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London theatre: the best musicals and plays to book now
Looking for inspiration? Check out our picks of the best London shows in the West End and beyond
London has a world-leading theatre scene, offering everything from plays, musicals and comedy to immersive and family-friendly entertainment. In the West End, and beyond, you’ll find both beloved long-running shows and cutting-edge new work, featuring A-list actors alongside rising stars.
If you’re trying to decide which are the best theatre shows in London to start with in 2023 and 2024, our expert Telegraph critics can help you choose with their incisive reviews. All the latest articles are at Telegraph Theatre. Plus we’ve rounded up the best family shows and the best shows for half term.
You can also find discounted tickets on Telegraph Tickets for all of the capital’s best plays and musicals, such as Hamilton, Les Miserables, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and The Book of Mormon.
Check out our top picks of London theatre shows below and get booking.
The best London shows, at a glance
- Best new play to lift your spirits – Dear England
- Best reinvention of a classic musical – Sunset Boulevard
- Best royal romp (and doggy cameo) – Backstairs Billy
- Best excitingly outrageous comedy – The Book of Mormon
- Best joyful immersive musical – Guys & Dolls
Clyde’s, Donmar Warehouse ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Lynn Nottage’s blisteringly funny play about a group of ex-convicts working in a truck stop diner will leave you drooling... Giles Terera, an Olivier winner for Hamilton, brings musicality and grace.” Read the full review
Booking until: Dec 2
The Mongol Khan, London Coliseum
In a nutshell: This epic Mongolian history play features “a cast of more than 70, with dancers, musicians, contortionists, stunt performers, even a fire-breathing dragon puppet.” Read the full article
Booking until: Dec 2
Frank & Percy, The Other Palace
In a nutshell: Ian McKellen and Roger Allam star in Ben Weatherill’s gentle comedy about an unexpected relationship forming between two men, directed by Sean Mathias.
Booking until: Dec 3
Noises Off, Theatre Royal Haymarket ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Michael Frayn’s masterpiece remains unmatched for laugh-til-you-weep hilarity... The prop-juggling, pratfalling, impeccably timed Act II backstage mime is an utter marvel.” Read the full review
Booking until: Dec 16
Lyonesse, Harold Pinter Theatre ★★★
In a nutshell: “Kristin Scott Thomas revels in the wacky Elaine, arriving in fur coat and swimming costume, throwing hilarious shapes to a dance track and play-acting her trauma for laughs.” Read the full review
Booking until: Dec 23
Crazy for You, Gillian Lynne Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “This opulent revival of the Thirties golden oldie is a care-banishing elixir; one which might just restore your faith in humanity too... Charlie Stemp is worth the price of admission alone.” Read the full review
Booking until: Dec 31
Magic Mike Live, Hippodrome Casino
In a nutshell: “‘I wanted to create a space where men really listened to women,’ says creator Channing Tatum. What emerges is undoubtedly entertaining and one of the best fun nights London has to offer.” Read the full article
Booking until: Dec 31
Jersey Boys, Trafalgar Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Not only does Luke Suri nail Frankie Valli’s eerily beatific falsetto, sweet and delicate as spun sugar, he also gives him a hot-headed volatility... His livewire musical performances are blistering.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 4, 2024
Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, Gielgud Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Cameron Mackintosh’s all-star revue is the musical theatre equivalent of the superhero team-up... This ‘great big Broadway show’ deserves to be a great big West End hit.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 6, 2024
The Witches, National Theatre ★★★
In a nutshell: “A lovely note of comic darkness is ushered in by Daniel Rigby’s maniacal hotelier Mr Stringer, and Katherine Kingsley as the glowering Grand High Witch gets a sharp-tongued solo about jettisoning child-care.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 6, 2024
A Christmas Carol, Old Vic ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Christopher Eccleston is easily the best Scrooge yet... The falling away of his disillusionment, like peel from an onion, is pure joy to behold.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 6, 2024
Cinderella, Lyric Hammersmith ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Emmanuel Akwafo is fast emerging as a serious challenge to Julian Clary and Clive Rowe as queen Dame of London panto... This cross-generation Cinders pleasingly errs on the surreal.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 6, 2024
Sunset Boulevard, Savoy Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s hard not to salute Nicole Scherzinger’s unmistakable triumph or fall in love with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s satisfyingly sinister opus once again.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 6, 2024
Dear England, Prince Edward Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Gripping drama that valuably glances at the confusions of our wider national story... Joseph Fiennes makes Gareth Southgate seem almost like Shakespeare’s inheritor, weaving dreams for us all.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 13, 2024
Pandemonium, Soho Theatre
In a nutshell: Seasonal satire from Armando Iannucci, as he revisits the Partygate sandal and other pandemic controversies. Patrick Marber directs, and the cast features Faye Castelow, Paul Chahidi and Debra Gillett.
