Incredible performance by the actors of his Majesty's theater, the longest running show for phantom of the opera in West End over 40 years. In this case, the show aged well, and the props and costumes have clearly had time and money invested as this was the best rendition of Phantom I've seen to date. There was fire, light effects, great structures and hidden trapdoors, fake balconies, even a mysterious Houdini chair (no spoilers) and the production of Phantom here is clearly worth the full house it had tonight. Standing ovation at the end and tons of fun souvenirs to takeaway memories of the show. I sat in A21, center of the front row of balcony, and the view was perfect, showing just the bottom of the stage up. If I leaned forward, I could see into the pit which the ground floor seats could not. All the music was played by the incredible orchestra in the pit, Four private boxes at the front sides were filled with two persons each, which could be a fun return trip. I hope to definitely be back for another viewing some day. Incredible! read more

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Her (His?) Majesty's Theater sits up Haymarket Street just a few blocks from Trafalger Square and Leicester Square in the heart of London. Founded in the 1770s, the current theater was built in ~1880. Since it's world premier in 1986, The Phantom of the Opera has been playing there. The production is impressive. The acting and singing are excellent. The staging some of the most impressive I've seen! And of course, the intermission bar and ice cream cups are up to London standards! read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - The stage is set- Phantom of the Opera! - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

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We had a fantastic visit to His Majesty's Theatre to attend "Phantom of the Opera". His Majesty's Theatre is a historic West End theatre located at 57 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4QL, best known as the long-time home of the musical The Phantom of the Opera. The theatre's name changes with the gender of the reigning monarch, reverting to His Majesty's Theatre in May 2023 following the accession of King Charles III. The history of His Majesty's Theatre has a rich tale spanning over 300 years and four different buildings on the same Haymarket site in London's West End. It is one of the few theatres whose name changes with the gender of the reigning British monarch. First Theatre (1705-1789): Opened as the Queen's Theatre in April 1705 by architect and playwright John Vanbrugh during the reign of Queen Anne. Due to licensing laws, it quickly became an opera house, and George Frideric Handel premiered over 25 of his operas there. Upon the accession of George I in 1714, it was renamed the King's Theatre. This building was destroyed by a fire in 1789. Second Theatre (1791-1867): A new, larger theatre, also known as the King's Theatre, opened in 1791. It hosted London premieres of operas by Mozart and Beethoven, and in the mid-19th century became renowned for romantic ballet, with famous ballerinas performing the works of Jules Perrot. When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, it was renamed Her Majesty's Italian Opera House (later just Her Majesty's Theatre). This building also fell victim to fire in 1867. Third Theatre (1868-1896): A third structure was built within the shell of the old one in 1868. After remaining dark for several years due to a rent dispute, it was used for a period by a Christian revivalist movement before returning to theatrical use, hosting the first complete English performance of Wagner's Ring cycle and appearances by Sarah Bernhardt. It was eventually demolished in 1892 as it had become technically outmoded. Fourth (Current) Theatre (1897-present): The current French Renaissance-style building was commissioned by actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and opened on April 28, 1897, as Her Majesty's Theatre. Tree produced spectacular Shakespearean plays and literary adaptations and even established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in an apartment he built for himself in the theatre's dome. The current theatre is very well organized. The audience was very respectful during the show and did not seem overly crowded. However, you should be aware the restroom facilities are very small (remember, it's an old building) so plan accordingly! We both look forward to to going back when we return to London! read more

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This theatre and phantom of the opera blew us away! So organized, small, and incredibly beautiful! They offered drinks, snacks, and ice cream for purchase! Excellent experience with helpful employees. read more

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Our first night in London we figured that our internal clocks would be off anyway, so we booked mid tickets for Phantom. We re-arranged ourselves to put the tallest behind the tallest person in front of us and so on, which worked out well. Seats were comfortable. This is a gorgeous theatre and it was a terrific production. I say that having already personally seen this show several times in Toronto. The Phantom had the most stunning voice, truly incredible. Well done! read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - The chandelier from Phantom - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

