A Family Guide to the Lion King Musical, London

Our Family Guides are written by families, for families – if you think we’re missing vital information or want to leave a comment with your own top tips based on your trip, we’d love to hear them and will periodically update this content with our community’s top suggestions.
Last revised: November 2024
An Introduction to The Lion King
If you’ve never heard of The Lion King, we’ll be shocked.
If you’ve never heard any of the music from The Lion King, we’ll be even more shocked.
Originally released in 1994, The Lion King was one of Disney’s first original animated screenplays (vs. those written about other characters or adapted from existing books). With music at its heart (composed by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice and score by Hans Zimmer) as well as impressive animation and a strong voice-cast, the film is seen as every bit classic Disney as its older counterparts (The Jungle Book, Cinderella, Snow White and more) and quickly burrowed a place into the hearts of children and adults everywhere.
The musical adaptation opened in 1997 in the US, and in London in 1999 where it has just celebrated its 25th birthday. The show is consistently popular and hasn’t changed much (at least for the London production this guide is based on) in the years since, staying true to the film script and its iconic puppetry and costume design.
Its continued popularity means it’s now delighting its fourth (fifth if you count the grandparents!) generation with no signs of slowing, so we’re bringing you all you need to know ahead of booking – from plot suitability and what to expect on the day (plus how to score booster seats to ensure a great view), as well as approximate snack prices and travel advice, we’ve got it covered.
Table of Contents
Plot, Age Suitability and Morals
The plot of The Lion King centres, as many Disney stories do, on the battle between good and evil. At its heart, it’s a story focused on moral lessons about living life to its full but ultimately facing up to the realities of responsibility – and what happens when responsibility is placed in the hands of those without good intentions. Finding balance between the frivolity of life whilst also taking your place as part of the ever-turning wheel is the aim of the game, though the story has always been more of a subtle nod to this balance, rather than overtly calling it out.
This section is going to contain spoilers so skip ahead if you haven’t seen the film but do be mindful that whilst the show is given a 6+ rating, we live in a world where not all children react equally to themes of death, parent loss and aggression. If your child or another family member attending is sensitive to these, we’d advise taking a skim of the below plot before booking.
Plot:
The plot focuses on Simba, a newly born lion cub whose father, Mufasa, is the ruler of Pride Rock – where animals live in peace and tranquillity (unless you’re the Lions dinner, which is suspiciously ignored during all of the bowing and dancing that the giraffes and antelope are forever doing to him).
Mufasa’s brother Scar is a mean dude with a big chip on his shoulder and he’s desperate to be king instead of Simba. With the help of some hyena buddies, he sets to work on a plan to usurp Mufasa and ensure that Simba never gets crowned. How? By csonvincing him the death of his father is his own fault.
Scar half succeeds – he gets rid of Mufasa but the hyenas, as useless as they are as sidekicks, let Simba run away, leaving the pride lands forever. Mufasa claims the crown, and everyone thinks Simba is dead too. He wakes later to find himself a couple of new friends heavier in a meerkat and a warthog, and they teach him how to live (with) Hakuna Matata – no worries.

