West End matinee guide: Which West End shows have matinee performances and how to book tickets
Check out West End matinees currently running in London.
Matinees are a crucial part of London’s theatreland — and a treat all of their own. For many, these afternoon shows are a scheduling lifeline, especially if you’re travelling in and out of the city or have young children. Matinees in the West End can also be a great family occasion, or a fun way to have a special day out, accompanied by shopping, sightseeing and a meal.
But not all shows have matinees on the same days or at the same times, which can make planning your outings something of a challenge. So, we’ve assembled a guide to some of London’s top shows and all of their upcoming matinees. Get inspired and get booking!
Book West End theatre tickets to weekday matinees.
2:22 - A Ghost Story, Apollo Theatre
A spine-tingling tale returns to the West End. Will you be brave and stay up to 2:22am?
2:22 - A Ghost Story matinees: Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm
Book 2:22 - A Ghost Story tickets on London Theatre.
Ain't Too Proud, Prince Edward Theatre
Enjoy the Temptations in the West End, as Ain't Too Proud comes to the capital. Get ready, cause here they come!
Ain't Too Proud matinees: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 3pm
Book Ain't Too Proud tickets on London Theatre.
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre
Great Scott! The 80s sci-fi film phenomenon is now a spectacular stage musical, complete with a flying car. Can Marty McFly save his family and make it back home in time?
Back to the Future: The Musical matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 3pm
Book Back to the Future: The Musical tickets on London Theatre.
Cabaret, Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
Willkommen to Rebecca Frecknall’s thrilling revival of Kander and Ebb’s musical, which places you right in the heart of the club – and amidst the rise of a far-right power.
Cabaret matinees: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm
Book Cabaret tickets on London Theatre.
Crazy For You, Gillian Lynne Theatre
Charlie Stemp plays theatre producer Bobby Child in the hit Gershwin musical.
Crazy For You matinees: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Book Crazy For You tickets on London Theatre.
Derren Brown presents Unbelievable, Criterion Theatre
For the first time, the world-leading illusionist will not star in his production. However, you can still expect to see magic that defies belief.
Unbelievable matinees: Saturdays at 3:00pm, Sundays at 2:00pm.
Book Derren Brown presents Unbelievable tickets on London Theatre.
Disney’s The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre
The animated film is reborn as an epic family musical. The catchy songs are all there, along with incredible puppets evoking the animals of the African Pride Lands.
Dirty Dancing matinees: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm
Book Disney's The Lion King tickets on London Theatre.
Elf, Dominion Theatre
Make sure your winter West End theatre trips are sparklejollytwinklejingly with Elf in London. Join Buddy for Christmas magic to remember.
Elf matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays 2:30pm.
Book Elf tickets on London Theatre.
Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Let it snow! The Disney megahit is now a family-friendly stage musical, with jaw-dropping theatrical design and special effects conjuring up Elsa’s magic and companions like Olaf.
Frozen the Musical matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 1pm
Book Frozen the Musical tickets on London Theatre.
Grease, Dominion Theatre
We go together with Grease in the West End. The high school musical is back for 2023, with Louise Redknapp as Teen Angel.
Grease matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Book Grease tickets on London Theatre.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre
Harry Potter’s wizarding adventures continue in this spellbinding two-part play. Now it’s his son Albus heading off to Hogwarts, but a new dark power is rising.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child matinees: Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 1pm
Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets on London Theatre.
Jersey Boys, Trafalgar Theatre
Follow the gripping story of how Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons rose to stardom – and then fell apart. This popular musical is teeming with incredible hits.
Jersey Boys matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 4pm
Book Jersey Boys tickets on London Theatre.
Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre
A fantasy Greek island, a heartfelt tale of family and friendship, and the indelible songs of ABBA: it’s an irresistible combination. Mazz Murray leads the current West End cast.
Mamma Mia! matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm, Sundays at 2:30pm
Book Mamma Mia! tickets on London Theatre.
Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre
The anarchic spirit of Roald Dahl lives on in Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s enjoyably naughty family musical. It’s also a real love letter to storytelling.
Matilda the Musical matinees: Wednesdays at 2pm, Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 3pm
Book Matilda the Musical tickets on London Theatre.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Piccadilly Theatre
Baz Luhrmann’s unforgettable movie is now a red-hot stage musical, once again mixing a lavish Belle Époque Parisian romance with a mega mash-up of modern pop hits.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical matinees: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm
Book Moulin Rouge! The Musical tickets on London Theatre.
