Is Theatre District a good place to stay in Boston?

The Theatre District is one of the most central places you can stay in Boston. Boston Common, the Public Garden, Downtown Crossing and the start of the Freedom Trail are all within walking distance, and the Green, Orange and Red lines stop within a few blocks. It suits first-time visitors, theatre-goers and anyone who wants to walk almost everywhere.

The area packs a lot into a few streets. Tremont Street and Washington Street have Boston's grand old theatres, from the Wang and the Shubert to the Emerson Colonial and the Paramount, and Chinatown begins at its ornate gate on Beach Street, with dim sum restaurants, noodle bars and bakeries. Bay Village, a hidden pocket of small brick houses, sits just to the south-west.

The downside is that it can be busy and noisy. Show nights bring crowds to the pavements, some streets around Chinatown and Downtown Crossing feel scruffy after dark, and traffic runs along Tremont Street day and night. It also lacks the elegant feel of Back Bay or Beacon Hill.

What makes the Theatre District special is how much of Boston it puts within reach. You can stroll across the Common in the morning, eat dumplings in Chinatown at lunch and walk to a show in the evening, all without needing the T. For a short city break, few places are as convenient.