As the pride lands slowly crumble with Scar and the hyenas in charge, the food and water supply start to run out from overhunting. It’s down to Simba’s arranged wife, Nala, to save them all – including their own food supply as the other animals have all left or been killed (the most subtle, yet powerful, nod to the lesson that those in power only ever really stay that way if they keep the little guys fed and watered too).
With the help of the ancient and wise Rafiki, Nala heads off to find help just as Simba starts to grow restless of lazing in rivers and having fun with his friends and begins questioning what more there is for him to explore. Nala catches up with him and the pair reunite but it takes Rafiki showing Simba the stars for him to face up to the world that he left behind him and decide whether he feels strong enough to discuss why he left.
Obviously, Disney is notorious about happy endings, or at least getting close to one, and a showdown between Simba and Mufasa is ON. Can scar keep his position and convince the remaining lions to stand by him and reject Simba? Can Simba claim back his crown (*ahem* – or should it have been Nala’s?) and can balance in power be returned to the pride lands? Simba returns with Nala to tackle Scar and his hyena army, and the powerful finale returns us to where the film begins, with the pride lands coming to life once more.
Age Suitability & Sensitive Topics
Whether you deem the story suitable for your child will come down to several factors:
- Have they seen the film – did they enjoy it? If so, it’s likely they’ll love it and that there won’t be any issues with themes (though bear in mind that the live-action nature of theatre almost makes the talk of death and violence feel more “real” than in cartoon form, but this is likely only going to be noticeable to families who have to be aware of these themes)
- How comfortable are they with parent loss as a topic? Here, we mean both the seeing of the death as well as its later reference as a parent “in the stars”
- Are they OK watching scenes that talk about murder and show violence? There are fight scenes between characters and multiple references to killing – though the show presents these well
- Are your kids OK watching “animals” being fictionally harmed? This feels more like actors stage-fighting but there are obviously references to eating some of the animals and if you’ve not seen the film and have kids that struggle with any pain caused to animals (a lot more common than you may think), then just bear in mind it’s a part of the story, which is aimed at explaining the circle of life and food chain at a basic, child-friendly level
- Language – with the removal of “I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts” (for shame!) there is next to no language that will cause issue here – and even that was pushing it.
If the above are fine for your family and the film was enjoyed by your kids, then you’re good to go and you’ll have a fantastic time. If parent loss, violence or other themes as listed are a sensitive subject or one that needs more careful planning ahead (avoiding anniversaries and special occasions being common) then use this information to steer your booking choices and prep little minds ahead!
Themes and Lessons Parents Will Love
The morals contained within The Lion King are both its strengths and in contemporary view, it’s potential weaknesses. There’s a lot of themes you can unpack in this story more widely – spirituality, religion and ethics are big themes, and the beauty of this means the film is adaptable in lots of different ways to your own family’s circumstances and beliefs. Either sing the songs and have no worries, or dig into the many stories and lessons to explore, such as:
- The Circle of Life (literal) – The food chain and all it encompasses is a great learning tool for primary-aged children – as is Simba’s (potential) no-meat diet after he transitions to slugs and bugs! His eating habits aren’t later referenced but it’s a great story for demonstrating ideas and lessons around the idea that our ecosystem is fragile and that everything has a food source – remove the light and over-eat, remove the source.
- The Circle of Life (metaphorical) – every end has beginning but they can all exist as separate stories and loops. Whilst the general theme is that everything cycles and begins again, there is a distinct difference in that Simba has learnt that fun and enjoyment are also important to him and the addition of Timone and Pumba into his closest circle (who would be food chain otherwise) symbolises an important lesson that whilst the circle is ever spinning, we still have the power to change what has been before to make that next cycle even stronger.
- Hakuna Matata – Lessons in positivity and letting some stuff go. Take a breath, sing along and let worries pass you by for a moment. This actually works for the adults on the Cheap Theatre Tickets team too! When taken in with the rest of the film’s morals, it’s not about never having a worry, but instead about understanding that when you do, there’s always time to take a moment and come at the problem with strength in a new light.
- Politics and Power – The Lion King is a fantastic film to have first conversations with kids and pre-teens about politics and power. The themes allow you to flex and adapt to your own families’ beliefs and situations well enough that you can even find sympathy at times for Scar (if you really try!)
- Women’s Equality & Righting Wrongs – The Lion King is also an example of an early Disney film that can be read as the hero being one of several people. Ultimately you can say Simba’s bravery at returning to a world where people think he harmed his dad or has lied about his death is the truly heroic thing – when we have made a mistake, do we own up to it and face the fire or do we run? But you can also see this a story very much focused on Nala, who sees the horror of what happens at Pride Rock and chooses to go alone into the unknown and find either help or a new home. Her strength and courage are what ultimately find Simba. If she hadn’t tried, would he have ever returned? The balance is a really useful tool for important conversations with kids about gender equality (if you focus on her importance more than the original script does), what real strength is in facing your mistakes head-on and in the beauty of accepting each other, “flaws” and all.

Travel and Getting to the Venue
The Lyceum Theatre at 21 Wellington Street has been home to the Lion King since its opening in 1999. If you are unfamiliar with the West End, there’s a bit of an “outside of London” impression that you will step off the tube and immediately be able to spot the theatre you’re after or that there will be lots of signposting. Many people expect an ease of navigation similar to Broadway – one strip to walk along and you’ll find your spot eventually.
The West End is a bit more London than that and as a result, one wrong turn and you’ll end up meandering in the opposite direction to the theatre you’re looking for, with small off-shoots full of restaurants to confuse you – we’ve detailed the easiest transport options for once you’ve touched down in London below.
If you’re coming from further afield:
- By Air: Gatwick and Heathrow are the main airports that will get you closest, with Stansted in London itself but offering less options for Europe routes
- By Sea: Portsmouth is the closest ferry from mainland Europe, while Dover, Calais and Newhaven all have seat-access and train links to London too
- By National/International Rail: St Pancras offers quick train links for cities like Leicester and Sheffield whilst also connecting via Eurostar links to France and the Netherlands. It’s about 1 hour 30 from Euston, the closest station to St. Pancras, to the West End.
Sites like split my ticket can also help you work out the cheapest travel options for you – sometimes it’s far more cost-effective to buy single journey tickets and change than to get a travelcard or standard return ticket, leaving you more money for popcorn!
What’s the best station to arrive at for The Lion King?
This will depend on your access needs and any additional support required, as well as where you are coming from. Essentially, using the London Underground will give you the shortest walk the other side and the Overground will mean no confined spaces and better access, but a longer walk.
Buses are also freely available but which number you need will very much depend on where you are coming from so its best to use the Transport for London journey planner with the postcode WC2E 7RQ and see where your closest stop is.
Here’s a handy map of the different walking options from each of the main nearby stations:
Underground:
Covent Garden (Picadilly Line) – 6 Minute walk
Leicester Square (Northern Line) – 9 Minute walk
Embankment and Temple (Circle Line) – 10 Minute walk
Overground:
Charing Cross (Northern Line but overground primarily) – 7 Minute walk
Buses – varied but expect around 16 minutes from Victoria train station and 20 minutes from London Bridge station.
Some key notes on travel:
- Covent Garden tube only has lifts to exit the platforms and get up to the street. This means it was a lot slower than other lines after theatre kicking out time.
- Overground to Charing Cross is a longer walk but means you can skip out any busy tube-lines if that’s something your children will struggle with (or take the bus!)
- Consider your party – we had someone claustrophobic on one trip and with ASD on another. For the claustrophobe Covent Garden was a no-go, and we went via Charing Cross as this is primarily above ground. Our ASD friend managed just about to do the busier journey and lifts at Covent Garden on the way back but did need a bit of a hand hold
- If you want to see the river, use Embankment or Temple

