Of the many entertaining qualities London possesses, theatre is its most renowned. The scope and diversity of performances throughout the city makes theatre accessible and popular with a much wider audience. Of course, this has left some quarters of the toffee-nosed high brow miffed that common folk are discovering there is no secret, or breeding stock, required to appreciate a theatre performance. The fact is, a good show is the one that appeals to you.

The theatre world is divided into three types - West End, Repertory and Fringe. To make it more confusing, some theatres fall into more than one category. West End are the theatres most people have in mind when they think of London theatreland, and includes shows like Cats, Mousetrap, and Phantom Of The Opera, shown in the Leicester Square, Piccadilly, and Covent Garden.

There are four repertory companies based in their own theatres: the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Court and The Globe Theatre. They are considered the sophisticated end of the theatre spectrum offering plenty of Shakespeare, excellent modern plays, and a few audience members who will wonder how you were ever let on the premise – which only makes it a more enjoyable experience.

Some of the best theatre in London is performed on the "fringe", at the dozens of venues devoted to alternative plays, revivals, contemporary dramas, and musicals. These shows are usually more adventurous than established West End productions; they are also consistently lower in price. Both fringe and repertory theatre encourages new actors, playwrights, directors, and crew to develop their skills, so if you want to see the next big things on stage, don’t confine yourself to the West End.

However, London entertainment is more than just watching a cast of over-emotive loud talkers prancing about and singing on a stage. The city is home to world-class Opera. It can be frightfully expensive to hear the fat lady sing, but there are ways to save if you know where to look, or stand. The dance scene is doing high kicks thanks mainly to Sadler's Wells theatre, where touring companies from all over the world perform contemporary dance, ballet and opera.

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London is a greedy blighter when it comes to classical music. There are five major orchestra’s and many smaller chamber groups and ensembles playing everywhere from festivals and major recitals to small bars, churches and anywhere you can fit a few instruments and a wand waving conductor. Be in the right place at the right time and it won’t cost you a penny to enjoy.

On a louder note, London has established itself as the rock music capital of the world. For sheer range and diversity nowhere else can offer the variations of rock, blues, roots and world music. Although London's jazz clubs can’t quite compare with the big American cities, there's a highly individual scene of home-based jazz players, complimented by regular top-name visiting artists from all over the world.

There are blondes, Irishmen and chickens crossing the road all over the city these days as the comedy scene goes from strength to strength. The British humour, with its twist of black and dash of self-depreciation, has been savoured around the world for decades. A night at a comedy venue watching new talent blossom in the demented footsteps of Monty Python, The Goons, Mr Bean, Ab Fab, Ali G, and The Office, is a unique London treat.

No matter how you get your entertainment jollies, London can provide. It’s just a matter of knowing the best and cheapest places to find them.