What to see when you visit London, a musical or a play?
If you’re going to London and want to enjoy the West End experience, the choice can be quite overwhelming.
London has plenty of musicals and plays and they’re all top-quality productions.
To make your choice a bit simpler, I suggest you start with deciding if you want to see a musical or a play.
Both musicals and plays can be extraordinary experiences. The question is simply which one is right for you. I’m a huge fan of both, so I created this guide to help you decide.
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What’s the difference between West End musicals and plays?
At its simplest: a musical tells its story through a combination of song, dance, and dialogue.
A play relies on dialogue and acting alone, without any songs or choreographed numbers.
Beyond that, in practice, the experiences feel quite different.
- Musicals are exciting! They tend to be bigger and more spectacular, with elaborate sets, large casts, show-stopping moments designed to leave you breathless.
- Plays are generally more intimate, can be more contemplative, with the focus on the performances and the storytelling, though some do have that “wow” effect.
The West End does both exceptionally well.
You’ll probably love a musical if…
You want a guaranteed feel-good night out
Musicals are designed to entertain with big emotions, big laughs, big musical numbers, big finales, and so on.
Even if the story has sad moments, you’ll almost certainly leave on a high.
Shows like Mamma Mia! and Kinky Boots would be my top choices for a guaranteed feel-good night out.
You’re new to theatre and want an easy entry point
There’s no barrier to enjoying a musical.
The combination of music, movement, and storytelling makes it immediately accessible, easy to follow, and easy to enjoy, even if you have no theatre experience.
If you’re new to this, have a look at my selection of the best musicals for first timers.
You’re travelling with kids
Musicals like The Lion King or Matilda are brilliant for younger audiences.
The spectacle keeps them engaged, while a dialogue-driven play probably won’t.
Always check the age restriction for each show.
Also check out my selection of musicals for teenagers (and their parents).
You just love this kind of music
Musicals are obviously a great choice for music lovers.
The musical style is a matter of taste though, so I suggest you listen to the soundtrack online before booking. I’ve personally ruled out a few musicals based on that.
I love musicals with a full orchestra in the pit. Live musicians make a difference to the show, because their live playing transmits emotions in a way that a recorded soundtrack cannot.
You’re celebrating something
If you’re celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, a special trip, or even a date night, musicals are a good choice for you.
Moulin Rouge! or Mamma Mia! are great for any event that requires a celebratory energy.
You want the full West End experience
If part of the appeal is seeing something quintessentially London, a long-running West End musical delivers all of that in one evening.
It really doesn’t matter if it’s your first time in London. The West End experience has a magical effect every time.
You’ll probably love a play if…
You’re curious about British culture
Theatre is part of British life in a unique way.
Even though the West End is full of tourists and the producers know there will be many tourists in the audience, each show is still an authentic London experience.
I’m a huge fan of British comedy and I know I can only find this kind of humour when I go to the UK.
I’m also a fan of Agatha Christie and loved seeing her plays in London: The Mousetrap and Witness For The Prosecution.
Find out more in my Agatha Christie London guide.
You’re after something thought-provoking
Plays tend to spark more conversation than musicals. A play is often the better choice if you want a thought-provoking discussion.
You appreciate good storytelling
Plays put the focus on great acting and storytelling, not so much on spectacle (usually).
Without music and spectacle to lean on, a play lives or dies by its writing and performances.
What if you want to see both musicals and plays in London?
If you have two evenings free on your trip to London, or even an evening and an afternoon for a matinee, seeing one musical and one play is a great idea.
I recommend you see the musical first. It’s the bigger, more celebratory experience.
Then see the play and appreciate the smaller scale and the acting.
In my experience it’s best to spread the two evenings out.
I’ve made the mistake in the past of seeing two shows on consecutive nights.
It’s doable, but it’s not quite as enjoyable as arriving at the second show fresh and excited.
London is quite intense as it is and you don’t want to oversaturate your brain.
That’s why I recommend that if your itinerary is flexible enough, book the shows a few days apart.
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