If you aren’t doing a cheap trip and want something a little jazzier, there are also disco rickshaws that will be hanging around the stations in the early and late evening that can provide a light-hearted way to travel (and will certainly lighten your pockets too so are not for the budget-lovers out there! Be warned, these will cost you and are not regulated or licensed. If you decide to fork out you will also have to listen to something Bieber, Swift or a 70s disco classic. They are quite the thing though so if you fancy checking them out, pop your sunglasses on and take a look at this Guardian article. Prices can be as high as £1 per minute per person (yes, you read that right) so it’s not at the top of our to-do list!
Is it manageable on a school night?
Here’s the thing. You are going to be able to bag cheaper tickets on a weeknight. You are also likely to be able to make it if your journey time from your local station to the West End is around the 3-hour mark.
We travelled from Sussex after school. We were running late but made it onto a train at about 4.45ish after a 30-minute drive to the station. We arrived at the theatre around 6.35 after a leisurely stroll from Covent Garden tube on the first trip and Charing Cross on the second. This gave us almost an hour to visit the toilets, grab drinks and take our seats before the performance began.
This journey would also be doable from the South Coast (as long as you don’t have the 30min drive to a station as we did – this is about the time difference in doing so vs. coming from Eastbourne/Brighton) or if you were coming from a more northerly direction. Any further North and it’s unlikely you’d make it, but it is far more possible than I had considered ahead of trying it.

The main issue is homeward as we didn’t make it back till 1am. I had considered staying over as my kiddo is an early riser, and then getting the train back to school the next morning but this wasn’t exactly in the spirit of a “cheap” trip so skipped the idea on this occasion – however, I can report that I did try Air B&B whilst there and found several options under £100 for that evening so it is possible to stay on a budget last-minute (and by booking ahead) if you are willing to grab the tube a few stops away. I was pleasantly surprised by that and will likely use the option in the future when making it more of a “staying over” trip.
I instead took the option of letting my sons school know he’d be in late the next day so I could let him sleep in. Obviously a fine from the school isn’t going to help keep the trip cheap but you’ll know your kids school best and what they are willing to accept. Ours was an unauthorized absence so comes with risk, but his school as many are understand the challenge of rising costs and are brilliant and very supportive of him having an experience he may not have had otherwise – as long as we fit in some learning around it and he reported back to the class.
This will all come down to personal choice – cheaper tickets can be had mid-week. It’s also completely unattainable if you are higher North than about Middlesborough or Newcastle unless you like being really stressed after school or are going to be staying over.
What is the walk to the Lyceum Theatre like?
The walk should be fairly easy for most children, depending on which station you arrive at and whether you have any other access needs.
Our 9-year-old-tester was fine – it was about a 6-minute walk from Covent Garden to The Lyceum when we went, so very accessible.
The grandmother of the group attended on a separate occasion, instead walking from Charing Cross and struggled more in her 60s but still found it manageable, despite a couple of knee replacements over the years. The beauty in London is the number of options you have so it shouldn’t ever be that you are more than a 10-minute walk away (just keep your Google or Apply maps app to hand to avoid heading down the wrong street!
Where can we stay if we decide to stay over after seeing The Lion King?
There are so many options, with London as your oyster so again this will come down to budget. If you are looking at higher end, full West End experiences and budget allows, there is Savoy Hotel and One Aldwych Hotels which are renowned for their luxury.
If you’re happy to shop around, you will find deals in quieter, yet still accessible by tube, locations such as Paddington and Kings Cross, where you might pay closer to £100-150 for a room.
Family sized rooms are going to be harder to come by and much more expensive – this is where we’d advise also checking Airbnb as there were some great whole-flat options across London that can give you the comfort of home and space enough for everyone to crash after an exciting adventure at the theatre, without breaking the bank to the same extent as needing 2-3 hotel rooms. A quick search at the time of writing again shows multiple options for 2 adults and 1 child (or 2 children, 1 adult) under £100 within a decent distance on a Thursday night, with many of these properties accepting 2 children + 2 adults also.

