All you need to know about the best plays & musicals currently playing in London, classic and modern!
Full information, recommendations and trusted ticket sites.
Seeing a musical in London is a must! London musicals are always a feast for the eyes and a great cultural experience.
Some of the musicals have been running for many years, such as Les Miserables, which has been running for over 30 years, or Moulin Rouge! which has been running since the early 2000s.
I invite you to explore our list of some of the most classic and modern award-winning musicals, such as The Book Of Mormon, Wicked, The Tina Turner Musical, etc.
If you are looking for a family experience, for the kids as well as for you, check out our family friendly shows: Back to the Future, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, Matilda and many more.
What’s new?
We are expecting some spectacular plays and musicals in 2023: The Cher Show, The Spongebob Musical, Sylvia, Ain’t Too Proud, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (back for a limited time!), A Little Life; to name but a few!
Below we have listed the shows we love most and the ticket websites we recommend.
In the title of each musical or play, a link to a page with information about the plot (without giving too much away), who the musical is recommended for, the level of English required, the theatre’s location in London, the venue, the duration of the show, and direct links to the musical’s page on the ticket websites.
Introducing the most successful and recommended musicals that have been running for many years:
- Les Miserables
- The Lion King the musical
- Mamma Mia! the musical
- Matilda
- Wicked
- The Book of Mormon
- Six – The Musical
- Ain’t Too Proud
- Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
- Hamilton
- Mrs. Doubtfire
- Phantom Of The Opera
- Pretty Woman The Musical
- Back to The Future The Musical
- Frozen The Musical
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- The Play That Goes Wrong
- The Mousetrap
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The play
- Witness for the Prosecution
- Peaky Blinders: The Rise’
- ‘The Gunpowder Plot’
- Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience
- Secret Cinema
- Secret Cinema – Grease: The Live Experience!
- The Burnt City
Les Miserables
It is nearly 40 years since the classic musical Les Miserables premiered; it is an award-winning and highly popular show which has been translated into over 20 languages.
I’ll highly recommend to go!
It is currently showing at the Sondheim Theatre.
Tickets can be found on sales at London Theatre Direct
Heads-up: The musical Les Miserables is recommended for over 14 years of age.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 50 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.
The Lion King the musical
A great musical for the all family and can be good for non-English speakers, too!
It is currently showing at the West End Lyceum Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found on sales at London Theatre Direct – LOVEthetre
Mamma Mia! the musical
“Mamma Mia! The Musical” is a warm, feel-good musical and great for the ABBA lovers, featuring some of ABBA’s greatest hits like ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘The Winner Takes it All’ and many more!
The musical is currently running at the West End Novello Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LOVEtheatr and are currently on sale until May 2024
Heads-up: The recommended age is 5+. The musical runs for 2 hours 35 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.
If you want to complete your special experience with a great Greek meal to ABBA’s hits performed live at the O2 music venue, you should definitely check out Mama Mia! The Party!
Matilda
Witty, funny, contemporary, modern and suitable for adults!
It is currently playing at the West End Cambridge Theatre in Covent Garden.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LOVEtheatre, and are currently on sale until May 2024
Wicked
The musical Wicked is a great show, one of our favourites and is loved by teenagers!
It has been running for over a decade at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, near Victoria Station.
It is currently playing at the West End Apollo Victoria Theatre, which has been its home for the last 17 years!
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LOVEtheatre, and are currently on sale until November 2023.
The Book of Mormon
GO, just GO! I cannot recommend enough!
“The Book of Mormon” is one of the best musicals I’ve seen, and I wouldn’t expect anything else from the creators of South park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who wrote the play along with Robert Lopez.
It first premiered on Broadway in 2011 and came to London theatres in 2013.
Award-winning comedy takes a hilarious and cynical look at religion with some exceptionally catchy songs that will have you humming the tunes all the way home.
The musical is currently showing at the West End Prince of Wales Theatre, located in Coventry Street near Leicester Square, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct and currently on sale for shows until June 2023
Heads-up: All persons under the age of 16 who wish to see the performance must be accompanied by and sat next to an accompanying adult.
Six – The Musical
Imagine the Spice Girls meets history class!
The award-winning West End musical “SIX” is a pop musical telling the story of the six wives of Henry VIII.