Booking until: Jan 13, 2024
Two Strangers (carry a cake across New York), Kiln Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “With its transatlantic romcom premise, this new musical has definite shades of Richard Curtis... This gentle gem has all the ingredients to be an irresistibly sweet treat for the festive season.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 20, 2024
Backstairs Billy, Duke of York’s Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Penelope Wilton’s performance as the Queen Mother consistently rivets... She combines dignity and mischief in ways that honour the original’s eccentric liveliness and rather undersung life.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 27, 2024
The Homecoming, Young Vic
In a nutshell: Matthew Dunster directs Harold Pinter’s unnerving play about the power struggle between a brutish family and a new wife. Jared Harris, Joe Cole, Lisa Diveney, Robert Emms, David Angland and Nicolas Tennant star.
Booking until: Jan 27, 2024
Rock ‘n’ Roll, Hampstead Theatre
In a nutshell: “Tom Stoppard granted the rights to his 2006 modern classic, which traces the counter-cultural resistance to Soviet rule in Czechoslovakia from the 1960s to the fall of the Berlin Wall, as a gesture of support to the theatre.” Read the full article
Booking: Dec 6-Jan 27, 2024
Cold War, Almeida Theatre
In a nutshell: Conor McPherson adapts Paweł Pawlikowski’s Academy Award-nominated historical film, and Elvis Costello supplies new songs. Rupert Goold directs Anya Chalotra, Elliot Levey and Luke Thallon.
Booking: Dec 12-Jan 27, 2024
Ghosts, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse ★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s a good fit for a theatre built for secrets and shadows, and which has just the right claustrophobic intimacy for a play in which the dead persistently press down on the living.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 28, 2024
Ulster American, Riverside Studios
In a nutshell: Woody Harrelson, Andy Serkis and Louisa Harland stars in Jeremy Herrin’s production of David Ireland’s black comedy, about an American actor, an English director and a Northern Irish writer at war over a new play.
Booking until: Jan 28, 2024
ABBA Voyage, ABBA Arena ★★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s a mind-blowing hi-tech celebration of some of the greatest pop music ever made, delivered as if you are up close and personal with legendary superstars...albeit in a virtual spaceship in another dimension.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jan 29, 2024
Macbeth, Donmar Warehouse
In a nutshell: David Tennant tackles the title role of Shakespeare’s psychological tragedy for the first time, directed in this new Donmar production by Max Webster. Cush Jumbo is his Lady M.
Booking: Dec 8-Feb 10, 2024
Hamnet, Garrick Theatre ★★★
In a nutshell: “How does Maggie O’Farrell’s finely researched domestic drama land on stage? Pretty forcefully, I’d say... Madeleine Mantock exudes an air of otherworldliness as the seer-like Agnes.” Read the full review
Booking until: Feb 17, 2024
Pacific Overtures, Menier Chocolate Factory
In a nutshell: Stephen Sondheim’s ambitious musical is set in 19th-century Japan, as American ships open up the nation to the rest of the world. It’s seldom performed, but features some of the composer’s most gorgeously evocative songs.
Booking until: Feb 24, 2024
The Little Big Things, @sohoplace ★★★
In a nutshell: “There’s much to admire in this musical, based on rugby star Henry Fraser’s memoir, from its inclusive spirit to its harnessing of big emotions.” Read the full review
Booking until: Mar 2, 2024
The Enfield Haunting, Ambassadors Theatre
In a nutshell: Catherine Tate and David Thelfall will star in Paul Unwin’s spooky new West End play based on a real-life poltergeist event from the 1970s.
Booking until: Mar 2, 2024
The King and I, London Palladium ★★★★
In a nutshell: “The whole affair is a satisfying blend of bombast and subtlety. Many of the songs remain transcendently lovely, chief among them that invitation to madly polka, Shall We Dance?.” Read the full review
Booking: Jan 20-Mar 2, 2024
My Neighbour Totoro, Barbican ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Totoro is magnificently humongous with a mighty, reverberating growl, wicked smile, lumbering walk and bouncy castle of a fluffy tum. The wow-factor of his spectacular appearances is worth the price of admission alone.” Read the full review
Booking until: Mar 23, 2024
The Motive and the Cue, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s a pleasure to report that the evening is a palpable hit. This is a witty, deft, touching evocation of a fascinating, fraught encounter that captures the mood of those times.” Read the full review
Booking: Dec 9-Mar 23, 2024
The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “This wild, thrilling, go-for-broke, genuinely hilarious musical comedy remains one of the funniest shows in the West End... I’m a believer!” Read the full review
Booking until: Mar 23, 2024
Macbeth, Dock X
In a nutshell: Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma team up for this experimental production in custom-built spaces, from Liverpool to London’s Surrey Quays Road. Simon Godwin directs and Emily Burns adapts.
Booking: Feb 10-Mar 23, 2024
Just For One Day, Old Vic
In a nutshell: This intriguing new show revisits Live Aid and will feature songs from the concert’s all-star performers, such as David Bowie, U2 and Bob Dylan. John O’Farrell supplies the book and Luke Sheppard directs.
Booking: Jan 26-Mar 30, 2024
King Lear, Almeida Theatre
In a nutshell: Danny Sapani stars as Lear in Shakespeare’s great tragedy. Following her hit production of Macbeth with James McArdle and Saoirse Ronan, Yaël Farber returns to the Almeida to direct.
Booking: Feb 8-Mar 30, 2024
An Enemy of the People, Duke of York’s Theatre
In a nutshell: Matt Smith makes his West End debut in Thomas Ostermeier’s punchy – and sharply contemporary – reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s fable An Enemy of the People.
Booking: Feb 6-Apr 6, 2024
Minority Report, Lyric Hammersmith
In a nutshell: Philip K Dick’s sci-fi novella (turned into a blockbuster movie by Steven Spielberg) is adapted for stage by David Haig, directed by Max Webster. The central character becomes a leading female neuroscientist.
Booking: Apr 19-May 18, 2024
Mrs Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Never doubt I love Mrs Doubtfire, the feelgood but not fluffy-minded musical that has pitched up at the newly made-over Shaftesbury Theatre... A sure-fire hit, my dears.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jun 2, 2024
The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Watching the show alongside my rapt children, I was struck by how much it succeeds in speaking to the heart rather than the head... A deeply felt celebration of life.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jun 2, 2024
Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s pure West End spectacle, exactly what you want for a production likely to be many kids’ first experience of theatre, and told with a blazing passion that is surprisingly affecting.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jun 2, 2024
Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “What this inspired musical about the 1943 wartime deception has in winning spades is a Pythonesque delight in irreverence that doesn’t short-change the intellect.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jun 15, 2024
The Hills of California, Harold Pinter Theatre
In a nutshell: The new play from Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, The Ferryman) is set in the sweltering summer of 1976: the Webb Sisters return to their dying mother’s dilapidated guest house in Blackpool. Sam Mendes directs.
Booking: Jan 27-Jun 15, 2024
MJ The Musical, Prince Edward Theatre
In a nutshell: This hit Broadway musical telling the story of Michael Jackson features a book by Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage and is directed/choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Tony-winning star Myles Frost reprises his lead role.
Booking: Mar 6-Jun 22, 2024
Player Kings, Noel Coward Theatre
In a nutshell: Ian McKellen stars as Falstaff in Robert Icke’s keenly anticipated new version of two great Shakespeare history plays – Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2.
Booking: Apr 1-Jun 22, 2024
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
In a nutshell: Netflix’s nostalgic sci-fi mega-hit comes to the stage, in a new story set in the world of 1950s Hawkins, Indiana, co-written by Jack Thorne and directed by Stephen Daldry.
Booking: Nov 17-Jun 30, 2024
Spirited Away, London Coliseum
In a nutshell: The acclaimed stage adaptation of Studio Ghibli’s animation masterpiece, directed by John Caird (Les Miserables), transfers from Japan to the Coliseum. Could this match the success of My Neighbour Totoro?