Places like booking.com are also a good idea for checking amalgamated offers too and you can find the odd treasure of a hotel if you’re lucky. You might need to play with dates a little ahead to see whether booking early or late is the best option as prices fluctuate according to demand and there’s a sweet spot to finding the right time to book – which is often not absolute last-minute but equally not so far ahead that the hotels are expecting to be at capacity. As with anything where budget is concerned – do some early research on what is reasonable, set a budget and then look within that price range – it’ll much less overwhelming than searching fresh each day and will psychologically stop you from spending more as the alure of out-of-budget options becomes appealing.
Run Time and Intervals
The run-time clocks in at 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Tickets suggest you arrive around 6pm with the bars opening 6.15pm.
We were out shortly after 10pm for the evening performance, which starts at 7.30pm, but there is also a matinee at 2.30pm on Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and at weekends if that’s a little late for your kids.
Honestly, the timing is the only thing semi-baffling thing as a production like The Lion King screams “start at 6/6.30pm please” and this would give a bit more of a chance for families’ to take their kids for a late-night treat.
A note – you’ll want to give the round of applause for the child actors that play Simba and Nala ahead of the interval as they are subject to child working legalities and so miss their standing ovations each night!
How long is the interval? Time for the toilet or will I miss something?
The interval was around 20 minutes and on the two occasions we went, it was a bit touch and go as to whether we’d make it to the toilet and back in time for Act 2. We joined the toilet queue a couple of minutes into the interval. The men’s line was, naturally, moving a lot quicker than the women’s and we got out just as they were asking people to take to their seats again. I managed to snag a couple of ice creams as I walked back to my seat and just made it back around a minute or so before the lights went down so I would advise toilet first, ice-cream second when the queues have naturally dwindled.
A note – you don’t want to miss the start of Act 2, which begins beautifully in a sea of colour and traditional African sound plus bird puppets all over the auditorium as the musicians take back to their positions, so if toilets are a big thing for you and your family, I’d advise sitting somewhere nearer to an aisle so you can sprint to the facilities as soon as Hakuna Matata has ended. We were in the Royal Circle and the toilets here were on stage left of the venue (starting at seats numbered 1). If it’s disabled you will need, these are near the stalls only. The theatre and its staff are very accommodating and can help with other specific access requests around this.

Seating and Comfort
Where should we sit – price vs. view?
Handily, we have a cheap Lion King seating guide that will help you find some of the most cost-effective options for seating, and of course our sister site, SeatPlan, which can help you look-before-you-book, checking real seat reviews and photos from other theatregoers with information such as the reviewers height to help you make an informed decision based on your own circumstances. The Lyceum also has some pointers for where to sit based on price and view.
Finding seats suitable and not ending up with someone’s head in front is the dream for us all – especially when we’re splashing out for a treat on the West End. We sat in rows H and G (different occasions) of the Royal Circle, which offered a good raking (the angle that means you have more chance of seeing above people’s heads) but my little boy did need a booster to see over the woman in front.
On a separate occasion, I have been sat with a 5ft2 adult who also struggled (and could have done with a booster themselves).
Where you sit will depend on whether you are seeking price + view (our above guide can help here) or whether you are looking to go all-out/are able to snag a last-minute offer for a box. The Royal Circle is a great option up to Row O and for anyone over the 5ft4ish mark, you should be fine, even if needing to wiggle a little in the seat to adjust your view to the moving cast members.
Here’s a view of our seats – the difference will play a part in whether you think you will need raking and a booster for your child, which we’d advise for the best view (see below).

