Is Wicked in London worth it? It is the question on a lot more minds lately, because the two record-breaking Wicked films have introduced millions of new fans to the story of Elphaba and Glinda and sent them looking for the original. The short answer is yes, for most people it is genuinely worth it, but the honest, useful version of that answer depends on what you want from a night out. This is our verdict: what makes the West End original special, how it compares to the films, who will love it, and whether it is good value. tickadoo is built by the founders of London Theatre Direct, so we have watched this show fill the Apollo Victoria for the best part of two decades. Tickets start from £31.25 (verified 15 June 2026). If it is specifically the best seats you are after, we have a dedicated Wicked seating guide for that.
At a glance
- The verdict: yes, for most people. It is a polished, spectacular, emotionally satisfying night out and one of the West End's most reliable crowd-pleasers.
- The headline reason: the live Defying Gravity finale, the moment the films cannot replicate, is worth the ticket on its own.
- Best for: fans of the films, musical lovers, families and first-time theatregoers.
- Good to know: running time 2 hours 45 minutes with one interval, recommended for ages 7 and over.
- Tickets: Wicked tickets from £31.25, with a wide range of prices to suit most budgets.
The short answer: yes, and here is why
Wicked has played the Apollo Victoria Theatre since 2006 and is now heading into its third decade in the West End, which is its own kind of verdict. Shows do not run for almost twenty years on nostalgia alone; they run because audiences leave happy night after night. It tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, how a misunderstood green-skinned girl and a bubbly blonde become Elphaba the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good, and it pairs that story with a score full of genuine showstoppers and a production built to dazzle.
The single best argument for going is one number: Defying Gravity. The first-act finale, when Elphaba rises into the air and belts the song that has become a modern anthem, is one of the great live moments in West End theatre. No screen, however big, gives you the goosebumps of watching it happen in the room with a live orchestra and a thousand people holding their breath.
Seen the films? Here is why the stage show is still worth it
This is the question of the moment. The two Wicked films, the first a global box-office phenomenon and the highest-grossing stage-musical adaptation ever made, and its follow-up Wicked: For Good, have turned a beloved musical into a worldwide event. If you loved them, you might wonder whether the stage show can add anything. It can, and quite a lot.
The films split the story across two long movies; the stage show tells the whole thing in one electric evening, which gives it a momentum and a build that a screen cannot. You get the live flight, the mechanical Time Dragon looming over the stage, Glinda's bubble, and the unrepeatable energy of a live audience roaring at the interval. The films are a gorgeous way in; the stage show is the original, and seeing where it all started, performed live, is a genuinely different and bigger thrill. For many people, the films are exactly the reason this is now a must-see rather than a maybe.
What makes Wicked special
Beyond the spectacle, the show endures because the heart of it is strong. At its core it is a story about an unlikely friendship between two very different women, and that relationship, funny and moving by turns, is what audiences carry out of the theatre. The score delivers on every front: Defying Gravity for the chills, Popular for the laughs, For Good for the tears. The design is lavish, from the clockwork Emerald City to the costumes, and the whole thing is staged with the confidence of a production that has had years to perfect every beat.
Who will love it, and who might not
Being honest about fit is the most useful thing a verdict can do. You will very likely love Wicked if you are a fan of the films, a musical-theatre lover, a family with children aged seven and up, or a first-time theatregoer who wants a sure thing with universal appeal. It is one of the safest crowd-pleasers in London precisely because it works for such a wide audience.
You might be less swept away if you dislike big, sung-through pop musicals, or if you tend to prefer small, gritty, dialogue-driven plays over large-scale spectacle. Wicked is unashamedly a grand, emotional, mainstream musical, and it is brilliant at being exactly that. If that is not your taste, it will not convert you, and that is fair enough.
Is Wicked good value?
For the scale of what you get, it stacks up well. Tickets start from £31.25 and run up to the premium centre seats, and because the Apollo Victoria is one of the largest houses in the West End, there is a genuinely wide spread of prices, so it is one of the easier blockbuster musicals to see without paying top money. For nearly three hours of high-end spectacle, a live orchestra and one of the best-known scores in modern theatre, most people come away feeling the ticket earned its keep. Members of tickadoo+ save across West End bookings, which helps if Wicked is one of several shows on your list.
Where should you sit?
Because the Apollo Victoria is so wide, where you sit makes a real difference at Wicked, more than at many theatres. Rather than repeat it all here, we have written a full Wicked seating guide that walks through the best seats, the best-value picks, the seats to avoid, and exactly where to sit for the Defying Gravity flight and the Time Dragon. It is the companion piece to this one: this guide is whether to go, that guide is where to sit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Wicked in London worth it?
For most people, yes. It is a polished, spectacular and emotionally satisfying musical with one of the great live moments in the West End in its Defying Gravity finale. It suits fans of the films, musical lovers, families and first-time theatregoers especially well. It is less ideal if you prefer small, dialogue-driven plays to big mainstream spectacle.
Should I see the stage show if I have seen the Wicked films?
Yes. The films split the story across two movies, while the stage show tells it in one continuous, high-energy evening, with live flight, the Time Dragon, Glinda's bubble and the atmosphere of a live audience. It is the original, and seeing it performed live is a different and bigger thrill than the screen can offer.
Is Wicked suitable for children?
Wicked is recommended for ages 7 and over and is a popular family choice. Children under 5 are not admitted, and anyone aged 15 or under must be seated next to an adult aged 18 or over.
Do I need to know the story of Wicked before I go?
No. The show is written to stand on its own and is easy to follow as a newcomer. Knowing The Wizard of Oz or the films adds some fun recognition, but it is not required to enjoy the evening.
How long is Wicked?
The running time is 2 hours 45 minutes including one interval, so an evening performance from 7:30pm finishes around 10:15pm.
What are the best seats for Wicked?
The central Stalls and the front-and-centre Dress Circle are the standout areas, with the front Dress Circle the best vantage for the aerial effects. Our dedicated Wicked seating guide covers the best seats, the value picks and the seats to avoid in full.
Make a night of it
If the verdict is a yes, do it properly. Our guide to the perfect West End night out in 2026 covers where to eat and when to arrive, our Wicked seating guide helps you pick the perfect seats, and you can browse and book every London show on the tickadoo London hub.
Built by the founders of London Theatre Direct, with 25 years of expertise in theatre ticketing. The tickadoo editorial team covers West End and Broadway shows, attractions, tours and experiences across 700+ cities.
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