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A trip to London is not complete without a visit to the West End, where an abundance of fantastic shows await you every night of the year. But with so much choice, it can often be hard to choose which one to see, especially if money is limited. So here’s a rundown of the five top musicals in London’s West End, all of which will provide a magical night to top off the perfect trip to England’s capital.

1. The Lion King

We’ve all seen the hit film, but Disney made a great decision when they brought it to the stage. The obvious question is how a musical can be performed with no human characters. But this has simply inspired the creators to produce one of the most incredible performances to hit the West End in years. The costumes have to be seen to be believed, and the actors literally become animals in front of your eyes. This is one musical that has amazed audiences across the world, and it’s up there with the best on offer at the moment. It is playing throughout the year at the Lyceum Theatre, which is located on Wellington Street, about a ten-minute walk from Charing Cross station, and tickets start at £20.

2. Les Misérables

Making its first appearance in October 1985, Les Misérables is the longest-running musical in the West End, and there are not many people who are unfamiliar with the name. The plot follows Jean Valjean on his release from the chain gang and his attempts to escape from his past, and is based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo. This musical presents 19th century France in a spectacular and unforgettable fashion, and is showing at the Queen’s Theatre on Shaftsbury Avenue. Tickets start at £15.

3. Oliver!

Everyone knows the story of Oliver Twist, Dickens’s timeless tale of an orphan boy who manages to survive numerous trials in his young life to finally find his way in the world, and this real classic has now returned to London courtesy of producer Cameron Mackingtosh. The classic score is simply unmissable, and Rowan Atkinson also makes a critically-acclaimed performance as Fagin. It is showing at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, and tickets can be purchased from £17.50.

4. Wicked

A fairly recent addition to the West End, Wicked is based on the book by Gregory Maguire and follows the story of the Wicked Witch of the West before her role in The Wizard of Oz. Breaking records all around the world, the musical is responsible for the biggest opening in the history of the West End. Showing at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre, it made its premier in September 2006 and is performed eight times a week. Tickets start at £15.

5. Billy Elliot: The Musical

Billy Elliot: The Musical is based on the smash-hit British film of the same name. It follows the story of its eponymous star as he finds a way to combat the misery and hardship of the miners’ strike to become a world-class ballet dancer, all backed up by some great music from Elton John. It arrived in the West End in March 2005 and has continued to amaze audiences since then. The show takes place at the Victoria Palace Theatre on Victoria Street, and tickets start at £17.50.

For London theatre breaks check out JustLondonTheatreBreaks.

Photo of Wicked at at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre by Thesolaris5