Drury Lane, Covent Garden — just 3 minutes on foot
An evening at the Gillian Lynne Theatre is one of the more magical nights out the West End has to offer, and it’s worth starting it properly with a proper Italian dinner, rather than a rushed bite grabbed on the way in.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant is just 0.2 miles from the Gillian Lynne Theatre’s door on Drury Lane, a 3-minute walk. It’s the closest proper Italian restaurant to the venue and has been serving Covent Garden for over 25 years. If you want your evening to feel unhurried from the moment you sit down, this is where to begin it.
What’s On at the Gillian Lynne Theatre Right Now
My Neighbour Totoro
Now booking until Saturday 10 January 2027 | Tickets from £18 | Age guidance: 6+ | Running time: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval
The Gillian Lynne Theatre’s current resident is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s celebrated stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s beloved 1988 film, brought to the West End in collaboration with Improbable, Nippon TV and executive producer Joe Hisaishi, whose original film score is woven through a new live orchestration. Adapted by Tom Morton-Smith and directed by Phelim McDermott, the production has won six Olivier Awards, including Best Director, following two sold-out seasons at the Barbican.
The story follows sisters Satsuki and Mei as they move to the Japanese countryside while their mother recovers in hospital, and discover a world of forest spirits among them the gentle giant Totoro and the extraordinary Catbus, brought to the stage through large-scale puppetry from Basil Twist’s team, the puppetry studio behind War Horse. It’s a genuinely enchanting show for adults as much as children, though it’s worth knowing the story touches on a parent’s illness, and features large puppets that move through the audience and passages of loud live music.
Please note: children under 4 (including babies in arms) are not admitted, other than at designated relaxed performances, and under-16s must be accompanied by an adult throughout.
Performances currently run Tuesday to Friday evenings at 7.00pm, with a Thursday matinee at 2.00pm, and both a matinee (2.00pm) and evening performance (7.00pm) on Saturdays. There’s a Sunday matinee at 2.00pm, and Mondays are dark (no performance). As with any long-running show, it’s worth checking the exact time for your date when booking, as schedules can shift around holiday periods.
La Ballerina: 3 Minutes from the Gillian Lynne Door
The Gillian Lynne Theatre sits at 166 Drury Lane, WC2B 5PW, right in the heart of Covent Garden. La Ballerina is a short, flat walk away at 7-8 Bow Street. No tube, no taxi, no stress, just enough time to enjoy your meal properly before the curtain goes up.
That closeness matters more than it sounds, especially with a family in tow. A 3-minute walk means no rushing children along Covent Garden’s cobbles at the last minute, and no risk of missing the opening scene because the bill took a while to arrive.
What to Eat at La Ballerina Before the Show
La Ballerina’s menu is built on authentic Italian cooking, handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, fresh seafood and proper Italian desserts, everything made from scratch with quality ingredients. Given how many families make their way to Totoro, it’s worth knowing the kitchen is well used to pacing a table with children in mind, as well as theatregoers watching the clock.
Coming Out After the Show?
La Ballerina stays open late until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sundays. If you’d rather eat afterwards, the kitchen will still be running.
My Neighbour Totoro runs to roughly 2 hours 30 minutes including its interval, so a 7.00pm evening performance should have you at the restaurant for a table from around 9:45 PM, while a 2.00pm matinee should see you finishing around 4:45 PM well within lunch or early-dinner hours.
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 genuinely child-friendly, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere for families useful to know, given how many young Totoro fans make the trip to Drury Lane.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up on show nights, particularly around weekends, half-terms and school holidays when Totoro draws its biggest family crowds. 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
Gillian Lynne Theatre: 166 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5PW — 3 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re bringing the whole family to My Neighbour Totoro or simply looking for a proper dinner before an evening of forest spirits and giant Catbuses, La Ballerina makes the whole outing easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian.