If price is your key objective, then the Grand Circle are the lowest banding tickets, but you can often save by taking a last-minute trip if you’re happy to gamble with availability and keep yourself a maximum budget in-mind. More on that below.
Where should we sit for character interaction?
The central stalls and aisle seats are often noted as the best for kids as they will get a great view of some of the puppets entering in some scenes. At the start of Act 2 and for several of the songs, the cast walk as the beautifully poised animals through the two aisles and join the rest of the cast on stage. They also bring out a sea of air-based puppets so you won’t miss out if you’re in the Royal Circle and its likely a tossup as to whether you are looking for a more unrestricted view or immersion as the stalls are flatter and, from experience, will almost certainly require a booster for the rest of the performance. For kids though, sometimes there really isn’t anything better than seeing everything up-close.
Does the theatre have booster seats?
The infamous boosters are available first come first served, though we saw plenty piled up on arrival. They are £1 each so hopefully won’t break the bank too much, unless you are one of the very brave primary teacher’s taking their class for a trip – in which case, parents everywhere salute you and you may also need to pick one up for your weary bones (they are pretty comfortable).
We definitely needed one for the 9-year-old in the group, who is quite tall. The booster seats when we attended were available just inside the venue doors after they had scanned our tickets. I didn’t spot them at first and asked where they could be collected – they are dressed in the same velvet fabric as the other seats at The Lyceum so blend in well aesthetically. Just note that these are first-come-first-served, and they also carry a £1 deposit payment, which can be paid by contactless card too. Though admittedly it’s a little strange that they refer to this as a deposit, as most visitors left theirs on their seats at the end of the performance – I also didn’t see anyone returning these so the verdict is out on whether this is a refundable or non-refundable deposit but it appeared to be the latter.
Were the seats comfortable?
The seats. Ah the seats.
This is the only real bugbear that got flagged on our visits. The seats at the Lyceum, as beautiful and well-staffed as it is, can be a bit painful on the saddlebags! The lower back area became uncomfortable at times and it’s the only complaint any of the parties had really. Leg room was pretty good in the Royal Circle, even for the 6ft2 gent with us, but those in the group that are less limber were all left fairly uncomfortable because of the chairs. I must admit I noticed this the second time and not the first. It does make you wonder: with all the cash that is donated by affluent arts-lovers to the West End WHY hasn’t anyone offered to re-dress and re-make/upholster the seats for one of the most popular shows and theatres?
It was the main element that detracted from the enjoyment of it for the grandmother of the group too who struggled with aging limbs and aching backs to really immerse herself and get stuck in. If you’ve had any form of surgery or have reduced capacity, you may struggle with comfort (or the firmness of the seats will offer you the support you need – which was the flip comment elsewhere!)
If your kids are fidgets anyway, a booster seat is a great option for added comfort, as well as height, and may help prevent too much wriggling around.
Food & Drink
The trickiest part for families’ that need to travel is the 7.30pm start time for evening performances, which is generally either dinner time for older kids or past dinner and bedtime for younger children. The matinees have more flexibility as you can eat either pre- or post-show.
The Lyceum has you covered with your usual theatre snack and drink essentials across four bars, including the Ambassadors lounge, which offers VIP experiences and meals – more on that in a moment! As an overall feel, the bars are full of hidden gems and you can tell the team at the venue have done their best to offer some fancier options for those there to splash out, but also some more reasonably priced options (especially considering the location). We’ve included some of the best tips for how to reduce costs of food and drink on the day, but kudos does go to the venue too, where it’s possible to pay £5 for an array of different alcohol options and where mochi-balls come in 4s or 5s so even those on a budget can buy and share! We’re all about saving money at Cheap Theatre Tickets to help make theatre accessible for all budgets, so we’ve provided as many suggestions as possible for you to ramp up and down the costs as suits.
Can I take food and drink in to keep costs down?
I can tell you that gin in a tin will likely be confiscated so attempting to reduce down the (potentially much needed) cost of booze after getting the kids there is going to result in you necking them outside the venue. That being said, the theatre does allow food to be taken inside as long as it’s cold and in a plastic container. We imagine the challenges of children + up past dinner time means the staff have become well-accustomed to the smallest of society getting peckish and needing a pick-me-up mid performance. This is a big plus for The Lyceum in our books as many theatres won’t permit any food inside that wasn’t purchased there. This allowed us to take in bottled water and a sneaky bag of sweets.
Tips to keep costs lower still:
- Take some alternative sweets with you If you are vegetarian, vegan or have other dietary or religious requirements, as the theatre didn’t have anything gelatine-free / dairy-free by way of bags and pic n mix. If you can eat chocolate or gelatine, there’s plenty of great choices (though at premium prices)
- Purchasing some cheap themed water bottles ahead to make things exciting (and help you if you can’t afford the gift shop) – you could also take Robinson’s squeezy bottles of squash if your children prefer something flavoured to add once you’re inside – they’ll be so busy chugging from their new tankards that they won’t even think to ask for any of the brightly coloured and deliciously tempting snacks (maybe). The official bottles with straw are £8 at the venue though so if you are looking to buy, these may end up being cheaper than anything else you can find
- Make the most of happy hour – If you can afford to indulge a little and would like a pre-show drink, we’d advise arriving for the doors opening at 6/6.15. The Lyceum offer 2 for 1 cocktails but this ends at 6.45 so your best bet is to arrive early, order and then take your time enjoying the atmosphere in one of the bars
- Check out the menu ahead of time to help you plan costs for the things you know your children might ask for. The Lyceum have an option to pre-order for both before the show and during the interval, which means you can see live prices for everything here. You can enter a random day and seat number to just view the menu and some of the prices are actually really reasonable. Here’s a top-level skim of what to expect
- Meal deals – a viral post recently on social media highlighted that whilst the brits are well versed when it comes to a supermarket meal deal, tourists are less familiar with the concept. Any of the main supermarkets scattered around the West End and London should have these available. They generally consist of paying under £5 and choosing from a selection of available lunch items – one main item (sandwich, salad, wrap), one snack (fruit, crisps, chocolate) and one drink (water, squash, major soft drink brands). The novelty of choosing their own lunch can help ramp up the excitement of the day
- Cooking ahead – we tried two options. A chain dinner out on one occasion and something home cooked on the other. The most cost-effective option was to pop some veggie sausages in the oven with some par-baked baguettes about 30 minutes before leaving for the train station, wrapping these up in foil and having “Train Tea”, which actually became one of the best parts of the day. The baguettes were still warm, despite the 40-minute gap between us leaving for the station and getting our seats and we got to enjoy the excitement building up, chatting away without needing to worry about where and what we would eat

Where can we eat out?
The West End has so much to offer, from high-end restaurants to cheaper high-street chains and small deli’s that it’ll come more down to personal choice and budget.
Covent Garden is also renowned for its excellent restaurants and The Strand has huge amounts on offer. If you’re looking for a treat, you may be able to find something that suits your budget on Covent Garden’s dedicated food and shopping site and the theatre is also a short walk from Oxford Circus where you can find more options and plenty of shops to keep you busy if you arrive early.
If you’re looking to soak up the theatrical atmosphere, there is also the popular Joe Allen’s, a New York bar and brasserie decked out in classic theatrical diner style. At the time of writing, Joe’s have a fairly strong kids’ menu which isn’t badly priced if you are opting to eat out, with 2 courses at £14 (they do note these may be small portion sizes if over 10 years) but note we couldn’t see a vegan option on the menu if that’s needed.

