Theatre nights in London
The best West End shows
Tickets to seven big musicals, from Wicked to Hadestown. Here is which show to pick, where to sit and how to find cheap seats.
See our 8 picks
The best West End show for a first visit is a big musical like Wicked. Tickets here start from €25 for Mamma Mia! and about €34 to €36 for the others, and none can be refunded.
So pick your date with care. Each show runs about 2.5 hours. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 8 picks for West End shows
Seven show tickets and one singing walk through Theatreland. Every show ticket here is non-refundable. Only the walk has free cancellation.
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from €34 per person Our top pick 2 h 30 min 4.8 (413) reviews on GetYourGuide
Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
Non-refundable. The untold story of the witches of Oz, with the song "Defying Gravity". The show runs about 2.5 hours at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in Pimlico.
Best for First-timers who want a big musical
Check availability: Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on GetYourGuide - from €34 per person
Sondheim Theatre, 2 hours 50 minutes
Les Misérables
2 h 50 min 4.8 (229) reviews on GetYourGuide
Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre
Non-refundable. The classic musical set in 19th-century France, with "I Dreamed a Dream" and "One Day More". It runs 2 hours 50 minutes. The listing says it does not suit children under 7.
Best for Fans of big, serious musicals
Check availability: Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre on GetYourGuide -
from €36 per person 2 h 30 min 4.8 (398) reviews on GetYourGuide
The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre
Non-refundable. A haunting love story with grand sets and costumes. It plays at His Majesty's Theatre on Haymarket and runs about 2.5 hours.
Best for Lovers of romance and grand sets
Check availability: The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 2 h 30 min 4.8 (764) reviews on GetYourGuide
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre
Non-refundable. A glitzy stage version of the film, full of pop songs. It plays at the Piccadilly Theatre on Denman Street and runs about 2.5 hours.
Best for Groups and couples who want a party feel
Check availability: Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre on GetYourGuide -
from €25 per person 2 h 30 min 4.8 (834) reviews on GetYourGuide
Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre
Non-refundable. A sunny, funny tale on a Greek island, sung to ABBA hits like "Dancing Queen". It plays at the Novello Theatre on Aldwych and runs about 2.5 hours.
Best for Families and anyone who wants to sing along
Check availability: Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 2 h 30 min 4.9 (109) reviews on GetYourGuide
Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre
Non-refundable. The story of a clever girl, with songs by Tim Minchin. It plays at the Cambridge Theatre near Covent Garden. The listing says it does not suit children under 6.
Best for Families with children aged 6 and up
Check availability: Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre on GetYourGuide -
from €36 per person 2 h 30 min 4.8 (62) reviews on GetYourGuide
Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre
Non-refundable. Two Greek myths told with live folk and jazz music. It plays at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. The listing says it does not suit children under 8.
Best for Music fans who want something less familiar
Check availability: Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre on GetYourGuide -
from €46 per person 2 hours 4.9 (71) reviews on GetYourGuide
West End musical silent disco walking tour
This is a walk, not a show. You sing and dance to musical hits on headphones as a guide leads you past the theatres. It takes 2 hours, for up to 40 people.
Best for Musical fans who want a fun warm-up
Check availability: West End musical silent disco walking tour on GetYourGuide
Compare the show tickets
| Show | From | Duration | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre | €34 per person | 2 h 30 min | Non-refundable | First-timers who want a big musical | A big, well-known show for a first night out, with 4.8 from 413 reviews. |
| Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre | €34 per person | 2 h 50 min | Non-refundable | Fans of big, serious musicals | A long-running classic, with 4.8 from 229 reviews. |
| The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre | €36 per person | 2 h 30 min | Non-refundable | Lovers of romance and grand sets | A famous score in a historic theatre, with 4.8 from 398 reviews. |
| Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre | €35 per person | 2 h 30 min | Non-refundable | Groups and couples who want a party feel | The most glamorous pick here, with 4.8 from 764 reviews. |
| Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre | €25 per person | 2 h 30 min | Non-refundable | Families and anyone who wants to sing along | The cheapest show here, with 4.8 from 834 reviews. |
| Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre | €27 per person | 2 h 30 min | Non-refundable | Families with children aged 6 and up | The highest rating of the shows here, 4.9 from 109 reviews. |
| Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre | €36 per person | 2 h 30 min | Non-refundable | Music fans who want something less familiar | A newer, music-led show, with 4.8 from 62 reviews. |
| West End musical silent disco walking tour | €46 per person | 2 hours | Yes | Musical fans who want a fun warm-up | The only pick with free cancellation, and 4.9 from 71 reviews. |
Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre
€34 per person2 h 30 min 4.8 (413)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want a big musical
- Why we picked it
- A big, well-known show for a first night out, with 4.8 from 413 reviews.
Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre
€34 per person2 h 50 min 4.8 (229)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Fans of big, serious musicals
- Why we picked it
- A long-running classic, with 4.8 from 229 reviews.
The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre
€36 per person2 h 30 min 4.8 (398)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Lovers of romance and grand sets
- Why we picked it
- A famous score in a historic theatre, with 4.8 from 398 reviews.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre
€35 per person2 h 30 min 4.8 (764)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Groups and couples who want a party feel
- Why we picked it
- The most glamorous pick here, with 4.8 from 764 reviews.
Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre
€25 per person2 h 30 min 4.8 (834)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Families and anyone who wants to sing along
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest show here, with 4.8 from 834 reviews.
Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre
€27 per person2 h 30 min 4.9 (109)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Families with children aged 6 and up
- Why we picked it
- The highest rating of the shows here, 4.9 from 109 reviews.
Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre
€36 per person2 h 30 min 4.8 (62)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Who it suits
- Music fans who want something less familiar
- Why we picked it
- A newer, music-led show, with 4.8 from 62 reviews.
West End musical silent disco walking tour
€46 per person2 hours 4.9 (71)
Details
- Free cancellation
- Yes
- Who it suits
- Musical fans who want a fun warm-up
- Why we picked it
- The only pick with free cancellation, and 4.9 from 71 reviews.
- None of the 8 includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which West End show should you see?
Pick by mood first. For a first visit, a big musical like Wicked or The Phantom of the Opera is a safe choice.
Want to sing along? Mamma Mia! is the one. Want a party feel? Moulin Rouge! has pop songs and lots of glitter.
For a serious story, pick Les Misérables. For something less well known, try Hadestown with its live band.
With children, Matilda and Mamma Mia! are the easy picks. Check the age line on each listing first.
- Big first night: Wicked or The Phantom of the Opera
- Sing-along fun: Mamma Mia!
- Glitz and pop songs: Moulin Rouge! The Musical
- A classic, serious story: Les Misérables
- Live folk and jazz: Hadestown
- Families: Matilda or Mamma Mia!
What each show ticket gives you
Each ticket is a seat at one show on one date. Food, drinks and travel to the theatre are not included.
The listings for Mamma Mia!, Moulin Rouge! and Hadestown say "reserved seating". Every show ticket here is non-refundable.
That means you cannot get your money back if your plans change. Only the silent disco walk has free cancellation.
| Show | Theatre and address | Length | Not for children under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicked | Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Rd, SW1V 1LG | 2 h 30 min | 5 |
| Les Misérables | Sondheim Theatre, 51 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 6BA | 2 h 50 min | 7 |
| The Phantom of the Opera | His Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket, SW1Y 4QL | 2 h 30 min | 4 |
| Moulin Rouge! | Piccadilly Theatre, 16 Denman St, W1D 7DY | 2 h 30 min | 5 |
| Mamma Mia! | Novello Theatre, Aldwych, WC2B 4LD | 2 h 30 min | 5 |
| Matilda | Cambridge Theatre, Earlham St, WC2H 9HU | 2 h 30 min | 6 |
| Hadestown | Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7ES | 2 h 30 min | 8 |
Guides on a night out in London
Musicals on stage now
All seven musicals on this page had tickets on sale when we checked on 24 October 2026. Shows can close, so check the dates on each listing.
Wicked
Wicked tells the story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy came. It plays at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, 17 Wilton Road, in Pimlico.
Mamma Mia!
Mamma Mia! is a light, happy show built on ABBA songs. It plays at the Novello Theatre on Aldwych.