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Went here on our recent trip to London. The Theater is the second oldest theater in London and what a beautiful building it is. The musical Phantom of the Opera has been playing here since 1986. The cast and props for this show were absolutely incredible. If you are in the area this is a must see. I don't have many pictures because they don't allow photography or filming inside the Theater during the production. You won't regret a visit here. I definitely will return. read more

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Nice theatre, with impressive architecture. It feels a little like traveling in time. Saw Phantom of the Opera. Seats were comfortable, leg space was ok. I didn't struggle, but I'm 5'5"; however you do have to stand up if someone wants to pass you by to arrive at their seat. They have lots of stalls in the women's bathroom which is great because the line moved fast at intermission. The selection of snacks at the concession stand was very limited, but they had a good variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Staff were very friendly and helpful in directing us around the theatre. They have a cloak room which I recommend using because although the seats were comfortable, there wasn't much room. read more

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I had the worst experience here. I bought tickets 3 months in advance for a show. I got my confirmation email and showed up 45 minutes before the show started. They scanned my tickets and I got in and got showed to my seats. Everything was fine and the show started. In the MIDDLE of the show an employee comes in with a flashlight saying that I am in the wrong seat. Keep in mind I was shown to my seat. At this point i am annoyed because i am sitting in the middle and it is interrupting everyone in the row and the performance. i stepped aside and showed my ticket and they are saying a couple who showed up LATE that it is their seats. I showed them my confirmation and they said it was not showing up on their end. They confirmed i booked it directly through their venue not a third party. They then caused a whole situation and were rude. they then admitted they over sold the venue but somehow the people who showed up late got the seats. It is so unprofessional and unacceptable it was my last day in London so I can't even see a different show. Their solution is to refund me which is the Least they can do. They offered for me to watch the rest of the show from seats in the back when my original seats were in the front. Keep in mind this is also after 45 minutes so i've missed so much of the show. They honestly couldn't provide a logical reasoning and jsut kept apologizing which is unhelpful. I really hope management learns because this is so unfair and goes way beyond money. It ruined my experience and my night as well as disturbed everyone in the row. This is unacceptable you should never interrupt in the middle of the show and even if there really was a problem with the tickets then they would've have scanned but they did and i was shown to my seats. AND to get the refund the manager wasn't able to you literally have to call someone else who conveniently wasn't even there. Overall terrible experience and terrible management. Not worth i was really looking forward to seeing the show. Do better. read more

I love live theatrical productions and Phantom of the Opera was my choice to see while visiting London . The theater seating was perfect regardless of where you are seated and how tall person is in front of you you have an awesome view. Exiting the theater was a breeze and it's in an ideal location, close to many public transportation choices . read more

Saw Phantom of the Opera here and loved it of course! Not only was the show amazing, but the theatre itself was gorgeous and suited the musical perfectly. However, be careful when booking your seats. I've seen several shows on the West End now, and never had a problem when sitting in a seat with a 'restricted view'. For this show, we were seated in row E in the grand circle section and there were entire portions of the show we couldn't see at all. Beautiful show, beautiful venue, just something we wish we knew before spending half the musical craning our necks. read more

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Why throw shade at QE2 and change it to HIS Majesty's Theater? Other than that -- the theater was fine, just surprised one had to purchase a Playbill. read more

We were miserably hot as apparently this theatre is not air conditioned. I spoke with two women who identified themselves as "co-managers" and they explained that the theatre had a "cooling system" (?), which they insisted was working at "full capacity". Full capacity of their ill-advised "cooling system" had the compressed interior of His Majesty's Theatre a balmy 27 degrees with no air movement. Outside on the street it was 25 degrees. During the performance it was hard to breathe. The poor performers! And the theatre employees who obviously had tired of hearing complaints had to receive the poor patrons vitriol. What are they doing being open during the summer months without the ability to keep patrons at the very least comfortable? They should be ashamed. In the meantime the least they can do is warn people. Put a statement advising that during summer months they should dress to endure the heat: shorts, T-shirts, sandals, etc. Not that that is enough of course. You still need to breathe. Shame! read more

