Yes, most West End Theatres are accessible to everyone, despite some constraints with some of the older West End Theatres.
The Equality Act dictates that providers of goods, facilities and services have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to provide access for disabled people; and most theatres offer some kind of step-free access to at least one part of the auditorium, and provide ramps or lifts to help navigate stairs. They also provide special sound systems for people with hearing loss, special performances, and facilities including accessible toilets.
See our full guide to West End Theatre Access and Accessibility for more information.
Most theatres in the West End run from Monday to Saturday, playing every night plus a mid-week matinee and Saturday matinee.
Increasingly some shows run matinees and/or evening shows on a Sunday and don’t open on Monday evenings.
See our guide to Sunday shows here. Also see our guide to Matinee Days, and what shows have evening performances, and on what days.
Generally, most West End shows are suitable for people aged 12 years and older.
However, some London shows have age restrictions and age limits in place for their production. This may be because of the subject matter of the show, or adult language and references.
Conversely some shows are specifically produced for families and small children, and these do not usually have age restrictions.
For guidance on which London shows have age restrictions and age recommendations, see our guide.
All London theatres sell theatre programmes within the venue. They are unfortunately not free like Broadway’s Playbill programmes, but have greatly improved over the years (mainly thanks to the efforts of Lyn Haill at the National Theatre) and usually feature interesting articles about the show and wider articles about London theatre in general alongside all of the usual cast bios and info.
Many theatres – particularly the big musicals – also offer a range of merchandise including DVDs, CDs, posters, books and celebration items such as t-shirts, mugs and fridge magnets.
You can also buy show merchandise from online stores such as Amazon (visit our Shop for more info).
After the performance of a West End show, fans often wait by the Stage Door of the theatre, in the hope of seeing their favourite actors.
Please keep in mind that meeting performers at the Stage Door isn’t guaranteed and isn’t part of your ticket purchase.
Whether or not an actor chooses to stop and greet fans after the performance, or agree to signing programmes or taking selfies, is entirely up to them, and there are many reasons why they may not want to – on that night, or any night.
If you’re lucky enough to meet the star after the show, please treat them with the same courtesy and respect you would offer to friends or colleagues.
A heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way in showing your appreciation for their work. Also, be mindful of other fans who are waiting to see the star. Being polite and patient ensures a positive experience for everyone at the stage door.
Photography and filming is rarely – usually never – allowed during the performance of a London or West End show. Taking photos or videoing during the performance is distracting to both the performers on stage, and other audience members.
Sometimes the production does allow photos and videos to be taken during the curtain call at the end of the show, when the performers are taking their bows, although check when you arrive at the venue.
Watching a West End show in the cinema or at home.
Yes! There is an increasing amount of stagey content on both regular TV and the streaming platforms, including recordings of West End musicals and plays, and Broadway shows. There’s also all of the stage shows that have been turned into hit movies, and vice versa.
Check out out Movies & TV section for a run down of what’s available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus.
The National Theatre and companies such as Digital Theatre have been pioneering filming and screening of theatrical stage production over the last few years.
Also, following the COVID-19 pandemic the theatre industry has responded by releasing more content to view on-line.
The National Theatre streams shows from their back catalogue of NT Live productions as part of their National Theatre At Home series.
The Royal Court Theatre sometimes streams plays across their various social media platforms, including their Royal Court Theatre YouTube channel.
Sadler’s Wells Theatre company has launched Facebook Premieres – a series of full-length dance performances and workshop performances, which is a free digital offering.
Please remember that it is strictly prohibited to make your own recording of a show and the use of recording equipment or mobile phones during a performance is not allowed.
Movies & TV – what shows are on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney
Yes, most West End Theatres have Air-conditioning, or at least air-cooling or comfort cooling systems.
It has proved tough to retro fit air conditioning into some West End Theatres, as they are old heritage buildings that are often listed. That said, a number of theatres – especially those owned by Cameron Mackintosh’s Delfont Mackintosh Theatres and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s LW Theatres, have undergone recent renovations and have fitted air con as standard.
