The Lion King London: What you need to know about this family favourite Disney musical and how to find tickets

Learn all about the child-friendly stage adaptation and plan your Lion King theatre trip

Disney’s legendary animation has been reborn as a brilliantly entertaining stage musical – the perfect first theatre trip for children. Lion cub Simba is born to be the next king of the African Pride Lands, but flees home when he thinks he is responsible for the death of his father, Mufasa.
He becomes friends with the easy-going Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog, and is later reunited with childhood pal (now love interest) Nala. But Simba must return home to defeat his evil uncle, Scar, and Scar’s pack of hyenas, and reclaim his destiny.
The show combines everything you loved about the film, including Elton John and Tim Rice’s catchy songs (Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel the Love Tonight), with jaw-dropping theatrical elements such as massive animal puppets.
You can find seats for the London production of The Lion King on Telegraph Tickets. Check the site for the latest prices. 
The original voice cast for The Lion King included Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones and Jeremy Irons, while the recent CGI movie remake featured Donald Glover, Seth Rogan and even Beyoncé. Plenty of exciting talent has been showcased on stage too, including Heather Headley and Nathalie Emmanuel.
Currently leading the West End production are George Asprey (The Sound of Music, The Crown), Shaun Escoffery (Les Miserables), Owen Chaponda (Back to the Future, Sunset Boulevard), Merryl Ansah (A Christmas Carol, Crazy For You), and renowned South African singer-songwriter Thenjiwe Thendiva Nofemele.
The production features Tony Award-winning direction and costume design by Julie Taymor, plus choreography by Garth Fagan, scenic design by Richard Hudson, and lighting design by Donald Holder – all Tony winners. The huge, unforgettable animal puppets were designed by Taymor and Michael Curry.
The Lion King runs at the Lyceum Theatre, which is on Wellington Street, close to Covent Garden, Charing Cross and other West End theatres on The Strand.
The Lion King is 2hr 30, including an interval.
The Lion King is currently booking to October 19, 2024. 
The age recommendation for The Lion King is six plus. Children aged under three will not be admitted to the theatre.
Yes, the show runs some relaxed, captioned, signed and audio-described performances. Upcoming dates can be found on the theatre website for The Lion King accessible performances.
“Watching the show alongside my rapt children, I was struck by how much it succeeds in speaking to the heart… A sweeping panorama of a continent in dignified motion and a deeply felt celebration of life.” Read the full Telegraph review.
The Lion King has a running time of around two hours 30 minutes, including a 20-minute interval. That’s about the same as the average West End show. This engaging production keeps young audiences engaged throughout thanks to its clear storytelling, amazing puppets and beloved songs.
The stage musical version of The Lion King had its Broadway premiere in 1997 and opened in the West End two years later, in 1999. It is still running at London’s Lyceum Theatre: it’s currently the sixth longest running West End musical of all time. That’s because new generations keep discovering it – The Lion King will always be a family favourite.
The production’s official advice is six plus, with children aged three and under not permitted to enter the theatre. Although this Disney spectacular is an incredibly family-friendly show, there are some upsetting scenes (such as Mufasa’s death) which might be difficult for very young children. But if you feel your kids can handle it, you could go slightly younger.