Are you the kind of person who wishes that life would erupt into spontaneous song and dance numbers more often? You’ll see everything from can-can dancers and cabaret performers to lions and witches if you pick up a ticket to one of these classic musicals in London and West End Shows! Get those jazz hands at the ready and bring your date or mate along why don’t you…
1. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
In a time when the world is changing forever, there is one place where everyone can be free. Welcome to the Kit Kat Club, home to an intimate and electrifying production of Cabaret. One of the most successful musicals of all time, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and is based on the play by John Van Druten. This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself. And enjoy! Get involved here.
📍Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club will be at the Playhouse Theatre indefinitely.
2. Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
Our first addition to this roundup of the all-singing, all-dancing musicals in London you really can’t miss is a real humdinger. From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock‘n’Roll, Tina Turner didn’t just break the rules, she rewrote them. This fantastic stage musical, presented in association with Tina Turner herself, reveals the untold story of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race.
Featuring her much-loved songs, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd. You’ll get to celebrate the late and great legend herself as you get to sing along to all the hits. After all – she’s ‘Simply the Best’! Grab your tickets here.
📍TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is playing at the Aldwych Theatre until February 2024.
3. The Phantom of the Opera
A real classic amongst classics, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical has been nothing less than a smash-hit since its debut – no wonder then that it’s considered one of the most popular musicals in London ever. Tragic, tortured, yet breathtaking, the story of Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom has enchanted audiences since 1986, and shows no sign of stopping yet… Cop your tickets here.
📍The Phantom of the Opera is playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre indefinitely
4. Matilda the Musical
The musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved book took the West End by storm when it opened all the way back in 2011, and is still hugely popular today. A young girl with extraordinary abilities, along with a rollicking score by Australian impresario Tim Minchin and a fantastic cast and crew make this a must-see. Find your hidden power, along with your tickets here.
📍Matilda the Musical is playing at the Cambridge Theatre until the foreseeable future.
5. Six the Musical
Critically-acclaimed and with a soundtrack storming up the UK pop charts, the sell-out intoxicating Tudor take-off Six the Musical is back! From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales in this fantastic musical, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a 75-minute celebration of 21st-century girl power. Hear from all six queens and get prepared to *ahem* lose your head! Not really thank goodness… get a hold of your tickets for this West End musical here.
📍Six the Musical is playing at the Vaudeville Theatre for the foreseeable future.
6. Moulin Rouge! The Musical
“Come and get me boys”! Enter a world of splendour and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory… phew! A world where bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Pop the champagne and prepare for a theatrical celebration of truth, freedom, beauty and love… Moulin Rouge! really is all it’s cracked up to be, and you’ll no doubt be singing along to all the famous songs like ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend’, ‘Elephant Love Medley’ and more. Fancy a trip to Montmartre in Paris? Grab your tickets here.
📍Moulin Rouge! The Musical is playing at the Piccadilly Theatre until January 2024.
7. Hamilton
Musicals in London have come a long way from Sondheim, and for proof of that, look no further than December 2017, when a little musical called Hamilton arrived at the Victoria Palace Theatre and turned the West End upside down.
Now into its sixth year in London, Hamilton has become one of the hottest theatre tickets in town, and it follows the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War. Add in hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap and R&B and you’ve really got yourself a night to remember with this one! Buy your tickets here.
📍Hamilton is playing at the Victoria Palace Theatre indefinitely.
8. Les Misérables
Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre is an absolute must-see for musical enthusiasts. As one of the longest-running musicals in West End history, this powerful adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel continues to captivate audiences.
Between the heart-wrenching performances, the unforgettable songs like ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, and stunning set design, get ready for an emotional rollercoaster that’s famed for leaving no dry eye in the theatre. It’s a timeless story of love, rebellion, and redemption, brought to life by a continuously rotating (yet always stellar) cast. For more information and tickets, click here.
📍Les Misérables is playing at the Sondheim Theatre indefinitely.
9. The Lion King
“Oh I just can’t wait to be king…” You know the rest. There’s a reason that this musical has been on the stage in London for twenty-something years. The tale of Simba, Nala and pals is a timeless tale that perfectly evokes the beats and rhythms of Africa – and let’s be honest, you know most of the songs already, don’t you? Get your tickets here and you’ll soon be feeling the ‘Hakuna Matata’! Get involved here.