The six wives are competing on who is the most miserable. Remember? Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived!
The musical received excellent reviews; many people would consider this to be the best musical in London.
It is currently showing at the West End Vaudeville Theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LOVEtheatre and are currently on sale until April 2024.
Heads-up: Six is recommended for over 10 years of age.
The musical runs for 1 hour and 15 minutes, with NO intermission.
Ain’t Too Proud
In a sentence? A feel good musical, the celebration of The Temptation!
The musical, Ain’t Too Proud, is telling the story of band The Temptations formed in the 1960’s, from their humble beginning in Detroit to one of their success during the 1960s and 1970s.
The Musical was originally produced by Otis Williams, who is the founder member of the temptation!
The minimalist stage set served the musical portraying the unicity of the bands, the vocals, melodies, harmonies and movements. The musical feature some of their greatest hits like: My Girl, Just My Imagination, Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Get Ready, to mention a few!
The musical is currently showing at the West End Prince Edward Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct and are currently on sale until October 2023.
Heads-up: The musical is recommended for over 18 years of age. Under 16 will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Tina is an award-winning musical written by Katori Hall. It is telling the story the Grammy award-winning and one of the best-selling record artist, Tina Turner; an American singer, dancer and actress who came from a humble life in Tennessee to become the Queen of Rock’n’roll.
The musical is featuring the songs we all treasure, receiving great reviews, so we highly recommend it!
It is currently showing at the West End Aldwych Theatre, located in Covent Garden, central London.
Tickets can be found in LondonTheatreDirect & LOVEtheatre and are currently on sale until September 2023.
Heads-up: The Tina Turner Musical is recommended for over 14 years of age. 5 years old and under will NOT be allowed in.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes including intermission.
Hamilton
Hamilton has been a huge hit on Broadway in New York in recent years, winning 11 Tony Awards!
The musical is also a huge success in London, where good tickets are usually hard to come by.
It is currently showing at the West End Victoria Palace Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets are available from London Theatre Direct & Headout, and are currently on sale until March 2024.
Mrs. Doubtfire
The Funniest Musical in London!
Daniel Hillard (played by Gabriel Vick) is getting divorced and in order to spend more time with his children, with the help of his brother Frank and Frank’s boyfriend, he pretends to be an older British woman and is hired as his own child’s nanny, “Mrs Doubtfire”!
They have undoubtedly succeeded in giving us the warm family feeling of the film.
Click here to read more: full information about the play, cast, recommended ages, tickets and venue.
The musical is currently showing until January 2024 at the West End Shaftesbury Theatre, located in Camden, London.
Tickets can be found on sale at LondonTheatreDirect & LOVEtheatre
Heads-up: recommended for over 6 years of age.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.
Phantom Of The Opera
It’s nearly 40 years since the love story Phantom of The Opera first debuted at the West End’s Her Majesty’s Theatre. It won over 70 awards and has always received terrific reviews from both the audience and critics. Phantom of The Opera is based on a novel written by Gaston Leroux.
It is currently showing at the West End’s Her Majesty’s Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in LondonTheatreDirect & LOVEtheatre and are currently on sale until September 2023.
Heads-up: recommended for over 10 years of age. 4 years old and under will NOT be allowed in.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.
Pretty Woman The Musical
A Broadway musical adaptation of the 1990’s romantic comedy we all know and love which stared Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, Pretty woman.
The West End musical received great reviews and we recommend going as soon possible as it is currently running only until June 2023!
The musical is showing at the West End Savoy Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found on sale at LondonTheatreDirect, LOVEtheatre & ATG
Heads-up: Pretty woman is recommended for over 12 years of age.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 10 minutes, including intermission.
Back to The Future The Musical
Back to the future is an award-winning musical based on the 1985 hit science-fiction film we all know and love which starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd & Lea Thompson.
Back to the future tells a story about a teenager, Marty McFly, who accidentally travels in time back to 1955. The musical received outstanding reviews; we recommend securing your seats!
It is currently showing at the West End Adelphi Theatre located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LoveTheatre and are currently on sale until October 2023.
Heads-up: recommended for over 6 years of age. 4 years old and under will NOT be allowed in.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes, including intermission.
Frozen The Musical
The West End Musical Frozen is based on the animated Disney film. It is a visual feast with special effects featuring all the songs which you can’t let go! (see what I did there?). This is an award-winning musical which received impressive reviews; we highly recommend to GO!
