The Lion King extends booking at the Lyceum Theatre in London's West End

The hit musical is now booking to 1 October 2017.

Disney's long-running hit musical The Lion King has extended its booking in London's West End to 1 October 2017.

The long-running show originally opened in London at The Lyceum Theatre on 19 October 1999 following previews from 24 September, 1999. It will celebrate its 18th Birthday in the West End on 19 October 2017.

The Lion King is currently the sixth longest running musical in West End history and has been seen by over 1.8 million people. The show originally premiered at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota in July 1997 before opening on Broadway where it is currently running at the Minskoff Theatre. To date the show has played 19 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

Featuring a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, with additional songs by Lebo M, Julie Taymor, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer, it is based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name. The musical follows the young lion prince Simba, whose birth results in his evil uncle Scar being pushed back to second in line to the throne. Scar plots to kill both Simba and his father, Mufasa, and proclaim himself king. Simba survives but is led to believe that his father died because of him and he decides to flee the kingdom.

The production is directed by Julie Taymor and designed by Richard Hudson with lighting by Donald Holder and choreography by Garth Fagan.

The Lion King tickets are now on sale to 1 October 2017.