📍The Lion King is playing at the Lyceum Theatre until the foreseeable future.
10. Jersey Boys
One of the best musicals in London currently running, this one will give you the chance to go behind the music and discover the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony and Olivier Award-winning, true-life phenomenon, Jersey Boys. Legends on stage, they soon found themselves in both personal and professional binds and became victims of several mafia threats, gambling debts and family disasters… Cop your tickets here.
📍Jersey Boys: The Musical is playing at the Trafalgar Theatre indefinitely.
11. Guys and Dolls: The Immersive Show
Now running for over 70 years, Guys and Dolls is one of the world’s favourite musicals, and it’s certainly made its mark at London Bridge’s The Bridge Theatre since it raised its curtain earlier this year. The seating is wrapped around the action while the immersive tickets transport you to the streets of the Big Apple and the bars of Havana in the unlikeliest of love stories.
Expect to hear all the classic numbers from the hit Broadway show including ‘Luck Be A Lady’, ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking The Boat’, ‘Adelaide’s Lament’, ‘Guys & Dolls’ and many more, as you move freely around the stage and interact with the characters. Sounds pretty good to us! Grab your tickets here.
📍Guys and Dolls is playing at the Bridge Theatre until February 2024.
12. The Choir of Man
The Olivier-nominated, worldwide smash hit is returning to the West End! Welcome to The Choir of Man – the best night in your local boozer you’ve ever had. It’s a party, it’s a concert, it’s a lock-in like no other. Featuring breathtaking reinventions of chart-topping hits from artists including Guns’N’Roses, Fun!, Adele, Avicii, Paul Simon, Sia and many more, this musical has something for everyone. Expect beautiful harmonies, foot-stomping singalongs, and world-class tap dancing – plus there’s even a bar on stage. Winner, winner! Get your tickets here.
📍The Choir of Man is playing at the Arts Theatre London until February 2024.
13. Mamma Mia!
Since premiering in London’s West End over 23 years ago, this feel-good show has thrilled over 65 million people around the world – so they must be doing something right! Set on a Greek island paradise, Mamma Mia is a story of love, friendship and identity, cleverly told through the timeless songs of ABBA. Expect to be up in your seats grooving along to ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Waterloo’, ‘Voulez-Vous’ and more. Get a hold of your tickets here.
📍Mamma Mia! is playing at the Novello Theatre until April 2024.
14. Wicked
Now in its 17th year of gracing the stage of London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, the untold story of the Witches of Oz has delighted audiences for over a decade with powerful vocal performances, stunning set design and compelling characters. It doesn’t take a tornado to get swept up in the fateful journey of unlikely friends Glinda and Elphaba – but this is Oz so you can expect to encounter one or two. Some might even say that you’ll be ‘Defying Gravity’… However, you certainly won’t be able to if you don’t book your tickets!
📍Wicked is playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre indefinitely.
15. Mean Girls
Get the Burn Book out, because we’re trying to make fetch happen with our next entry on this list of must-see musicals in London. Based on the cult film from 2004, this musical at the Savoy Theatre brings the Plastics and their high school drama centre stage, with hilarious lyrics, snappy dialogue, and choreography that’s almost as sharp as Regina’s one-liners. You can expect pink outfits – on Wednesday or not – and a whole lot of hilarity, so, be sure to get your tickets now.
📍Mean Girls is playing at the Savoy Theatre until April 2024.
16. Back To The Future: The Musical
For something a little more high-octane, jump Back to the Future with this musical adaptation of the beloved 1985 film, delivering on all the nostalgia and complete with electrifying effects, thrilling chase scenes, and of course, the iconic DeLorean. The musical adds fresh songs to the classic hits we all know, and thanks to cutting-edge technology, it actually feels like you’re time-travelling with Marty and Doc themselves. So, buckle up and get your tickets for the wildest ride on the West End.
📍Back to the Future: The Musical is at the Adelphi Theatre indefinitely.
17. Mrs Doubtfire
After a critically-acclaimed run in Manchester, the hilariously funny new musical Mrs Doubtfire has made its way to the West End this year and has been charming punters ever since it opened. The story goes something like this… Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter-ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. But he’ll end up learning far more about parenting through her than he would…
📍Mrs Doubtfire is playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre indefinitely.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best musicals in London you really can’t miss. From dancing lions to the actual Nicole Scherzinger taking to the West End stage, there’s something for everyone here, so take your pick!