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Welcome to London Shows
Here at London Shows we have brought together a superb collection of theatre and musical tickets from all the very best shows London has to offer. There are also some great packages on offer which include tickets accommodation and dining for a great price.
London's Historic West End
When one talks about visiting London, going to see musicals and plays are often not included in the list of activities. One might be more interested in visiting museums or experiencing the pubs, but only a self-confessed theater nut will visit the city solely for the London shows. We think that London is such a lovely place that one should not have limited options—go ahead and do touristy things, have fun, but do not forget to give the West End theatre district a visit and see some unforgettable London shows.
Maybe the West End theatre district is not as explosive as New York’s Broadway, which is probably known among people living in faraway places such as India and China. In 2007, total attendance to West End London shows averaged at 13 million, which is an unbelievable number even for this English theater district. Along with Broadway, the West End theatre district is considered to be the mecca of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world.
If you are wondering why you should fly halfway around the world to see London shows, here are a few reasons why:
London Shows - Steeped History
London is a city filled with history—in fact, the city is a key figure in many a history book entry. It seems like almost every corner and cranny of London boasts of a significant history, and the West End is no exception. The London theatre started to bloom after the English Reformation, and William Shakespeare—perhaps the greatest playwright in the Anglophone dramatic tradition—and his theatrical company used two of the oldest public playhouses in the area, namely The Theatre and The Curtain. However, these theatres were closed due to the consequences of the interregnum—but it was restored during the restoration of 1660.
In the 1800’s, the West End theatre district flourished further, and many small theatres and performance halls were built and established. It was also during this time that playwrights and actors all across Britain were imbuing the West End district with their brilliant talent.
Many noted performers began their careers in the London shows at West End—including John Liston, Nell Gwynne, Robert William Elliston, Lennie Dean, Ellen Terry, Henry Iriving, Nellie Farren, Ellaline Terriss, Seymour Hicks, Marie Tempest, Marie Brema, and John Lawrence Toole. In the past decade or so, popular film actors have begun gracing the stages of the London shows at West End, adding to the glamour and appeal of the London theatre district.
Theatre - The Mecca of London Shows
Theatreland might sound like the utopia for people who love the theatre—and this is exactly what the West End theatre district is. The Westminster Council and the Society of London theatre rebranded West End exactly as Theatreland—a veritable paradise of drama, art, and music. There are approximately forty performance venues at Theatreland, which includes Oxford Street to the north, Kingsway to the east, Regent Street to the west, and The Strand to the south. Theatreland is the mecca of musicals, classic and middlebrow plays, and various comedy performances.
Many of the theatres found in London’s West End district are resplendent with late Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Also, these theatres—home to the best London shows—are mostly privately owned, which means that they are well maintained, appointed, and preserved. The six hundred-year tradition of performance art in this district is alive and well in the temple of London shows: the West End theatres.
London Shows - Catering For Every Taste
At the West End theatre district, you will find that there are plenty of London shows that you can see. If you are into musical theatre, there are plenty of that in the area. If drama is more your cup of tea, you can find it in West End, too. These London shows are of varying running duration, so if there is something that you especially ant to see, make sure that you book tickets in advance as London shows are very popular among the other tourists. But picking London shows on random is a fun adventure—pick something that you or your companions are not familiar with, and keep an open mind. If you are not the adventurous type, you might want to watch the tried-and-tested long-running London shows.
The length of the run duration of London shows is often measured by ticket sales. The more tickets the London shows sell and the more years they are sold, the longer the run is. In general, musical London shows will enjoy a longer run than dramatic plays. But the title with the longest running series of London shows is not a musical: it is The Mousetrap, which was written by Agatha Christie. The Mousetrap opened at the Ambassadors Theatre in November 25, 1952, but is currently running at the St. Martin’s Theatre. The Woman in Black, one of the most popular non-musical London shows and based on the 1983 thriller novel by Susan Hill of the same name. This production opened at the Strand Theatre on February 15, 1989 and is still staged at the Fortune Theatre. Alistair Foot and Anthony Marriott’s comedic play No Sex Please, We’re British is also one of the most popular London shows in the history of the West End theatre district—it opened at the Strand Theatre in June 3, 1971 and closed after a 16-year run in January 16, 1987.
Of all the musical London shows ever staged in this theatre district, the longest running title is Les Misérables, which quickly outshined the internationally successful Cats. Les Misérables is currently on its 26th year, after opening at the Queen’s Theatre in October 8, 1985. Cats, on the other hand, enjoyed a series of successful London shows at West End—but upon staging its 21st anniversary show, the musical closed after 8, 949 performances. Other long-running London shows include The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre, opened in October 9, 1986) by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Blood Brothers (Phoenix Theatre, but originally at the Albert Theatre, opened July 28, 1988) by Willy Russell.
With all these amazing London shows, you cannot leave the city without experiencing at least two of them.