Check out our full list of London Theatres with Air Conditioning.
Or a list of all West End theatres with cooling systems – from air conditioning, to air cooling or comfort cooling systems.
Tipping is not required for box office staff or theatre ushers.
You may want to tip the bar staff, and if the theatre has a restaurant, such as the National Theatre, Royal Opera House and Royal Court, it is customary to tip waiting staff.
There are limited options when it comes to trying to secure tickets to sold out shows.
Some theatres provide a number of tickets for purchase on the day of the show only and usually in person from the box office (notably the National Theatre do this, from 10am on the day of performance).
You can also try queuing for returns at the box office – usually by arriving either at a specified time or a few hours before the show, in case any tickets have been returned to the box office.
It’s worth saying that it is NEVER ever worth buying tickets from a ticket tout. You will often pay many times the face value of the ticket and often for inferior seats.
It is also worth saying that most shows are not sold out and you can usually secure tickets for the West End show of your choice. The actual box office of the theatre, and well-respected ticket agencies – some of whom we have hand-picked to provide ticketing for WestEndTheatre.com – have good allocations of seats at all prices.
Most West End shows in London are approximately two to two-and-a-half hours in length, including a 15 or 20 minute internal.
But shows do vary in length, with some shorter shows running for one to one-and-a-half hours without an interval, and some longer shows running for up to three hours in length, usually with one interval.
See our guide to West End shows and running times to find out how long your show will run for on the night.
You are pretty safe to bet that the long-running musicals will be here when you come to London. Shows such as Les Miserables (the world’s longest-running show!) continue to play in the West End, alongside shows such as The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera. Plays tend to have shorter runs in London although thrillers The Mousetrap (the world’s longest-running play) and The Woman in Black are mainstays of the West End.
If there are shows you are desperate to see it is always better to book in advance.
Some theatre companies run seasons of plays, allowing you to plan ahead for a whole season such as National Theatre, Bridge Theatre, Royal Court or The Old Vic. Other companies and venues may try to keep a large-scale musical running for many years. On average, most plays in the West End have a three to six month lifespan.
If you are coming to London on holiday or for business then seeing a West End show is one of the primary things to do in London. It is always best to plan what are you going to see before your trip – use our Shows Guide or check out the latest West End news on what’s coming to town.
If you haven’t booked your tickets before your trip then you have a few options. Most major ticketing websites such as ours offer ticket sales right up to the day of performance, allowing you to book online and then either use e-tickets that you will have been emailed, or pick up your tickets from the box office.
Also check out our general guide to Visiting London.
The short answer is yes!
If you have your heart set on seeing a particular show then we always advise you to book as early as possible. Usually booking a month or so in advance will get you in to most in-demand shows such as The Lion King or Mamma Mia!, although book earlier if you can for weekend performances.
Shows in high-demand such as The Book of Mormon and Harry Potter require you to book well in advance.
Some shows have tickets still available a couple of weeks leading up to the performance and even on the day, particularly for midweek performances and matinees.
Explaining seating areas of the theatre: Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle, Balcony, Boxes
Theatre seating – Stalls
The Stalls is the first (stage) level of a theatre, also called the Orchestra Stalls in America. It is often at street level, although not always.
Theatre seating – Dress Circle, Royal Circle or Grand Circle
The next tier is called the Dress Circle or Royal Circle or Grand Circle (or just Circle if it is the only additional level in the venue), and which is often also called the Mezzanine in America.
Theatre seating – Upper Circle and Balcony
Some theatres also have additional tiers above the Dress Circle, sometimes called the Upper Circle and the Balcony. Balcony seats are sometimes bench seats.
To see seating plans of each London Theatre, identify the show you want to see and select Find Tickets to see a full plan.
For a guide to Access to West End Theatre’s please see the Society of London Theatre access guide.
Here’s a quick run-down of what the different types of performance mean.