The play was great and the actors where top notch. Our seats where terrible all I could see was the big head of the man in front of me!! Highly recommend paying for a better seat. Staff did not care and did nothing to make our experience better. Theater is a death trap!! read more

Oh my goodness, Phantom of the Opera is MAGICAL! West End really blew my expectations out of water! Amy Manford exceeded what I dreamed of, she's the perfect Christine!! Truly the Angel of Music. If I was impressed by her on Youtube, I'm more impressed by her in person. She captured Christine Daae's youth, naivety, and strength, and her voice was youthful, magical, and powerful. I also loved the Phantom (Erik, for those of you who are book nerds like me), Tim Howar did an amazing job bringing to life the tantrum-throwing, selfish, childish, tricksy, and talented Erik. Tim Howar is a very powerful Erik, but also feels rougher and rage-induced compared to other Phantoms. Not a bad thing, one of my favorite things about seeing my favorite musicals again is seeing how different actors have subtle different interpretations of the same characters. I am sad that their final performances were on September 7, 2019, Saturday, though I am glad I caught them before they left. I was SO HAPPY with my seat, A15, in the Grand Circle. I was in the front row of the Grand Circle, and smack dab in the middle! This provided an amazing view when the chandelier ascended to the theater ceiling, I was literally in front of it. I found it fascinating that it curves on its way up over the audience on the floor before going straight up, so when it goes down, it curves toward the stage, as opposed to dropping right above the audience. I've seen the chandelier drop straight down in the national tour, so seeing it curve was quite interesting. I love the scene when Christine slips through the mirror after finally meets Erik in person, and they went through a trap door. Suddenly, they were LITERALLY UP ON A BALCONY SECONDS LATER, and I was thinking, "How the heck did they get up there so fast????" The boat scene was BEAUTIFUL to see in person! All the candelabras that rose from the foggy waters, and watching the boat practically float from the back to the front of the stage with Erik and Christine in it. Wow. Everything is just so mesmerizing. Music of the Night is glorious. I appreciate that Christine acted overwhelmed and faint with passion while Erik was singing. I feel like Erik's voice should be as beautiful as he is hideous, so listening to him sing should be an orgasm-inducing experience, LOL. It was gorgeous. In the "Stranger Than You Dreamt it" scene, I liked that Phantom was wearing this Chinese robe. I read on Tumblr that he wears this in the West End production, and that it was customary for men to wear this when they were relaxing in the presence of a wife. The "Poor Fool He Makes Me Laugh" scene was rather hilarious, and it was also super cool to watch Erik up to his shenanigans above the stage, making Carlotta croak, and bringing down the chandelier. I kept finding myself mouthing along to many of the songs, and "All I Ask of You" is no exception, even though I don't care about most interpretations of Raoul. During intermission, I was happy to watch the chandelier ascend to the ceiling, which myself and several other theater goers caught on video. I was happy to explore the theater, and found that there was a display of a lego miniature of Her Majesty's Theater, complete with tiny posters of the show and little lego people on the streets! How darling! I also went to the main floor's lobby to the souvenir store, since I enjoy buying and collecting magnets of my favorite Broadway/West End shows. The magnet was £6. There were Phantom Teddy Bars for £30, complete with a mask, a cape, a bow tie, and a ruffled tuxedo front. I would have happily bought one if it wasn't for the fact I had no space to pack it to bring it back home overseas. The prints of the costume designs were gorgeous too. The bar and hallways had some hanging, including drawings of Erik's Red Death costume (my favorite costume of his), his Mandarin hat and Chinese robe (apparently a West End exclusive design), Christine's Star Princess dress, and Christine's wedding gown. I enjoyed the rest of the show, especially "Point of No Return," one of my favorite songs! I was also happy that after the performers bowed and the curtains fell, the orchestra played a medley of songs from the show. I stayed seated in ecstasy until it was over and I remembered I had a morning flight home in about 12 hours. I would happily watch Phantom of the Opera again if I was in London longer, it's that good. Watching Phantom of the Opera was a beautiful way to end my time in London on a lovely note, I'm so happy I bought my ticket 3.5 months in advance and got to sit in the front row in the Grand Circle, right in the middle. Very much worth the ticket. read more

