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The best immersive theatre in London
Shows where you are inside the action or the setting, or can buy a seat that puts you in the show: where you sit or stand, what you are asked to do, which ticket gives the real experience and the best current deal.
Immersive here means the audience is inside the action or the setting, or can buy a seat that puts them in the show. Several of these ask you to be early, to put your phone away or to stand, so read the line on each before you book. See every show tagged Immersive.
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Inside the club
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Three shows where the theatre has been turned into a venue you would otherwise go out to: a cabaret club, a nightclub and a late-night dance show. You arrive early, because the evening starts before the show does.
The Playhouse Theatre is turned into the Kit Kat Club, with the round stage in the middle of the room and the audience on every side. Live music and performers entertain guests around the club and its bars before the show, so the 1930s Berlin of the story is already around you when it begins.
In practice. Arrive about an hour before: standard ticket holders are asked for 6.30pm on an evening and 1pm at a matinee, and the club recommends the show for ages 13 and over. You will be asked to cover your phone’s camera on the way in, and photos and video are not allowed inside. There is no dress code: “This is Berlin. Relax. Loosen up. Be yourself.”
Which ticket. Any seat is inside the club, and the Stalls are still close to the round stage. The stage-side tables are the special seat, covered under Special seats below.
Best current deal · TKTS
Up to 32% off the Mon 5 Oct evening performance through TKTS, in the Dress Circle and Stalls.
A nightclub musical in the railway arches under Waterloo: Peter Pan’s party as a night out, with 2000s pop anthems and the audience on the dance floor with the cast.
In practice. General admission is standing only, and seating is “extremely limited” and cannot be guaranteed, so expect to be on your feet and moving for the show. Phones and cameras can be used only when you are invited to. There is no formal dress code; the show suggests 2000s nightlife, such as sparkle or denim. There is a cloakroom with limited space, and large bags are not accommodated. The club is open before and after the performance.
Which ticket. General admission is the experience: you are in the room with the cast rather than watching it. Do not count on a seat.
A 360-degree dance and acrobatic show in the Matcham Room at the Hippodrome Casino. The dancers work all round the room, along the runways, through the rows and up on the balcony, so wherever you sit you will turn to follow them.
In practice. The Main Floor tables are in the middle of the action, and the dancers use the tables and aisles as stages. Behind them are rows and couches, and the upper level has a balcony view, couches and a few standing spots, with much less contact. The show uses strobe lights, fog and pyrotechnics, and drinks are available during it.
Which ticket. Main Floor tables for the most interaction; the upper level for the view of the choreography and the aerial work. VIP LUXE seats are the premium tier.
A purpose-built oval auditorium at the Troubadour Canary Wharf, with the audience on every side of the arena and the story staged all around you. The seating blocks at the two short ends of the oval, Districts 1 and 2, rotate for about thirty seconds at points in the show.
In practice. You cannot enter or leave a rotating block while it is moving, and there is no readmission to the auditorium once the show has started. The show uses loud noises and explosions, haze and smoke, flashing lights and strobe. Filming and photography devices, including smart glasses, are not allowed in the auditorium. Recommended for ages 12 and over.
Which ticket. Districts 4, 5, 8 and 9, Rows D to K, give a balanced view of the whole arena. Rows A and B outside Districts 1 and 2 are the closest to the cast; Districts 1 and 2 are the ones that move. VIP tickets add Champagne, canapés and a host.
Best current deal · TKTS
Up to 58% off the Sun 4 Oct matinee through TKTS, in the District.
County Hall · 2hr 20min (incl. 1 interval) · from £19
Agatha Christie’s courtroom drama is staged in the Council Chamber of London County Hall, dressed as the Old Bailey. The trial happens on the floor of the chamber, with the audience around it, and the cast move through the cross-aisles past the front rows.
In practice. Everyone is inside the courtroom, but only the jury seats are asked to take part. Cameras, recording devices, smart glasses and phones are forbidden during the performance, though you can take photos before the show and in the interval. Arrive 45 minutes early for ticket checks and bag searches, and bring nothing larger than fits under one seat: there is no cloakroom.
Which ticket. The stalls rows C to E give the clearest view of the bench, the witness box and the jury box. The Galleries are higher and have columns in the way for some seats.
Best current deal · TKTS
Up to 59% off the Sun 4 Oct matinee through TKTS, in the Courtroom Stalls.
Nine men sing hits by Queen, Adele and Katy Perry in a working pub built on the stage. It is a singalong, and the set is the whole point: you are watching a night in the local, with the songs to match.
In practice. The London run is at The Arts at Marble Arch, a new theatre with a wide stage and grandstand seating, which suits a pub set that has to be seen from the front.
Which ticket. The wide centre of the Front Stalls, Rows C to L, gives the most head-on view of the pub.
The meal is part of the evening, not a package around it. Two shows where you eat and drink as it happens, with the menu, the timings and the ticket tiers where the venue publishes them. Prices here are “from” prices as the shows’ own sites listed them on 4 October 2026; they move with demand, so check the show page.