There are some other great options too if you want something hot but are looking to spend less than £10 per head or are happy with a quick bite so you can fill up on snacks later.
Burgers
There’s plenty of options that help stick to a lower budget if burgers and fries are your thing. Smash Burger has several locations and their kid’s menu (under 12s) are around £6.50 for burger, fries and a drink, which you’ll be hard pushed to beat cost-wise for a quick and tasty treat option. The adult’s version is a single burger, fries and drink at £12.95, which is also pretty reasonably. Just be prepared that the churros and milkshakes may be too tempting and push you over any budget once you’ve smelt them. Honest Burger is a similar affair at a very reasonably £7.50 for kid’s meals.
Pizza
You’ll find the usual pizza places all over the West End – ASK, Pizza Express, Zizzi, Prezzo, Bella Italia, Franca Manca’s, as well as a host of independent Italians are on offer too. You’ll be harder pushed to stick under the £10 per head mark here but there are often offers available and deals to be had so if this is more your thing, we’d advise narrowing down your preference and checking with the closest restaurant directly about any offers.
Asian
There are some excellent bao bun, noodle and Asian-style restaurants and cafe’s – you’ll find most of these sprinkled around side streets and in China Town, which is only a 12-minute walk from The Lyceum. Here you will be spoilt for choice, from street food style through to restaurants able to offer a quick turnaround for a steaming bowl of noodles and soup or a super-fast stir fry. Bunhouse is one great option and although a little over the £10 mark, £11 for your choice of 3 buns (including sweet) is a solid option, with most other menu items falling between £5-9 and some sharing options at slightly more than this.
Street Food and On-The-Move
Quick eats are plentiful on the West End and there are generally several store fronts for the big brands depending on which tube stop you exit from. Google will be your friend to find the closest to your starting or end destination, but you’ll find:
Chipotle – Mexican burritos and rice bowls, ideal for something spicy and quick.
Greggs – For less than a fiver per head (generally) you can fill yourself up on sausage rolls and pastries. Remember you can’t take hot food into The Lyceum so you may need to hunt around for somewhere to sit if you take this option.
Itsu – Quick sushi, hot bowls and soups that’ll give you something fresh so you can save room for the popcorn later!
Leon – A cross between a coffee chain and a fast-food restaurant but with healthier options. From Brazilian bean bowls and chicken curry with rice to vegan burgers and waffle fries, this on-the-go option is a great option for families’ who may need different things for different palate (for fussy eaters they do a “nice” version of nuggets which should go down well!) You can also get small mezze style tubs for smaller bites like grilled halloumi and chargrilled chicken which are perfect to keep budget balanced alongside some waffle fries!
Nando’s – Generally have good
Sandwich and Coffee Spots – They are everywhere so if it suits your party, you can grab a toastie/hot soup or pasta dish from a range of both chain and non-chain coffee spots. Try searching for your closest Pret, Starbucks, Ole and Steen, Costa or M&S. If you’re feeling more explorative, try having a wander around the West End and check the deli menus too, which are plentiful!
What are the VIP food and drink packages, and should we book?

You hear the word VIP and immediately think of huge costs, but The Lyceum might surprise you.
Whether you think it’s a great deal or not will also depend on what you were expecting to pay across food and drink whilst at the venue, if anything.
The Ambassador package (left) can be added and pre-booked to give you more breathing space in a quieter bar environment than the main thoroughfares in the venue – though we had no issue grabbing a quiet place in the Ballroom bar to wait for the show to begin.
To breakdown the costs, a glass of Prosecco was around £9-11, a tub of ice-cream was £5 and depending on the savoury nibbles, you could well be at the £20 mark already. If the quieter space and bathroom are worth a fiver to you and you were going to buy some drinks and snacks either way, then this could be a really cost-effective option to make the night feel extra special.
Merchandise and Ticket Cost
If price is the biggest consideration when planning your trip, you can read our cheap ticket guide for The Lion King here, which will give you the lowdown on all the offers and various discounts that you can find for the show itself.
The show has been running years and the costs are generally considered on the higher end of the performances suitable for kids in the West End. The lowest bracket is around £45 for the Grand Circle, with the most expensive tickets in the stalls and boxes at over £220 each.
How much should I expect to pay for merchandise?
Gift shops should come with warnings and The Lion King merch stall is no exception, though they do have some deals on specific to those attending the show. They had a gorgeous pair of themed ethical PJs that were ridiculously soft and were screaming out for the perfect matching mother-and-son Christmas morning but alas at nearly £100 to buy both pairs, they weren’t possible for a spur-of-the-moment purchase.
Whilst none of the prices are recorded well online, you can get a certain flavour of what to expect on the official Disney store pages here. Cuddly toys will range around £20 and upwards, keyrings and cups from the £10ish range and t-shirts and clothing anything from £15-£50+.
I loved that the designs still matched what we had at home for some of the toys – I still had this 1995 classic Simba lurking around which meant less temptation to buy, but the merchandise could have been dangerous otherwise. They do well to also include more neutral African-led items and designs which feel truer to the music and vibrancy of the show than just the Disney animated versions, so there’s a nice balance. Didn’t see a windchime or similar woodwind instruments which would make a really nice addition alongside some carved African figurines for a more earthy vibe, but I may well have missed spotting those.