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Yelp 100 Challenge 2017 81/100 I saw Phantom of the Opera here with my niece. The show itself was 5 stars but theater itself is a little old. The seats were not uncomfortable but not uncomfortable either. We had front row seats so we were able to see everything clearly- maybe a little too clearly. The lobby area is kind of crowded, especially when a line forms. The bathroom was also quite small. read more

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I've been here twice to see "Phantom of the Opera", and the experiences have been so fantastic that I've never really felt the need to see "Phantom" during production tours in the states since. After all, Her Majesty's Theatre is the mother theatre. That show was born here. The stage is perfect for it, with its elegant architecture and astounding acoustics. And with the right cast, even those in the back of the theatre may very well feel a chill as they watch for the Phantom's shadow during the performance - I know I certainly did during my first visit here! For my 2nd visit I splurged on seats near the very front of the balcony seating, but I can say from experience that even if you need to get a cheap seat, you'll enjoy your evening. The musical score is big enough in flair and volume that nothing will be lost on you, and as I said earlier, with good talent on stage (which they always have!), the emotions on the stage will hit you hard no matter what. Part of this is due to the theatre being on the smaller side. I really love this about Her Majesty's, as it creates a much more intimate venue setting. But it can admittedly lead to some sore legs due to small seating areas, as well as traffic jams in the stairways, some of which are on the narrower side. Definitely keep this in mind be patient with the other guests walking around in the theater - and be ready to stretch your legs out with a quick walk to Piccadilly Circus. It'll make the entire evening as enjoyable as a show at Her Majesty's herself. On a final note, the staff here are very polite - maybe even a little too much so, as I would have loved for them to properly scold anyone taking pictures or talking during the production. But if nothing else, they will definitely do what they can to help if you run into any issues. Here's hoping I have the chance to return here for a 3rd time in the future - I would love to return to Her Majesty's and the story being told on her stage! read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

I was so impressed with The phantom of the opera. The actors were amazing!! So talented and the props were spectacular!! They had a full bar and snacks available for before the show and during intermission. Chairs were just what you'd expect, just like any movie theater style seating. I'd definitely recommend this place and show. read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

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We have seen this production in Los Angeles, New York and now London. It's still such a pleasant experience made all the more better by this venue. Good fun and certainly a must-see with good seats. We were fortunate to get what I would consider near-perfect orchestra seats in the acoustic sweet spot... Near the front dead center in orchestra. My thanks for another memorable experience. read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

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Went to see The Phantom of the Opera with my best friend. We had a great time. I had booked the tickets on tickettix and collecting them was an easy and smooth process. We were gently directed to where we were meant to go and we found our way to a lovely bar. We had some great wine and thought it was a brilliant start. The stage and the decor of the theatre is great too. The play/ musical was excellent and the actors sensational. It's a classic and quite rightly so! We loved it and we would recommend it to anyone! read more

The show itself is definitely 5-star, but this is about the theatre itself, right? Smaller theatre for shows. Got tickets for the show here from the TKTS booth in Leicester Square. My wife and I overall had a great time, but some little things to take note of. I'm 6' 1" and my knees were touching the back of the lady's hair in front of me every time she sat perfectly upright. VERY small distance between rows. Oh, and did you fly economy over to the UK? Ok, remove a few inches or cm from the width of your airplane seat and you'll get the idea of how wide the seats are. Also, we had aisle seats a couple sections up and still a small part of the stage was obscured and I couldn't see between the 2 rows of people in front of me without maneuvering a bit. I mean, overall good, but tight quarters and not the best sight angles. read more

Saw Phantom of the Opera and it was awesome!! The staff were also very friendly and knowledgeable.