The musical is showing at the West End Theatre Royal Drury Lane located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LW Theatres and are currently on sale until October 2023.
Heads-up: Frozen is recommended for over 6 years of age. 4 years old and under will NOT be allowed in.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
After a great success in Broadway, the musical Moulin Rouge arrived here in London!
Moulin Rouge! allow us into a world of Luxury, Bohemia and of course, romance. The musical received excellent reviews and is currently running only until July 2023, so we recommend reserving your tickets!
It is currently showing at the West End Piccadilly Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found on sale at London Thetre Direct
Heads-up: Moulin Rouge! is recommended for over 12 years of age. 4 years old and under will NOT be allowed in.
The musical runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
London Theatre Plays
The Play That Goes Wrong
“The Play That Goes Wrong” debut took place at the Old Red Lion Theatre in London in 2012 and is now an award-winning play that reached the lofty heights of Broadway.
A 1920s murder mystery, BUT as you can understand… everything goes wrong. It is a great comedy, hilarious and disastrous. This play broke all the rules; I cannot recommend enough!!
It is currently showing at the West End Duchess Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct & LOVEtheatre and are currently on sale until April 2024.
Heads-up: recommended for over 8 years of age. 5 years old and under will NOT be allowed in.
The play runs for 2 hours and 5 minutes, including intermission.
The Mousetrap
The play, The Mousetrap, is currently running for 70 years, setting a world record! The play was written by Agatha Christie, also known as the “Queen of Crime”.
A group of seven strangers realize that there is a murderer among them. Who is the killer and who will be his next victim?
It is showing at the West End St Martins Theatre, located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in LOVEtheatre & London Theatre Direct and are currently on sale until November 2023.
Heads-up: recommended for over 7 years of age. All persons under the age of 16 who wish to see the performance must be accompanied by an accompanying adult.
The play runs for 2 hours and 20 minutes, including intermission.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The play
Harry Potter! Seven books, eight films and a great theatrical production!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins where the last book left us off.
The play set a new record, winning nine out of its eleven West End Olivier Awards nominations.
Important! The play has two parts; be sure to buy tickets for both parts.
Part One: 2 hours and 40 minutes, including 20 minutes intermission.
Part Two: 2 hours and 35 minutes, including 20 minutes intermission.
It is currently showing at the West End Palace Theatre located in the City of Westminster, central London.
Tickets can be found in the Harry Potter’s theatre website and are currently on sale until October 2023.
Heads-up: recommended for over 10 years of age. All persons under the age of 15 who wish to see the performance must be accompanied by an accompanying adult.
We strongly recommend not to miss out on the Harry_Potter studio experience!
Witness for the Prosecution
Who doesn’t like a good courtroom drama!
“The Witness for the Prosecution” was a short story written and later on adapted to a play by Agatha Christie, one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time.
The story is about Leonard Vole who has been accused of murder; if he is guilty he will be hanged…It is a funny, highly recommended, top-rated play.
It is currently showing at the West End theatre, London County Hall, central London.
Tickets can be found in London Theatre Direct and are currently on sale, starting as cheap as £15 pounds.
Heads up: children under the age of 5 will NOT be allowed in.
The play is 2 hours and 25 minutes, including an interval.
For full information press here!
Immersive Theatre in London
Immersive theatre takes the stage out and breaks the fourth wall. It is an interactive experience where the audience becomes part of the story!
Immersive theatre in London is a genre that has blossomed and boomed in recent years.
An approach to theatre that was mainly known for children’s shows has found its way to a wide audience in a variety of creative ways.
The aim is to engage as many of the audience’s senses as possible: you can see, hear, touch and even smell, and in most productions you can not only participate in the action, but even influence it :)
Peaky Blinders: The Rise’
One of the most talked about immersive theatre experiences is Peaky Blinders: The Rise’.
Based on the British drama Peaky Blinders, it follows the imaginative story of the Peaky Blinders, a family of gangsters in 19th century Birmingham, after the First World War.
The immersive theatre is set in the Peaky Blinders’ warehouse at the Camden Garrison. You will enter the 1920s and take over London with Tommy Shelby and the Shelby family. Maybe you’ll end up as Tommy Shelby’s deputy…
Dressing up is not a must, but it is part of the fun :)
Heads-up: Recommended age is 14+. The experience lasts approximately 2 hours.
