London - best "show" to recommend?

Hairspray, Sound of Music, Spamalot and The Lion King are all great. But if you can only go to one I would go to The Lion King. I have seen it three times in London and each and every time it's a thrill. The costumes are fantastic. You will not be disappointed if you go to The Lion King, I know you will love it.

Wow! When our daughter was 3, Lion King was her very first "real movie" on the big screen! I've been leaning toward it for huge sentimental reasons, so your "thumbs up" means a lot!

See "Billy Elliot"!! My parents and sister have seen it and say it is amazing. It doesn't open in the US until sometime this fall, I think, so you'll be ahead of the curve. Unlike the other shows you mention, it is a true London experience because that's the only place you can see it.

Saw Wicked in September ---- it was awfully, awfully, awfully good. But then we have really, really, really enjoyed the Phantom in prior years.

If your daughter is 17, she spent several years watching Lion King on video, and you spent those same years with her. You'll know the music and the story. It really is fantastic. I'd love to see it again.

We just saw Lion King and there is something in it for everyone...costumes, acting, music, story and magic!

Thank you all so much for your input! We've booked Lion King, and got great seats on an aisle in the stalls! And we're not going to tell our daughter!! (We'll say we're heading to another cathedral that afternoon, or something!!) Thanks again! :-)

I'm sure it will be wonderful...BUT if you get a chance for one more...Phantom is so romantic and all of my teenage graddaughters loved it! Don't be fooled by the movie which doesn't hold a candle to the London show. By the way, we didn't have tickets and went to the theatre before the performance in the afternoon and got wonderful seats so if you can play it by ear and have some time...try it. You won't be sorry.

Have to recommend my favorites! Sound of Music (classic), Mama Mia and We Will Rock You. All are fun- why limit yourself to just one! If you can, see several! I haven't seen them, but Hairsrpay, Wicked and Lion King get excellent reviews on this board.

They are all good. We just saw Spamalot last Saturday in London and it was fabulous. Most good musical theater is, though. The Lion King is a spectacular show (I saw it in the states when it was traveling), so I know it will be good.

One thing to know, though, The Lion King, Wicked, and Mamma Mia are all too popular to have half-price tickets available at the TKTS booth. You can still get them from the theater, but they may not be as cheap (or they may - you never know). And when we were there this morning to buy tickets to Avenue Q, the Hairspray tickets were full price (but available). Just remember a 60GBP ticket is really a $120 ticket in the US - pretty steep, but worth it if you really want to see the show. Check out www.tkts.co.uk to see what shows they generally have available (though it changes from day to day).

Yes, a 60British Pound theater ticket would be $120.00 but that is what you pay for good seats in New York City. A 60 BP would get you a seat in the stalls which is the best seats in the theater. We always sit in the stalls, if I'm going to the theater I want good seats, it really is worth the money.

I totally agree Robin. My point was that there are a lot of shows at TKTS for half that amount. My wife and I went to Spamalot and sat in the stalls for only 32GBP each and we are on our way to see Avenue Q tonight for 20GBP also in the stalls. So my point was just that there are options if you aren't dead set on a specific show.

You didn't mention Phantom of the Opera...25 plus years running for a reason! I took my 17 year old granddaughter last year and it was the highlight of the trip! Princess Di saw it every month I was told. It is so cozy in Her Majesty's theater and the play is fabulous. Do not miss it if you haven't seen or didn't plan to see it. The music will haunt you forever after seeing the play. The costumes, everything is incredible. I have seen it all 3 times I have gone to London and would see it again in a heartbeat.

Veronica, I saw Mamma Mia last fall in London and really enjoyed it! If your daughter likes ABBA music, that might be one show to consider (of course you could see the movie instead, as it opens July 18).

Given the fact that you all seem to have some "history" with The Lion King, that would probably be the first choice. However, you might want to have a "second choice" in case you can't get tickets.

Happy travels!

That's great that you got an aisle seat. Some of the "animals" come down the aisles, so make sure that's where she sits.

I saw Mamma Mia last June in London. What a wonderful show! :)

I would also consider "Spamelot". It's been running for a while so you should be able to get cheap tickets on the day of the show at the Leicester Square Ticket Booth. Not only is this a fun show but it's located in one of the oldest theatres. Just being in this kind of environment is an amazing experience.

I was disappointed with Wicked. I may be in the minority here.. LOL
I really enjoyed Spamalot and I am a mild Monty Python fan. It was hilarious and kept me entertained the entire time.

Lion King is very good. The costumes are incredible and if she liked the animated Disney version, she'll like the theatre version.

Hairspray is very entertaining but is quite similar to the movie which just came out. If you had to pick just 1.. I'd skip this one.

You really can't go wrong with any of them. You can take a gamble and get discounted tickets at TKTS at Leichester Square. I really wanted to see Spamalot and got my discounted tickets at Londontown.com. A Monday 8:00 show in the 2nd level for 37 pounds, versus a normal price of 50 something pound per ticket. The theatre is intimate, so most any seat in the house is fine.

Why not consider Shakespeare's Globe Theatre?! Before our second trip to London we had ordered tickets to Othello. The entire event was absolutely thrilling. A great memory for me, my husband and our 16 year old granddaughter. Check their online information about what plays will be presented during your trip.

I second Shakespeare's Globe! In my five weeks in Europe, seeing King Lear at the Globe was the best thing I did. Stand on the ground - it is only 5 GBP, and the experience is amazing, like being right in the play. Just watch out for the weather - the standing zone is open-air, and performances go on in all types of weather!

If you go to http://www.shakespeares-globe.org/theatre/boxoffice/seatingplanandticketprices/ you can see the Globe's seating plan and ticket prices. We sat in the Middle Gallery in Section D on the second row. Fantastic seats! No posts in the way and a perfect view of everything on stage. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is playing until October. "King Lear" ends Aug 17, but "The Merry Wives of Windsor" runs until Oct 5th. How I would love to see any of those!