Skip to content »
Skip to second navigation »

Oct

25

2011

Oct

25

2012

Oct

25

2012

Oct

25

2013

Oct

25

2013

Oct

25

2014

Oct

25

2014

Oct

25

2015

Oct

25

2015

Oct

25

2016


Take in a Classic Play at London's West End

Published by Morgan Squires, Writer

Country: United Kingdom

The Experience

London is the home of one of the world’s greatest theatre districts—the West End. Like Broadway in New York, London’s West End is synonymous with famous plays, musicals and grand productions. Great shows like Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables have remained so popular, that they have been running non-stop for 24 and 25 years respectively! As popular as they are, these shows are dwarfed by the long-running Agatha Christie play The Mousetrap, which has been running since 1952!

London’s West End theatre district can mean a large area of central London, including Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, and other notable places. At the heart of the London West End show scene the corners of Shaftesbury Avenue, Drury Lane, and The Strand stand illuminated; most of the main shows can be found along one of these streets. Independents and other outliers are further bordered by Oxford Street to the north, The Strand to the south, Regent Street to the west, and Kingsway to the east.

From first note through to the final curtain seeing Les Mis, one of the best of London's West End musicals, is an unforgettable experience. The apprehension builds as the orchestra begins to warm up for Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. Whilst I have experienced this musical at home in Melbourne, Australia, there is something to be said for the vibe you get watching Les Misérables in London, England’s theatre district.

The tragedy of Jean Valjean and Fantine is one that engrosses and encapsulates the audience, and testament to that is the enduring nature of both the novel and the musical. Despite being written almost 150 years ago, the story has all the elements of a great tale: the tragedy, the suspense, the hope, and the jubilation. And where better to see this classic then in London’s West End.

One of the best things about the West End theatre district is that all sorts of restaurants and pubs surround it, meaning you don’t have to travel very far to find a decent meal. There are plenty of choices, ranging from standard pub grub to Chinese, and even to American style bar and grills. It’s very easy to go and get a bite before or after the show.

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to London West End

There is no "best" time of the year to visit London’s West End. Shows run all year long. Obviously, if you go at an off-peak time then you might find cheaper and better seats; and recently opened shows will be harder and more expensive to see.

Odds n' Ends

“Les Mis” has just celebrated its 25th year in the West End. I bought tickets at an outlet called Encore Tickets in Trafalgar Square for a quite reasonable £39.50 each (face value was apparently £59). Depending on where you buy tickets and what show you see, it could cost anywhere from £30 to £100. The vendor we used had very reasonable prices. For less than £40 I managed to get seats to a midweek show, three rows from the front.

Want a Guide?

Encore Tickets
Booking agent

More Experiences Nearby

Aim High on the London Eye
Rising high above the River Thames, and set against iconic architecture that has stood for centuries, the London Eye has provided spectacular panoramic views of London for over a decade. With 3.5 million riders boarding its thirty-two capsules annually, “The Eye” has established itself as the UK’s most popular paid tourist attraction. Situated in Jubilee Park in the South Bank area, the London Eye Ferris Wheel was built as part of London's millennium celebrations. Truly European in construction, the London Eye used mechanical contributions from six countries. Electrical components came from the UK, as was the steel (although it was ...1 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

Book now
London Pass
Explore all sides of the city as you take advantage of tours, cruises and walks included on the London Sightseeing Pass. With special discounts at ...
Starting from $47.95 per person.

Video

Video Wall

You are now being transfered to our Video Wall

Books and DVDs

Frommer's England 2010
London Theatre Walks and Expanded Edition: Thirteen Dramatic Tours Through Four Centuries of History and Legend
Theatre London: A Guide
Theatreland: A Journey Through the Heart of London's Theatre

Elsewhere on the Web

LONDON THEATRE GUIDE - londontheatre.co.uk
London Theatre Ticket Guide - VisitLondon.com

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Italian , Japanese , Mandarin , Portugese , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United Kingdom. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.

People who wish to experience


Recent Tweets

Listed below are the most recent comments made on Twitter for "london west end":