Preview performances at a show are those that the producer of the show has decided to run before theatre critics are allowed to review the show. These preview performances act as an opportunity for the production team and cast of the show to perform in front of an audience, but before the show is ready to be critiqued.
The opening night, or press night, then provides the critics with an opportunity to see the show. There is an unwritten gentleman’s agreement between the press and producers that critics will not write about a show until the official opening night. Preview performances are often reduced in price. Whilst most shows only change slightly between previews and opening night, some shows have been known to make considerable changes right up until the opening of the show.
Matinee performances are traditionally played just after lunchtime mid-week and on a Saturday afternoon. In recent years some shows have run matinees on a Sunday afternoon and late Friday afternoon. However, most shows continue to run matinees on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday afternoon and a Saturday afternoon. See our guide to matinee performances.
Evening performances for London shows tend to start between 7pm to 8pm. Check our guide to what shows are playing in the evenings, and on which nights of the week.
Believe it or not but there are also other things to do in London besides go to the theatre!
Our favourites include:
Theatre backstage tours are a great way of getting to see behind-the-scenes of some of London’s great theatres. (See our 5 of the best backstage tours list)
There are also a number of theatre-related museums and exhibits in London including the theatre collection at the V&A Museum. (See our 5 of the best theatre exhibitions list)
Also see our guide to Visiting London for more information on London sightseeing, attractions and things to do.
The seats in a theatre auditorium are priced at different levels depending on a number of factors, including how close or far away the seat is from the stage; which area of the theatre the seat is located in – such as the stalls, dress circle, or upper circle; and whether there are any restrictions on viewing the stage.
Sometimes customers are able to benefit from a ticket upgrade, often when making use of a Ticket Offer or promotion. A ticket upgrade means that for the price you have paid, or plan to pay, for your seat in the auditorium, you are given a better and more expensive seat, for the same price as your original seat.
The West End is a broad, unofficial area of central London that mainly falls within the borders of Westminster City Council, and encompasses Soho, Mayfair and parts of Fitzrovia and Marylebone. It is best known for its entertainment (including theatres!) around Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden, and its shopping districts around Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street.
West End Theatres are theatre venues that are predominantly located within the West End area, and are members of the trade association the Society of London Theatre (formerly the Society of West End Theatre). Check out a full list of West End Theatre venues. Also read about who owns West End Theatres.
We get asked a lot about what shows are worth seeing in the West End – and it’s a tough question to answer.
A lot depends on personal taste. The obvious starting point is, do you want to see a musical or a play? From there it’s about things like: Who will be in my theatre party? (kids mean it needs to be a family-friendly show); What’s the occasion? (is it an important anniversary or just a regular trip into town?); Is the show actually on when I want to see it? (some shows, especially plays, have short runs in the West End. Also venues such as the National Theatre run shows in repertory so the schedule changes); And things like what did they critics say about the show and did the show win any awards all help to narrow it down.
There is also nothing better than word-of-mouth or personal recommendations to help decide what to see.
Other elements to consider are things like: is there anyone famous or a big-name star in the show? (this is a draw for some and a negative for others!). Use our Star Watch feature to check out which stars are playing in the West End; do I want to see a classic or period show or something more modern? Would I like to see something gritty and real that tackles serious issues, or something lighter and more fun?
Timing is also important – does the show play on the day I want to see it? Use our Matinee Days helper and Sunday Shows helper to plan.
Ultimately there is something for everyone in the West End – which is is the reason it has endured and continues to prove so popular. Sometimes, after a bit of research, there is something to be said for just taking a punt… some of the best nights at the theatre are in shows you had few expectations about.
Also, sign-up to our newsletter to get regular updates on what is coming up in the West End, what has started booking, and what ticket offers are available.
We get this question more than any other! The days of ladies having to wear evening gowns and men black tie and tails to attend the theatre is over! Some people chose to dress up for a London show, particularly if visiting the opera or ballet, but most people are dressed in their normal clothes to visit the West End, whether that’s a suit and tie after the office, or a t-shirt and jeans. It is generally unacceptable for men to be bare-chested in the theatre (unless on stage!)
