The Society of London Theatre's Annual Report for 2009 found it to be the most successful year on record, with 14,257,922 attending performances, an increase of 5.5% from 2008. Box office takings topped half a billion pounds, rising to £504,765,690, an increase of almost 7.6% from the previous year.
London theatre tops half a billion pound mark in record year, Society of London Theatre, January 2010

In January 2008 it was stated that the Royal Shakespeare Society had seen a 72% increase in ticket buyers visiting Stratford-upon-Avon over the previous three years, resulting in over 152,000 new customers.
RSC Revolution, The Stage, Friday 4 January, 2008

In 2007, Equity reported that audience members for theatres outside the West End spent an average of £7.77 on food, transport and childcare per theatre visit.
A Brighter Future: The case for investing in subsidised theatre, Equity, 2007

In 2007, Equity reported that West End audience members spent an average of £53.77 on food, transport and childcare per theatre visit, excluding accommodation.
A Brighter Future: The case for investing in subsidised theatre, Equity, 2007

2006 saw record attendances at West End theatres of 12.4 million and revenues of over £400 million.
A Brighter Future: The case for investing in subsidised theatre, Equity, 2007

In 2003, London had 108 theatres and music halls.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

Two in five Londoners surveyed went to the theatre in 2002.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2002, consumer spending on ticket sales for London's West End theatre was estimated at £298 million.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In a survey in 2001, 33% of people in each region of London and the South-east had seen a play or drama, compared with 29% or fewer from other regions.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2001, there were 37 theatres with a total of nearly 40,000 seats in London's West End.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

Venues with a Public Entertainments Licence in London's West End rose 200% from 91 in 1992 to 278 in 2000.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 2000, more than one-third of the UK's 1,600 subsidised performing arts were based in London.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004

In 1999, it was estimated that there were roughly 22 million annual attendances at performances of music, theatre and dance in London.
London Cultural Capital; Realising the potential of a world-class city, Greater London Authority, 2004