London Lion King Musical Review 2026: How to Get Discount Tickets

If you're in London's West End,

catching a musical is an absolute must!

But when I saw the ticket prices for The Lion King,

they were pricier than I expected, which made me hesitate.

What if you could get a seat that's normally 128.95 pounds

for just 75 pounds?!

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On a Thursday evening,

I bought a ticket on the day of the performance

and went to see The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. 🦁

In this post, I'll share my firsthand review of The Lion King musical in London,

covering everything from show schedules and running times,

to tips on how to snag cheap day seats,

including the view from a first-floor S30 seat and the English language difficulty.

I'll break down my personal experience for you!

1. London Lion King Musical Basic Info & Show Schedule

📌 Theatre: Lyceum Theatre

📌 Location: Approximately 5 minutes walk from Covent Garden Station

📌 London Lion King Running Time: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes

(Act 1: 70 min + Intermission: 20 min + Act 2: 60 min)

Show Schedule

Seat Prices

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Seat prices range from 38.95 to 198.95 pounds,

varying significantly based on seating location.

This is roughly ~$52 to ~$263.

If you want to purchase good seats at full price,

it can be quite a hefty sum, more than you might expect.

That's why I first looked into methods for discounted booking.

2. London Lion King Day Seats

2 Ways to Book

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If you're looking to catch a London musical on a budget,

it's a good idea to compare booking methods first.

I found two main discount methods.

Towards the end, I've also outlined a method where the price is a bit higher,

but allows you to secure your desired seats in advance.

① Magical Mondays

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One way to book The Lion King affordably, like a day seat,

is through the official website's Magical Mondays.

Every Monday at noon,

a limited number of tickets for that week's performances are sold

for 29.50 pounds (approximately ~$39).

▼ Check out Magical Mondays here ▼

Disney Day Seats - Last minute theatre tickets - Disney Tickets UKwww.disneytickets.co.uk

Since these are popular first-come, first-served discounted tickets,

it's a good idea to log in before sales open

and have your payment card ready.

Also, until 5 PM on Monday,

you can purchase tickets for that week's performances

without a booking fee.

② Buying on the Official Website on the Day of the Show

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This is how I did it!

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I purchased a ticket for £75 on the Disney official booking site

on the day of the performance.

✔ Original Listed Price: £128.95

(approximately ~$171)

✔ Actual Purchase Price: £75

(approximately ~$99)

✔ Amount Saved: £53.95

(approximately ~$71)

✔ Discount Rate: approximately 40%

That's a saving of around ~$71!

I thought London musical tickets were expensive, but isn't this price pretty great? 😂

▼ Disney Official Booking Site ▼

The Lion King Tickets | Disney's Official Box Office - Disney Tickets UKwww.disneytickets.co.uk

However, it's not always discounted just because it's the day of the show.

Prices can vary depending on the performance date and available seats.

If your schedule is flexible, I recommend checking prices on the day, but if you have specific seats in mind, it's best to book in advance.

🎫 Buying via MyRealTrip

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While it's not a discount, there's also the option to book in advance

through MyRealTrip.

When I compared, the prices were a bit higher than the two discount methods I mentioned earlier.

However, if your travel itinerary is set and you want to secure your desired seats in advance, it's a worthwhile option to consider.

3. Ground Floor S-Row Seat View

& Stage Production & Story

View from S-Row Seats

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I watched the Thursday evening 7:30 PM performance

from seat S30 on the ground floor.

Overall, it was a satisfactory seat with a good view of the stage.

The only slight disappointment was that a tall man sat in front of me!

Even with ground floor seats, your view can be slightly obstructed depending on the height of the person in front of you.

However, it didn't significantly hinder my enjoyment of the overall stage and production.

Stage Production & Animal Portrayal

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The biggest charm of London's Lion King musical is its original stage production that portrays animals.

Director Julie Taymor used a unique method, utilizing masks and puppetry without completely obscuring the actors' faces.

Thanks to this, a distinctive feature is being able to see both the animal's form and the expressions of the actors portraying them.

Not only are the masks of lions and Rafiki featured, but animals of varying sizes and movements, such as giraffes, elephants, and antelopes, are also portrayed in diverse ways.

It was impressive how they didn't simply replace the animated animals with humans, but rather reimagined them in a fresh way that can only be experienced on stage.

Therefore, even if you know the original story, London's Lion King musical offers a fresh and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Story

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Set in the African Pride Lands, it's the story of young lion Simba losing his father, finding his identity and responsibility, and growing into a king.

Since it closely follows the main storyline of the Disney animation,

you'll have no trouble understanding it

if you've seen the original.

4. The Lion King in London: English Difficulty

& Dialogue Speed

When you're watching an English musical in London,

the biggest worry is always

whether you'll understand the dialogue, right?

Here's how I'd rate the difficulty:

The storyline itself isn't difficult to follow at all.

If you're familiar with the original animated film,

you'll be able to follow the overall flow of the story

even if you don't catch every single line of dialogue.

However, if you're not used to British accents

or during scenes with fast-paced dialogue,

you might miss a few details.

But there's really no need to worry too much!

The Lion King is a masterpiece that you can absolutely enjoy to the fullest,

not just through its dialogue and songs,

but also thanks to its dazzling costumes, incredible animal movements,

and spectacular stage performances.

If English is a concern,

I highly recommend watching the animated film once before you go!

Knowing the story beforehand

will allow you to really immerse yourself in and appreciate the incredible stage production.

While it's a fantastic show to enjoy with kids,

it's a good idea to remember that The Lion King in London has a running time

of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes,

including the intermission, when you're booking your tickets.

✔ First-time musical-goers in London

✔ Anyone concerned about understanding English dialogue

✔ Families looking for a show to enjoy with their children

✔ Disney animation enthusiasts

This show is absolutely perfect for you!

My experience watching The Lion King musical

in London was fantastic!

The stage production was absolutely mesmerizing,

and what made it even better was getting tickets roughly 40% cheaper

by booking on the day.

If you're planning to catch a musical during your London trip,

be sure to compare same-day ticket prices on Magical Monday

and the official website.

If you prefer to secure your preferred seats in advance,

you can also check out MyRealTrip.