone bringing older children along to solve the mystery for themselves.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up on show nights, particularly at weekends. A call or email the day before will secure your table.
📞 Phone: +44 20 7379 6659
✉️ Email: reservations@laballerina.co.uk
🌐Online: laballerina.co.uk/reservation/
📍 Address: 7-8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH
St. Martin’s Theatre: West Street, London WC2H 9NZ — 6 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning fan determined to spot the clues you missed last time, La Ballerina makes the whole evening easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian, a fitting start to a night at the theatre that’s been keeping London guessing since 1952.