Buying discounted and cheap tickets to West End shows is easy, although they are not always available for a specific show you want to see.
A number of major London Theatre websites including WestEndTheatre.com provides special offers and discounts on shows (see our Offers Guide here).
Which shows are running offers, and on what performance days, are not usually promoted in advance, so to keep up on the latest offers sign-up for our Offers Newsletter here.Â
Answer: The musical Les Miserables is playing at the Sondheim Theatre in London.
Les Miserables first opened at the Sondheim Theatre, which was originally called the Queen’s Theatre, in 2004, and has played at the theatre ever since. Les Miserables had it world premiere at the Barbican Theatre in 1985, before moving to the Palace Theatre in the West End in the same year.
Les Miserables is the world’s longest-running show.
The Sondheim Theatre is owned by Cameron Mackintosh and has recently been lavishly refurbished and restored, and is a great home for such an iconic, epic musical. The theatre is situated in the very heart of London’s theatreland West End district, on Shaftesbury Avenue.
The musical Mamma Mia! is playing at the Novello Theatre in London.
Mamma Mia! featuring the music of Swedish supergroup ABBA, first opened at the Novello Theatre in 2012, and has played at the theatre ever since. Mamma Mia! had its world premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1999, before moving to the Prince of Wales Theatre in 2004.
The Novello Theatre used to be called the Strand Theatre (and originally the Waldorf Theatre), and is a lovely theatre now owned by Cameron Mackintosh’s Delfont Mackintosh Theatres company. It was lovingly refurbished in 2005 and is a suitably gorgeous home for Mamma Mia! in London.
The musical Matilda The Musical is playing at the Cambridge Theatre in London.
Matilda The Musical first opened at the Cambridge Theatre in 2011, and has played at the theatre ever since. Presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), the show had its world premiere in Stratford upon Avon in 2010.
The Cambridge Theatre is a beautiful 1930’s theatre just on Seven Dials in Covent Garden in London.
Disney’s The Lion King is playing at the Lyceum Theatre in London.
The Lion King opened at the Lyceum Theatre in 1999, and has played at the theatre ever since.
The beautiful Lyceum Theatre is the perfect home for such an epic musical as The Lion King, with a large auditorium and stage. The theatre is situated on Wellington Street in the heart of Covent Garden in London.
The murder mystery thriller The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie is playing at the St Martin’s Theatre in London.
The Mousetrap first opened at the St Martin’s Theatre in 1974, and has played at the theatre ever since. Prior to the St Martin’s Theatre, The Mousetrap ran at the neighbouring Ambassador’s Theatre from 1952.
Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is the world’s longest running theatre production.
The St Martin’s Theatre is a gorgeous West End theatre located on West End in the heart of Covent Garden.
The musical The Phantom of the Opera, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.
The Phantom of the Opera first opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1986, and has played at the theatre ever since. Phantom had its world premiere at the theatre on 9 October 1986.
Her Majesty’s Theatre is owned by LW Theatres – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company. The theatre is a beautiful venue in the Haymarket area of London, with distinctive Corinthian columns. The theatre was refurbished in 2016, and is a gorgeous home the epic, gothic splendour of The Phantom of the Opera.
The musical WICKED is playing at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London.
WICKED first opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in 2006, and has played at the theatre ever since. Wicked had its UK premiere at the theatre on 27 September 2006.
The Apollo Victoria Theatre used to be a cinema, before being converted into a grand theatre. It is a huge theatre, with a massive stage that lends itself to housing one of the biggest and most spectacular musicals in London.
Ownership of the West End’s theatres is divided across a number of groups and organisations.
Most West End Theatres belong to a major theatre group, including Delfont Mackintosh Theatres, LW Theatres, Nimax Theatres and ATG.
Check out our guide to West End Theatre ownership.