Top 10 Best Plays in London 2024-2025
The West End is synonymous with the bright lights, gripping plots and soaring melodies of the very best theatre shows in London, and if you're looking for intimate dramas, rib-tickling comedies and gripping whodunnits, there is nowhere we'd recommend more! Big names are a familiar sight in West End plays so you’ve even got the chance to see your favourite actor live on stage!
Major revivals, bold new work and magical book-to-stage adaptations make the best plays in London a bright and varied bunch no matter your tastes. If you’re not sure where to start, here are the shows we think will make your next trip to the theatre the best yet.
Picked your perfect play? Check out London plays, for the next 7 days for offers, the latest availability and discounts for shows in London over the next 7 days!
Major revivals, bold new work and magical book-to-stage adaptations make the best plays in London a bright and varied bunch no matter your tastes. If you’re not sure where to start, here are the shows we think will make your next trip to the theatre the best yet.
Picked your perfect play? Check out London plays, for the next 7 days for offers, the latest availability and discounts for shows in London over the next 7 days!
1. The Mousetrap: still gripping after 70 years
With a clever surprise ending that’s been faithfully protected by audiences for 70 years, this West End institution is the ultimate murder mystery. Queen of Crime Agatha Christie brings all the best tropes of the genre to this fantastic play: an unknown killer; an isolated country house; and enough twists and turns to have even the smartest amateur detectives second-guessing whodunnit until the final moments.
2. Oedipus: Mark Strong in a thrilling Greek tragedy
Olivier Award-winning writer-director Robert Icke teams up with Mark Strong and Lesley Manville in this blazing revival of a Greek tragedy. Staged as a modern-day political thriller, Icke’s production is a bold and heart-racing reimagining of Sophocles’ ancient story about revenge, deception and power. Prestige drama at its finest that everyone’s talking about - book now so you don’t miss out.
3. The Play That Goes Wrong: the West End’s funniest show
Join the hopeless Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they perform a 1920s murder mystery where legs aren’t the only thing being broken! With sets collapsing and the cast going spectacularly off-script, this Olivier Award-winning delight from Mischief Theatre follows in the hazardous footsteps of Noises Off and has become one of the most popular plays in London. It is perfect for fans of Britain's fine tradition of unpredictable slapstick comedy.
4. The Lehman Trilogy: hit history play returns for a limited run
Following two sell-out runs in London and a critically acclaimed stint on Broadway, this must-see production returns for a strictly limited run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Based on the incredible true story of the Lehman Brothers, this Tony Award-winning play follows three brothers who emigrate to the US seeking the American dream and charts the progress of the investment firm they founded in the 1800s through to the company’s collapse in the 2008 financial crash, with just three actors playing all characters over the decades.
5. Fawlty Towers: Basil welcomes new guests in this hilarious play!
Que? You heard that right: Basil Fawlty is back in business and this time, he's welcoming you for a short but sweet stay in the West End. Written by the legendary John Cleese, this brand-new stage adaptation of the classic '70s sitcom is packed with your favourite characters - from bumbling Manuel to forgetful Major - nods to the show's funniest moments, and some extra surprises to keep you on your toes.
6. Waiting for Godot: the absurdist masterpiece returns to London
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati are on top form in this acclaimed revival of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist gem, playing two men who are expecting the mysterious Godot to arrive. Whether he turns up is something we won’t spoil, but the calibre of performance in this innovative, funny and engaging modern classic makes it well worth the wait. Full of the idiosyncrasies and nonsenses of everyday life, don’t miss out on tickets to this top London show - it’s just extended for a couple more weeks.
7. Stranger Things: phenomenal theatre in a new dimension
Unlock the secrets of Hawkins in this jaw-dropping 5-star play, from the creators of the internationally-acclaimed Netflix series. In 1959, Jim Hopper and Joyce Maldonado are normal teens, in a normal town, until Henry Creel arrives... From the Duffer Brothers and an award-winning creative team comes an unparalleled theatrical experience that will shock, surprise and grip fans of the Upside Down.
8. Witness for the Prosecution: Agatha Christie's courtroom drama
Few shows are staged in a venue as unique as London County Hall, which is home to a totally gripping courtroom drama about a young man accused of murder. You will be completely immersed in all of the twists, turns and drama of Agatha Christie's play, with seats available right at the heart of the action. You can even take a spot on the jury benches, and help decide the man's fate...
9. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: the magic remains alive
The magical world of Harry Potter is back in this fantastic two-part family show, which follows Harry, Ron, Hermione and their teenage children as they grapple with the weight of the past and dark forces threaten to return. Featuring dazzling special effects that will completely enchant old and new fans of the franchise, remember to #KeepTheSecrets of this landmark production, which is brilliant entertainment for adult fans of the franchise and families wanting to share the magic together.
10. Ballet Shoes: the beloved children's novel uplifts on stage
This “playful, graceful” (The Standard) re-imagining of Noel Streatfeild’s beloved childrens novel is the perfect heartwarming treat for the colder months. In 1930s London three adopted sisters - Pauline, Petrova and Posy - grow up in a ramshackle house filled with fossils and dinosaur bones. Under the guidance of their quirky guardians Nana and Sylvia - along with some eccentric and unlikely lodgers - the three girls seek to find who they are, and who they want to be, in a world that makes it tough for girls to dream big.
