Theatre

Caitlin Devlin
/ 12 August 2025

Big Day Out

Make the most out of your day seeing The Lion King the musical in London, including restaurants, shopping and things to do near the theatre

After a quarter of a century at the Lyceum Theatre, Disney’s The Lion King is now one of London’s landmark musicals. A truly all-ages experience, the show combines stunning design and puppetry with a soundtrack packed full of familiar favourites from the film, making it perfect for long-time fans and little theatregoers alike. If you’re looking to make your day out at The Lion King extra special, we’ve got you. Here’s all the information you’ll need on food and drink, shopping and things to do near the Lyceum Theatre.

Things to do near The Lion King
Restaurants near The Lion King
Shopping near The Lion King
Bars and pubs near The Lion King
Tube stations and bus stops near The Lion King
On-theme activities for The Lion King

Things to do near The Lion King

There’s so much to do and see within walking distance of the Lyceum Theatre. Just four minutes away, you’ll find The Courtauld Gallery, located in the picturesque Somerset House and containing works by the likes of Monet, Van Gogh and Cézanne. The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery are both ten minutes away, offering huge collections of art by – and featuring – lots of famous names.

Just a six-minute walk away is Covent Garden, which is packed with things to see and hidden gems to discover. You’ll often find street performers drawing a crowd on the Piazza, or exclusive pop-up experiences from major brands. You might want to visit the London Transport Museum, located nearby, which offers plenty to keep young people entertained. Another spot worth a visit is the Infinity Chamber, which makes the perfect place to take some commemorative pictures.

If you’re up for trying something a little different, Spygames is worth a visit. A great option for agents of all ages, you’ll test if you’re spy material by tackling a series of brainteasing and agility-testing high-tech challenges in interactive experiences crafted with the advice of real CIA and Special Ops experts.

Restaurants near The Lion King

The Lyceum Theatre is situated near a wealth of amazing places to eat, including plenty of popular chains. We’ve included just a few of our recommendations, but if none of these are a fit for you then you won’t have a hard time finding something to please everyone in your party.

Four minutes from the theatre is Frog by Adam Handling. Despite the name, this modern British restaurant won’t be serving up any amphibians. Instead, you’ll be treated to a Michelin-starred tasting menu, composed of seasonal dishes using local ingredients. Another top pick for a sophisticated pre-show dinner is Indigo at One Aldwych, a hotel bar and restaurant serving elevated British classics. They specifically cater to those that eat gluten and dairy free and offer a pre-theatre menu, to make your dining experience even smoother.

Two minutes from the Lyceum Theatre you’ll find Café Murano Covent Garden, a relaxed Italian restaurant serving tasty seasonal dishes. Christopher’s, just a minute round the corner, is a stylish steakhouse, grill and martini bar offering American classics. Another great pick is Paro, also just a minute around the corner from the theatre,which is known to have one of the best Indian menus in London.  

Fish and chips are a classic pre-theatre meal, and Fishworks in Covent Garden offers everything from scallops to gourmet cod and chips, all using the freshest catch of the day. For something that will please everyone, trendy pizza joint Vasiniko is just two minutes’ walk from the theatre and also offers great pastas and desserts.

If you’re willing to venture a little bit further to eat on theme, we’d recommend walking twenty minutes to Farringdon to dine at Vivat Bacchus. This South African restaurant serves all the classics – they’re particularly noted for their steak, biltong and braai boards.

You won’t be short on shopping options near the Lyceum Theatre. Seven minutes away, Covent Garden houses a mix of major global brands, independent stores and quirky eateries. St Martin’s Courtyard, nine minutes away, is home to an bespoke collection of fashion and lifestyle shops, whilst the colourful Neal’s Yard is a must-visit for fans of beauty and wellness, as well as making a great backdrop for your pictures. If you’re up for venturing bit further, iconic shopping destination Carnaby Street is twenty-five minutes away – you’ll find lots of your favourite brands here, along with cool independent businesses.

