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Top 10 West End Shows for Tourists with Little or No English
The Lion King
Disney’s beloved story of Simba comes alive on stage through spectacular visuals, music, and movement. Even if you don’t speak much English, the familiar storyline, expressive performances, and iconic songs make it easy to follow and deeply engaging from start to finish.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 2 hrs 30 min
- Theatre: Lyceum Theatre, Covent Garden
- Why it’s great: Stunning puppetry, bold costumes, and powerful music carry the story visually, making it easy to understand without relying heavily on dialogue.
- Nearby: Covent Garden Market, Jubilee Hall, London Transport Museum.
Wicked
This visually spectacular musical explores the unlikely friendship between two witches before the world of The Wizard of Oz as you know it. The story is easy to follow thanks to its familiar setting, expressive performances, and powerful music that carries emotion and meaning beyond words.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 2 hrs 45 min
- Theatre: Apollo Victoria Theatre
- Why it’s great: Magical stage effects, bold visuals, and strong musical storytelling explain the plot clearly through emotion rather than dialogue.
- Nearby: Victoria Station, Westminster Cathedral, Little Ben.
Mamma Mia!
Set on a sunny Greek island, this feel-good musical tells a simple, heartwarming story through ABBA’s world-famous songs. The familiar music, energetic dancing, and clear visual storytelling make it easy to enjoy, even if you understand very little English.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 3 hrs
- Theatre: Novello Theatre, Aldwych
- Why it’s great: ABBA’s iconic hits drive the story and emotion, making the show lively, uplifting, and easy to follow for international audiences.
- Nearby: Somerset House, Strand, Covent Garden.
Hamilton
This groundbreaking musical brings the life of Alexander Hamilton to the stage through fast-paced music, bold choreography, and striking visuals. Even if you don’t understand every lyric, the energy, movement, and emotion make the story engaging and easy to follow, especially for those familiar with the soundtrack or filmed version.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 2 hrs 45 min
- Theatre: Victoria Palace Theatre
- Why it’s great: High-energy choreography, expressive performances, and music-driven storytelling keep the show engaging even without perfect English.
- Nearby: Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park, Westminster Abbey.
Les Misérables
This epic musical brings Victor Hugo’s classic story to life through powerful music and striking visuals. Set during the French Revolution, the emotional performances and well-known songs make the story easy to follow, even if you don’t understand every word.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 3 hrs 15 min
- Theatre: Sondheim Theatre
- Why it’s great: Emotionally driven music, minimal spoken dialogue, and grand staging communicate the story clearly across language barriers.
- Nearby: Soho, Chinatown, Leicester Square.
The Book of Mormon
This bold and energetic musical uses exaggerated characters, physical comedy, and lively songs to tell its story. Even if some jokes move quickly, the clear actions, expressive performances, and visual humor make it easy to follow and highly entertaining for audiences with limited English.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 2 hrs 30 min
- Theatre: Prince of Wales Theatre
- Why it’s great: Strong visual comedy, dance, and expressive acting carry the humor and story even if you miss some language-based jokes.
- Nearby: Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, M&M’s World.
MJ The Musical
This high-energy musical celebrates the life and music of Michael Jackson, from his early days with the Jackson 5 to his rise as a global icon. The story is familiar and simple to follow, while the focus stays firmly on electrifying performances, iconic dance moves, and world-famous songs.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 2 hrs 30 min
- Theatre: Prince Edward Theatre
- Why it’s great: Michael Jackson’s legendary hits and signature choreography drive the show, making it easy to enjoy without understanding English.
- Nearby: Soho, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street.
SIX the Musical
Styled like a high-energy pop concert, this fun and modern show features the six wives of Henry VIII taking turns to share their stories. With bold visuals, catchy songs, and strong personalities on stage, it’s easy to enjoy without following a complex storyline or lots of dialogue.
- Format: Concert-style musical
- Duration: 1 hr 20 min
- Theatre: Vaudeville Theatre, Strand
- Why it’s great: Bright visuals, catchy pop music, and minimal dialogue make it fast, fun, and easy to follow for international audiences.
- Nearby: Embankment Gardens, South Bank, Covent Garden.
Starlight Express
This high-energy musical tells a simple underdog story through movement, music, and spectacle. With performers racing around the stage on roller skates, the show relies on visuals and action rather than dialogue, making it easy to enjoy with little to no English.
- Format: Musical
- Duration: 2 hrs 15 min
- Theatre: Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
- Why it’s great: Roller-skating performances, dazzling lighting, and clear character types make the story very visual and fun to watch.
- Nearby: Wembley Stadium, Boxpark Wembley, London Designer Outlet.
ABBA Voyage
This one-of-a-kind virtual concert brings ABBA back to the stage through stunning digital avatars, backed by a live band in a purpose-built arena. With no storyline or dialogue to follow, the experience is all about iconic music, immersive visuals, and pure feel-good energy.
- Format: Virtual concert experience
- Duration: 1 hr 30 min
- Theatre: ABBA Arena, Stratford
- Why it’s great: No plot or spoken dialogue, just spectacular visuals, cutting-edge technology, and ABBA’s timeless hits.
- Nearby: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford, ArcelorMittal Orbit.