Booking: Apr 30-Jul 20, 2024
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Thanks to video and illusionist wizardry, the steam-spouting DeLorean skids into view from nowhere and takes off over the stalls, achieving a kind of 3D Hollywood magic... A feelgood triumph.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jul 21, 2024
Standing at the Sky’s Edge, Gillian Lynne Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Those who love Richard Hawley’s music, steeped in post-industrial melancholy and yearning – the opium of the dreamy loner – will be in their element here... An enthralling evening.” Read the full review
Booking: Feb 8-Aug 3, 2024
Sister Act, Dominion Theatre ★★★
In a nutshell: “Beverley Knight is a class act... The musical’s shrewd creative stroke is to shift the action to the 1970s, so that it is pounding with soul and disco music.” Read the full review
Booking: Mar 15-Aug 31, 2024
Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Nicholas Hytner’s box of tricks, the Bridge, unleashes the show all around you if you’re one of the 380 punters standing in the thick of it... It’s an extravaganza that explodes every which way.” Read the full review
Booking until: Aug 31, 2024
The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre
In a nutshell: The longest-running play in the world, Agatha Christie’s fiendish murder mystery has been bamboozling audiences since 1952. Can you match wits with the Queen of Crime and figure out whodunit?
Booking until: Sept 14, 2024
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “An Anglo-American triumph. It combines the aesthetic finesse of British director Phyllida Lloyd with the political instincts of Memphis-born, Olivier-nominated playwright Katori Hall.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 14, 2024
Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “An absolute knockout... With its combination of all-encompassing decadent beauty and thunderous moral force, there’s simply nothing else in town quite like it.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 28, 2024
Les Miserables, Sondheim Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “In its density and epic ambition, its mixture of high-powered ideas and gut-wrenching emotions, it’s a show that feels lastingly revolutionary.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 28, 2024
Hamilton, Victoria Palace Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Lin-Manuel Miranda does things with rap so nifty that even people who hate rap will relent, and he keeps shifting tempo and mood, a magpie maestro: here a nod to Gilbert and Sullivan, there a hint of Kander and Ebb.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 28, 2024
Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Phyllida Lloyd’s slick production is still a tremendous crowd-pleaser... Buoyed by Abba’s enduring brilliance, it’s a welcome shot of pure sunshine.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 28, 2024
The Phantom of the Opera, Her Majesty’s Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s the slew of coups de théâtre, the no-nonsense pacing and the gorgeous spectacles that make this tale of a disfigured man of musical genius lurking beneath the Paris Opera House so effective.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 28, 2024
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “British theatre hasn’t known anything like it for decades and I haven’t seen anything directly comparable in all my reviewing days... It raises the benchmark for family entertainment.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 29, 2024
Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Not just a whodunit, but a wheredunit... Agatha Christie’s bravura twisty plotting is still second to none. Combined with the inspired use of an historic location, it’s criminally entertaining.” Read the full review
Booking until: Sept 29, 2024
Mean Girls, Savoy Theatre
In a nutshell: The Broadway musical version of Tina Fey’s peerless high-school film comedy (which featured Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Amy Poehler) hits the West End.
Booking: Jun 5-Oct 27, 2024
The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Seldom has disaster delivered so many belly laughs... This spoof am-dram staging of an Agatha Christie whodunit is the perfect recipe for absurd slapstick.” Read the full review
Booking until: Nov 3, 2024
Six, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “This infectiously fun production is packed with witty touches... A heart-warming, air-punching finale has everyone up on their feet. I expect these queens to rule the West End for years to come.” Read the full review
Booking until: Nov 3, 2024
Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Matthew Warchus’s thrilling, warm-hearted production, exuberantly designed by Rob Howell and with pin-sharp choreography by Peter Darling, constantly combines comedy with a sense of wonder.” Read the full review
Booking until: Dec 15, 2024
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Joe Mantello’s production has satisfyingly old-school bombast: instead of screens, its impact comes from the detailed, fabulously over-the-top steampunk design. The orchestra is the biggest in the West End – and it shows.” Read the full review
Booking until: Dec 15, 2024
Dr Strangelove, Noel Coward Theatre
In a nutshell: Steve Coogan leads this new theatrical adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s jet-black comic masterpiece about a rogue general triggering a nuclear crisis, brought to the stage by Armando Iannucci and Sean Foley.
Booking: Oct 8-Dec 21, 2024
The Devil Wears Prada, Dominion Theatre
In a nutshell: The fabulously fashionable fable, a thinly veiled takedown of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, has become a stage musical with songs by Elton John. It’s runway ready – now it’s time for the West End.
Booking: Oct 24, 2024-May 31, 2025
Frequently asked questions
How do I find what’s on in the West End?