Of course, a visit to The Lion King and a visit to the Disney Store go hand in hand. Half an hour from the Lyceum Theatre on foot, or a short bus ride, the Disney Store on Oxford Street is a great place to explore Lion King memorabilia and collectibles and pick up a memento.

© JOHAN PERSSON

Bars and pubs near The Lion King

Plenty of the restaurants we’ve already recommended are a great place to grab a drink, and there are lots more bars and pubs within walking distance of the Lyceum Theatre. We’ve rounded up some great options that are all just a minute or so from the theatre.

Champagne + Fromage is a cosy bar specialising in exactly what the name suggests – you’ll find plenty of great champagne, cheese and charcuterie options here. Another classy pre or post-show option is Plume Wine Bar specialising in sparkling and English wines and exotic sharing plates.

Two of the best pubs in the theatre district are right by the Lyceum Theatre: The Wellington, a traditional pub serving cask ales and premium gins under original Edwardian ceilings, and The Lyceum Tavern, an historic oak-panelled pub also offering a cosy, traditional experience. If you’re lucky enough to be visiting in sunny weather, it’s worth getting to the Lyceum Tavern nice and early to grab one of their few courtyard tables.

For cocktails, The Wild Monkey has to be the most appropriate place to go. This jungle themed bar offers a creative menu of craft cocktails in an intimate space. You might also want to visit famous Covent Garden spot CellarDoor for a great cocktail plus other surprises – this basement bar hosts everything from film screenings to burlesque nights. And of course, you can’t go wrong with the beautiful Ballroom Bar, housed inside the Lyceum Theatre itself and open ninety minutes before showtime to ticket holders only.

Tube stations and bus stops near The Lion King

The closest tube station to the Lyceum Theatre is Covent Garden on the Piccadilly line, five minutes’ walk away. Also within a ten-minute walk are Charing Cross (served by the Bakerloo and Northern lines as well as National Rail) Holborn (served by the Central and Piccadilly lines) and Embankment (served by the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Northern lines). Multiple bus routes also drop off and pick up nearby. It’s best to plan your route with TFL.

On-theme activities for The Lion King

The main thing you’ll probably want to do if you’re making a day out of seeing The Lion King is see some actual lions, and London Zoo is the place to go. Their Land of the Lions habitat is the perfect place to get to know their lion family along with some of their friends, but the zoo itself has lots more to offer besides big cats. Over 650 species of animals are housed in this research zoo in Regent’s Park, making it a fantastic wildlife-themed day out. To make it extra special, there’s an even an option to stay overnight at the zoo in one of their cosy lodges.

If you don’t have time to head all the way to Regent’s Park, the Trafalgar Square lions are just a short walk from the Lyceum Theatre. Also known as the Landseer lions, the bronze creatures that surround Nelson’s Column were designed by Sir Edwin Landseer and installed in 1867. They might not be quite as exciting as a flesh and blood lion, but they’re worth a visit all the same.

The circle of life is a very important theme in The Lion King, as all the characters discover that bad things can happen if this balance is disturbed. A great place to learn more about the circle of life and all the things that make our world beautiful is the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. With free exhibits about wildlife, nature and the history of our planet, as well as a calendar of special events and pop-ups, this museum makes a fantastic day out for all ages.

Simba spends a lot of time looking up at the stars for answers in The Lion King – something that mankind have been doing for centuries. If you want to learn more about how we view the night sky, the Royal Observatory in Greenwich is the perfect place to visit. You can attend one of their planetarium shows, see the Great Equatorial Telescope, and explore their astronomy-themed exhibits.

Whilst we can’t arrange for you to meet a zebra, we can suggest a way to get up close to some of the less exciting – but very cuddly – wildlife that we have in the UK. Mudchute Park and Farm is set across 32 acres of countryside on the Isle of Dogs and offers plenty of ways for kids and adults to learn more about farm life, including their Meet the Animals experiences. What better way to get in the mood to watch a herd of wildebeest cross an African gorge than to watch a herd of sheep cross an East London park?

Disney’s The Lion King is currently playing at the Lyceum Theatre – find tickets here