His Majesty's Theatre, Phantom's West End home since 1986.
His Majesty's Theatre, Phantom's West End home since 1986 · Latest update: July 13, 2026
I created this guide so Phans have a central place for accurate, helpful information about seeing Phantom in London. It is completely unofficial and not affiliated with The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty's Theatre, or LW Theatres. Official sources are thephantomoftheopera.com/london and lwtheatres.co.uk.
Current alternate schedule: On Mondays and Fridays, Christine Daaé is played by Colleen Rose Curran. @phantomchristinesuk on Instagram is a good source for London Christine news.
His Majesty's Theatre on the Haymarket is the original West End home of The Phantom of the Opera, where the show opened on 9 October 1986. It went dark in March 2020 and reopened in July 2021 as a revised, slightly reduced version of the Hal Prince staging, still with Maria Björnson's designs and Gillian Lynne's choreography: the boat to the lair, the Masquerade staircase, the elephant in Hannibal, and the chandelier. It is a different production from the restaged US Tour and from the immersive Masquerade in New York. For many Phans, seeing it here is the point. This is where it started.
The theatre seats about 1,216 across four levels: Stalls, Royal Circle, Grand Circle, and Balcony. It is a historic Victorian-era house, which means sightlines vary far more than at a modern theatre, so seat choice matters. The sections below put the planning information first (how to get tickets, where to sit, how to get there, access), then the deeper context on the production, the cast, and the building.
Phantom in London: His Majesty's Theatre
Book direct and fee-free through LW Theatres, which owns and operates His Majesty's, at lwtheatres.co.uk. The official Phantom London site (thephantomoftheopera.com/london) and Official London Theatre are also authoritative. Authorised resellers include ATG Tickets, London Theatre Direct, LOVEtheatre, and TodayTix. Avoid unauthorised resale platforms, where prices balloon.
Phantom uses dynamic, demand-based pricing, so exact prices flex by date. The official lead-in is "from £25" for the cheapest standard seats (Balcony and restricted Grand Circle). The standard top price is around £125, rising to roughly £210 to £270 for premium centre seats on peak weekend dates. Mid-tier Stalls and Royal Circle seats usually fall in the £70 to £100 range. All LW Theatres prices include a small restoration levy and carry no booking fees when booked direct.
| Section | Typical price band | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Stalls | Premium to top band (up to ~£125+, higher on peak dates) | Closest to the action and the chandelier. Best immersion. |
| Royal Circle | Premium to top band | Front-centre rivals the Stalls for whole-stage view. |
| Grand Circle | Mid to lower | Elevated, good value, great for seeing the chandelier travel. |
| Balcony | From ~£25 | Cheapest, highest, most distant. |
For weekend and peak evening performances, book roughly 8 to 12 weeks ahead. Midweek matinees offer the best availability and value. A Wednesday matinee can be dramatically cheaper than a Saturday for the same seat. The show is currently booking through Saturday 13 March 2027. Group rates (10+) and school rates are available from the box office.
There is no standing policy. This is an all-seated house.
His Majesty's is a horseshoe-shaped historic auditorium with pillars and overhangs, so sightlines vary a lot. SeatPlan has photos taken from individual seats. Note that older pre-2021 seat reviews no longer apply to the Stalls and upper levels, because the layout changed in the refurbishment (the old central Stalls aisle was removed).
The chandelier: The London chandelier weighs over 1,500 pounds and features more than 6,000 crystals. It hangs over the auditorium and sweeps over the front Stalls before the famous Act 1 finale crash to the stage. To get the full chandelier moment, the centre Stalls or the front of the Royal Circle are best.
Best value and view: centre rows roughly D to H (some guides cite D15 to D26 as the very best, directly under the chandelier). Rows E to K centre are the sweet spot for taking in the whole stage. Watch out: the Royal Circle overhang begins to cut off the top of the stage from around row L back, and can obscure the chandelier rising to the ceiling. Rows Q to S have the circle overhang in view. Support pillars restrict seats in rows N and P and the rear corners.
Best: front-centre rows A to C (seats roughly 13 to 24) give arguably the best whole-stage view in the house, though the front-row rail means leaning forward is common, and the row ends are marked restricted. Watch out: the whole of row H is restricted by the overhang above. Seats directly behind the four central pillars (around row F back) are restricted, and side sections become side-on.
Best: central block, first 4 to 5 rows. Grand Circle D15 and B12 are cited as cheaper seats with a good chandelier view. Watch out: row ends (rows A to K) are marked sightline-restricted, and the section is high and steeply raked.
Sharply raked, very high, and distant from the stage. The long-standing verdict is to stretch to the Grand Circle if you can. That said, some Phans love the upper levels for watching the Phantom up to his tricks high above the stage and seeing the chandelier's full travel.
