11 Best Places to Watch a Play in London

The Phoenix Theatre first opened in 1930, taking over the site of a former factory and music hall with an extravagant design that pays tribute to Italian theatre traditions. Featuring a towering neoclassical facade, visitors will find Italianate accents everywhere they look inside, with golden engravings, red seats, and sculptured wooden doors.

The Phoenix Theatre is one of the most unique stages in London’s West End. It has hosted a range of hit musical productions over the years, including Bend it Like Beckham: The Musical, Come from Away and Blood Brothers, which ran for 21 years here.

Opened in 1910, the London Palladium is admired for its massive scale and storied history. Situated in the Oxford Circus area, the 2,286 capacity is regularly sold-out for compelling musicals like The Sound of Music, Cats, and The Wind in the Willows. There are also frequent major live music performances, with stars like Madonna, Damon Albarn and Harry Connick Jr. taking to the stage.

As one of London’s most beloved structures, the London Palladium has remained largely unchanged since becoming heritage-listed by the city in 1960. With the widely televised Royal Variety Performance perhaps the most popular annual event on the venue's schedule, this incredibly entertaining charity showcase has run non-stop at the London Palladium since 1928.

The Palace Theatre opened in 1891 as a grand addition to London's West End. Designed by renowned English architect Thomas Edward Collcutt, who also planned impressive Victorian-era buildings such as the Imperial Institute and the Savoy Hotel, the Palace Theatre was created to showcase opera.

However, it was only a few years later that the interior was converted into a stellar music hall, making it a great destination for plays, musicals and film screenings. After acclaimed composer and theatrical producer Andrew Lloyd Webber bought the theatre in 1983, the Palace Theatre has housed sold-out shows like Les Misérables, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

The Royal Opera House is a popular theatre where you'll find plays, operas and ballet performances by some of the most critically acclaimed performers in the world. You'll find numerous productions performed every year with many centred around particular holidays. While both the building and the performances tend to elicit images of high society and historical opulence, the theatre itself is quite welcoming towards people from all walks of life. No dress code is required other than wearing what you find to be comfortable within reasonable standards of decency. You'll find this theatre just a short walk east of Covent Garden station.

Opened in 1772, the Lyceum Theatre’s 250-year history has been marked by numerous closures and redevelopments. But throughout this complex past, it has continued to host just about every influential English playwright, from David Garrick to Sir Henry Irving. Despite undergoing 10 more years of disuse as recently as 1996, the theatre has since been wonderfully restored to host grand theatre productions.

The most successful show at the Lyceum Theatre is undoubtedly The Lion King, which has been watched by millions of people during its run, which started in 1999. With visitors packing the 2,100-seat theatre every night, it’s no wonder the Lyceum Theatre is one of the best places to watch a play in London.

The Apollo Theatre is definitely one of the most iconic theatres to open in London’s West End district. Established in 1901, it was the 4th theatre to be constructed on the famous Shaftesbury Avenue. Named after the Greek god of the arts, the theatre was designed by British architect Lewen Sharp, who conceived the 4-level auditorium with classic Renaissance touches.

Having hosted many of the most significant plays and musical theatre productions to arrive in London, the Apollo Theatre’s 775-seat capacity is often filled night after night. In recent times, the Apollo Theatre has presented Richard II, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.

Sondheim Theatre, formerly the Queen's Theatre, has long been considered a top destination for theatre productions in London. Since opening to the public in 1907, the theatre has remained one of the most popular nights out in the West End, presenting an enviable selection of performances.

Although the Sondheim Theatre's architecture remains impressive, it has changed considerably over the years. After the building was struck by a bomb during World War II, the facade and lobby areas had to be entirely rebuilt. However, the ornate interior is simply stunning, making it an excellent place to see productions like The Hobbit, Les Misérables, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The Lyric Theatre is the oldest original theatre on the much-loved Shaftesbury Avenue. It dates back to 1888 and recognised as the second theatre built on this famous strip. Featuring a striking Renaissance design developed by architect C. J. Phipps, who also built the Savoy Theatre and Her Majesty’s Theatre, this performing arts venue has retained much of its 19th-century charm.

If you’re planning on catching a musical production in London, the Lyric Theatre is a wonderful choice. With an illustrious collection of shows to grace its stage, the last few years have seen the likes of Cabaret, Thriller – Live, and The Night of the Iguana entertain audiences throughout an extensive run of shows.

The Vaudeville Theatre is found on the Strand, a famous shopping and cultural thoroughfare that passes through Westminster. It has stood since 1870, making it one of the area’s major landmarks. This is a popular destination for anyone looking to experience world-class musical and stage performances.

Today, the Vaudeville Theatre still retains many of its original features, including fascinating stage mechanisms such as thunder drums and lightning sheets. With redevelopments reducing the theatre's capacity to just 690 seats, don't be surprised to find the headline performances sold out weeks in advance.

The Apollo Victoria Theatre was first conceived as a cinema when it opened in 1930. But this prestigious art deco space has since become best-known for its long-running musical performances since the 1980s. With enough seats for 2,300 people, a series of modifications have been made over the years to keep this popular live performance stage up to date.

In terms of musicals, many of the shows seen at the Apollo Victoria Theatre have run for several years. For example, Starlight Express debuted in 1984 and ran for 18 consecutive years, while the likes of Wicked, Bombay Dreams, and Saturday Night Fever also held thousands of performances.

The Adelphi Theatre has long remained a hit with music, comedy and stage performance lovers, having stayed in constant operation since 1806. With the structure rebuilt several times over the last 200 years, this splendid art deco space can accommodate up to 1,500 people.

There have been countless melodramas, adaptations and pantomimes performed in the theatre, but it’s presently used for some of the world’s favourite musical productions. In 1997, Chicago premiered at the Adelphi Theatre and ran for over 8 years, while Sweeney Todd, Waitress, The Bodyguard and Kinky Boots have also kept audiences entertained.