A four-course Greek meal in Nikos Taverna, a taverna built inside The O2 to look like a town square on Skopelos, with the story played around you by the cast and a live band and then an ABBA disco to finish. There is no stage and no fixed auditorium; the action moves around the room and you turn in your seat to follow it.
In practice. The ticket is “ticketless”, like a restaurant booking: give your name to the host and you are taken to your table, which is allocated beforehand and cannot be changed on the night. Small parties may share a table. Doors open at 6.30pm for evening performances and noon for matinees, you are given a welcome drink and a starter, and the whole evening lasts about four hours. No dress code is stated. Photos on your phone are fine, but not flash or filming. The minimum age is 5, and under-18s must be with a legal guardian.
Which ticket. The tier is where your table is. Tier A is the ground floor and the best-placed tables; Tier B is a raised view with some pillars and set in the way; Tier C is the cheapest and the most restricted. The Platinum Package is the one that guarantees a Tier A table.
Tiers, from per person
Tier A from £213 off-peak and £246 peak; Tier B from £185 and £218; Tier C from £120 and £154. Peak is Saturday matinees and evenings and a few named Fridays; off-peak is Wednesday to Friday evenings and Sunday.
Upgrades, from per person
VIP Upgrade from £56: a glass of champagne on arrival, a choice of half a bottle of house wine, two beers or ciders, two cocktails or unlimited soft drinks, and a merchandise party pack. Platinum Package from £67.20: the VIP extras plus fast-track entry, a Tier A table and a photo with the cast at your table.
Party packs, from per person
Team Bride Pack from £44.80, Bride Pack from £50.40 and Birthday Pack from £67.20 (order the Birthday Pack 14 days ahead). A cheeseboard for two is from £16.
The menu
Chef Debbie’s set menu, served as sharing platters except dessert. Mezze of breads, dips and olives; a Greek salad with spanakopita; a main of braised lamb stifado and slow-cooked beef with garlic roast potatoes and vegetable briam; a dessert selection of orange ravani, yoghurt with cherries, lemon ouzo curd and nut-free apricot baklava; then tea or coffee.
Dietary needs
Vegetarians and vegans are served moussaka as the main, and vegans get their own salad starter and dessert selection. Gluten-free and lactose-free menus are published. Tell the team at least 48 hours ahead; there are allergens in the kitchen, so dishes cannot be guaranteed free of tree nuts and sesame.
Drinks
A welcome prosecco for every guest, then table service from a list that includes cocktails, wine and soft drinks. Only drinks bought in the taverna can be drunk inside, and the venue is cashless.
A three-course dinner served by Basil, Sybil and Manuel, who stay in character for the whole two hours. About a third of the show is scripted and the rest is improvised around the audience, so it is different every night and the diners are part of the action.
In practice. It is staged in a function room at the President Hotel in Bloomsbury, laid out as a restaurant. A ticket gets you in but not a numbered seat: the company draws up the seating plan and keeps parties together at tables of up to 10 to 12. Arrive half an hour before the show for the pre-show reception area. You can get up whenever you like, though the company advises doing it at the end of a course. Photography and filming are not allowed, and a phone used for filming can be held until the end. The company says the show is for the whole family.
Which ticket. There are no seat categories; the ticket type is the day. Prices run from Wednesday evening to Saturday evening, with the Saturday matinee and evening the dearest, and there are concessions for over-60s, students and disabled guests. Use the seating request form if you want to sit with a particular party.
Performances, from per person
Wednesday 7.30pm from £65.50; Thursday 7.30pm from £71; Friday 7.30pm from £75; Saturday 1.30pm from £83.50 and 7.30pm from £88.50; Sunday from £71. The prices include the three-course meal.
The 2026 menu
Tomato soup with basil oil and a bread roll; roast chicken with gravy, carrot puree, savoy cabbage and dauphinoise potato; lemon and berries cheesecake with chantilly cream and a fruits of the forest compote. The menu is subject to change.
Dietary needs
The soup, the vegan main (a sweet potato and courgette timbale, to pre-order) and the cheesecake are marked vegan. Tell the company about special diets at least 24 hours ahead, and about a nut allergy at least 72 hours ahead, because a gag in the show uses peanuts.
Children
Under-5s are free but get no meal. Children aged 12 and under can attend lunchtime shows at a reduced price, with a kids’ meal.
Shows built around the whole room, where you go for the spectacle rather than a seat facing a stage. Food and drink are on sale, but they are not dining shows.
Empress Museum · 1hr 40min (incl. 1 interval) · from £50
A circus in a 700-seat Big Top at the Empress Museum in Earl’s Court, with the audience in four steep banks round a central ring. The pre-show is a carnival village in the pavilion outside, with close-up magicians, clowns and wandering performers among the crowd.