This is the question every Phan asks, so let's settle it. There is no real audience box physically numbered "5" at His Majesty's. "Box Five" is the fictional box the Phantom demands be kept empty for his exclusive use. The famous brass "Box 5" plaque people picture is at the Palais Garnier in Paris, a separate landmark, not London.
His Majesty's has four real stage-side boxes set between the columns of the auditorium, two stacked per side. For booking they are numbered 1 to 4, with online codes AA and BB (at Stalls/orchestra-pit height) and CC and DD (higher, around Royal Circle level). The production dresses a stage-side box to read as the story's Box Five.
The Phantom's voice is heard coming from around the onstage box during "Notes" and "Prima Donna" ("And in Box Five a new game will begin...") and during the "Il Muto" scene ("Did I not instruct that Box Five was to be kept empty?"), where Raoul sits in the stage box. The Phantom's box presence is vocal. There is no scripted scene where he sits in a box as an audience member.
Yes. Since the 2021 reopening, the once blacked-out stage boxes were restored to their original green and red and reintroduced for audience use, and tickets are now sold to the public.
Before you book a box: the view is side-on and partly obstructed. I've sat in them. You lose the nearside corner, roughly a quarter of the stage, and because the show is staged toward all sides, you spend a fair amount of it looking at the back of one actor's head while facing another. Boxes suit the repeat visitor more than a first-timer. If it's your first Phantom in London, sit in the centre Stalls or front Royal Circle instead, and save the box for a later visit as a novelty. Box capacity is small (roughly two prime seats per box). Exact box pricing only shows once you select a date in the live booking flow, so confirm the current price for your date on the official site.
The Boxes at His Majesty's
His Majesty's is operated by LW Theatres, which runs its own Access Scheme. You do not have to be a member to book access tickets by phone, but membership unlocks online access booking and pre-visit information.
Contacts: Access line 020 3925 2998, open 10am to 5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Email access@lwtheatres.co.uk. Some third-party pages still list an old box-office number (020 7087 7966); use the LW access line above.
Registering and proof: Register via the online form. Accepted documents include the front page of DLA or PIP (no specific rate required), a Certificate of Visual Impairment, War Disablement Pension, a Blue Badge, a Disabled Railcard, a CEA Card, the Nimbus CredAbility / Access Card, or recognised Assistance Dog ID. Processing can take up to 4 weeks because demand is high, so register early. The postal address is The Access Scheme, LW Theatres, 65 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5SP. For US visitors: in my own experience, a US Disabled Veteran letter was accepted as proof for the scheme.
Companion and Personal Assistant tickets: One companion ticket is offered at the same price the access customer paid, subject to availability. A Personal Assistant ticket is provided at no additional cost for those who need continuous one-to-one support, with extra eligibility proof required (for example PIP Daily Living Component, DLA high or middle rate care, Attendance Allowance, severely sight impaired registration, or the CredAbility Access Card). A Blue Badge alone is generally not enough for a free PA ticket.
Wheelchair users and step-free access: The Stalls have level access via the side entrance on Charles II Street, which leads straight into the Stalls and bypasses the foyer. There are three dedicated non-transferable wheelchair positions in the Stalls (aisle seats in rows E, J, and M), with additional companion seating. Any low-numbers-side aisle seat in the Stalls can be used to transfer from a wheelchair into a theatre seat. There is one accessible toilet at the rear of the Stalls. There is no lift to the upper levels, and the step counts from the foyer are significant (Royal Circle 32 steps, Grand Circle 62 to 63, Balcony 89 to 90), so wheelchair users and anyone with limited mobility should book the level-access Stalls. Blue Badge bays and a drop-off point are on Charles II Street.
Assisted performances: His Majesty's periodically hosts audio-described and captioned performances. The GalaPro app provides automated subtitles, audio description, and closed captioning at every performance on your own device, and an infra-red hearing system with headsets and neckloops is available. Specific signed, relaxed, audio-described, and captioned dates rotate, so check the show's access page or the LW Access newsletter for current dates. Assistance dogs are welcome, and staff will look after a dog during the show.
The theatre is at the southern end of the West End theatre district, near Piccadilly Circus, a short walk from Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square.
If you want to make a full day of it before a matinee or evening show, the Sofitel London St James (6 Waterloo Place, SW1Y 4AN) is directly around the corner from the theatre, a few minutes on foot. Its Rose Lounge has run a limited-edition Phantom of the Opera-themed afternoon tea presented in three "acts," from £70 per person, or £80 per person with a glass of fizz.
