Best city for a theatre break

By applying an index scoring system across several key metrics, we have ranked the best cities for a theatre break.

Table 1: Ranking of Top Theatre Cities 

The top nine cities ranked for the best theatre experiences.

Source: Based on data collected from various sources, including online theatre sellers, Wikipedia, Google Keyword Planner, Booking.com and BudgetYourTrip.com.

Top spot: Berlin

Berlin’s vibrant theatre scene takes the top spot with the highest overall score of 68.8 out of 100, reflecting the variety of performances available to experience in the German capital. With 269 shows currently available to book, the city appeals to all tastes, offering a mix of innovative productions, classic and modern shows. Many Berlin theatres are accessible to non-German speakers, with selected performances available with English and French subtitles. In addition, performances are available exclusively in English at the English Theatre Berlin with a programme featuring classics as well as original productions. Theatre tickets in Berlin appear to be affordable at an average starting price of £31.22, coupled with an overall cost for a two-day city break at an average starting price at £222, making it a budget-friendly city

Second place: London

London takes the second spot with 164 shows, highlighting the rich diversity of productions staged in its legendary theatre district. The city is a popular destination for theatre afficionados for its wide range of award-winning performances paired with an affordable range of tickets with an average starting price at £29.75, which shows more affordability than Berlin. London also had the third highest number of monthly Google searches per capita for musicals, shows and plays, suggesting it's a popular destination when planning to book a theatre show. Despite a higher average cost for a weekend in London (at an average starting price of £360 for two people), the London scene attracts millions of visitors every year confirming a solid reputation as a theatre destination.

Third place: Melbourne 

Melbourne, often referred to as Australia's cultural capital, ranks third on our list. Known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, the city’s theatre district is filled with a mix of world touring productions and innovative local shows. Melbourne shines with a high density of venues, scoring 2.0 theatres per square mile, and offers 38 performances, highlighting an impressive range of entertainment options. Melbourne is budget-friendly, with the average price for a weekend trip starting at £220 for a two-night stay and tickets starting at an average of £21.81 – making it one of the most affordable destinations for theatre enthusiasts. 

Let’s take a closer look at London 

London’s rich theatrical heritage dates back centuries and the city has retained the same enthusiasm for live performances. Today, going to the theatre remains a must-do when in London, hosting 19,224 performances in 2022 – an increase of 4.7% compared to 2019 – and generating a gross income of £790m (Source: The Box Office Data Report 2022). Ticket prices have remained stable, increasing by just £2.21 since 2019 (Source: SOLT, 2022), reflecting efforts to keep theatre accessible. With 16,420,068 people attending a show in London's West End in 2022, up 7.21% from 15,315,773 in 2019 (source: SOLT, 2022), theatre is a cornerstone of London's cultural scene, attracting visitors from all over the world to experience its iconic productions and historic venues. 

Theatregoers contribute significantly to the local economy and that goes beyond purchasing tickets, with outlay including food and drinks purchases. West End theatres are located within a vibrant dining scene, making pre-theatre meals and post-performance drinks part of the experience. In 2019, average spending is estimated to have reached £3.67 billion, driven by 41.6 million ticket sales. Residents accounted for 53.1% of attendees, with regional and international visitors making up the rest. Average per-person spending, including tickets and additional activities, was approximately £88 (Source: Sound Diplomacy, 2023). 

Surprisingly, last place: New York 

Surprisingly, New York claims the ninth spot in our ranking of top theatre cities despite Broadway’s legendary status. With higher ticket prices and an inflated cost of a two-night stay, “the Big Apple” might not be the most cost-effective option compared to other cities on the list. However, the city remains a top destination on the list for theatregoers. Several factors influenced New York’s ranking, including high starting ticket prices averaging £58.34, the highest of all the cities analysed. Combined with the cost of a weekend break, at an average starting price at £990 for a two-night stay, this makes a trip to Broadway the least affordable of the list.  