In practice. Arrive an hour before the show to see the village. Food and drink are on sale in the Empress Diner if you want them, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free choices. Everything sits in a banked ring, so even the back row has a good view.
Which ticket. The VIP Empress seats have individual armrests and small tables, with access to the Empress Terrace and the Balloon bar; the standard blocks are narrower and tighter on legroom, so an aisle seat helps if you are tall.
Best current deal · Rush
£30 Rush tickets available at 10:00 am every day from TodayTix app, 1 or 2 per person for that day's performances.
A concert in a purpose-built arena in the Olympic Park, with digital versions of ABBA and a live band. It is the one show here that is not theatre in the usual sense, and its immersive choice is simple: stand on the dance floor in front of the stage, sit in the tiered auditorium, or book a booth.
In practice. There are no seats on the Dance Floor, so you are on your feet and dancing for about 100 minutes; comfortable footwear is recommended, and the Dance Floor is suggested for ages 12 and over. Recording inside the concert hall is not allowed, though photos are fine outside and on the concourse. There is no formal dress code and many people wear disco outfits. The cloakroom is free, with priority for Dance Floor ticket holders.
Which ticket. Dance Floor for the full experience, seats if you would rather sit back and take it in. The eight Dance Booths are open-air pods for 10 to 12 people, with their own bar service and dance floor.
Best current deal · Lottery
£45 lottery tickets available each week from the TodayTix app.
Seats you can buy that put you in the show: at a table the performers dance around, in the jury box, or on the stage itself. Choose the seat when you book; each is a different ticket on the show’s own site.
The VIP Jury Seats are a single row of twelve at the back of the stage, set up as the jury box. The show’s site says jury seats “will have the opportunity to participate in deciding Leonard Vole’s fate”, and everyone else is immersed but not expected to take part.
In practice. You face the courtroom across the shoulders of the judge and lawyers, so your view is unusual: sitting behind the witness stand means some actors will have their backs to you during key speeches, and you follow the action sideways.
Which ticket. Book the jury seats for the participation, not for the sightline. For the best view of the whole trial, the stalls rows C to E are the better seats.
The Can Can seats are table seating at the very front of the stalls. There are nine tables and each table seats two, so these are seats for pairs.
In practice. The Piccadilly Theatre’s own seating page says the tables are extremely close to the stage and surrounded on all sides by the action, so you are in the middle of the staging rather than looking at it.
Which ticket. Choose them when you book. The same site lists day seats and Premium and Standard tickets for those who want the show without the table.
Best current deal · Day
Moulin Rouge! sells £45 day seats for that day's performances from 10:30am at the Piccadilly Theatre box office, first come first served, every day — and hardly anyone knows, because the only mention is buried in the Ticket FAQs on the official site (under "Are rush tickets or day seats available for Moulin Rouge! The Musical?").
The stage-side tables ring the round stage in rows AA, BB, A and B, the closest seats in the club, and the performers work around and among them. Tables are sold in pairs and come with a drinks or food package.
In practice. Stage-side Dining is evenings only: two cocktails and a spread of small plates, with arrival 1 hour 15 minutes before and the food cleared before curtain-up. At matinees the table comes with Afternoon Tea, and at any performance there is a Cocktail Experience. All three are booked with the ticket or added afterwards at kitkat.club/upgrade.
Which ticket. Take the table if you want to be part of the show; the Stalls behind it are still on the club floor, close to the action, for much less. The boxes and slips at either end of the stage are on the normal booking calendar rather than a package.
On-Stage Standing at Drury Lane puts you on the stage itself, in an area marked out by the production staff, for the whole performance. It is the most literal immersive ticket on this page.
In practice. You must stand unaided for both acts, with the interval as your only break: no stools or walking aids, and no seats in the area. You must be 16 or over. Your phone is sealed in a pouch before you go on stage and is available only for emergencies in the interval. You are asked not to sing along or interact with the cast, and not to touch the props. Small bags are allowed and the cloakroom for coats and larger items is free. Report to the on-stage registration point no later than 40 minutes before the start; latecomers are not admitted. Tickets are limited to four per customer, and anyone under 1m 20cm may have a restricted view.
Which ticket. It is a separate ticket type on the show’s own site (“On-Stage Standing”). Book it only if you can stand for the full show; otherwise sit in the auditorium and see the whole staging.
High School Musical at the Troubadour Wembley Park has an On-Stage Seating section: comfortable, padded theatre seats arranged like basketball-court bleachers on the stage, inside the show’s set.
In practice. You are very close to the performers, but you will not be required to take part. You are asked to stay in your seat and follow staff instructions, and there may be moments when you cannot leave your seat because of technical requirements and performers moving on stage. Photography and video recording are not allowed, and the production uses flashing lights and loud sound effects. Recommended for ages 6 and over, and children under 16 must be accompanied by and seated with an adult.
Which ticket. Choose the On-Stage Seating section when booking if you want to be inside the gym; the rest of the theatre sees it from the front.