As prices may fluctuate, if you know you will want to treat the kids to a souvenir, the box office team for The Lyceum are a very friendly bunch and will likely be able to give you a steer ahead of your trip of approximate prices so you can save ahead. You can email them here.
Family Fun: On the way and after the day
Unless it’s a surprise trip, there are lots of ways to get the kids excited ahead of the day. These can also be really useful if you need to travel by train to the West End (or back again once the excitement starts to settle and late-night impatience kicks in). Here are some of the best activities we’ve seen for sweeping up that Lion King fever:
Activities
If you need something to do whilst in transit, Monday Mandala have some excellent colouring sheets you can print and pop in your bag. Without a doubt though, one of the best resources of activities and games for kids who fall in love with The Lion King is the Disney-owned education site.

The site covers FAQs, production information and character profiles and it can be explored in interactive website format or by downloading their activity PDFs, which are extensive. The teacher’s section is a literal goldmine of kid’s craft, music and learning activities that can be adapted to the home or for groups of friends, including puppet and mask making, music making and games about the circle of life and friendship. There are advanced lessons for secondary-aged kids that get more involved in handling conflict and there’s even a Circle of Life award structure with suggestions and heaps of backstage videos that will tell them all they need to know about how the show is made!
For something a little more fan-based, The Lion King WWW Archive is a non-official site run by fans since 1995 that has everything you could ever want to know about the films, the musical and the upcoming connected film Mufasa – a live-action look back on the King’s earlier years. It’s a great place to look up the scripts so the kids can put on their own Lion King performances at home, look through fan art and stories and watch through numerous trailers and videos from over the years. Click here to take a look. Funnily enough, the only thing they don’t cover is the West End show, but there is general info for the Broadway original.
For something more active, the US version of the show has released a dance tutorial that will have the kids practicing for weeks after!
Watch the Films
Naturally, there are also a plethora of films you can watch to follow up afterwards. Some of the best at-home traditions were started during Covid lockdowns so why not bring back to at-home spirit and go full-on with a Lion King/Africa themed party at home to keep the magic alive after the show? Research some traditional African dishes, get the arts and crafts out to make masks and puppets and cosy up to watch and score your favourites against the musical. To watch in order (Disney+ has most of these available at the time of writing):
- The Lion King (1994)
- The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride (1998)
- The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata (2004)
- The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar (2015)
- The Lion King (2019)
Have a Singalong
Sadly, there is no soundtrack available for the UK musical cast. The songs for Broadway (which opened the year before London) are the same, but you won’t hear your favourite of the London cast members, unfortunately. The soundtrack will still hit all the right notes and give you a chance to learn the musical-specific songs by heart though (Chow Down, They/He Lives in You, Shadowland) and listen to those that were added to ramp up the traditional African songs that you’ll struggle a little more to learn (but are gorgeous and add a real authenticity to the whole performance).
The Broadway Recording: https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2vh6k7gVOcbj7iIMXIBCP7?utm_source=generator

And, of course, the original film soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3YA5DdB3wSz4pdfEXoMyRd?utm_source=generator

The Verdict: Be Prepared to Feel Something a Little Bit Magic
Whilst this guide is geared more towards helping you plan your day and tips to keep additional costs lower on the day, it would be unfair not to comment on the performance itself and whether it’s still standing the test of time now.
If you’re a child of the 80s and 90s, a parent or grandparent of one OR have been raised by one – and we are aware that covers the majority of us – and you loved the film, you’ll be hard pushed to be disappointed by the musical. There’s something magical anyway about a child’s first full-on theatre trip but add in The Circle of Life, rhythmic African drumming and the beauty of the puppetry and costumes and you move away from a theatre trip into something of the spiritual and magical.
The songs you will know, and love are there (apart from I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts – again, FOR SHAME) and the new additions only serve to add to the story, not detract. In particular, I found the addition of Rafiki, Sarabi, Nala and the pride commiserating the death of Mufasa was a very much welcomed and overdue scene.
In fact, all of the English-sung music additions were what the film (which is one of the last bastions of the 90-minute feature length – the perfect golden time for children’s attention at a younger age) skipped over. The bits of the story we missed in the film following Simba’s journey, more so than the others.
Mufasa, singing They Live in You, (matched again later with He Lives in You and a stunning set) feels like it deserves its place in the story forevermore, and may leave you more than a little bit teary. Shadowland was sung powerfully by Nala, representing the fallen state of pride rock and her strength and sorrow in a way the film never touched, and it was good to see the Hyenas getting a bit more air-time, though admittedly it was harder to hear the exact wording of this new song live.

