London’s Best Theatres for a Night Out

Covent Garden sits inside a ten-minute walk of most of the West End - here's what's currently playing at seven of its best-known stages.

Theatreland grew up around Covent Garden almost by accident: the original produce market drew crowds, and theatres followed. Today the area is still the densest cluster of West End stages in London. Below are seven of the best-known, with what’s currently playing at each – though shows do close and transfer, so it’s always worth checking before you book.

  1. 1

    Lyceum Theatre

    Home to Disney's The Lion King since 1999 - one of the longest-running musicals in the West End.

    21 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7DN

  2. 2

    Cambridge Theatre

    The Royal Shakespeare Company's Matilda The Musical has played here since 2011.

    Earlham Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9HU

  3. 3

    Adelphi Theatre

    Currently staging The Comedy About Spies, from the team behind The Play That Goes Wrong.

    409-412 Strand, Covent Garden, London, WC2R 0NS

  4. 4

    Palace Theatre

    Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been the resident production since the theatre's 2016 relaunch.

    Cambridge Circus, Covent Garden, London, W1D 5AY

  5. 5

    St Martin’s

    Home to The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the world, on stage continuously since 1974.

    West Street, Covent Garden, London

  6. 6

    Phoenix Theatre

    Currently playing Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a stage prequel to the Netflix series.

    Charing Cross Road, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 0JP

  7. 7

    His Majesty’s Theatre

    Long the London home of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.

    72-78 Haymarket, Covent Garden, London, SW1Y 4QL