The Lion King Tickets in London at the Lyceum Theatre
The Lion King has played at the Lyceum Theatre since 1999, and the opening five minutes still do what nothing else in the West End does: the animals of the Pride Lands walk down the aisles, right past your seat. Disney's The Lion King is the big, visual show that every other family musical gets measured against.
From £422 hours 30 minutes, with an intervalAges 6 and up
A musical at the Lyceum Theatre, 6 minutes' walk from Covent GardenBooking to 16 May 2027
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020 7193 9050 · Monday to Saturday 8am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 8pm
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Who Is The Lion King Best For?
- Families: the classic first West End show for children aged 6 and up, and the adults enjoy it just as much.
- First-time theatregoers who want the full spectacle: puppetry, masks, and songs you already know.
- Elton John fans: his and Tim Rice's songs are the spine of the show, from Circle of Life to Can You Feel the Love Tonight, performed live by a full company and choir.
- Fans of the film: watching the story you know become live theatre is half the fun.
- Visitors planning a London treat night: it books far ahead, so it fits around your dates.
- Anyone who has been before: the 2024 refit means the production looks sharper than ever.
About The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre
The Lion King opened at the Lyceum Theatre on 19 October 1999 and has played there ever since, making it one of the West End's longest ever running musicals. Director Julie Taymor turned the animated film into pure theatre with masks, puppets and dance, and the Broadway original collected six Tony Awards including Best Musical along the way. The London production won two Olivier Awards of its own in 2000, for Julie Taymor's costume design and Garth Fagan's choreography, from eight nominations.
The legendary songs by Elton John and Tim Rice are numbers you know from the film, with additional music by Lebo M whose choral arrangements open the show. In September 2024, ahead of its 25th anniversary gala, the production had a full refit: new stage floor, upgraded lighting and refurbished puppets and props. This is more a refresh of the brilliant original rather than changing things up too much.
Worth knowing before you book: the running time is 2 hours 30 minutes with one 15-minute interval, the show is recommended for ages 6 and up, children under 3 are not admitted, and the performance includes theatrical smoke and fog effects and strobe lighting.
What's The Lion King About?
Simba is a lion cub who cannot wait to be king. When his father Mufasa is killed, his scheming uncle Scar seizes the throne, and Simba runs away, growing up far from home with two new friends and a motto about leaving your worries behind.
The story is about growing up and facing what you ran from: Simba must decide whether to stay in his carefree exile or return to take his place in the 'circle of life'. If you know the film, you know the story; on stage it becomes something bigger, told with puppetry, masks and a stage full of dancers.
Performance Schedule
The Lion King plays Tuesday to Saturday evenings at 7:30pm, with matinees at 2:30pm on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. There is no performance on Mondays, and no Sunday evening show.
| Day | Matinee | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | - | - |
| Tuesday | - | 7:30pm |
| Wednesday | 2:30pm | 7:30pm |
| Thursday | - | 7:30pm |
| Friday | - | 7:30pm |
| Saturday | 2:30pm | 7:30pm |
| Sunday | 2:30pm | - |
Individual dates can vary in busy weeks and school holidays, so always check the calendar for your date. Booking is currently open to Sunday 16 May 2027. Prices move with demand on this show, so the earlier you book for your date, the better the choice and the price.
Best Seats for The Lion King
The Lyceum is one of the West End's biggest theatres, around 2,100 seats over three levels: Stalls, Royal Circle and Grand Circle. Two kinds of great seat here: the most fun, and the best view.
The quick version:
- Stalls, on or near the centre-block aisles: the prime seats. The animals make their entrances down the aisles beside the big centre block, so on or near these aisles the parade passes right by you. You do not need to be exactly on the aisle to get the effect.
- Royal Circle, front rows: the best view of the show itself, a raised, straight-on view that takes in the whole stage, and is definitely best for the big ensemble choreography.
- Grand Circle: the value route, from around £35 in the back corners. You are high up, but the big stage pictures are made to be seen from here.
- Stalls row Q, side blocks: a quiet insider pick. There is no row directly in front of these seats, so you get a clear view of the show with nobody sat in front of you.
Prices vary by date, from around £35 up to around £85 on most dates, with premium seats from around £125. With us, the price you see is the price you pay, all fees included. For the level-by-level detail, see the Tickets & Best Seats tab, or call us on 020 7193 9050 for a steer on your budget.
Cast and Creative Team
George Asprey plays Scar and Shaun Escoffery plays Mufasa, two long-serving anchors of the London company. Posi Morakinyo and Asha Parker-Wallace lead as Simba and Nala, with Thenjiwe Nofemele as Rafiki. Julie Taymor directs, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice and additional music by Lebo M.
Cast correct as of July 2026; the full company, understudies and creative team are in the Cast & Creatives tab.