Timone and Pumba are exactly the balls of energy you’d expect – though it’s funny how live, their characters have become less prominent than we expect based on the film (in fact my only real quibble was with Hakuna Matata feeling a little more rushed than they could have got away with, presumably because the younger actors needed to head to bed). The musical has certainly tried to gently shift away from the animated film and the focus on these two characters feels removed slightly to make way for those of the wider ensemble, animal puppetry and costume as well as the traditional African singers and dancers. This is not a bad thing but it’s definitely easier to see how little those very prominent in mind characters are actually in the film when performed live.
Rafiki, Zazu are phenomenal. Nala and Simba both young and old too (prepare for Nala’s adult voice!) but what will forever standout is the simplicity and beauty in the craft of how it all flows together. It’s like watching a highly complex puppet show where the people are the puppets, and you can’t tell where the actor ends, and the animal begins. In truth, it’s also hard to tell (as I’m sure is the point) whether or not they are truly intended to be animals in this version, or whether they are all dressed as their spirit animals, taking the story from animation back to roots and supporting its transition away from “just a kids film” to something more tangible for the millennials that grew with it to grow with also. Bringing the richness of the culture it reflects to the forefront and deepening the lessons it taught us as children.
From an 80s born, 90s grown mum – I don’t care either way. It was every bit as gorgeous as I expected. Every bit as true to the script as hoped, whilst still adding its own flair and if you are a fan and can spare the cost/save up, it’s a truly magical experience to share with your kids. I am not ashamed to say that I started crying the moment Circle of Life started and I’m not sure I fully stopped until its reprise ended.
But what about the 9-year-old?

He loved it. He loved the puppets. He loved the songs. He loved being out late at night with his family somewhere new and exciting. He loved feeling grown up. His main message to me was “not as good as the film”. Part of this I expected. I also realise now that I am raising a heathen.
I was sort of expecting this. His main feedback was that the effects weren’t as good as watching on TV, so it felt less immersive for him. For someone who has only ever seen a school play before, I can understand this to an extent and it highlights something the arts have obviously been trying to adapt to over recent years with additional effects and more focus on contemporary TV turned stage – capturing the attention of younger viewers who are less used to understanding the skill that it takes to get on a stage and make something magical happen, in effects and performance.
With 25 years and counting, I’m sure they’ve not had their day yet though. It just made me realise that more so than ever, and especially after screen usage exploded even more during Covid for kids, that getting out and showing the kids traditional forms of entertainment is going to be vital to keeping the magic of performance and song alive well past the desire for CGI.
Best Bits:
- The puppetry
- The music, including the additional African song and dance
- The voice casting was perfection
- Circle of life – always
- The drummers – they play from the boxes throughout and it adds a really magical ambience
- Scar, Rafiki and Zazu, naturally
- Vegan ice cream. OK It’s £5 and not exactly in the “cheap” bucket, but mint choc chip is a hard flavour to find in supermarkets, let alone out and about.
- The nod to the campness of Scar with the addition of a techno dance breakout during Be Prepared. I was not.
Bits we want more of:
- Where’s the lovely bunch of coconuts?
- More Rafiki please. That is all.
- Twice as long for Hakuna Matata
- Potential to do some earlier showing on weeknights one day? I understand that all shows start around 7.15/7.30 on West End but the option for evening performances a little earlier would be great. I appreciate it’s a lot more complex than that but a 6/6.30 showtime would mean leaving the theatre around 9.30, which makes a lot more sense for a “treat night” and feels more manageable.
- A bigger thrown-down rendition of Hakuna Mata (yes, I am bitter) – you can’t go all out with the stampede and then not do justice to the walking over the log as he ages bit!
- Somebody please help The Lyceum, which is a beautiful theatre, get some new squishy seating!
Our Family Guide to The Lion King: Top Tips in Summary
- Take a packed lunch/early dinner to save costs if needed – remember, The Lyceum permit cold food in plastic tubs to be taken in too so if planned ahead, you can enjoy a sit down tea at 6pm inside the warm theatre itself, rather than needing a picnic bench!
- Think carefully about whether staying over will be cheaper than late-night travel, which can sometimes push you past midnight vs. an airbnb which can be found for as low as £70 (+ service fee)
- Take water bottles and squeezy squash plus sweets – the mochi balls and popcorn are the best budget-friendly snack options and worth spending on!
- Search for travel friendly options to split cost of tickets and try checking in with your school to see if they will allow a later start of a morning or excuse them for an afternoon
- 2 for 1 cocktails are 6.15-6.45pm
- Make sure you go via Charing Cross if you have any issues with sensitivity to tubes or confined spaces and need the overground
- Check our cheap tickets guide to save money on booking
- Check our cheap seats guide for bargain finds
- A small glass of wine is only £5 at the theatre (good for London!) whilst beer is a little more expensive. The gin in a tin is the same – get the kids excited to choose their drink and snack ahead and you’ll not only skip the queue, but be able to cap spend at a level you are happy with
- Make it last – trips like this can be expensive. Keep the excitement going for the next few weekends by watching the films and doing some of the puppet and mask making activities to get the most out of your experience and time with the kids
- Just enjoy. And take tissues if The Circle of Life gets you every time.

Have you seen The Lion King at The Lyceum Theatre? If so, we’d love to hear your top tips on cost-saving and getting the best out of the day below!
What do you think?