The Best-Reviewed West End Shows Right Now: 13 to 19 July 2026

Ratings can flatter a show that only a handful of people have seen, so for this ranking we use two numbers from our live booking data and read them together: the average rating a production carries, and the number of reviews behind it. A five-star average from three people tells you very little; a 4.8 from several thousand tells you a great deal. On that basis, here are the West End shows that are genuinely earning their audiences in the week of 13 to 19 July 2026, with every title below currently on sale and confirmed to be playing.

The method, briefly

We rank first by average rating, then break ties by review volume, and we set aside anything with only a token number of reviews so that a lone perfect score cannot leapfrog a show that thousands have rated. The result is two overlapping lists worth separating: the highest-rated shows, and the most-reviewed. The titles that appear near the top of both are the safest bets in town.

The highest-rated show with a real audience behind it

Top of the pile is The Lion King at the Lyceum, which holds a 4.9 average across more than 10,000 reviews in our data. That combination, a near-perfect score at that volume, is close to unheard of, and it is why Julie Taymor's staging remains the reference point for family spectacle after nearly three decades in London. Our ultimate guide to The Lion King in London covers everything from seating to running time if you are planning a first visit.

The 4.8 club: newer shows punching hard

Just behind sits a cluster of shows rated 4.8 with substantial review counts, and this is where the current West End is at its most interesting. Moulin Rouge the Musical at the Piccadilly leads the group with more than 3,400 reviews, followed by The Devil Wears Prada at the Dominion on over 1,800 and Hadestown at the Lyric on close to 1,000. All three are recent additions rather than heritage titles, which makes their scores all the more striking. ABBA Voyage, the digital concert residency in the purpose-built arena at Pudding Mill Lane, also sits at 4.8 across more than 4,700 reviews, a reminder that the best-reviewed live experience in London right now is not, strictly, a play at all.

The best-reviewed family show

The single highest family rating in our data belongs to My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne, which matches The Lion King's 4.9 across a smaller but still meaningful sample of more than 300 reviews. The Royal Shakespeare Company's stage version of the Studio Ghibli film has been one of the word-of-mouth successes of recent seasons, and its return continues to draw the kind of notices most shows can only envy.

The most-reviewed shows: the crowd's verdict

Switch from rating to sheer volume and the picture shifts towards the heritage musicals. After The Lion King, the most-reviewed titles in our data are The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's on nearly 6,800 reviews, Mamma Mia! at the Novello on more than 6,300, and Les Miserables at the Sondheim on over 5,100, all holding averages between 4.6 and 4.7. These are the shows that have sold to the widest audiences over the longest time and kept them happy, which is its own kind of recommendation. Wicked, Matilda, The Book of Mormon and Hamilton all follow close behind on several thousand reviews apiece.

How to read the numbers

If you want the surest thing in London, The Lion King tops both lists at once. If you would rather see something newer that critics and audiences agree on, Moulin Rouge, Hadestown or The Devil Wears Prada are the ones to weigh. And if a 4.9-rated family morning is the goal, My Neighbour Totoro is the standout. You can browse the full ranking on our best-rated shows page and by genre on musicals. For the rest of this week's coverage, see what is on across the West End, the best-value tickets, and theatre across the UK.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best-reviewed West End show right now?

In our live data The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre holds a 4.9 average across more than 10,000 reviews, making it both the highest-rated show with a large audience and the most-reviewed title in the West End this week.

What is the difference between highest-rated and most-reviewed?

Highest-rated ranks by average score, so a newer show like Moulin Rouge or Hadestown can lead. Most-reviewed ranks by how many people have rated a show, which favours long-running musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia!. We show both because they answer different questions.

Which new West End show has the best reviews?

Among recent arrivals, Moulin Rouge the Musical leads with a 4.8 average across more than 3,400 reviews, with The Devil Wears Prada and Hadestown close behind, both also rated 4.8.

What is the best-reviewed family show in London?

My Neighbour Totoro at the Gillian Lynne Theatre carries a 4.9 rating in our data, the highest of any family title this week, matched only by The Lion King.