Top 10 Best Plays in London 2023
The West End may be synonymous with the bright lights and soaring melodies of its hit musicals, but it’s also one of the best places to experience intimate dramas, rib-tickling comedies and gripping whodunnits. Big names are a common 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. 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.
Major revivals, bold new work and magical book-to-stage adaptations make the best plays in London a bright and varied bunch. 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.
1. To Kill a Mockingbird: a powerful adaptation of the classic novel
Exclusive Prices![To Kill A Mockingbird London]()
![To Kill A Mockingbird London]()
Harper Lee's tale of racism and injustice in the Southern states of America is a runaway hit in the West End, after huge acclaim on Broadway. Richard Coyle stars as lawyer Atticus Finch, with a script by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network). This tense and engaging courtroom drama is a hot ticket with 5 star reviews.
from £25.00
2. Shirley Valentine: Sheridan Smith in her element on stage
Sheridan Smith is making waves with her latest theatre project, as she stars in Willy Russell's classic one-woman show, perhaps best-known now for its film adaptation. This upbeat story about a housewife who throws caution to the wind with a Greek holiday escape is the perfect vehicle for Smith, who delivers buckets of charm and fun.
from £24.00
3. 2:22 A Ghost Story: a star-studded supernatural thriller
This spine-tingling supernatural thriller has hooked audiences since 2021, thanks to a tense but captivating story about a possibly haunted dinner party. The edge-of-your-seat play is playing another season, this time at the Lyric Theatre with singer Cheryl making her acting debut as Jenny. Do you dare join her to discover the truth?
from £17.89
4. 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 award-winning delight from Mischief Theatre follows in the hazardous footsteps of Noises Off and is perfect for fans of Britain's fine tradition of unpredictable slapstick comedy.
from £23.80
5. Medea: a blistering new version of the Greek tragedy
save £14.50![Medea London]()
![Medea London]()
Sophie Okonedo, one of our finest and most versatile actors, stars in this new version of Euripides' revenge tragedy. A scorned and betrayed woman plots against her unfaithful husband in this visceral show, which is performed in-the-round to stunning effect at Soho Place.
from £35.00
6. The Mousetrap: still gripping after 70 years
With a surprise ending that’s been faithfully protected by audiences for 70 years, this West End institution is the ultimate murder mystery. 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 until the end.
from £29.80
7. The Lehman Trilogy: the dazzling play returns to London
The story of a banking firm may not seem gripping on paper, but this is an unmissable piece of theatre. Following the banking family through three generations, The Lehman Trilogy opens with a young Jewish man arriving in New York and closes with a company and economy in ruins.
from £23.80
8. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: the magic remains alive in London
Exclusive Prices![Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London]()
![Harry Potter and the Cursed Child London]()
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!
9. Witness for the Prosecution: Agatha Christie's courtroom drama
Exclusive Prices![Witness for the Prosecution London]()
![Witness for the Prosecution London]()
Few shows are staged in a venue as unique as London County Hall, home of this 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 - even on the jury benches.
from £14.30
10. The Unfriend: Steven Moffat's deliciously dark satire
Doctor Who and Sherlock's Steven Moffat's debut play is a deliciously dark satire about British manners. Amanda Abbington and Reece Shearsmith star as a couple whose sinister, Trump-loving holiday companion (Frances Barber) invites herself to stay - the problem is, they think she might be a murderer...
from £23.80
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