With its award-winning productions and historic venues, Broadway continues to draw in the crowds, with 47.5% travelling from other US states and around 17% of the audience coming from abroad, totalling 2.1 million visitors each year (Source: Broadway World). While New York may not be at the top of the list in terms of affordability, the global theatre hub of Broadway has earned its place as an essential destination for theatre lovers.

London's West End and New York's Broadway are both renowned theatre hubs, but how do they compare when planning the ultimate theatre getaway? 

Table 2: London versus New York – a comparison

London and New York compared on a range of key factors, with data collected between 18 October 2024 and 31 October 2024.

Source: Based on data collected from various sources, including online theatre sellers, Wikipedia, Google Keyword Planner, Booking.com and BudgetYourTrip.com.

London ranks significantly higher than New York on five out of six metrics, making London the more affordable destination for theatre enthusiasts. With 164 shows compared to Broadway’s 59 shows on offer, London offers a far broader selection of productions. Four of Broadway’s top 25 musicals – The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Mamma Mia! and Miss Saigon – started in London, with two of these ranking among the highest-grossing musicals globally.

Table 3: Highest grossing theatre productions on Broadway since 1982 

Top ten highest grossing Broadway musicals on Broadway, 1982 to 2024.

Source: Wikipedia

Thrilling revivals of timeless favourites made their way to Broadway, with highlights including Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Romeo+Juliet and Sunset Boulevard, which featured Nicole Scherzinger making her Broadway debut after rave reviews in London. Top Broadway musicals include Disney's iconic The Lion King, the story of the bond between two witches in Wicked, the jazz-infused crime drama Chicago and the multi-award-winning Hamilton, among others. 

London’s diverse range of theatres offers a mix of mainstream hits and innovative performances, offering something for all tastes. Shows including Matilda The Musical, Wicked and Les Misérables have achieved tremendous success on the West End, becoming some of the longest-running productions. London also gives a chance to rising stars in productions like The Play That Goes Wrong, which moved from a fringe venue to the West End and continues to enjoy long-term success. 

Overall, both Broadway and London’s West End stand out for their world-class productions while catering to different experiences. Broadway and its larger-than-life, iconic productions provide an unforgettable experience, while the West End stands out for its broader selection of shows, from long-running productions to innovative performances.

New York’s Broadway district has the highest number of theatres with 235 venues, followed closely by London with 233 theatres. It is worth noting that when it comes to theatre concentration per square mile, Paris leads with 3.9 theatres per square mile of its inner city area. 

Table 4: Theatres per square mile in key cities 

Top nine cities ranked by the number of theatres per square mile.

Source: Based on data collected from various sources, including online theatre sellers, Wikipedia, Google Keyword Planner, Booking.com and BudgetYourTrip.com. 

Sydney stands out for its high concentration of theatres in a relatively small area, with 3.3 theatres per square mile. Despite its smaller size, Sydney offers a rich cultural scene, blending iconic spaces such as the Sydney Opera House, which hosts opera, theatre and dance, with smaller, experimental venues catering to diverse tastes.

While the concentration of theatres per square mile in London is lower at 0.4, the city compensates with its diversity. London’s theatre scene continues to innovate and expand, with new projects such as the Olympia Theatre set to open in 2025 – a 1,575-seat auditorium and the largest new theatre in London since the 1970s. London boasts an impressive 233 theatres scattered across the city, including both the renowned West End and a thriving “off West End” scene.

New York’s Broadway, the heart of its theatre district and a major global hub, claims the top spot with 235 theatres. While Broadway has a lower density of theatres per square mile (0.5), it remains the epicentre of live theatre in the US. Many of Broadway’s historic venues have had several lives serving different purposes, making a visit to a Broadway theatre not only a night of entertainment at its finest but also a dive into history.  

As 2024 comes to a close with festive productions taking over London’s West End, we look ahead to 2025 when the capital is set to welcome a thrilling lineup of new shows. Using Google Trends data, we’ve highlighted the musicals that have seen the highest rise in UK search interest over the past 12 months. 

