My mom and I will be in London this weekend and we are going to see The 39 Steps at the Criterion Theater on Saturday at 4:00. How does one dress for the occasion?

A "dress code"? -- Nope.

Wear what you want. people go to the theatre in London to see the performance -- not the audience. You will see everything and anything from jeans/t's/trainers to business suits . . .

...only on a summer Saturday afternoon, the only people in London wearing suits will be guests at weddings.

Dress codes, except for invited guests at weddings and funerals, are simply incompatible with London life

oops -- overlooked the Sat. Matinee bit. No business suits for sure

The mystery continues as to where people get this "dress code" idea from. Comes up, what, 2 or 3 times a week..? Must be a reason for it.

Thanks so much for the info! I never heard anything about the dress code I just assumed. Most Americans think that Europeans dress a bit nicer just on a daily basis.

<i>Most Americans think that Europeans dress a bit nicer just on a daily basis.</i>

Well that's certainly one of the most enduring myths on this forum, but even if it were true, nobody in Europe gives a hoot what you wear - we're all too busy getting on with our own lives to care Just relax and enjoy the theatre experience.

The only reason I'd have to dress a bit better is if I were having dinner at the Criterion , next to the theatre , after the show. Then I might wear something other than jeans or a tee shirt

The operative word being might....I wouldn't.

Shower, brush your teeth, put clean clothes on, cover your rude bits, don't being all the shopping with you, turn up on time, don't fiddle with your phone during the show, don't talk during the show, leave the knitting at home, leave your shoes ON, don't slurp your mega double sized coke - and don't chew the ice.

I actually saw a matinee of The 39 Steps at the Criterion in 2009 - really enjoyed it, by the way. I wore black slacks and a nice black jacket, but my husband wore jeans and didn't "stick out" at all. Locals were very casually dressed. Beautiful tilework in the hallways, actual theater not as large as I thought it would be - cozy, informal feeling.

Those of us who grew up going to the theater in New York forty or fifty years ago used to get dressed up for the occasion. That's where we got the idea. It has changed to the point where people dress for whatever they are doing before or after the theater now, and it appears to be the same in London.

>>Shower, brush your teeth, put clean clothes on, cover your rude bits, don't being all the shopping with you, turn up on time, don't fiddle with your phone during the show, don't talk during the show, leave the knitting at home, leave your shoes ON, don't slurp your mega double sized coke - and don't chew the ice.<<

Spoilsport.

Spot on alanRow ;-)

I'd add remember that you are not at home watching the TV and you are not in a cinema.