For more information and bookings click here
‘The Gunpowder Plot’
This immersive theatre uses theatre and technology to let you see, hear and feel London as it was in 1605 – you’ll be part of a historic event!
The story is based on the Gunpowder Plot, where a group of Catholics attempted to reinstate the Catholic monarchy in England in a failed attempt to assassinate King James I.
The story takes place in the Tower Vaults, Tower of London, where Guy Fawkes, played by Tom Felton (known for his work as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter), leads you into the Gunpowder Plot as part of the digital cast. You’ll be a spy in the conspiracy, trying to escape the Tower and uncover a safe house on your way to the Houses of Parliament!
Haeds-up: Recommended age is 10+. Ages 10-15 require parental consent.
The experience lasts approximately 1hr 40mins, including a 20 min interval.
For more information and bookings click here.
Jeff Wayne’s The War of The Worlds: The Immersive Experience
Based on Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of The Worlds. You will experience a Martian attack in London of 1898!
An immersive adventure that combines theatre, technology and music.
Each room tells a small part of the story of the War of the Worlds. You’ll wear VR goggles in some of the segments and enjoy the immersive virtual reality they’ve created, while others are performed by live actors.
An amazing experience and a great way to create memories together. We loved it!
It is currently showing at the Hallmark Building, London EC3A 2DX.
Heads-up: Recommended minimum age is 10+, 10-15 year olds must be accompanied by an adult. It lasts approximately 1hr 50mins and tickets are available until September 2023.
For further information and bookings click here
Secret Cinema
Secret Cinema has sold over a million tickets to shows produced with the biggest studios, including Universal, Paramount, Marvel, Netflix and more.
The immersive theatre, Secret Cinema, takes the films we love and lets us live them!
Meet the characters, walk the set, and become a part of it! It is an interactive experience using technology, theatre and different missions to complete.
Secret Cinema – Grease: The Live Experience!
After being able to enter the world of Bridgerton, Dirty Dancing and Guardians of the Galaxy in 2022, Secret Cinema’s production of Grease will take us back to the 1950s where we can sing and dance at Rydell High.
All Secret Cinema productions take place in a secret location, which is revealed to ticket holders closer to the date of the event. In the past, all events have been held in London. However, Grease will be in Birmingham and will run from July to August 2023.
The experience lasts approximately 4 hours, so it will be a full day activity. Birmingham has a strong music gig & events scene, so if you are already going we recommend to check out the available events!
Heads-up: Recommended age is 18+, or 12 years of age if accompanied by an adult.
For more information tickets and bookings click here
The Burnt City
The Burnt City is Punchdrunk’s latest show. It is based on the myths of the ‘Trojan War’, the conflict between the Greeks and the city of Troy.
In this show, you, the audience, wear a scary mask, walk through a detailed set, in the dark, led from room to room by various interesting characters, with very precise and beautiful choreography.
This production has been described as ‘immersive theatre on an epic scale’. Highly recommended!
Punchdrunks’ shows usually don’t have a stage, the audience is active and interacts with the cast, helping to solve some sort of mission that helps the story to progress. Punchdrunks’ shows are constructed in relation to the layout, the construction of the location, the tone it provides – the atmosphere, whether it’s a warehouse or an abandoned property.
The show is currently running at Punchdrunk until September 2023, click here for directions.
Heads-up: This production is strictly 16+. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
The experience can last up to 3 hours.
For more information, tickets & bookings click here.
Recommended Tickets Sites – Theatre
We highly recommend to buy your tickets online and in advance! You will secure better seats and it most likely will be cheaper!
Our favourite ticket websites are:
London Theatre Direct – Reliable and popular ticket website for musicals. We’ve listed for you the most common categories:
LOVETheatre – Excellent website for deals combining theatre/musicals AND dinner!
Additional reliable websites for good deals are: ATG Tickets, Expedia & Groupon UK
More information about trusted ticket sites can find on our page London Show and Concert Tickets.
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A list of London theatre performances currently running can be found on the website: https://aal.londontheatredirect.com/plays
To read more about the attractions London can offer you visit our London tourist attractions page.