The best London musicals of 2010

After 2009 proved to be a record year for London's theatres, 2010 is similarly going strong, with a number of excellent musicals entertaining crowds at prestigious venues in the West End.

With the ABBA musical Mamma Mia! making a big splash in recent years, and news that a Spice Girls musical is on the way, find out where it all started with the Queen musical We Will Rock You. Set in a dystopian future where the power of rock music is the only thing that can save the world, this musical regularly tops the charts of audience and critics' favourite in the West End and is still going strong this summer.

Speaking of the classics, Les Miserables hit the record books in 2006 when it became the longest-running West End musical at 9,500 performances, and its continuing run at the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue is a testament to its continuing public adoration. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the musical, an event that will be celebrated with a spectacular one-night show at London's biggest venue, the O2 Arena.

From something old to something new, Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-awaited sequel to his classic musical Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies opened in March. The original show is still alive and well in the West End too, running until March 2011 to long-time fans and newcomers on London theatre breaks.

While some musicals achieve their fame when they hit the silver screen, seeing the show in its original incarnation on the stage can be a much more rewarding experience - explaining why shows such as Grease are still proving so popular, decades later. The latest production of the hit musical opens for its third successful year in the West End this summer, alongside other famous musicals-turned-films, such as Chicago.

The opposite case can also be true, however, in that musicals adapted from films can go on to achieve great success in their new form on the stage - as has been the case with the stage version of The Lion King. Featuring all the famous songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, The Lion King is still one of the West End's top musicals among audiences of all ages.

Whenever you're thinking of heading to London to catch the latest shows, you'll find a wealth of London hotels in the West End and near to other venues, such as the O2 Arena. With shows such as Shrek the Musical and The Wizard of Oz already guaranteed for opening next year, it seems the future is bright indeed for London musicals.

Daniel Collins writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.