Book Your Tickets for The Lion King
Book your The Lion King tickets directly with us at Hit The Theatre. Our prices are all-in, so the price on the seating map is exactly what you pay at checkout. Choose your own seats online, or call us on 020 7193 9050 and a real person will help you find the right seats for your night and your budget. This show uses demand-based pricing, so the best-value seats on any date go to the people who book earliest.
Dates & tickets
FAQs
Prices vary by date, from around £35 in the Grand Circle up to around £85 for the best standard seats, with premium seats from around £125. On busy dates prices rise with demand: the show has adopted dynamic pricing. Whatever the price on the seating map, that is exactly what you pay with us.
Tell us your budget and your date and we will point you to the best view for the money. Call us on 020 7193 9050, or book online from the seating map.
2 hours 30 minutes, including one 15-minute interval. An evening show finishes around 10pm, a matinee around 5pm.
Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30pm, with 2:30pm matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. No shows on Mondays. Check the calendar for holiday-week variations.
Booking is currently open to Sunday 16 May 2027, and the booking period has been extended regularly for over 26 years. Prices rise as dates fill, so booking early gets the best choice.
It is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under 3 are not admitted, everyone needs a ticket regardless of age, and under-16s must sit with an accompanying adult.
There are some darker and sad scenes, and the show uses theatrical smoke, fog and strobe lighting. Most children aged 6 and up take it in their stride; the animals in the aisles are a thrill rather than a fright.
Yes, from their 3rd birthday, and they will need their own ticket. Children under 3 are not admitted. For a first theatre trip at that age, a matinee is the easier choice.
George Asprey (Scar), Shaun Escoffery (Mufasa), Posi Morakinyo (Simba), Asha Parker-Wallace (Nala) and Thenjiwe Nofemele (Rafiki) lead the company, cast correct as of July 2026. Long-running shows change cast from time to time.
Covent Garden (Piccadilly line) is about a 6-minute walk, and so is Charing Cross, which is also the nearest mainline rail station. Embankment is within about 10 minutes.
Yes: captioned, signed and audio described performances are scheduled a few times a year, with the next dates in September 2026 and March 2027. Access bookings and advice are handled by the venue's own access team via the theatre's official channels.
Yes. Call our Box Office on 020 7193 9050 and a real person will help you choose seats and book. Our prices are all-in, so the price you're given is the price you pay.
Yes. For groups of nine or more, call us on 020 7193 9050 and we will find seats together at the best price for your party. School and family groups do well at matinees.
Best Seats for The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre
The staging here is wide, tall and full of movement, so the rule of thumb is simple: a complete view of the stage beats being close to it. Our picks for this show:
- Stalls, on or near the centre-block aisles: the prime seats in the theatre, and the most fun in the West End. The Stalls are one big centre block with a side block either side, and the animal parades come down the aisles beside the centre block, in the opening and again after the interval. On those aisles, or a few seats in, the giraffes and elephants pass close enough to see how the puppets work.
- Royal Circle, front rows: the best view of the show itself. Once the parade has passed, this is where the whole picture comes together: raised, straight-on, with the full stage, the big company numbers and the aerial moments in one look. There is a lot going on in this show, and this is the seat that catches all of it.
- Stalls row Q, side blocks: the seats with no row directly in front of them, so nobody is sat between you and the stage. A really clear view of the show, and a tip most bookers miss.
- Grand Circle: the budget route, from around £35, cheapest in the back corners. It is the top level of a tall theatre, so expect height and a steeper angle; the trade-off is that the big scenes are composed to read clearly from up here.
Seats to think twice about:
- The very back corners of the Grand Circle are the cheapest seats for a reason: high, angled and far. Fine for the budget-minded; not the pick for a once-in-a-childhood trip.
- Far-side seats on any level: the staging spreads wide, so heavily side-on seats can lose the edges of the picture. whilst these seats are fine, they do feel very side-on to the stage, and you do miss a little bit of the action on the corners of the stage. Aim more central where you can.
- Restricted view seats: the seating map marks these clearly. On a show this visual they cost you more than they save, so where you can, sit a seat or two along instead.
Prices move with demand on this show. On quieter dates they run from around £35 up to around £85, with premium seats from around £125. On busy dates the same seats sit higher, standard seats can reach around £105 to £125, and premium has climbed as high as £250. Two practical rules: book early for the date you want, and if your date looks expensive, check a neighbouring midweek date. With us the price you see is the price you pay, all fees included. Call us on 020 7193 9050 and a real person will match seats to your group, your budget and the view you want.
Seating plan
Dates & tickets
Booking now
Getting to the Lyceum Theatre
The Lyceum Theatre is at 21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ, just off the Strand on the corner of Covent Garden, a short walk from the river.
