West End shows for first-time visitors
Choosing your first West End show? These crowd-pleasing shows suit first-time visitors, with running times and booking links.
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Play Opens 12 Nov 2026
A Christmas Carol
Performances begin: 12 November 2026
More info about A Christmas Carol Cast, reviews and details for A Christmas Carol
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Musical Opens 13 Nov 2026
A Homo Alone 2: Yikes We Did It Again!
Performances begin: 13 November 2026
More info about A Homo Alone 2: Yikes We Did It Again! Cast, reviews and details for A Homo Alone 2: Yikes We Did It Again!
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Musical On sale
ABBA Voyage
Buy tickets from £67 for ABBA Voyage (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for ABBA Voyage
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Play On sale
Affluenza
Buy tickets from £31 for Affluenza (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Affluenza
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Play Opens 17 Apr 2027
Amadeus
Performances begin: 17 April 2027
More info about Amadeus Cast, reviews and details for Amadeus
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Play Opens 30 Nov 2026
An Evening Of Unnecessary Detail
Performances begin: 30 November 2026
More info about An Evening Of Unnecessary Detail Cast, reviews and details for An Evening Of Unnecessary Detail
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Play On sale
As You Like It
Buy tickets from £7 for As You Like It (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for As You Like It
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Play On sale
August Wilson’s Fences
Buy tickets from £19 for August Wilson’s Fences (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for August Wilson’s Fences
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Play On sale
Austentatious
Buy tickets from £27 for Austentatious (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Austentatious
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Musical On sale
Avenue Q
Shaftesbury Theatre, West End
Buy tickets from £20 for Avenue Q (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Avenue Q
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Play On sale
Baby
Buy tickets from £17 for Baby (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Baby
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Musical On sale
Beetlejuice
Prince Edward Theatre, West End
Opened: 20 May 2026
Buy tickets from £25 for Beetlejuice (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Beetlejuice
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Musical On sale
Beetlejuice The Musical
Buy tickets from £31 for Beetlejuice The Musical (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Beetlejuice The Musical
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Play Opens 10 Mar 2027
Berlin
Performances begin: 10 March 2027
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Musical Opens 12 Feb 2027
Billy Elliot The Musical
Performances begin: 12 February 2027
More info about Billy Elliot The Musical Cast, reviews and details for Billy Elliot The Musical
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Play On sale
Buffy Revamped
Buy tickets from £31 for Buffy Revamped (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Buffy Revamped
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Play On sale
CADEL: Lungs on Legs
Buy tickets from £37 for CADEL: Lungs on Legs (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for CADEL: Lungs on Legs
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Musical On sale
Cabaret
Playhouse Theatre, West End
Buy tickets from £42 for Cabaret (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Cabaret
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Musical On sale
Ceilidh The Musical
Opened: 21 October 2026
Buy tickets from £20 for Ceilidh The Musical (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Ceilidh The Musical
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Musical On sale
Chicago
Cambridge Theatre, West End
Buy tickets from £25 for Chicago (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Chicago
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Play Opens 18 Dec 2026
Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
Performances begin: 18 December 2026
More info about Christmas Carol Goes Wrong Cast, reviews and details for Christmas Carol Goes Wrong
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Musical Opens 14 Nov 2026
Cinderella
Performances begin: 14 November 2026
More info about Cinderella Cast, reviews and details for Cinderella
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Musical Opens 14 Nov 2026
Club NVRLND
Performances begin: 14 November 2026
More info about Club NVRLND Cast, reviews and details for Club NVRLND
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Musical On sale
Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
Buy tickets from £59 for Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular (opens in a new tab) Cast, reviews and details for Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
Ticket links may be affiliate links, which never affect our reviews. Prices, dates and availability change, so check the ticket seller before you book.
Frequently asked questions
What should I see on my first West End trip?
Pick a well-reviewed musical or play from the list, and read our first-timer guide for booking tips.
Where can I find reviews and cast details?
Each show below links to its page with the cast, theatre, running time, reader ratings and our reviews.
More ways to choose a show
- Musicals for first-timers
- Best West End shows
- West End tonight
- West End this weekend
- Romantic West End shows
- West End musicals tonight
- West End plays tonight
- West End musicals this weekend
- West End plays this weekend
- West End shows tomorrow
- West End comedy shows
- Accessible West End shows
- All shows: what's on
- Cheap theatre tickets guide
- First time at the West End
- Review roundup
- All show guides