Les Misérables
Les Misérables plays at the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. Its own site says bookings now run to October 2027.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Moulin Rouge! turns the film into a stage party, with hits old and new. It plays at the Piccadilly Theatre on Denman Street.
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera plays at His Majesty's Theatre on Haymarket.
It is the only show here that the listing allows from age 4.
Matilda The Musical
Matilda is the story of a clever girl, with songs by Tim Minchin. It plays at the Cambridge Theatre on Earlham Street, near Covent Garden.
Hadestown
Hadestown tells two Greek myths with live folk and jazz music. It plays at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.
Shows for families, first-timers and big-spectacle fans
For families, Matilda is the clearest pick. It is a story about a clever child, and the listing says it suits ages 6 and up.
Mamma Mia! works for families too, from age 5. The songs are easy to know, even for children.
For first-timers, Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera give you the big stage and the big sound.
For spectacle, Moulin Rouge! has the most glitter and noise. Les Misérables has the biggest drama.
Every summer, the theatre trade body runs Kids Week. SOLT's pages say one child aged 17 and under goes free with each full-paying adult. In 2026 it ran from 20 July to 31 August.
Cheap, last-minute and 2-for-1 tickets: what is real
The official place for cheap and last-minute seats is the Official London Theatre ticket booth. It used to be called TKTS.
It is run by the Society of London Theatre, a not-for-profit group. It sits in the Clocktower Building on the south side of Leicester Square.
The booth sells same-day and advance tickets, at full price and at a discount. The tickets come straight from the theatre box offices.
It opens Monday to Saturday from 10:30 to 18:00, and Sunday from 11:00 to 16:00. New same-day tickets go online at 00:01 each day.
Beware of lookalike websites. Buy from the theatre box office or a member of STAR, the ticket sellers' trade body. Do not pay by bank transfer.
On GetYourGuide, use the date picker to see seats for tonight. Mamma Mia! starts from €25 and Matilda from €27.
The booth has no student, child or senior prices, its own page says.
Choosing seats and understanding ticket tiers
The seat changes the price more than anything else. The stalls are the seats at ground level, close to the stage.
The dress circle is the first balcony. It gives a clear view of the whole stage.
Higher balconies cost less, but they are further away and can be steep.
A "restricted view" seat means part of the stage may be hidden. What is hidden depends on the seat, so read what the seller says.
The "from" price is the cheapest seat. A better seat costs more on the same listing.
Theatreland: where the theatres are
Most of the theatres here sit close together around Shaftesbury Avenue, Leicester Square and Covent Garden.
Wicked is the odd one out. The Apollo Victoria Theatre is on Wilton Road, by Victoria station.
Each theatre's full address is in the table under "What each show ticket gives you" above.
Plan your trip there and back with our guide to getting around London.
Beyond the big names: fringe and off-West End
Yes, London has far more theatre than the big West End houses. Smaller venues are called fringe or off-West End theatres.
They are often cheaper and closer to the stage. Shows change often, so a listings site is the best guide.
The Off West End site lists what is on at these smaller venues. We do not sell tickets for them here.
Planning the evening: dinner, timing and where to stay
Eat before the show, not after. Most of these shows run about 2.5 hours, so a late dinner can feel rushed.
Arrive early to find your seat and the toilets. Check the start time on your ticket, as it can change by day.
A show and dinner is one of the classic things to do in London for couples.
Staying close by makes the night easy. See where to stay in London for the central areas.
Before you book a West End show
You cannot get a refund
Every show ticket here is non-refundable. Book only once your date is firm.
Check the age line
Each listing says the youngest age it suits. It ranges from 4 for Phantom to 8 for Hadestown.
Read the seat details
The "from" price buys the cheapest seat. Check where you sit and whether the view is restricted.
Buy from safe sellers
Avoid lookalike sites and bank transfers. The theatre box office and STAR members are the safe routes.
Arrive early
Come in good time to find your seat. Food and drinks are not in the ticket.
West End shows: questions and answers
What musicals are on in London now?
Where should I stay for the West End?
What is the best West End show right now?
Where can I find 2-for-1 theatre tickets in London?
More West End tickets, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (7), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.