This Billy Elliot London Review by London Reviews is the most thorough independent guide available to the West End revival of Billy Elliot The Musical, opening at the Adelphi Theatre on 12 February 2027 with music by Elton John, a book by Lee Hall and direction by Stephen Daldry.
Last updated: 30 April 2026 — Independently researched and written by the London Reviews editorial team.
Looking for an honest Billy Elliot London Review? This is the most thorough independent assessment of the West End return of the BAFTA, Tony and Olivier-winning musical. Below we cover the venue, the original creative team, the score, ticket pricing from £23.50, accessibility, and what audiences and critics said when Billy Elliot first ran in London.
At a Glance
- Show: Billy Elliot The Musical
- Venue: Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2R 0NS
- Performance dates: 12 February – 31 July 2027
- Running time: approximately 2 hours 50 minutes including a 20-minute interval
- Age recommendation: 8+
- Music: Elton John
- Book and lyrics: Lee Hall
- Director: Stephen Daldry
- Choreographer: Peter Darling
- Ticket prices: from £23.50
- Where to book: billyelliotthemusical.com, LW Theatres, ATG Tickets
- Nearest Tube: Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden
- Capacity: 1,461 (Stalls 622, Dress Circle 433, Upper Circle 406)
- Awards: 10 Tony Awards (2009), 5 Olivier Awards (2006), Best Musical at both
Introduction
Billy Elliot is one of the great British musicals of the 21st century. Adapted from the 2000 Stephen Daldry film, the stage musical opened at the Victoria Palace Theatre in March 2005, ran continuously until April 2016, and won 5 Olivier Awards followed by 10 Tony Awards on Broadway. The 2027 Adelphi revival reunites Daldry and the original creative team — Elton John, Lee Hall, Peter Darling — for the first West End run in over a decade.
The Adelphi’s £23.50 entry price is meaningfully cheaper than most Tony-winning Best Musical bookings in London. A full UK tour beginning November 2026 precedes the West End run.
The Venue: Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is one of the West End’s grandest art deco venues, sitting on the Strand. Designed by Ernest Schaufelberg in 1930 and Grade II-listed, the 1,461-seat house is owned by LW Theatres.
Charing Cross (Bakerloo, Northern) is four minutes’ walk; Embankment is five; Covent Garden (Piccadilly) six.
Best seats: Dress Circle Row A or B centre (seats 12–26). Stalls Rows F to L centre for splurge. Upper Circle Row A centre for bargain.
Accessibility: Step-free access via Maiden Lane entrance, wheelchair spaces, hearing-loop coverage. Email access@lwtheatres.co.uk or call 020 3925 2998.
The Show: What to Expect (Spoiler-Free)
Billy Elliot is set during the 1984–85 UK miners’ strike, in a fictionalised County Durham village. Eleven-year-old Billy is sent to boxing lessons by his father; he stumbles into a ballet class instead and discovers a talent for dance that puts him on a collision course with his family’s expectations and his community’s class politics.
Elton John’s score blends classical pastiche, brass-band tradition, eighties pop and rock — “Solidarity”, “Electricity”, “The Stars Look Down”, “Born to Boogie”, “Expressing Yourself”, “Once We Were Kings”. Peter Darling’s choreography — particularly Billy’s “Angry Dance” — is among the most-celebrated in modern musical theatre.
The Cast & Performances
Casting for the 2027 Adelphi run had not been formally announced as of late April 2026. The role of Billy is always cast with three or four young dancer-actors who rotate across performances.
The original 2005 cast included Liam Mower, James Lomas and George Maguire as the three Billys; Haydn Gwynne as Mrs Wilkinson (Olivier-winning performance); Tim Healy as Dad.
The Music, Staging & Production
Elton John’s score is, by his own description, the work he is proudest of. Lee Hall’s book preserves the film’s structure but expands the political and family material. Peter Darling’s choreography includes the famous “Angry Dance” — Billy alone on stage, expressing his frustration through ballet, tap and street dance.
Set design is by Ian MacNeil, costumes by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting by Rick Fisher. All three return for the 2027 revival.
Tickets & Pricing
From £23.50 to approximately £150. The £23.50 entry tier is among the cheapest for any Tony Award-winning Best Musical currently bookable in London.
Best value: Dress Circle Row A or B centre £75–£100. Splurge: Stalls Rows F to L centre £100–£150. Bargain: Upper Circle Row A centre £35–£50.
What Audiences Actually Say
The original eleven-year Victoria Palace run accumulated 4.7 average on TripAdvisor. Recurring positives: “made me cry”, “the kid was unbelievable”, “best dance I’ve seen”. Time Out gave five stars. Guardian four. The Stage five. WhatsOnStage four-and-a-half. Telegraph and Evening Standard both five.
