The Lion King is one of the West End's longest-running and best-loved musicals, and it has played at the Lyceum Theatre on Wellington Street since 1999. The stage show adapts Disney's animated film with songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, additional music and rhythms by Hans Zimmer and Lebo M, and direction and design by Julie Taymor, whose puppetry and masks are the show's signature. Performers walk through the audience in the opening procession, animal costumes are worn in a way that shows both actor and animal, and the staging of the stampede and the African savanna is among the most inventive in musical theatre. The booking page gives the running time as about two hours thirty minutes including an interval, the show carries a 4.6 rating from 266 reviews with 91 per cent of travellers recommending it, and the recommended age is six and above. It is a safe choice for families and first-time theatregoers.
Understand the booking before you buy. The booking page says the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so choose your date carefully. The page does not list ticket categories but refers to a range of seating options, and reviewers mention stalls and Royal Circle seats; the best advice is to compare the seat map for your date and decide how much you value a central view.
Children under three are not permitted, and everyone aged sixteen or under must be accompanied by an adult and cannot sit alone in the auditorium. The booking page mentions a theatre address of 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ, and you should make your own way to the theatre.
Plan the day around the performance. The Lyceum is in Covent Garden, so the surrounding streets offer pre-show dining, and the London Transport Museum and Covent Garden Piazza are a short walk away. Performance days and times follow the theatre's schedule, which usually includes evening and matinee shows, so check the dates offered when you book rather than assuming a pattern. Arrive thirty minutes early to allow for bag checks, and pre-order interval drinks if the theatre offers it.
The honest view is that the show is a large-scale spectacle, and the first act is the stronger one for visual impact, while the second is more conventional. Very young children may find the dark moments and the volume intense, which is partly why the recommended age is six. It is an excellent choice if you want one big West End show on a London trip, especially with children. If you prefer something more intimate or a play, look at other productions; if you want a crowd-pleaser that delivers on its reputation, this is it.
What to expect
The experience
A full-length West End musical at the Lyceum Theatre with an interval, running about two and a half hours.
Best time
Choose from the performance dates offered when you book. Arrive thirty minutes early for bag checks.
How long
About two hours thirty minutes including the interval.
Tips
Compare the seat map before buying, remember the ticket cannot be changed or refunded, and note the age rules: no children under three and under-sixteens need an adult.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families, first-time theatregoers and anyone who wants a spectacular West End show.
- Families
- Recommended for ages six and up; younger children may find it loud and dark in places.
- Couples
- A classic evening out with dinner in Covent Garden first.
- Pair with
- Covent Garden Piazza, the London Transport Museum and pre-show dinner nearby.
- Time needed
- An evening, or an afternoon for a matinee.
Good questions
Where is the theatre?+
The Lyceum Theatre, 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ, in Covent Garden.
How long is the show?+
About two hours thirty minutes, including an interval.
What age is it suitable for?+
Recommended for ages six and up. Children under three are not permitted, and those aged sixteen or under must be accompanied by an adult.
Can I change or cancel my ticket?+
No, the experience is listed as non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.
Who made the show?+
Songs are by Elton John and Tim Rice, with music and rhythms by Hans Zimmer and Lebo M, and direction and design by Julie Taymor.