Table 5: New and returning musical to the London West End in 2025

Most searched for new or returning musicals coming to the West End, based on Google Trends data collected over the past 12 months.

Here You Come Again (Dolly Parton Musical)

With a staggering 3050% increase in searches, Here You Come Again, the Dolly Parton musical, is set for a successful run in London. This highly anticipated show features some of Dolly's biggest hits, from “Jolene” to “9 to 5”, alongside a heartwarming story about one of her devoted fans.

Clueless: The Musical

Based on the cult classic Clueless, this musical promises to bring fashion, drama and a fresh take on the beloved 1995 comedy to the London stage. With a 1750% rise in searches, Clueless: The Musical is poised for a successful debut on the West End, captivating both long-time fans and newcomers.

The Creakers: A Magical Musical Adventure

Based on Tom Fletcher's bestselling children's book, The Creakers musical is sure to leave kids beaming with excitement. The show takes audiences on a thrilling journey into the world beneath the bed, where adults have disappeared and children rule. With a 1450% rise in search interest, this enchanting production promises a magical experience for audiences of all ages.

Exciting Revivals in London’s West End

In addition to the exciting new productions, London’s West End is set to welcome several beloved revivals. Bat Out of Hell: The Musical has seen a 600% rise in searches, while Just for One Day has experienced a 550% increase. Only Fools and Horses: The Musical is also generating a 500% surge in interest, bringing the iconic TV characters to life on stage. These, alongside the revival of Oliver! The Musical (70%), are set to join the impressive lineup of performances for 2025.

The cities and global theatre hubs examined in this article highlight top destinations such as Paris, Sydney, Berlin and New York, each offering unique theatre experiences that captivate millions of visitors each year. London stands out as a thriving centre for culture and live theatre, with its rich historic theatre tradition. The city not only hosts long-running classics but also provides a platform for experimental and boundary-pushing productions, delighting both Londoners and international visitors alike.

London's West End is a must for any visitor, with some of the longest-running musicals in London topping the list of must-see plays and best musicals in London's Theatreland. Iconic productions such as Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera are staples, while The Mousetrap, Agatha Christie’s masterpiece, holds the title of the world’s longest-running play, continuing to thrill audiences after 72 years on the West End. With its blend of enduring classics and innovative new works, London remains a global leader in theatre. 

Methodology

To determine which city is the best for a theatre break, we sourced a targeted list of nine cities renowned for theatre shows including plays, musicals and performances. We then analysed these cities using multiple data points to create a weighted index. We collected data on six key metrics, including: 

1. Number of shows currently playing in each city.  
2. The average ‘starting from’ price of theatre shows tickets (in GBP £).
3. Number of theatres in each city per square mile.
4. Google search volume for theatre related keywords for each city per capita (for example, musicals in [city], theatre (& theatre) in [city], performances in [city], plays in [city] and shows in [city]. 
5. The average cost of a two-night weekend break for two adults in a 3-star hotel in each city.
6. The average mid-range spending budget for two days in each city (including the average cost of transport, food, entertainment and sightseeing and the minimum cost of alcohol).

References

1. Sound Diplomacy, 2023. Economic assessment of the UK Theatre sector on behalf of UK Theatre and The Society of London Theatre. Available at: Economic Impact Assessment of UK Theatre Sector.docx.
2. Statista, 2024. Market size of the live performance theatre industry in the United States in 2022 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024. Available at: Live performance theatre: market size US 2024.
3. The Broadway League, 2023. The demographics of Broadway audience 2022-2023 season. Available at: Research Reports – The Broadway League.
4. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT), 2024. London MP welcomes new TTR rates, citing SOLT & UK Theatre research on the economic impact of theatre. Available at: solt.co.uk.
5. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT), 2022. Box Office 2022 Data: London Theatre’s ticket pricing stays consistent despite rising costs. Available at: Box Office 2022 Data: London Theatre's ticket pricing stays consistent despite rising costs.
6. Wikipedia, 2024. List of highest-grossing musical theatre productions. Available at: List of highest-grossing musical theatre productions – Wikipedia.