The most popular West End show depends on the metric, but Les Misérables is the longest-running, while The Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King are consistently top contenders for popularity, alongside newer hits like Hamilton, Wicked, and Six, with audience votes often favoring Phantom or Les Misérables for "best of all time".
Les Misérables has retained its crown as the longest-running musical in the West End for nearly 40 years. Over 130 million people worldwide have been captivated by this timeless tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption. This is a must-see on your plans when you visit London.
The "Big Five" musicals are typically considered to be Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge!, The Lion King, and Wicked. What show is a must-see in London? Les Misérables is often cited as the must-see show in London due to its historic run and quintessential West End experience.
Shaftesbury Avenue is the most famous street in London's West End, as it has six theatres! Home to the Apollo Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Palace Theatre, Sondheim Theatre, and Shaftesbury Theatre, it's the busiest and glitziest road in Soho.
My top 5 London theatre shows I've seen in 2025 (so far)
What are the top 5 longest West End shows?
The top 5 longest-running shows in London's West End are The Mousetrap, Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, and The Lion King, with The Mousetrap (a play) holding the overall record since 1952, followed by musicals that have run continuously for decades, like Les Misérables (since 1985) and Phantom (since 1986).
The top-priced play, and most expensive ticket overall in the survey, was Roald Dahl drama Giant, with those looking to nab the highest-price ticket having to pay £353.95.
And there you have it folks. This is why The Lion King has been running for 28 years. The third longest running Broadway show of all time and the world's number one musical.
The Mousetrap is the longest-running play in the world. Les Misérables is the longest-running West End musical. The Phantom of the Opera is the highest-grossing West End show.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA Tour Tops Most Expensive Concerts of 2025 List. The 2025 Kendrick Lamar and SZA Grand National North American stadium tour ranked #1 with an $206.47 average ticket price, making it the most expensive, according to the Akra analysis.
64 years ago today the film adaptation of Broadways musical West Side Story made it's theatrical debut. The film starred Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, and Rita Moreno. It won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture which is the most ever for a musical.
The Lion King sits at the top, with a Broadway gross of $2 billion. Dates refer to original Broadway productions, with notes added for future productions that outran the Broadway run.
Broadway actors earn a wide range of salaries, from the $2,439 per week minimum to $40,000 per week or more for top stars. Various factors such as the role, production size, experience, and even celebrity status influence how much an actor makes.
Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific has won more Tony Awards over all of its Broadway productions to date than any other musical. That's 17 Tonys: 10 for the original 1949 production, plus seven for the 2008 revival.
The West End has everything from the Palladium, with a seating capacity of 2,286, and the Apollo Victoria (2,328), down to the Ambassadors Theatre (450), the Fortune Theatre (440) and the Arts Theatre (350).