STEAMY HOT. The Theatre that is. Had to be close to 90F/32C in there for most of the performance. I could not focus on anything most of the time, felt like I was going to pass out. Would have walked out if I had not paid 330 pounds for 2 seats. I will never step foot in that theatre again. As far as Phantom goes, I will have to go see it somewhere with A/C so I can decide how it is. Right now, I just feel like I wasted A LOT of money. So very disappointed. read more

This was a bit like a pilgrimage for me as a Phantom of the Opera mega fan. I've seen it once in San Francisco and another time in San Jose for the Cameron Mackintosh upgraded verison. However, on our first trip to London, there was no stopping me from catching it for a third time in the place where it all began. Naturally this was the best verison of it I've seen and will probably ever see. There is just such a huge difference seeing a touring show and one that lives in only one theatre permanetly. The sets were massive, the costumes just a bit flashier, and even the decor bordering the stage of angels being dragged to hell was more opulent and impactful. The singers in the cast were out of this world talented. The only thing I didn't love was having to pay for a program. I was in a fever dream of excitment about seeing the show so I wasn't too damaged about it. I considered the program and book it came with as souvenirs, but it was pretty pricy compared to the U.S.A. where programs are free from NYC to SF! read more

I have loved live theater since I was a little girl and have longed to see Phantom of the Opera in a professional venue. The performance at Her Majesty's Theatre both lived up to my expectations and impressed my not so open minded boyfriend as well! The building is stunning and so very European. It is both elegant and classic. I loved that from the outside it looks more like a mansion than an opera house and I had no clue what to expect once inside. The entrance was a bit crazy with people trying to purchase last minute tickets and find their seats, but we found an employee fairly easy who pointed us in the right direction. I had seats on the upper level so there was a lot of narrow stair climbing through the outer skeleton of the building, but once we made it to our floor it was great! Even though we were so high up, our view was still amazing and we had no problem seeing the play come to life on stage. The voices were amazing and the acting was perfect. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time even though I already know what happens! My boyfriend, who as I mentioned was a bit wary before hand as he has never been into "musicals", said that he liked it as much as his personality allows for this type of performance, which is a good thing even if it doesn't sound like it! I absolutely recommend this as an addition to your European vacation! read more

Phantom of the Opera is one of my most favorite things in the entire world, so going to see it in London was at the top of my list when I visited. I bought tickets at a ticket booth in Leicester Square (tkts.com, I believe). I took them at a discounted rate, and was warned that my view would be cut off at times, but that the seats were still decent. I sat towards the back of the Royal Circle, and I was able to clearly see everything that was going on on the stage. I was not able to see the top of the stage/ceiling (spoilers: you want to be able to see the top of the stage for plot reasons....) and that disappointed me a little. If you are a fan like I am, or don't know the play very well, I definitely recommend ponying up the extra money and getting a seat that allows you to see everything going on. I know the play inside and out, so it didn't interfere with my understanding of what was going on, but my friends who had no idea what was going on were a little lost when they couldn't see what else was going on. Overall, the theater was beautiful and the play was amazing. The food and drinks were a little pricey, but not outrageous. I recommend Phantom and this theater to anyone visiting - it is a great experience! read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - My ticket! Amazing show - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

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Terrible theater. I've been to many many different theaters. This is the worst one I have ever been to. The staff was perfectly nice, the facilities were fine, and the performance was likely very good. The problem was with the facility itself. When the theater was constructed, they likely chose to maximize the number of seats with a complete disregard to the experience of each individual patron. I sat in the middle of the second balcony (there are 3). Essentially nobody could see. Every person in front of me was leaning forward in order to catch a glimpse of the performance. The front third of the stage was essentially non-viewable. The middle third could be seen dodging in between the heads of the people in front of me. The backside of the stage could be seen reasonably well. Unfortunately, that's not where the action is. It was so bad, that I left at intermission. Part of my party stayed. They reported that a large number of other people also left at intermission. Again, the performance was actually reasonable as far as I could tell. It was the theater itself that was the problem. read more