Check availability first: the Phantom-themed tea was advertised through 31 March 2026, so by now it may have reverted to the standard Rose Lounge afternoon tea. Confirm what is currently served, and the price, before you book.
The London show is Harold Prince's staging as revised for the 2021 reopening, with Maria Björnson's designs, Gillian Lynne's choreography, Andrew Bridge's lighting, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's score (lyrics by Charles Hart with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe). The current West End staging is directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn, with set adapted by Matt Kinley.
How it differs from the versions you may know: the US and UK touring "spectacular" restaged by Laurence Connor used entirely new design and a more realistic direction, which Phans tend to find divisive. Masquerade in New York is a separate immersive adaptation. London keeps the iconic Björnson visual language.
The 2021 reopening changes (for the detail-oriented): When the show reopened in July 2021 after the pandemic closure, it was a refreshed, slightly reduced version. The orchestra was cut from 27 musicians to 14, which drew criticism from the Musicians' Union and others. Some set elements were simplified: Björnson's proscenium sculptures were lost, the levitating Angel statue during "All I Ask of You" was replaced by a stage-level statue, and the descent to the lair was simplified with fewer candles. Andrew Lloyd Webber described the show as "substantially identical." Most casual audiences still find it spectacular, but purists should know it is a modified version of the original.
Phantom is marking its 40th anniversary in London (it opened in October 1986), and the 40th anniversary cast was announced on 29 June 2026. Casts change every few months and limited star runs are common, so always verify the cast for your specific date before booking.
| Role | Performer | Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| The Phantom | Jordan Donica | From Tue 8 Sep 2026 through Spring 2027 |
| Christine Daaé | Beatrice Penny-Touré | 20 Aug 2026 to 24 Jul 2027 |
| Christine (alternate) | Colleen Rose Curran | Certain performances, through Spring 2027 |
| Raoul | Rhys Whitfield | 3 Aug to 21 Nov 2026 |
| Carlotta Giudicelli | Sierra Boggess | 3 Aug to 21 Nov 2026 |
| Monsieur André | Joseph Millson | 3 Aug to 21 Nov 2026 |
| Monsieur Firmin | Ian Pirie | 3 Aug to 21 Nov 2026 |
| Madame Giry | Joanna Riding | 3 Aug to 21 Nov 2026 |
| Ubaldo Piangi | Matt Bateman | 3 Aug 2026 to 24 Jul 2027 |
| Meg Giry | Millie Lyon | Through 24 Jul 2027 |
The Sierra Boggess return: One of Phantom's most celebrated former Christines returns, this time as Carlotta. Boggess originated Christine in Love Never Dies in the West End and starred in the 25th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Reuniting with her Love Never Dies co-star Joseph Millson (here as André), this is the casting Phans are talking about. New Phantom Jordan Donica is also a Phantom alumnus, having played Raoul on Broadway.
A special anniversary performance is set for Friday 9 October 2026, the exact 40th anniversary of the 1986 opening. It is currently off sale, and no returning alumni have been confirmed for it. Sign up to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Box Five Club at phantomoftheopera.com/london40 for first access to updates. Treat any resale listings for that night with caution.
Note: a Saturday night 40th anniversary performance is currently on sale.
The 40th Anniversary Performance
The stage door is on Charles II Street, on the side of the theatre. Exit the main Haymarket entrance, turn left and left again, and it is clearly marked. Cast members often (but not always) come out after performances to sign and take photos. Bring your own pen, a bright marker works well, and something to sign. Be patient and polite. Performers are never obliged to appear and may leave quickly after a demanding show.
His Majesty's Theatre changes its name with the gender of the reigning monarch. It reverted from Her Majesty's to His Majesty's in 2023, following the accession of King Charles III. The current building, the fourth on a site with theatrical history dating to 1705, opened in 1897, designed by Charles J. Phipps in a French Renaissance style for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who founded RADA at the theatre. It is Grade II* listed.
Phantom opened here on 9 October 1986 (previews from 27 September) with Michael Crawford as the Phantom and Sarah Brightman as Christine. It is the West End's second-longest-running musical after Les Misérables, and was, until its 2023 closure, the longest-running show in Broadway history. The production passed its 10,000th West End performance in 2010 and has won more than 70 major theatre awards worldwide, including the Olivier and multiple Tonys. Worldwide, Phantom has played to over 160 million people in 217 cities, 52 territories, and 23 languages.
Disclaimer: This guide is completely unofficial and not affiliated with The Phantom of the Opera, His Majesty's Theatre, LW Theatres, or any related company. Prices, cast, dates, and schemes change frequently. Always confirm current details with the official box office before booking. Official sources: thephantomoftheopera.com/london and lwtheatres.co.uk.