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Les Misérables: Book Tickets Now

See Les Misérables at the Sondheim Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue — recognised by Guinness World Records as the West End's longest-running musical, on stage since 1985.

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Les Misérables

Highlights

Witness an exceptional new version of one of the world’s most beloved musicals.

Enjoy all the classic songs from the original score.

Join over 130 million attendees worldwide across 53 countries speaking 22 languages.

Good to Know About Les Misérables

Running time is about 2 hours 50 minutes: That includes one interval of around 15 minutes, per the show's own box office.

Recommended for ages 7 and over: Children under 3 are not admitted, and parents should judge suitability for their own child.

Everyone under 16 needs an adult beside them: Ticket-holders under 16 must be seated next to an accompanying adult aged 18 or over.

The staging includes gunfire effects, smoke and flashing lights: These run throughout the performance as part of the production's theatrical effects.

Latecomers may not be admitted straight away: Entry is held until a suitable break in the performance, and admittance isn't guaranteed.

The 1907 building has no lift to the upper levels: Reaching the Dress Circle from the foyer means 18 steps, and the Grand Circle a further climb, 39 steps in total.

Step-free access reaches the Dress Circle, not the Stalls: Via a side door on Wardour Street, leading to wheelchair spaces in the Schönberg Loge.

Large bags and suitcases can't go in the cloakroom: Only coats and small bags are accepted there for a charge, and bags may be checked at the door.

About Les Misérables

Les Misérables company performing on stage at the Sondheim Theatre

Les Misérables is set against the turbulent backdrop of 19th-century France and follows Jean Valjean, a former convict seeking redemption while relentlessly pursued by the police inspector Javert. Valjean becomes guardian to Cosette, daughter of the factory worker Fantine, and the story builds to the June 1832 student uprising on the barricades of Paris. Adapted from Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, the musical is fully sung-through, with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, French lyrics and book by Alain Boublil, and English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer.

Cameron Mackintosh's English-language production, first staged with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has run continuously in the West End since 1985 and moved to this theatre, then the Queen's Theatre, in April 2004.

Interesting Facts About Les Misérables

Adapted from Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, the musical was written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil and first premiered in Paris in 1980.

Cameron Mackintosh's English-language production, co-produced with the Royal Shakespeare Company, opened at the Barbican Centre on 8 October 1985, despite mixed reviews from critics at the time.

The show transferred to the Palace Theatre later in 1985 and moved to this theatre, then called the Queen's Theatre, on 12 April 2004.

On 12 November 2025, Guinness World Records recognised Les Misérables as holding the longest theatrical run of a musical in the West End, 40 years and 35 days after its 1985 opening.

Guinness World Records' 2025 recognition credits the production with having been seen by more than 130 million people worldwide.

"Do You Hear the People Sing?", one of the show's best-known numbers, has been adopted beyond the theatre as a protest anthem in real-world civil rights movements.

The Cosette image used in the show's branding is adapted from an 1862 engraving by French illustrator Émile Bayard, created for the original edition of Victor Hugo's novel.

The theatre was renamed the Sondheim Theatre in 2019, in honour of composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday, following a 20-week, £13.8 million refurbishment.

Les Misérables - Highlights in Pictures

Cast members of Les Misérables in costume during a scene at the Sondheim Theatre

Les Misérables company performing on the barricade set at the Sondheim Theatre

Interior view of the Sondheim Theatre auditorium

Sondheim Theatre

51 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6BA, with a side entrance on Wardour Street

Around 1,074 seats across three levels: Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle

Designed by theatre architect W. G. R. Sprague as a twin to the neighbouring Gielgud Theatre; the building is Grade II listed

Opened on 8 October 1907 as the Queen's Theatre, and renamed the Sondheim Theatre in 2019 after a £13.8 million refurbishment

Rebuilt after Blitz bomb damage in 1940, with a £250,000 restoration completed in 1959

Getting There

By Tube
By Bus
By Car

By Tube

Piccadilly Circus station, served by the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines, is around 250 metres from the theatre — about a three-minute walk.

Leicester Square station, on the Northern and Piccadilly lines, is also within walking distance of the theatre.
Charing Cross is the nearest National Rail station.

Sondheim Theatre - Facilities and Accessibility

The Sondheim Theatre has four licensed bars, in the Foyer, Stalls, Dress Circle and Grand Circle, plus a cloakroom that takes coats and small bags for a charge. As a 1907 building, reaching the upper levels means stairs: 21 steps down to the Stalls, 18 to the Dress Circle and 39 to the Grand Circle, with an adapted toilet in the foyer reached via a ramped corridor.

Step-free access to the theatre is through a side door on Wardour Street, leading to the Dress Circle rather than the Stalls.
The Dress Circle's Schönberg Loge holds up to two wheelchairs with companion seating, and transfer seats are also available in Dress Circle Row D.
Hearing assistance is provided through Auracast, the operator's current system, with receivers and headphones or a personal induction loop available from the cloakroom.
Audio-described, British Sign Language-interpreted and captioned performances are scheduled through the run, and assistance dogs are welcome in the auditorium.

FAQs about Les Misérables at Sondheim Theatre

What is Les Misérables about?

Les Misérables follows Jean Valjean, a former convict seeking redemption in 19th-century France while pursued by the police inspector Javert. The story also follows Fantine, her daughter Cosette, and a group of student revolutionaries, building to the June 1832 uprising in Paris.

How long is Les Misérables?

About 2 hours 50 minutes, including one interval of around 15 minutes.

What age guidance applies to Les Misérables?

The production is recommended for ages 7 and over. Children under 3 are not admitted, and parents and guardians should judge whether a performance suits their own child.

Are there content notes for Les Misérables?

The staging includes gunfire sound effects, smoke or haze, and flashing lights throughout the performance.

Can children attend Les Misérables?

Yes, from age 3 upward, though the show is recommended for ages 7 and over. Ticket-holders under 16 must be seated next to an accompanying adult aged 18 or over.

What happens if I arrive late?

Latecomers may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance, and admittance isn't guaranteed.

Is the Sondheim Theatre step-free accessible?

Step-free access is through a side door on Wardour Street, leading to the Dress Circle. The Stalls and Grand Circle are reached by stairs only.

Are wheelchair spaces available?

Yes. The Dress Circle's Schönberg Loge holds up to two wheelchairs with companion seating, and transfer seats are also available in Dress Circle Row D.

What is the nearest tube station to the Sondheim Theatre?

Piccadilly Circus station, served by the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines, is around 250 metres away, about a three-minute walk.

Is there parking near the theatre?

Q-Park Chinatown on Newport Place can be booked online in advance. The theatre also sits inside London's Congestion Charge zone, which operates 7am to 6pm on weekdays.

Is there a cloakroom at the theatre?

Yes, for coats and small bags for a charge. Large bags and suitcases cannot be stored there.

Who wrote Les Misérables?

The musical was written by Claude-Michel Schönberg (music) and Alain Boublil (French lyrics and book), with English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, adapted from Victor Hugo's 1862 novel.