I’m just running through a few options here for a London theatre break. It’s going to be fun and I’m getting excited already at the thought of going back up to the West End for what seems like the first time in ages. The last time we went to see a big musical was around this time last year when we went on a short London theatre break to see Oliver. Jodie Prenger was great and Fagin was good too, I think we caught the show at a good time after they’d all relaxed into their parts and before the Fagins kept changing. Still you can’t blame any of these people for whom the London stage is perhaps not their main sphere of activity for not wanting to carry on and do really long runs. It was definitely the singing and classic song that made the show so I think that makes up my mind which genre I’d like to book up this time around.

Musical London Theatre Break

Much as I do appreciate a bit of Shakespeare , Oscar Wilde, Pinter or Beckett if I’m going to splash out on the whole London theatre break thing with a posh hotel, meal out and everything like that then I like to know with absolute certainty that I’m going to laugh and cry and dance in my seat, and come away with several great chorus lines ringing in my ears so once again it’s going to be a Musical London theatre break this year. Now there would appear to be about 25 musicals on offer in theatreland at present so that doesn’t really narrow down the choice of show very much does it? I’ll list them down, then cross off the ones that aren’t really my cup of tea shall I?

Avenue Q, Billy Elliot, Blood Brothers, Chicago, Dirty Dancing, Dreamboats And Petticoats, Grease, Hairspray, The Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, Les Miserables, Lion King, Mamma Mia, Oliver, Phantom of the Opera, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Sister Act, Stomp, Thriller Live, We Will Rock You, Wicked

So what does that look like? Well obviously we can cross out Oliver as we saw that  one last year. Out of the rest, I think it’s got to be either Phantom or Grease. Different ends of the spectrum in some ways, but we know some of the songs from Phantom after hearing the CD whereas Grease is a musical we could perform half of by heart without any mugging up at all! OK, we plumped for Phantom  of the Opera, and if it comes up to expectations then we might just go and see Love Never Dies for next year’s London theatre break, or even earlier if some of my investments come through in time. Next we need to choose a Hotel and dates. That’s the slightly precarious part because it all depends on availabiity.

Choice of  Hotel for a London Theatre Break

I like to be near the City of London, which is a bit further east from the West End but only a short cab ride away, but I’m going to be flexible and if something comes up in Holborn, Westminster or the Strand that’ll be fine for a weekend London theatre break. We are lucky enough to be able to take Mondays or Thursday off too though, or any day really, so access to the City next day would be convenient, if I can get away with it. Right, I’m off to check the online theatre breaks booking sites now, wish me luck!

This was a guest post by a reader from London Theatre Break who wishes to remain anonymous

3* Euston Square Hotel, London, 2 nights & 1 dinner, for £99.00pp! Available: until 28th February Great location amid the bustle of the vibrant West End! Close to London’s famous attractions including; Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, and Theatreland!

4* Edinburgh Marriott Hotel, 2 nights & 1 dinner, save 33%, from £89.00pp Available: until 31st March A perfect base for exploring Edinburgh’s many attractions including; Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace are within easy reach.

3* Thistle Manchester, 2 nights & 1 dinner, save 20%, from £42.50pp Available: until 30th April A prime location in Manchester’s city centre, overlooking Piccadilly Gardens, with only a five minute walk from the central shopping and financial districts.

4* York Marriott Hotel, 2 nights & 1 dinner, save 38%, from £100.00pp Available: until 14th February Situated on the south side of York, set in beautiful landscaped gardens, overlooking the racecourse. Ideally situated for exploring the delights of this quintessential British town.

2* Hotel Prince Albert Monceau, Paris, save 17%, from £28.75pp Available: until 28th February A brand new hotel located between the Champs Elysee with its host of shops and cafes and the Opera which makes the hotel an ideal base to explore the city of romance!

3* Quality Hotel Prague, save 15%, from £12.50pp Available: until 31st March Close by are the city’s museums, galleries, the National Theatre, Black Theatre and Laterna Magika.

3* HEM Hotel Amsterdam, 44% off, from £20.00pp Available: Sunday to Thursday until 31st January Based in the west of Amsterdam’s city centre, close to many of the city’s major attractions.

The Lion King, ticket & 3* hotel from £91.50pp Show Available: 20th January until 19th July Fantastic choreography and an award-winning score continue to ensure that The Lion King is one of London’s top shows.

Dirty Dancing, ticket & 3* hotel from £129.50pp Show Available: 3rd February until 17th October The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotion and sensationally sexy dancing.

Mamma Mia, ticket & 3* hotel from £90.00pp Show Available: 9th April until 31st October The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship.

Pussycat Dolls live at the O2 3* hotel & ticket from only £126.50pp available on 27th or 28th January

For more great theatre breaks offers see London Theatre Breaks

Dirty Dancing, ticket & 3* hotel from £127.00pp
Available until 30th April
The Academy Award winning film, Dirty Dancing is considered to be one of the greatest dance movies ever made, launching the careers of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.

Jersey Boys, ticket & 3* hotel from £127.00pp
Available until 25th April
A smash hit on Broadway, the musical Jersey Boys tells the story of how four blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop bands of the 1960s.

The Lion King, ticket & 3* hotel from £86.00pp
Available until 29th March. Disney’s marvellous musical The Lion King about the young Prince Simba, his father King Musafa and evil Uncle Scar.

Tags: theatrebreaks, mama mia, dirty dancing, jersey boys, lion king

Cast from Mamma Mia at perform Voulez Vous at West End Live on June 21st 2008.