- Nearest tube: Covent Garden (Piccadilly line), about a 6-minute walk. Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) is also about 6 minutes, and Embankment (Bakerloo, Northern, District and Circle) is within about 10.
- Rail: Charing Cross is the nearest mainline station, about a 6-minute walk via the Strand.
- Buses: routes 1, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 68, 77A, 91, 176 and 341 all serve the area, stopping on the Strand and around Aldwych within a couple of minutes of the theatre; Trafalgar Square is the closest interchange for all routes and night buses.
- Driving: not recommended. The Congestion Charge and ULEZ both apply; if you must drive, the Q-Park Theatreland scheme gives theatregoers 50% off up to 4 hours at participating car parks.
Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the performance, no later, so you have time for the bag check and to find your seat; the animals use the aisles at the start, so latecomers may be held until a suitable break. Of all the shows in London, Lion King is one you definitely don't want to miss the beginning of.
The Auditorium at a Glance
The Lyceum seats around 2,100 across three levels: Stalls, Royal Circle and Grand Circle. It is a big, old theatre with a wide stage, which is exactly what this production was built for; the show fills it to the edges and uses the aisles as part of the staging. This all said, prior to the show opening, the theatre had a big rebuild, and so it does have a relatively modern feel to it inside compared to a lot of other theatres.
For more about the theatre itself, see our Lyceum Theatre guide.
Address
21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ
Nearest Tube
Covent Garden (6 min walk); Charing Cross (6 min walk); Holborn (8 min walk)
Cast and Creative Team
The London company is led by two of the West End's longest-serving principals alongside a new generation in the title roles. Cast correct as of July 2026.
George Asprey (Scar). The production's veteran villain, playing Scar in London for over a decade and the company's longest-standing lead.
Shaun Escoffery (Mufasa). The West End's Mufasa for well over a decade, and a recording artist in his own right: six solo albums for labels including Sony, EMI and Decca, a Radio 2 Album of the Week among them, and an Olivier Award nomination for Parade at the Donmar Warehouse. His other stage credits include Les Misérables and The Who's Tommy, and his They Live in You is a highlight of the night.
Posi Morakinyo (Simba) and Asha Parker-Wallace (Nala) took over the lead roles on 5 May 2026, arriving as a pair after appearing together at the Almeida Theatre in American Psycho.
Thenjiwe Nofemele (Rafiki). The show's storyteller and its biggest laugh-getter, opening the show with the Circle of Life call.
The principal company in full:
- Scar: George Asprey
- Mufasa: Shaun Escoffery
- Rafiki: Thenjiwe Nofemele
- Zazu: Gary Jordan
- Timon: Stuart Neal
- Pumbaa: Pierre Van Heerden
- Simba: Posi Morakinyo
- Nala: Asha Parker-Wallace
- Shenzi: Sadia McEwen
- Banzai: Michael Jeremiah
- Ed: Mark Tatham
- Sarabi: Simone Robinson
Young Simba and Young Nala are played by rotating teams of child performers, and a large ensemble of singers, dancers and puppeteers completes the company; swings and understudies cover all principal roles.
The creative team:
- Director, costume design, mask and puppet co-design: Julie Taymor
- Music: Elton John
- Lyrics: Tim Rice
- Additional music and lyrics, vocal arrangements, choral director: Lebo M
- Book: Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
- Choreographer: Garth Fagan
- Scenic design: Richard Hudson
The Lion King Reviews and Reception
When The Lion King opened at the Lyceum on 19 October 1999, the London critics reached for superlatives. The Times called the opening "the most breathtaking opening to a musical I have seen", The Daily Telegraph's Charles Spencer wrote, "For once a mega musical lives up to the hype. This is a dazzling show with the heart of a lion", and the Evening Standard found "a beautiful dazzle of invention and imagination". Even the most reserved verdict, The Guardian's three stars, called it "a child's garden of delights".
More than 26 years on, the reviews of the running production keep landing in the same place:
- Time Out (4/5): "For a global blockbuster, The Lion King's absolute theatricality is astonishing."
- Theatre and Tonic (4/5): "The opening may be the most beautiful - and emotional - theatrical scene there is."
- Stage to Page (4/5): "The stars of the show are the hyenas. They are truly brilliant, and their costume designs are a sight to behold."
Audience ratings today are even better, with more than nine in ten positive across thousands of public reviews, remarkable for a show in its 27th year. The reception picture is unusually simple: critics and audiences agree on what you are buying, the most spectacular staging in the West End wrapped around a story every generation already loves. In September 2024 the production had a top-to-bottom refit ahead of its 25th anniversary, so it is looking its best. For every verdict in one place, read our full round-up, What the Critics Say.
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The Lion King
Lyceum Theatre