Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Two-Part Review at Palace Theatre London

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has entertained audiences for almost a decade, but from October 2026 London will no longer be home to the two-part production. We visited before the change to find out whether it’s worth seeing the original version while you still can. In our group were lifelong Harry Potter fans and self-proclaimed muggles who’d only ever seen the films, so we could judge whether the production lives up to expectations for both die-hard and more casual audiences.

For a show like this, it really is all about getting immersed in the experience. The Palace Theatre is an unmissable red-brick presence right on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue, and it looks impressive when you arrive. As a building, it’s incredibly atmospheric, and the interior, with its marble staircases and huge panelled windows, is really evocative of the Wizarding World from the films without looking like it’s been set-dressed and overly curated. There are a few tasteful nods to the world of Harry Potter, including Hogwarts wallpaper, and it’s worth making a trip up to the Upper Circle to find the clock room.

There is always a magic to going into a theatre before the curtain rises, when everyone is excited as they take their seats. For Harry Potter, there’s an added sense of anticipation with a show that has taken the secrecy of its plot and staging so seriously that most of the audience doesn’t know exactly what they’re going to see (in a good way!).

As we reach the end of the two-part production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is scheduled so that both parts are shown on the same day. As a group, we agreed that this is probably the best way to see it (even though it means you’re sitting in the theatre for just over five hours in total), so we didn’t have to worry about forgetting what had happened in part one before we watched part two. The staging and effects do well to keep you engaged in the play without getting distracted right to the end of the second part, and the production maintains a great level of energy all the way through.

Without giving away the plot, the story of this production mainly follows Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy’s sons as they start at Hogwarts, 19 years after their parents finished school at the end of the original books. Written by Jack Thorne and based on a story by Thorne, J.K. Rowling, and John Tiffany, it sets out to answer what happens next for Harry and his friends as they grow up, have families, and navigate a changed world. The big question is – is Voldemort really in the past? You’ll have to book tickets to find out…

Attending with friends who are huge fans of the stories did help (I watched the films as they came out and enjoyed them at the time, but haven’t thought much about them in the last 20 years!), as their enthusiasm for a new story rubbed off on me.

The whole cast gives really strong performances, balancing the fantasy and the real-world emotion of a complex story throughout. With all the adult characters so well known to the audience, it would be easy to rely on impressions of the film’s actors, but it never feels like a caricature. Kai Spackman’s Scorpius brings great energy to parts of the plot that could very easily become too heavy and is a great foil to Joshua Sullivan’s Albus, who is by turns sullen and eager for adventure.

For what it is, it’s a good story, but some elements feel like they’re moving into fan fiction territory and others like they’re answering questions that, perhaps, no one had asked. The whole production is heavily choreographed, with some choices that felt a bit pantomime-y and broke the tension in some of the darker moments, but the jaw-dropping magic, illusions and special effects more than make up for that.

Where I Sat

We chose seats in the Dress Circle to avoid any steep raking on the higher levels and to try and get a good overview of the stage. From Dress Circle G11-14, we could all see everything from a pretty central view – including the parts that take place in the auditorium. The legroom was great for all of us, and we had space for bags and merchandise without feeling trapped. The seats got a little uncomfortable after sitting in them for so long, but it wasn’t anything that standing up at the interval couldn’t solve.

These seats were in the middle of the price range when we booked, and we agreed that it probably wouldn’t be worth paying much more than we did for the two parts, as we didn’t think we missed anything enough to warrant the price jump. We would probably look at similar seats for a return visit.

Good to Know: On a previous visit, I sat in the Grand Circle, which was much cheaper. I feel like I saw everything I needed to from there, albeit more distantly, so being closer was better for my bad eyesight – but for a more budget option, they were still great seats.

Planning Your Day at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

The two-part production takes up most of the day – the first part starts at 2pm and runs for 2 hours 40 minutes (including the interval), and the second part starts at 7pm, running for 2 hours 25 minutes (including the interval) – so there isn’t a lot of time to go too far from the theatre.

We booked a table for food in between, which took the stress out of finding somewhere to eat. While the area around the theatre has plenty of restaurants and places to grab a quick bite, it is also always busy. Being able to go straight to the restaurant meant we had a little bit more flexibility to have a walk around and stretch our legs properly between shows.

We wouldn’t have had time to go and visit any of the central London filming locations or do a walking tour (although this could maybe be an option before the shows if you got into London earlier), but we kept the wizarding world experience going by visiting the House of MinaLima on Wardour Street, not far from the theatre. It’s home to exhibits of some of the original Wizarding World props as well as a shop for the graphic designers who worked on the Harry Potter films and theme parks. It’s not a huge shop, but it’s a fun place to visit and collect some beautiful prints depicting elements of the Wizarding World.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Merchandise

There is a wide range of merchandise available for the show at the Palace Theatre, with some branded for the show itself, and some themed around the Wizarding World. Lots of the merchandise is available online, but seeing it all displayed in the foyer of the theatre does make it a bit more special. There’s nothing groundbreaking, but some cute items and great souvenirs if you’d like to collect a memento of your trip.

Good to Know: The merch stall is very popular. It’s open before the show begins, at the interval, and for around 10 minutes after each show, so there’s plenty of time to pick something up. While the queue did get quite big, the team working there were getting through people as quickly as they could.

What to Wear to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

There wasn’t much dressing up amongst adults seeing the show, but there were some very cute little witches and wizards and a lot of themed t-shirts. If you want to get into the spirit of the story, I’d recommend something subtle like a pin badge, t-shirt or scarf – and keep in mind that anything that will obstruct the view of other audience members, like pointy hats, won’t be allowed!

We all agreed that the most important thing for seeing Cursed Child is to be comfortable. Both individual parts are long, and although the theatre is air-conditioned, it can still get warm in the auditorium, so consider that when planning your outfit. Jeans, a t-shirt and comfy shoes are a great option, and you’ll see lots of people wearing them.

Is the Two-Part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Worth It?

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Tickets

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one of the most magical shows in the West End, and as it transfigures into a one-part production, there’s still plenty of time to catch it on stage.

If you want to see the full, original version, you’ve got until 20 September 2026.

If the story sounds good but two parts is too much of a marathon, be one of the first to see the one-part version in London when it opens on 9 October 2026.

Have You Seen Harry Potter and the Cursed Child?

Have you seen the mammoth two-part production in London, or are you eagerly anticipating the new one-part version when it opens later this year? Add your review to SeatPlan and let everyone know what you thought. You’ll even earn points towards theatre vouchers if you add a seat photo!