We have seen two shows while in London. Sadly this one was not a good experience. Employees were wonderful and the musical was great but we could not enjoy any of it because it was so miserably hot in the theater we had to leave it was unbearable. Also I was very disappointed with our seats. I ordered my tickets online and selected them off the seating chart - I know exactly what I chose and we did not have the seats I chose. We had lesser seats. I also tried to email and call the theater to up grade (before I realized I did not receive the seat I had selected) to add champagne reception and canapés. We were unable to add this because no one ever returned my email. This was a special girls trip with my daughters. We did not want to get up during the performance but we left at intercession and barley got out without getting sick. Miserable-maybe it is better in the winter. I will never go back read more

Maybe it was because it was my first time in London or maybe it was because I was seeing Phantom of the Opera for the first time but it is by far the best theatre experience I have ever had. Maybe it was having my drink sitting there waiting for me during the intermission? :) read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

This theatre is a historical monument! Yes, it's old, it was built in 1705 and still looks awesome! I watched The Phantom of the Opera here and was BLOWN away! No issues picking up our tickets. They are very prompt in getting you seated, so try to show up a bit earlier than your show. They are VERY strict with their no photography policy, so be aware of that. The biggest downside is how crowded the seats are, but I was so engrossed in the performance that I hardly minded at all! If you're in London, don't hesitate to grab tickets for a play here! read more

Beautiful theater. On my recent adventure to London, I wanted to have at least one "elegant evening out", so I looked up various shows and decided on The Phantom of the Opera. After all, Andrew Lloyd Webber's production did open first in London. The experience did not disappoint. The music was BIG and riveting, and the story was interesting and moving (and also a little disturbing...kind of like a modern day stalker story...whoa). Yes, this was my first time to see the Phantom. And yes, I would totally see it again. I absolutely loved it. The musical is in its 28th year at Her Majesty's Theater, so tickets are reasonably priced and easy to get. Fun Fact: They have binoculars for rent in between the seats (coin operated like those viewing telescopes on scenic overlooks). Pair this musical with a pre-show dinner @BenaresRestaurant in Berkeley Square for a very elegant evening out. :) read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - View of stage from section Grand, row F, seat 20. - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

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Superb performance of Phantom of the Opera i have seen here, the seating is cramped however if you have long legs, severe problem i found in the U.K theatres. I would prefer to have a balcony seat next time in any British theatre, thanks God for half time to stretch your legs and get a glass of red. The Phantom of the Opera made it all worth while, so captivating. read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

My fiance and I purchased tickets to see the Phantom of the Oprah online about a month or two before our trip to London. The day of our show, we experienced no issues with picking up our tickets at the theater (which is always something we usually worry about when a decent amount of money is involved). The theater itself is gorgeous. We sat in the middle of the second row and the view was absolutely perfect. However, due to the more intimate size of this theater, I'd imagine just about every seat has a good view. Most importantly, the show was stunning. The sets and costumes were brilliant and the actors themselves did a beautiful job. We will without a doubt return to see Phantom again during our next trip to London and I would suggest to anyone who has not yet seen it, to do yourself the favor and go! read more

The Phantom of the Opera was the first show I saw in London, enjoyed it very much! It's a great theatre in a central location with nice interior and friendly staff. read more

Her Majesty's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - St. James's, XGL

A truly beautiful Theatre ( the best in London I believe ). I have seen Phantom of the Opera here 5 times and I always look forward to returning. Lavishly decorated, with Golden Cherubs built around the stage. A short walk from Trafalgar Square and Charing cross station and close to coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Go visit and enjoy!! read more

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Being a fan of the book, I was extremely excited to see Phantom of the Opera. The setting for this wonderful show was Her Majesty's Theatre - a quaint little place in central London. The theatre is in a great location and is beautifully decorated. My main criticism would be that there was nowhere to sit before the doors opened. Being keen beans, we arrived rather early, but were disappointed to find that there was absolutely nowhere to go. We ended up spending a considerable amount of time standing in the lobby as there was no bar, no seats... nothing, and we were not the only ones. read more

