All the world’s a stage and the West End gets top billing.
Around 40 of the best theatres in London call the West End home and grabbing tickets to an afternoon or evening showing is as necessary for some visitors as selfies in front of Big Ben.
Located in Central London between Soho and Holborn, getting to the West End via the tube is convenient with stops including Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road, and Chancery Lane.
Whether you’re treating your inner thespian to a night at the theatre or if you’re keen to see what all the fuss is about with Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, and The Lion King, you’ll certainly leave the West End with a renewed love of the stage. Visit the West End during your next trip to England’s capital and see one of the best London theatre shows of 2023.
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Dates: Through December 2023
Closest station: Embankment
With less than 600 seats per show available, Cabaret offers an intimate experience that combines the thrill of a live musical with the atmosphere of a fine dining experience. While purchasing food and beverages aren’t required, this seductive show makes for a perfect date night for couples.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Palace Theatre
Dates: Through October 2023
Closest Station: Leicester Square
If you’re planning a magical Harry Potter themed trip to London then seeing both parts of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a must. It’s one of the best family shows in London’s West End and you can even take the Leicester Square tube from the show to Platform 9 ¾.
The Crown Jewels at Garrick Theatre
Dates: July through September 2023
Closest Stations: Charing Cross | Leicester Square
Half heist thriller, half hilarious history, this new British play is based on true events. No matter if you’re following the Coronation of King Charles III or are a fan of period pieces like The Crown, The Crown Jewels is a riotous retelling of one of the most unbelievable capers in royal history.
Patriots at Noël Coward Theatre
Dates: May through August 2023
Closest Station: Leicester Square
Speaking of The Crown, writer Peter Morgan also penned one of the newest plays to hit the West End. Patriots is set in 1991 and follows billionaire businessman Boris Berezovsky as he falls from the graces of the president’s inner circle to into the crosshairs as public enemy number one.
SIX The Musical at the Vaudeville Theatre
Dates: Through April 2024
Closest stations: Charing Cross | Temple
You needn’t be a history buff to enjoy one of the newest musicals that critics are “losing their heads over”. The six wives of King Henry VIII present a histo-remixed version of their ill-fated marriages with pop music at the forefront.
Frozen: The West End Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Dates: Through October 2023
Closest Stations: Covent Garden | Temple
Fill your little ones with a sense of wonder and whimsy with the West End’s run of Frozen. If you’re going to get Let It Go stuck in your head again, it might as well be in the lavish Georgian theatre that hosts the most popular mainstream musicals.
Things To Do In London After Curtain Call
Need something to do prior after the matinee or on a dark day? We’ve got your ticket to a good time:
- Explore London like a local, traipsing through our vibrant neighborhoods and theaters Off West End like Shakespeare’s Globe or Southwark Playhouse.
- See England’s best sites by train with easy day trips to Windsor Castle, Oxford University, and even the Bard’s home at Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Catch Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, or even be a little cheeky and see An American in Paris in Paris by hopping a train in London that takes you from city center to city center, no fussy air travel required.
Download the Trainline app today and plan a journey to collect playbills from Lisbon to Berlin and beyond.