Mrs. Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre
Yoohoo, dearies! Help is on the way thanks to this hit Broadway musical. Will out-of-work actor Daniel Hilliard find a new lease of life?
Mrs. Doubtfire matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Book Mrs. Doubtfire tickets on London Theatre.
Oklahoma!, Wyndham’s Theatre
The Young Vic London production of Oklahoma! heads to the West End in spring 2023. See a reimagined Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
Oklahoma! matinees: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:00pm
Book Oklahoma! tickets on London Theatre.
Operation Mincemeat, Fortune Theatre
Singin' in the Rain meets Strangers on a Train in this cult WW2 British musical.
Operation Mincemeat matinees: Tuesdays and Saturdays at 3:00pm.
SIX, Vaudeville Theatre
Henry VIII’s wives tell their own stories in this smash-hit herstory musical – and in the guise of pop divas like Adele and Beyoncé. It’s the ultimate girl power outing.
SIX matinees: Saturdays and Sundays at 4pm
Book Six tickets on London Theatre.
The Book of Mormon, Prince of Wales Theatre
Two naïve missionaries travel to Africa in this hilarious and outrageous musical satire from South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Frozen’s Robert Lopez.
The Book of Mormon matinees: Fridays and Saturdays at 2:30pm
Book The Book of Mormon tickets on London Theatre.
The Choir of Man, Arts Theatre
The Olivier-nominated music hit The Choir of Man returns to the Arts Theatre in autumn 2022. Hear hits by Adele, Sia, and Paul Young in the West End's happiest hour around.
The Choir of Man matinees: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 3:30pm
Book The Choir of Man tickets on London Theatre.
The Crown Jewels, Garrick Theatre
Rejoice with West End royalty at the world premiere of The Crown Jewels. When Colonel Blood plans to steal the monarchical regalia, King Charles won't be pleased.
The Crown Jewels matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Book The Crown Jewels tickets on London Theatre.
The Crucible, Gielgud Theatre
Lyndsey Turner directs an urgent retelling of Arthur Miller's groundbreaking play, linking the Salem witch trials to the Communist Red Scare.
The Crucible matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:00pm.
Book The Crucible tickets on London Theatre.
The Mousetrap, St Martin’s Theatre
The longest-running show in the West End, Agatha Christie’s fiendish whodunit is still puzzling and thrilling audiences. Can you best the Queen of Crime?
The Mousetrap matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 3pm, Sundays at 2pm
Book The Mousetrap tickets on London Theatre.
The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre
The amateur Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are attempting to stage a murder mystery, but, in this side-splitting comedy, they are constantly besieged by disasters.
The Play That Goes Wrong matinees: Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 3pm
Book The Play That Goes Wrong tickets on London Theatre.
The Time Traveller's Wife, Apollo Theatre
The Time Traveller's Wife is a joyous, uplifting celebration of the true meaning of love, however and whenever we experience it. David Hunter and Joanna Woodward star.
The Time Traveller's Wife matinees: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Book The Time Traveller's Wife tickets on London Theatre.
The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium
Go on an unforgettable experience with Dorothy, the Tinman, the Lion, and the Scarecrow down the yellow brick road.
The Wizard of Oz matinees: Thursdays, Saturdays at 2:00pm, Sundays at 1:00pm.
Book The Wizard of Oz tickets on London Theatre.
Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, Aldwych Theatre
From humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to success with Ike Turner and then breaking free to become a solo rock ‘n’ roll legend, this musical recounts an amazing life story.
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 3pm
Book Tina - The Tina Turner Musical tickets on London Theatre.
Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
This twist on the Wizard of Oz story, featuring Stephen Schwartz’s soaring music, explores the complex friendship between the so-called Wicked Witch, Elphaba, and Good Witch Glinda.
Wicked matinees: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm
Book Wicked tickets on London Theatre.
Witness for the Prosecution, London County Hall
This riveting site-specific production places you right in the court room with Leonard Vole, accused of murder, in Agatha Christie’s twist-packed tale.
Witness for the Prosecution matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm, Sundays at 3pm
Book Witness for the Prosecution tickets on London Theatre.
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