Sondheim Theatre
51 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA
Sondheim Theatre Tickets
Les Miserables
Sondheim Theatre
4.9 3014 reviews 4.9 3014 reviews Tickets from £28.00Les Misérables has retained its crown as the longest-running musical in the West End for nearly 40 years. Over 130 million people worldwide have been captivated by this timeless tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption. This is a must-see on your plans when you visit London.
- Booking until: Friday, 27 March 2026
- Running time: 2hr 50min. Incl. 15min interval.
- Playing at: Sondheim Theatre
- Booking until: Friday, 27 March 2026
Sondheim Theatre Facilities
- Air conditioned
- Bar
- Disabled toilets
- Infrared hearing loop
- Member of Q-Park scheme
- Toilets
- Wheelchair/scooter access
Sondheim Theatre Access Tickets
Disabled theatregoers and their carers can get discount tickets. Please phone the Sondheim Theatre access line on 0344 482 5137.
Sondheim Theatre Location
Travel Information
Nearest Tube station
- Piccadilly Circus
- Leicester Square
Nearest Rail Station
- Charing Cross
Tube lines
- Bakerloo
- Piccadilly
- Northern
Day buses
- (Shaftesbury Avenue) 12, 14, 19, 38; (Regent Street) 6, 13, 15, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453
Night buses
- (Shaftesbury Avenue) 14, N19, N38; (Regent Street) 6, 12, 23, 88, 94, 139, 159, 453, N3, N13, N15, N109, N18, N136
Sondheim Theatre Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to the Sondheim Theatre?
The Sondheim Theatre is located at 51 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA, United Kingdom. The nearest Tube station is Piccadilly Circus, on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. If driving to the theatre, the nearest car parks are Q-ParkChinatown and Q-Park Soho
Is the Sondheim Theatre an accessible space?
Wheelchair access to the auditorium is available through the fourth side door on Wardour Street, and there is wheelchair transfer seating available in the Dress Circle on the aisle of Row D. The theatre offers two different types of hearing enhancement aids and welcomes the presence of service animals.
What time should I get to the theatre?
Aim to arrive 30 minutes before the show starts to allow time for security checks, finding your seat, and exploring the theatre. This also gives you time to explore the merchandise stands inside the theatre for exclusive show-related items like T-shirts, mugs, posters, and cast recordings. This is also a good time to take photos, as photography is not allowed during the performance, and purchase snacks and drinks, as outside food and drink is not allowed into the theatre.
Is there a dress code for attendance?
Once upon a time, people used to dress up to go to the theatre, but these days, there’s no formal dress code. Wear what you feel comfortable in, especially as you’re going to be sitting for long stretches of time, and consider bringing a jacket as some theatres can get cold. Of course, going to the theatre is still a special occasion, so don’t be shy about dressing up if you feel like it.
What seats should I opt for?
With a huge ensemble cast and large set pieces, Les Miserables is a spectacle worth viewing from a wide angle. The central seats of rows C-J of the Stalls offer the best view, as do the central seats of rows A-D of the Dress Circle. If you’d prefer a more elevated panoramic view, consider rows AA-C of the Grand Circle.
Sondheim Theatre history
From the outside
The massive curved Sondheim Theatre presents a stern face to the world but inside it’s intricately decorated at the seating levels and has a beautiful ceiling, created in typical Edwardian Renaissance style.
Sondheim Theatre architecture and history
Designed by one of the era’s most prolific theatre architects, W R G Sprague, his seventh theatre, the Sondheim Theatre opened its doors in late 1907 as the Queen's Theatre ten months after its twin, now known as the Gielgud Theatre. Named after Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward Seventh, inside it featured a visual feast of green, white and gold, and soon became known as one of the cosiest and most welcoming theatres of its time. The theatre was renamed The Sondheim Theatre in 2019.
The theatre's first show, a comedy called Sugar Bowl, only lasted for 36 performances and the shows that followed suffered equally bad luck. In 1909 Henry Brodribb Irving, Henry Irving's eldest son, and his wife took over the lease and hosted a number of the plays his father made famous, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet and The Bells.
In 1913 the building put on Queens Theatre Tango Teas, removing the seating in the stalls and serving afternoon tea to dancers. In 1914 the Queen’s Theatre’s luck changed with the hit play Potash and Perlmutter, by Montague Glass, running for 600 or so performances. In 1919 Owen Nares brought even better fortune, starring in The House of Peril, The Cinderella Man and Mr Todd's Experiment between then and 1921.
The Gielgud season in 1937-38 included Richard II, The Merchant of Venice, The School for Scandal and Three Sisters, all with stellar casts including household names like Michael Redgrave, Alec Guinness, Peggy Ashcroft and Rachel Kempson. The season was such a huge success that it’s thought to have laid the foundations for the post-war Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre.
In September 1940 a direct hit by a bomb left the building’s magnificent dome, staircase and foyer virtually destroyed, and it stayed closed for almost two decades until its reconstruction and rebirth in the late ‘50s. The foyers, bars and exterior were modernised and soon hosted the first ever Youth Theatre performance, Hamlet.
In 1999 Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Limited bought the freehold.
Ghosts at the Sondheim Theatre
The Queen’s Theatre is the home to a very strange ghost indeed who, while never seen, is known to enjoy pinching male cast members’ backsides!
Past shows at the Sondheim Theatre
Recent productions at the Sondheim Theatre include The Lady in the Van with Maggie Smith, Medea with Fiona Shaw, and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s productions of The Taming of the Shrew and The Tamer Tamed. In April 2004 Cameron Mackintosh's huge musical hit Les Miserables transferred to the Sondheim from its original home at the Palace Theatre.
Sondheim Theatre access
Wheelchair users can transfer to a special seat in row D, and the theatre’s staff are happy to store your chair safely during the performance.
Sondheim Theatre tickets
We’re your premier destination for a wide variety of seat types and prices, with excellent availability on the full range of Sondheim Theatre tickets.