Make a day out of 'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical' in London

Rock out in London with an iconic pop-themed restaurant, a themed walking tour, and a museum celebrating two musical legends.

“Queen of Rock’n’roll” Tina Turner was a true diva with an extraordinary life. Born Anna Mae Bullock and raised in the rural community of Nutbush, Tennessee, she began working as a cotton picker at an early age. Through singing in nightclubs, she met Ike Turner and joined his band the Kings of Rhythm in 1956. They married in 1962 and divorced in 1978 following many years of domestic abuse.

Turner staged a remarkable comeback as a solo artist in 1980. She is one of the best-selling recording artists of all-time and won 12 Grammy Awards in total. Her hits speak for themselves.

Turner retired in 2009 and died in 2023 but her legacy lives on – not least in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which premiered in the West End in 2018 and played on Broadway. London is one of the world’s music capitals, so read on for ideas for activities to really make your trip rock.

Book Tina: The Tina Turner Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Hard Rock Cafe

Founded in 1971, the London branch of the Hard Rock Cafe is the OG of the franchise, a chain of restaurants decorated with rock and roll memorabilia. The very first object acquired by the restaurant was Eric Clapton’s red guitar. You can also explore the Vault, a small but jam-packed museum underneath the restaurant, where treasures include a coat worn by Elvis Presley, John Lennon’s glasses, and the Jean-Paul Gaultier bustier worn by Madonna on her Blonde Ambition tour.

And the food? The founders wanted to enjoy a decent American-style burger in London (not so easy to find in the early 1970s) and so the menu features hearty American fare. There are also suitably rock’n’roll cocktails on offer. Enjoy lunch or dinner in the company of legends – perhaps Tina will be on the playlist during your visit!

Address: 150 Old Park Lane, London W1K 1QZ

Price: £££

Handel Hendrix House

Two very different musical pioneers lived next door to each other in Mayfair 200 years apart. The German-born Baroque composer George Frideric Handel wrote almost all of his post-1723 works at this residence. It’s possible that rock singer and virtuoso guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who died in London at the age of 27, played in Ike and Tina Turner’s band in the mid-1960s – Tina denied that this was ever the case but Ike claimed to have owned a guitar played by Hendrix while they worked together.

No 25 has been a museum since 2001 and has been restored in the Georgian style of Handel’s tenure. Many original artefacts are on display, including manuscripts, correspondence, and paintings. Hendrix’s flat next door was opened in 2016. Each famous resident has his own blue plaque.

Address: 25 Brook Street, London W1K 4HB __ Price: ££

Free Rock and Roll walking tour of Soho

London with a Local offers regular free walking tours, including one charting the rock and roll history of Soho, capital of London’s nightlife. The tour includes the spot where Beatlemania was born; the iconic London Palladium, and a stroll down Carnaby Street, the epicentre of the Swinging Sixties. The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, and David Bowie all feature. Expect plenty of juicy gossip and anecdotes!

The tour lasts about two hours and begins in Golden Square, around the corner from Piccadilly Circus Tube station. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.

Address: Golden Square, London W1F 9LU

Price: Free

Thames Rockets – Ultimate London Adventure

“And do I love you my oh my / Yeah, river deep, mountain high / If I lost you would I cry,” sang Tina in one of her most emotional songs. There aren’t any mountains in London but there is a rather famous river. Tina Turner’s life was filled with adventure (much of which was stimulating, though some was devastating), and the Thames Rockets: Ultimate London Adventure is sure to get the adrenaline pumping.

This 50-minute speed boat experience starts at the London Eye Pier and ends at the Tower of London, taking in the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Shard, and other landmarks along the way. There’s plenty of substance to the commentary as well as the thrill of travelling at up to 30 knots.

Book Thames Rockets – Ultimate London Adventure tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Address: London Eye Pier, SW1A 1AE

Price: £££

Karaoke at Lucky Voice

Tina Turner was completely uninhibited as a performer and you too can embrace your inner diva at a karaoke session! Gather a group of friends and book a private karaoke room at Lucky Voice in Soho, the heart of London’s partying district.

Which Tina classic will you put your stamp on? If you need a bit of encouragement, treat yourself to a cocktail or two and you’ll be singing your heart out like never before!

Address: 52 Poland Street, London W1F 7NQ

Price: ££

MJ the Musical

Another pop icon is the subject of a major biographical show in the West End: the incomparable Michael Jackson. Like Turner, Jackson rewrote pop history and had a troubled personal life. The winner of four Tony Awards and directed and choreographed by the renowned Christopher Wheeldon, the show focuses on Jackson’s creative process as he prepares for his 1994 Dangerous World Tour.

The dazzling show boasts exemplary production values and brings all of Jackson’s most celebrated songs (including “Man in the Mirror”, “Billie Jean” and, of course "Thriller") to life with the utmost style. In particular, the choreography is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

Book MJ the Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is a biographical musical that celebrates Turner’s many triumphs but doesn’t shy away from depicting the harrowing aspects of her life head-on. It’s a show with plenty of glitz and grit and it’s impossible not to leave in awe of this remarkable woman and the phenomenally talented actresses taking on the role.

The sensational numbers include “A Fool in Love”, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”, and “Proud Mary”. LondonTheatre.co.uk’s reviewer summarised: “It's everything you expected, executed well and packs in a few surprises. Simply the Best? If you're a Tina fan, it'll definitely be pretty close.”

Book Tina: The Tina Turner Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk