New Year’s Eve Breaks in London’s Theatreland
Because New Year’s Eve is on a Tuesday there is a wide of West End Musicals to entertain us and help us see in 2025 – both in the evening and in the afternoon, so you can catch a show and then go and do something else afterwards and STILL have time to catch the fireworks
All the shows with New Year’s Eve performances are listed below split into matinees and evening performances. As at the time of writing, they are all available, but don’t leave it too late: with the fireworks and the sales and the general feelgood nature of the place, London at New Year is a popular destination.
The New Year’s Eve Evening Shows:
Les Miserables
The country’s favourite musical! More people still want to see this show than any other show in London, even after 30 years. The story of a man and his quest to live an honest life and protect the people he loves, is one of the most enchanting stories told on the London stage. It will bring a tear to your eye and lift your spirit like no other.
MJ The Musical
I am so glad that the King of Pop’s music is celebrated night after night in London: what a great way to party in the new year.
The Phantom of the Opera
The Theatre Break highlight. The Phantom of the Opera has been attracting people to London for many years now: and still we come! Superb
The Mousetrap
Another long runner. Agatha Christies famous who-dunnit only stopped for Covid and there is a rumour that the bricks and mortar of St Martins Theatre didn’t get the memo and kept going through the nightly process on its own – to the entertainment of the chairs
Hamilton
Probably the biggest show to come to London in the last few years. It was sold out for years and even agents couldn’t get seats. Now we are lucky enough to have tickets for Lin Manuel Miranda’s hip-hop and R&B-inspired telling of the remarkable life story of Alexander Hamilton.
Cabaret
Breathing new life into this stand-out musical, director Rebecca Frecknall the Kit Kat Klub has been brilliantly recreated in the Playhouse Theatre, allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves in this stunning musical experience. The Playhouse is the closest theatre to the New Year Fireworks site.
Magic Mike Live
Welcome to the Crazy Club. What a way to see in the New Year – Magic Mike at the iconic Leicester Square Hippodrome Casino. Seated, standing, on a couch or at a table: enjoy the Magic Mike experience however you like.
Hadestown
Set in A New Orleans club and driven by Anaïs Mitchell’s New Orleans jazz infused music, Hades town is another new show to town with a story taken from Greek Mythology: Orpheus and Eurydice have to out smart the king of Hades.
The New Year’s Eve Matinee Shows:
Disney’s The Lion King
Take a stroll round London, arrive at The Lyceum Theatre off of the Strand and walk into the pridelands of the Serengeti. Every Christmas needs a splash of Disney Magic.
Moulin Rouge
The stage musical version of Baz Lurhman’s spectacular movie from his Red Curtain Trilogy (also includes Romeo + Juliet and Striclty Ballroom) is every bit as special. My personal choice for Christmas this year: see you there!
Let’s end these lists with three musicals about powerful, strong, independent women. If you want to end 2024, empowered to tackle 2025, you can’t go far wrong with these:
Tina – The Tina Turner Story.
Iconic music from an iconic lady. Tina Turner had to defy the boundaries of gender, age and race not to mention a toxic relationship with her husband, Ike. The respect we should show this lady is as unbounded as the joy her music brings. What ever 2024 has meant to you, this will be a spectacular highlight.
Wicked
A magical tale of friendship, love, power and destiny, Wicked celebrates girl power and our perception of what is good and evil and asks should we trust our first instincts when the reality of life is so unfairly nuanced.
SIX – the musical
King Henry’s wives tell their stories and set the records straight. More powerful women to end the year before St Catherine’s Wheels set the night skies alight.
New Year’s Eve Theatre Breaks
There is a great range of London hotels still available for New Years Eve (at time of writing!) – in fact we currently have over 50 hotels in and around the West End with accommodation available on New Year’s Eve. You could also book two nights and make sure you have a nice long time in London to enjoy the sales!
Once you have selected your show, the booking system will tell you what is available and where. If you want to be close to the MNew Year’s Fireworks, can I suggest the Royal Horseguards, The Clermont London Charing Cross, The Thistle Trafalgar Square or the Thistle Piccadilly all within a gentle New Year’s Eve stroll of the Thames.
