Last updated: 08/17/2023
Check out some of London's top musicals at one of the city's many theaters offering blockbuster productions and easily buy tickets to see them!
WEST END: THE MUSICALS IN LONDON
in the region of west end, in central London, is where the “Theatreland”, a space that gathers 39 theaters showing plays and musicals in London. for those who know New York, the region is a kind of “London Broadway”. Some of the shows are big productions and run for years, but others are smaller and generally run for a few weeks or months. With so many options, you may feel a little lost to know what to choose, right? To help you better navigate your way through these many options, we selected 12 successful musicals which are excellent suggestions for you to enjoy London nights with lots of fun!
We strongly recommend that you buy tickets for musicals in London in advance to get the best prices and seats. If you leave to buy at the last minute, you run the risk of not finding the ticket for the day you would like to watch it or finding only very bad or very expensive seats, since the demand is very high.
12 AMAZING MUSICALS IN LONDON
To facilitate your planning and organization, we have placed the location of all of them on the interactive map below. Then check out more details about each of the productions.
1. BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL
the musical "Back to the future" has its screenplay adapted from the hit film of the same name from 1985, which tells the story of young Marty McFly and eccentric scientist Emmett “Doc” Brown and their adventures traveling through time. Even the iconic DeLorean is featured in the show. The musical opened in London in September 2021 and is shown on Adelphi Theater, with capacity for 1500 seats. We haven't had a chance to go yet, but we'd love to! “Back to the Future” is one of Paulo's favorite movies and I'm sure we would love the musical.
2. TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL
The musical in honor of the great singer Tina Turner premiered in the West End in April 2018 and aims to portray her life, from humble beginnings in Nutbush, in the US state of Tennessee, to her transformation into a famous rock star. The music is shown on Aldwych Theater, which has a capacity for 1200 people. For those who followed the singer's career, her unforgettable raspy voice and her many hit songs, the musical is an attraction that should be included in the script.
- Address: 49 Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
3. WICKED
Wicked is an extremely successful musical based on the 1900 book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and its 1939 film adaptation. The musical opened in the West End in 2006, is based in Apollo Victoria Theater (2328 places), and is focused on the witches of the Land of Oz. The story takes place before and after Dorothy leaves Kansas and arrives in Oz, telling the story of two super friends, Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (later, Glinda, the Good Witch). To this day, it was our favorite musical, and the song “Defying Gravity” from the end of the first act is a timeless classic!
- Address: 17 Wilton Rd, Pimlico, London SW1V 1LG, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
4. MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Matilda is a musical based on the 1988 book of the same name and had its West End premiere in 2011. It was later adapted to film in 2022. The musical's story centers on Matilda Wormwood, a precocious 5-year-old girl with the gift of from telekinesis, who loves to read, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher get her life back on track. The show is shown in Cambridge Theater, with 1231 seats.
- Address: Earlham St, London WC2H 9HU, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
5. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
One of the most famous musicals in London is undoubtedly “The Phantom of the Opera”, shown at the Her Majesty's Theater, with capacity for 1216 people. The musical premiered in West End in 1986 and is based on a French book of the same name, published in 1910. The story is based on the life of a beautiful soprano, named Christine Daaé, who ends up becoming the obsession of a mysterious masquerader of the music that lives in an underground labyrinth located below the Paris Opera. We also had the opportunity to watch the musical and the songs are remarkable and iconic, crossing generations.
- Address: Haymarket, St James's, London SW1Y 4QL, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
6. THE LION KING
One of the most beloved shows in the world, by children and adults alike, is “The Lion King”! displayed on Lyceum Theater (2100 seats), in October 1999, the musical is based on the 1994 Walt Disney film and features music by Elton John. We already had the opportunity to watch it and we can say that it is a guaranteed direction for everyone, with the famous characters Simba, Mufasa, Zazu, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa and the evil Scar. Have fun with lots of music, colorful scenery and surprising costumes with actors in animal costumes and giant dolls.
- Address: 21 Wellington St, London WC2E 7RQ, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
ECONOMY IN LONDON: ACTIVITY CARDS
For those who want to do many things and visit many paid places in London, the suggestion is to purchase one of the cards that give you direct access to attractions and ride the tourist bus, saving a lot! O THE LONDON PASS is the most famous of them. The card can be purchased in versions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 10 days. It entitles you to admission to over 60 of London's top attractions and 1 day tour on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus. In addition, the card offers more than 20 exclusive special offers at some of the city's shops and restaurants. See the full list of included attractions in this link. Price: from £69.
Read more: What to do in London – Complete itinerary of 5 days or more
7. MAMMA MIA!
Mamma Mia! is a famous musical that premiered in April 1999 and is shown on Novello Theater, with capacity for 1146 seats. It is based on songs recorded by the Swedish group ABBA, and tells the story of a woman who doesn't know which of the three men she got involved with is the father of her daughter. The show's title is precisely the name of a song recorded by the group ABBA in 1975. A total success with the public, in 2008, the story was adapted to the cinema with a star cast.
8. THE BOOK OF MORMON
The Book of Mormon is a hilarious musical which opened in the West End in March 2013 and can be seen on Prince of Wales Theater (1183 places). It tells the story of two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who try to preach the faith to the inhabitants of a remote village in Uganda. We like this musical so much that we've already seen it twice, once in Broadway in Chicago and another for a temporary stopover in San Francisco, and we cried with laughter!
- Address: Coventry St, London W1D 6AS, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
9. FROZEN THE MUSICAL
Opened in September 2021, Frozen is a musical based on the 2013 Disney film of the same name, Oscar winner for best animation and best song (“Let It Go”). The story centers on the relationship of two sisters, orphans and princesses, Anna and Elsa. Elsa does not master her magical powers of freezing people and objects, which makes her live in isolation. Leaving the traditional genre of “princesses who find Prince Charming and live happily ever after”, the musical is presented Theater Royal Dury Lane, with a capacity of 1996, and is a hit with kids and adults alike.
- Address: Catherine St, London WC2B 5JF, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here and here
10. MOULIN ROUGE!
Moulin Rouge is a musical based on the 2001 film of the same name, which premiered in the West End in January 2022. The story takes place in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris, in France, during the Belle Epoque at the turn of the 20th century. The musical tells the story of Christian, a young composer, who falls in love with cabaret actress Satine, star of the Moulin Rouge. The musical is performed on Piccadilly Theater with capacity for 1232 seats.
- Address: 16 Denman St, London W1D 7DY, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here
11. LES MISÉRABLES
Considered one of London's most traditional musicals, Les Misérables is shown at the Sondheim Theater (1074 seats) and premiered in 1985! It is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name. The story takes place in France in the early 19th century and focuses on Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his desire for redemption, released in 1815 after serving nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving son. However, a police inspector named Javert has been chasing him for most of the play. In the background, a group of young idealists try to overthrow the government at a barricade in the streets of Paris.
- Address: 51 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 6BA, England
- Tickets: Find tickets at the best prices here
12. MRS. DOUBTFIRE
This is brand new for London musicals, premiering in June 2023 on shaftesbury avenue (1416 seats). This musical is based on the 1993 film of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1987 book Alias Madame Doubtfire. The story revolves around the life of Daniel Hillard, a freelance voice actor who lives in San Francisco, California, married with three children. When his wife files for divorce, shared custody is conditional on Daniel finding a steady job and a suitable residence within three months. Knowing that his ex-wife is looking for a housemaid, he disguises himself as an elderly British nanny named Mrs Euphegenia Doubtfire to get the job and be close to the children.
- Address: 210 Shaftesbury Ave, London WC2H 8DP, England
- Current production: Find tickets at the best prices here
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