The Best West End Theatres

The West End is made up of 39 theatres each with their own quirks and beauty. The oldest is the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane which opened all the way badck in May 1663. Given how old some of these theatres are it’s no surprise that not all are as comfortable or well tiered as we have come to expect by modern standards. But more often than not the theatres have been refurbished while keeping the grand exteriors and rich history. Still with high tickets prices I’ve compiled a list of the best West End theatres where even the cheapest seat in the house still offers a great view which will elevate the theatre experience. Of course these are all subjective and no theatre can be perfect but these definitely get a lot of it right

Gillian Lynne Theatre

Starting off the list with one of the newer theatres in the West End the Gillian Lynne opened in 1973 and was originally called the New London Theatre. Before it was renamed in 2018 in honour of Gillian Lynne a famous choreographer. The theatre boasts close to 1000 seats distributed between two levels. The theatre is fairly unique in that the stalls has a steep rake similar to the dress circle. Due to this and the large circular stage almost every single seat offers a good and comfortable view.

The current show playing is My Neighbour Totoro which had an extremely successful and sold out run earlier last year. The award-winning play follows the Studio Ghibli story of Totoro a rabbit monster and it’s bond with two sisters. Reviews describe it as “a profoundly magical experience” and “a feel-good, uplifting and utterly transportive production.”

Prince of Wales

The Prince of Wales Theatre was established back in 1884 but was extensively refurbished in 2004. Which is why the interior is much more modern than it’s age might suggest. With a capacity of 1148 spread across two levels. The theatre’s dress circle overhangs the stalls by a good amount. Both tiers are quite steeply tiered which means other patrons are unlikely to block your view. With the bigger overhang this means even the back of the second level still feels quite close. The gently curved auditorium also means the side seats have no restrictions. And all audience members can still enjoy the show in it’s entirety.

The Book of Mormon is the longest running show at the the Prince of Wales beating Mamma Mia! which ran here for 8 years before transferring. Written by the creators of South Park the show is a hilarious and witty musical poking fun at the rigorous lifestyles of Mormon missionary.

Apollo Victoria Theatre

Wicked is the iconic musical based on the wicked witch of the west from the Wizard of Oz. The musical has been playing in the UK for 18 years and has consistently sold out the Apollo Victoria theatre which is the second largest venue second only to the Coliseum. With a capacity of 2,328 it speaks to how beloved and magical the story is.

The Apollo Victoria opened in 1929 originally as a cinema and was then reopened as a theatre. Many iconic shows have played there including The Sound of music and Starlight Express which also ran for a staggering 18 years. It was then remodelled to remove the tracks and housed Wicked after it’s Broadway transfer. Over the years the theatre has been made to embody the show it plays. From the lobby to the auditorium it is full of decorations and pieces of the shows history such as old costumes. Everything is Wicked themed and the green lighting really ties it all together. The two floors are both tiered to offer a good view even from the back and even though the seats can be a bit far the staggered construction and decorations means the theatre experience will always feel special.

Ambassadors Theatre

The Ambassadors Theatre is one of the smallest theatres in the West End with a capacity of 444. It openeds back in 1913 and was briefly renamed the new ambassadors theatre between 1999-2007. Although quite an old theatre with some rows especially in the dress circle that offer limited legroom. Overall the theatre greatly benefits from it’s small size. Even from the very back of the dress circle the stage is still very visible and feels quite close. This means even the most affordable seats are still providing the audience member with a premium view that in other theatres they would charge double for. The stage is also sloped downwards towards the stalls which give the show a welcoming immersive feel.

The show playing until Oct 11th is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This years best new musical at the Olivier’s. The show’s concept is based on the F Scott Fitzgerald short story about a man who ages backwards but that’s where the similarities stop. The original story portrays Benjamin who is inexplicably born a man of 70. We then follow the chapters of his life told through a charming soundtrack of Cornish folk music. The show received 5 star reviews across the board and is one you don’t want to miss hailed as the best of home grown British musicals.

Book with theatrebookings now if you’re interested in seeing any of these shows!