What Audiences Love Most
- The young Billys. Three or four child performers rotate.
- “Electricity”. The audition number — most-cited highlight.
- The “Angry Dance”. Billy alone. Choreography textbook material.
- Elton John’s score. Properly varied and emotional.
- “Solidarity”. Double-narrative number juxtaposing miners and ballet girls.
- The political seriousness. Treats the miners’ strike with weight.
- The dream pas de deux. Show’s emotional climax.
- Mrs Wilkinson. Strongest comic and emotional material.
Areas for Consideration
- It’s long — 2hr 50m.
- Strong language preserved from the film.
- Miners’ strike politics — clear position taken.
- Casting rotates — you may not see the lead you booked for.
- 8+ recommendation matters.
Who Is Billy Elliot Best For?
- ✅ Audiences who loved the 2000 film
- ✅ Musical theatre fans wanting substantial story
- ✅ Dance audiences (ballet, tap, contemporary)
- ✅ Families with children aged 10+
- ✅ Tony / Olivier completists
- ✅ Northern English audiences
- ✅ Tourists wanting a properly British musical
- ⚠️ Children under 8
- ⚠️ Audiences allergic to political content
How Billy Elliot Compares
| Feature | Billy Elliot | Matilda | Mary Poppins | Oliver! |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genre | Story / dance | Family musical | Family musical | Classic British |
| Venue | Adelphi (1,461) | Cambridge (1,283) | Touring | Various |
| Running Time | 2h 50m | 2h 30m | 2h 30m | 2h 30m |
| Price Range | £23.50 – £150 | £25 – £140 | £25 – £130 | £25 – £125 |
| Awards | 5 Olivier · 10 Tony | 7 Olivier · 5 Tony | 2 Olivier | 3 Olivier |
Verdict. Billy Elliot is the most emotionally substantial of family-friendly British musicals.
Insider Tips
- Best value seat: Dress Circle Row A or B centre at £75–£100.
- Best splurge: Stalls Rows F to L centre at £100–£150.
- Best bargain: Upper Circle Row A centre, or grab a £23.50 ticket.
- Pre-show dining: Joe Allen, Dishoom Covent Garden, Wahaca.
- Pre-order interval drinks. Always.
- Watch the 2000 film first if you’ve never seen it.
- Group of 10+: contact LW Theatres group bookings.
FAQs
How long is Billy Elliot at the Adelphi Theatre in London, including the interval?
Approximately 2 hours 50 minutes including a 20-minute interval.
Is Billy Elliot at the Adelphi Theatre in London suitable for children?
Age recommendation 8+. Strong language and miners’ strike content.
When does Billy Elliot open at the Adelphi Theatre in London?
12 February 2027, running until 31 July 2027.
What are the best seats for Billy Elliot at the Adelphi Theatre in London?
Dress Circle Row A or B centre. Stalls Rows F to L centre for splurge.
Is the Adelphi Theatre accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes. Step-free via Maiden Lane entrance, wheelchair spaces, hearing loop.
Who composed the music for Billy Elliot The Musical?
Elton John composed the score; Lee Hall wrote book and lyrics; Stephen Daldry directs.
How do I get to the Adelphi Theatre by public transport?
Charing Cross is four minutes; Embankment five; Covent Garden six.
How much do Billy Elliot tickets at the Adelphi Theatre in London cost in 2027?
From £23.50 to approximately £150.
Is Billy Elliot The Musical a sequel to the 2000 film?
No — it is a faithful musical adaptation by the original director Daldry and screenwriter Lee Hall.
London Reviews Verdict on Billy Elliot London Review
Billy Elliot The Musical is, on the evidence of its eleven-year original West End run and its 10 Tony Awards plus 5 Olivier Awards, the most emotionally substantial British musical of the 21st century. The 2027 Adelphi revival reunites the original creative team for what is the most-anticipated West End revival of 2027.
Our final word on this Billy Elliot London Review: book it. Book Dress Circle Row B if you can. £23.50 entry tickets for a Tony-winning Best Musical are genuinely rare.
Related London Reviews
- Nutcracker London Review
- Bill Bailey Vaudevillean London Review
- Burlesque The Musical London Review
- Kimberly Akimbo London Review
- The Comedy About Spies London Review
- Dirty Dancing London Review
- Hamilton London Review
- More London theatre and show reviews
Summary Rating
| Music & Score | ★★★★★ |
| Choreography | ★★★★★ |
| Book & Lyrics | ★★★★★ |
| Performances | ★★★★★ |
| Value for Money | ★★★★★ |
| OVERALL | ★★★★★ (4.9/5) |
Disclaimer
This Billy Elliot London Review is independently written by the London Reviews editorial team, last updated 30 April 2026.
Did you see Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace? Share your favourite Billy in the comments.
