Globe Theatre

The Globe stands on the South Bank at 21 New Globe Walk, SE1 9DT, next to Tate Modern. Blackfriars, Mansion House, Southwark and London Bridge are all ten to fifteen minutes on foot, and plenty of bus routes pass nearby. The nicest arrival is by river: Thames Clipper boats stop at Bankside Pier, a few steps from the door.

In good part, yes. There is accessible seating, step-free entry to parts of the building, lifts to the upper galleries and accessible toilets, and captioned and signed performances are scheduled on selected dates. Because the playhouse is a reconstruction of a 1599 building, provision varies by area rather than being uniform, so it is worth describing what you need when you book so the right seats can be found.

Thirty minutes before the start, and more if you are standing in the yard — those tickets are unreserved, so arriving early is how you get a place at the stage rather than behind the crowd. Seated ticket holders can be more relaxed, though the galleries fill from the middle outwards. Either way, the courtyard and the riverside are pleasant places to be beforehand.

No dress code, but this is the one London theatre where what you wear genuinely matters. The playhouse is open to the sky and unheated: the yard has no cover at all and the galleries only a thatched roof above. Dress for the weather as you would for an afternoon outdoors, bring something warm for the evening even in July, and if you are standing, wear shoes you can spend two and a half hours in.

Yes, and unusually well. Bars and kiosks in the main building and the courtyard serve snacks, light meals and hot and cold drinks, and the Swan, a pub and restaurant on the same site, does a proper meal before or after the show. A hot drink is worth considering here in a way it is not at an indoor theatre.

Yes, and the shop on site is better than the phrase 'merchandise stand' suggests: books and editions of the plays, costume pieces, themed gifts and Shakespeare souvenirs you will not find elsewhere. It is worth a look in its own right, whether or not you are seeing a performance that day.

No, there is no cloakroom service here at present. Larger bags have to be stored off site before you arrive, and only small personal items may be brought in. Plan around it: this is a venue people often reach at the end of a day's sightseeing on the South Bank, shopping bags and all.