London has a fantastic mix of long-running shows, like Wicked, Matilda and The Play That Goes Wrong, and new productions. We will be constantly updating this page with top picks for the best London musicals and plays from our critics, so keep checking back to see all of the latest reviews and recommendations of upcoming theatre shows.
You can also find a range of reviews, interviews and preview features at Telegraph Theatre.
How much is the average West End ticket?
West End ticket prices vary depending on the seating and the venue. You can usually find some cheap ticket for London shows from around £20, up to £60 for seats closer to the stage, and then some premium pricing of £100 or more for the very best seats in the house. However, there are also great West End discounts to be found – check out Telegraph Tickets for all the current London ticket deals.
What are the newest West End shows?
Some of the latest additions to London’s West End include the acclaimed stage adaptation of A Little Life, starring James Norton; British wartime musical Operation Mincemeat; and the glorious toe-tapping musical Crazy For You. Book tickets for all the best new shows now.
Can I change the date/time of my theatre show ticket?
Many theatres have a policy whereby once you’ve booked a ticket, you cannot cancel it or change it to another date. However, it does vary: some venues are able to be more flexible about this, especially if it’s a sold-out show. Check the terms and conditions on the website where you booked, or call the box office.
What is the best way to travel to the theatre?
If you’re seeing a show in the West End, the easiest way to get to the theatre is usually by public transport. Traffic tends to get very busy in the centre of London, especially around rush hour. There are numerous Tube stations close to West End theatres, such as Charing Cross, Leicester Square, Piccadilly and Tottenham Court Road, servicing Tube lines like the Central, Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee. Visit the TfL website to plan your route. You can also try buses (although they’re slower moving at rush hour), or if the weather is pleasant, walking or cycling.
Can I bring my child to a theatre performance not specifically for children?
Many shows have specific age recommendations and won’t admit younger children – you can find that information in our family theatre guide or on booking websites for productions, like Telegraph Tickets. Those recommendations are made based on the content and any potentially scary, disturbing or mature elements. However, each child is different, so it’s also up to parents to decide whether their child can cope with a particular show. Think about the story, the production elements (like loud noises), and the length – even adults may struggle with longer shows!
Do theatre performances have age ratings?
Yes, they do. Just like films, theatre shows have recommended age ratings – normally suggesting a minimal age for audience members, like 6+, and asking that any children by accompanied by adults. We’ve got age recommendations for all family-friendly shows in our family theatre guide and on the Telegraph Tickets booking site, and you can also find that information on individual theatre websites or by calling the box office.
How do I book theatre tickets for a large group of people?
Lots of theatre websites will offer help and advice for group bookings – some even have dedicated box office phone lines. In fact, it can be a great way to get a good deal on tickets or to book cheap tickets for big shows. Plus it’s fun to do a group outing with lots of friends or family members. Check out all the latest shows that would suit group bookings on Telegraph Tickets.
What items can’t I bring to the theatre?
Nearly all theatres, particularly in the West End, operate bag checks on entry. Security officials will be checking for any dangerous items – so potential weapons or other sharp objects, fireworks or pyrotechnics, or hazardous substances. Most also prohibit you from bringing in drugs or alcohol, and some prefer you not to bring in outside food or drink (other than sealed bottles of water), since they provide both in the theatre. Some venues also ask you not to bring large bags. You can find the latest information on theatre websites.
Can I still watch the performance if I am late?
Generally yes – ushers will tend to wait until an appropriate time in the production, like a scene change, to show you to your seats. If you’re really late, some theatres might ask you to watch the remainder of that first half on a screen just outside the auditorium, and then you can enter after the interval. If you are on time but your companion is running late, you should be able to leave their ticket with the box office.
What is the difference between stalls, grand circle and dress circle seats?
Stalls tickets mean you are seated on the ground level of the theatre, with seats beginning right next to the stage and extending to the back. These tend to be the more expensive tickets, since you’re closest to the action. The dress circle is one level up. Seats here are usually a bit cheaper, but you can still get a great view from the dress circle: it tends to extend over the back half of the stalls, and it’s particularly good for something like a musical with big song-and-dance numbers since you have an aerial view of the whole stage.
The grand circle is another level up, so this is usually where you find the cheap tickets. However, grand circle seats can be a great deal – you might not have the best sightlines, but you still feel like part of the show, and for less. So, if you want the best guaranteed seats, central stalls or near the front of the dress circle is best. But if you’re looking for cheap tickets, grand circle is a good pick.