The London Coliseum on St Martin's Lane in Westminster was designed by Frank Matcham for the impresario Oswald Stoll. Construction began in 1903, and it opened on December 24, 1904, as the London Coliseum Theatre of Varieties. English Heritage describes the design as an exuberant Free Baroque, with Byzantine-influenced interiors, and the building is Grade II* listed.
It was designed for 2,939 seats on four levels and now has 2,359 seats, the largest of any London theatre. The proscenium arch is the widest in London, and there is a triple revolving stage that is rarely used. Features include a marble-faced foyer, domed gallery boxes and sculptural groups with lion-drawn chariots.
It was used as a cinema, including Cinerama, from 1963 to 1968. Sadler's Wells Opera moved in during 1968, and the company became English National Opera in 1974. RHWL and Arup renovated the building from 2000 to 2004.
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