One of the most special things to do on a trip to London is to enjoy a musical. London’s West End has top-notch musicals to suit all tastes and this can sometimes make it hard to decide on one. In this article I bring you the list of the 10 shows that you should definitely see at least once in your life.
The definitive list with the best musicals in London
From the best family shows like the Lion King or Mafalda, to dramas like Les Miserables, through hilarious comedies like The Book of Mormon. What musical are you going to see on your next trip to London?
The Lion King in London
Currently, The Lion King has already positioned itself as one of the best productions in the history of musicals, and not without reason. This show is perfect for the whole family and makes both adults and children enjoy 3 hours of unforgettable fantasy. With an admirable set design and an unbeatable dance troupe, this musical takes this beautiful Disney classic that tells us about fear, effort, respect and the meaning of life to a totally unexpected level. If you are looking for a different plan to make your trip to London a unique experience, this musical will not disappoint you.
Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre)
The Queen’s Theater is one of the most iconic theaters in London’s West End. Located on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s Soho, it owes its name to Queen Alexandra. Although it was inaugurated in 1907, it remained closed for 20 years after a German bomb partially destroyed it in World War II. Finally, the theater reopened its doors in 1959 exhibiting the monologue “Edades del hombre”. Since 2004 it has been the permanent home of Les Miserables in London, a play that until then had been held at the neighboring Palace Theatre.
Mary Poppins Musical
One of the most famous magical adventures of all time arrives in London theaters. The musical about the exploits of this beloved British nanny is the perfect show for the whole family. The version of Mary Poppins that we find in London’s West End is one of the most riveting we’ve ever seen, a wonderful staging and a top-notch cast take this already captivating story to the next level. In a word: This show is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Are you going to miss it?
Wicked – Apollo Victoria Theater
Are wicked witches born or made? Wicked tells the story of two teenage witches: Glinda and Elphaba, the good witch and the bad witch from the Wizard of Oz. The story begins when both witches begin their studies at the university. After experiencing dozens of adventures, life will separate them and guide them towards their respective future roles in society. Wicked’s soundtrack is probably one of the best on the international music scene and the story leaves no one indifferent. Discover Elphaba’s descent and the events of her youth that will result in the fearsome Wicked Witch of Oz. An exciting show!
Mamma Mia
This musical performed at the Novello theater in London tells the story of Sophie, a young woman who decides to take advantage of her wedding celebration to meet her father. The problem? There are three candidates for the position. Thus, the plot is complicated in a fast-paced and romantic journey between the past and the present of Sophie’s mothers, all accompanied by the legendary music of ABBA.
Thriller – Lyric Theater
Thriller Live is a musical tribute to the King of Pop: the life and glory of the great Michael Jackson. Discover the most important events in his life, which led him to make music history from his era with the Jackson 5 to his latest solo hits. This exclusive musical from London mixes pop, rock, soul and disco in a unique journey through the best creations of Michael Jackson. 10 years crowning the billboard of the West End endorse it!
The Book of Mormon in London
The success of The Book of Mormon is indisputable: not all musicals can boast of having won no more and no less than 9 Tony Awards. In our opinion, it is a somewhat difficult show to define and explain. As much as they tell you, it’s well worth seeing for yourself, so if you’re in London and want to see a fun musical, The Book of Mormon is for you!
Matilda The Musical – Cambridge Theater
Matilda’s story marked a before and after in the lives of those of us who were children in the 90s and her musical version promises to have the same effect on future generations. This award-winning musical is based on the famous book by Roald’s Dahls, in which a girl with telekinetic powers goes on extraordinary adventures trying to escape her ignorant and tyrannical parents and find happiness. An unforgettable musical for the whole family!
Waitress – Adelphi Theater
Waitress, one of Broadway’s most overwhelming and unexpected hits, is now hitting the billboards in London’s West End. A captivating lead role and a 6 grammies worthy soundtrack are the main draws of this show. A colorful and dynamic staging put the icing on the cake.
Jenna, a small-town pastry chef, lives a miserable life in an abusive relationship. An unwanted pregnancy will lead her to meet a handsome doctor and she will enter a cake contest whose prize could change her life. Will Jenna finally have a chance at happiness? Find out in one of London’s biggest musical productions this season.
Pretty Woman, The Musical
The story of Pretty Woman marked a before and after in the history of cinema and is now here to revolutionize London’s West End. First performed on Broadway in 2018, the show quickly gained critical favor, generating over $1 million during the opening round alone. Now its London version promises not to be left behind with the masterful direction of award-winning Bryan Adams and Jerry Mitchel.
Where to buy tickets for the best musicals in London?
We always book our tickets online through a page called Headout. After a lot of searching, this is the best page we have found to book tickets online in Spanish and with the possibility of choosing the seat, seeing the map of the theater. Headout has always worked great for us and we find it to be the easiest way to book tickets to the best London musicals from home. These are some of the advantages that we see when buying on this page:
- No service charges
- Easy and secure purchase
- Allows you to choose the seat
- Tickets for practically all London shows in one place: Theater, musicals, opera, dance, ballet…