The head of the West End musical family recently celebrated 40 years of glorious revolution and remains as powerful as ever. The blend of story, music, and staging provides the ideal vehicle for the heart-rendering moral and spiritual journey of Jean Valjean, as well as featuring a host of unforgettable characters, including unbending policeman Javert, self-sacrificing Fantine, do-or-die Enjolras, and the unscrupulous Thénardiers. This is epic, immersive storytelling at its very best, for which the word “iconic” is fully justified.

Book Les Misérables tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s romantic masterpiece is another long-term staple of the West End, for very good reason. Everyone enjoys a dramatic love story, especially when it’s accompanied by one of musical theatre’s lushest scores and unbeatable stage pictures of 19th-century gothic splendour (by the late, great Maria Björnson). The love triangle between the haunted Phantom, talented young soprano Christine and nobleman Raoul has haunted theatregoers for generations. Surrender to the music of the night!

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If you’ve seen the movies, why not catch the original stage version? One of the best-loved musicals of the 21st century so far, Wicked tells the tale of how the green-skinned Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West – and the backstory of her friendship with Glinda the Good. With its irrepressibly catchy score by Stephen Schwartz, dazzling visual effects (including an Emerald City of wonders and fabulous flying monkeys), and message of empowerment, it’s no wonder that it’s a very, very popular choice for first-time theatregoers!

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The Disney favourite has been running in the West End for over a quarter of a century and is a masterclass in how to transfer an animated film to the stage with the utmost flair and creativity. The beloved animal characters are brought to three-dimensional life through extraordinary costumes, masks, and puppetry, designed by director Julie Taymor. Join young lion Simba as he reclaims the Pride Lands from his wicked uncle Scar and embraces the irresistible philosophy of “Hakuna Matata”!

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You may have seen the hit movie adaptation starring Meryl Streep and you’ll almost certainly know some of the iconic ABBA songs that comprise the score of this feel-good favourite. Sophie is a bride-to-be with a wonderful, high-spirited mum, Donna – and three possible dads. Which one will walk her down the aisle on her big day? This joyous musical comedy is equally balanced in its emphasis on family, friends, and romantic love and set on an idyllic Greek island. You’ll have the time of your life!

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Tim Minchin’s adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic is definitely not just for kids, being one of the most inventive and literate musicals of recent years. Young Matilda possesses a brilliant mind and unique imagination but is neglected by her parents and encounters a reign of terror helmed by the sadistic Miss Trunchbull when she starts school. However, no one is too small to make a big difference. You’ll be amazed by all the young talent on display, as well as the ingenious production design and bold storytelling.

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For sheer spectacle, you could hardly do better than this dazzling revival of the ‘80s Andrew Lloyd Webber favourite, staged in a purpose-built venue in Wembley. It’s the underdog story of steam engine Rusty who dreams of proving himself as the fastest locomotive of all but suffers from self-doubt when comparing against flashier models. A little help from his friends is what he needs… It’s the greatest extravaganza ever to have been performed on roller skates!

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A blast of youthful energy from young writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, it’s hard to believe that SIX has already been around for six years! The ill-fated six wives of Henry VIII (Aragon, Boleyn, Seymour, Cleves, Howard, and Parr) form a girlband in which they tell their stories in no uncertain terms and reclaim their individual identities. It’s enormously fun and thought-provoking, and, at a short and sweet 80 minutes, it’s perfect for a theatregoer who might be hesitant about the demands of a long show.

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If you prefer plays to musicals, why not start your theatregoing journey with the mother of all productions? “Queen of Crime” Agatha Christie is the bestselling novelist of all time, and she was also a prolific playwright. The Mousetrap arrived in the West End in 1952 and, to date, has been seen by over 10 million people. It’s a quintessentially English whodunnit set in a remote country house where a group of people discover that there’s a murderer in their midst... Just keep your lips sealed about the twist when telling your friends about the show!

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For a crowd-pleasing play that’s more contemporary in writing and staging, Jack Thorne’s Harry Potter sequel has been casting its spell for almost a decade. Charting the coming of age of Harry’s troubled youngest child Albus, who is sorted into Slytherin and becomes best friends with Draco Malfoy’s son Scorpius, the show is filled with magic, adventure, and breathtaking visual effects. It’s no wonder it won nine Olivier Awards. It’s in two parts, so you’ll have a truly epic experience and enjoy two outings!

Book Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One & Two tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.