In my humble opinion, Phantom of the Opera is the best and most accessible musical in the West End. If I have visitors in town, I always recommend a night at the theatre to be a quintessentially British experience and Phantom is what I'll bring them to see. It isn't too heavy or depressing, the music will remain in your brain for weeks, the sets are spectacular as are the special effects Her Majesty's Theatre is a classic West End theatre with some amazing architectural features to enjoy and they've dressed it up well for this musical with the pivotal chandelier hovering over the stalls. Say what you like about Lloyd Webber but he writes a good memorable tune and the main themes will be playing themselves in your head as you leave and remain there for weeks. The first half of the show is musically stronger but there are some good numbers in the second half too. They make good use of the space on stage to recreate indoor and outdoor locations with some amazing special effects.including the Phantom rowing his boat through the misty underground parts of the city I've seen the show from various seats in the theatre. Dress circle is the best but make sure you sit near the front to be able to see the chandelier. The stalls give a closer view but you'll miss the chandelier and the Phantom does appear high up in the rafters sometimes. Upper Circle shows you these views but is further away. However, from any seat, you'll enjoy one of the best nights out available in London read more

My husband took me to see Phantom of the Opera for my birthday and it was a really wonderful experience. Architecture of the venue takes you back to another time era which is perfect when you are seeing such a performance. Theatre inside is elegant. We sat in the royal circle in the 2nd row and we had great views! The seats are comfortable and they have a bar during intermission that you can frequent. The cast was fantastic and really brought Webber's Phantom to life. The woman who played Christine Daaé had an amazing voice. My favorite song performances were "Music of the Night" and "Phantom of the Opera". This is one of my favourite musicals. I would not hesitate to see this again at this venue. read more

It's a wonderful theater - anyone who still has a chance to see r. fiennes in the tempest should absolutely go (despite the middling reviews, it's great) pro-tip: the first row of the top balcony is listed as restricted view. it's only restricted if you're sitting back, if you lean forward onto your knees or the rail it's great (and relatively cheap!) read more

The next part of birthday surprise weekend was Phantom of the Opera! I had never seen the show in person, and had been dying to see it for years. The setting for this show couldn't be more perfect, as the theatre itself is a beautiful building, with elegant architecture that speaks of a glorious bygone era. The stage setting was also fantastic! The theatre is old, as most theatres in London's West End, and as such hasn't been updated. Tall people, be warned! There is very little in the way of leg room, as people were obviously shorter when the theatre was built. This didn't bother me, as I'm pretty short, and my other half isn't all that tall either. What it does mean is a lot of jigging about when people are trying to climb out of the row. This is something that's unlikely to change, and it's worth it for the show. Sadly, the combination of a big meal, recovery from all the travel, and the excessively high temperature inside the theatre meant that I was fighting the sleepies. The show itself was riveting, and the performances fantastic, which made me all the more annoyed at myself for feeling myself drift. I think that in the height of summer in an enclosed space with many people, some air flow wouldn't go amiss. I was left tightly hugging a pint cup full of ice, which the staff at the bar were kind enough to give me. The staff were fantastic, friendly, helpful, and very patient (especially given the number of people flouting the flash photography rule). Smiles all around, I really couldn't praise them highly enough. All in, a fantastic evening. Phantom is a definite West End essential. read more

I feel so strongly about my experience that I had to share. Bought tickets second row center royal circle, expensive but wanted a wonderful experience. Could not see a thing it was terrible. The person in front of me was small but still the seats are not adequately tiered. could see a slither of the show if I kept tilting towards the small gap between people. Would never visit again unless front row seats, complete waste of money. Fortunately (or not) there was reason for the show to be paused after 25 minutes, it was a Wednesday night so took the opportunity to move to a higher seat with empty seats in front. just be aware when booking......! read more