A Big Day Out at MJ The Musical

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

The West End has invited plenty of musical legends to its stages over the years, with the catalogues of Queen, ABBA, Cher and Tina Turner – among many others – all transformed into musical theatre spectaculars. At the Prince Edward Theatre an icon is reborn, as MJ The Musical takes audiences behind the scenes of Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous tour, letting audiences revisit the hit songs, the killer moves, and everything it was to watch MJ at work. If you’re planning a visit, we’ve got you covered. Here’s how to make a big day out of seeing MJ The Musical at the Prince Edward Theatre, including where to eat, where to shop, and how to plan the perfect roster of activities.

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

Things to do near MJ The Musical

The Prince Edward Theatre sits in the heart of London’s theatre district, with no shortage of activities and sight-seeing opportunities in the area. Chinatown is practically on the theatre’s doorstep, a vibrant area where you’ll find over 70 East and Southeast Asian restaurants, shops, bars and cafes to explore. Five minutes away you’ll find Neal’s Yard, a colourful courtyard housing health and wellness brands, great food and cosy coffee shops, along with great photo opportunities.

If you’re after an indoor activity, the National Gallery is a ten-minute walk away, where you’ll find artwork from the mid-13th century all the way up to the year 1900. Nearby is the National Portrait Gallery, home to a large collection of famous faces. Twelve minutes away is the British Museum, well worth a visit. Its permanent collection of eight million works is the largest in the world.

If you’re looking to try something different that’ll get the whole group engaged, Monopoly Lifesized is a twelve-minute walk from the British Museum. You’ll find four life sized boards to choose from on which to play the ultimate immersive game with friends or family. Boom Battle Bar is another great option, seven minutes from the theatre. Here you’ll be able challenge the rest of your group to a wide range of games, from axe throwing and darts to shuffleboard, beer pong and crazy golf. You can even sneak in some karaoke and give MJ’s greatest hits a go for yourself.

Restaurants near MJ The Musical

The Prince Edward Theatre stands near tons of great restaurant options, both independent eateries and chain favourites. Chinatown is also home to lots of great street food and sit-down restaurants. Or, for some of the best Bengali food you’ll eat, right by the theatre is Gunpowder Soho. This sleek intimate eatery holds a Bib Gourmand in recognition of its excellent, good value Bengali dishes, and has great vegan and veggie options.

If you’re after British favourites, Old Compton Brasserie is the best place to go and immerse yourself in the Soho scene. Embracing the area’s colourful, sometimes seedy history, this all-day brasserie aims to not just serve up excellent food, but also to engage guests in the local art scene. For French dining, you can’t go wrong with Café Boheme, an historic eatery inspired by the 19th century French poets who used to meet on Old Compton street. Here you’ll enjoy classic French dishes to a backing track of live jazz.

For Italian, try 27 Old Compton Street, which prides itself on high-quality pizza and pasta served quickly and without fuss. They also boast great wines, cocktails and desserts. Milk Beach, just two minutes away, is another no-stress option, offering modern Australian all-day dining, with dishes inspired by Australia’s diverse culture and a great list of natural wines.

If you’re a foodie, Frites Atelier is a must-try right by the Prince Edward Theatre. The iconic Amsterdam frites eatery is now in London, with an irresistible menu of burgers, croquettes, chicken chunks and golden frites, all elevated to gourmet standard by three-Michelin-starred chef Sergio Herman.

Shopping near MJ The Musical

The Prince Edward Theatre is within walking distance of many of London’s top shopping destinations. Walk five minutes and you’ll find yourself in the heart of Soho, where you can explore everything from high-end stores to independent boutiques and quirky bookshops. Fifteen minutes from the theatre, Oxford Street is packed with all your favourite high-street stores, the perfect place to run errands, window shop or snap up a great deal.

Covent Garden is only ten minutes away,housing designer boutiques, top beauty brands and plenty more, all surrounding a historic market site. Also ten minutes from the theatre, you’ll find Carnaby Street, a beautifully curated shopping experience, home to fashion and lifestyle brands as well as independent boutiques.

Bars and pubs near MJ The Musical

There are tons of great places to grab a drink near the Prince Edward Theatre, including pretty much all of our recommended restaurants. Right by the theatre, The Black Book is the perfect spot for a glass of wine. Named after a hospitality industry members’ club and their ‘black book’ of rare wines, this boutique basement bar was founded by two Master Sommeliers and boasts largest ‘by-the-glass’ list. Also very nearby is Swift Soho, a famous local spot serving classic cocktails and Swift signatures in its casual upstairs bar, with live jazz and over 300 whiskies to discover in its basement.

There are lots of historic pubs nearby, including The Three Greyhounds, a unique public house with a heritage of over 150 years. It’s been a rumoured favourite haunt of musicians from Wolfgang Mozart to The Clash over the years, and prides itself on serving some of the best pints in the area. Also just a minute away you’ll find The Coach & Horses, declared the Evening Standard’s top pub to visit in London. This beautiful old watering hole has a great range of drinks, but it’s particularly known for its excellent beer.

For a late-night cocktail, Bar Soho is the perfect place to go. You’ll find it a great spot to have a calm drink in the day, and a great spot to catch a DJ set at night. With lots of quirky décor details – including bathtubs for seats – and a fun drinks menu, it’s the ideal choice if you’re looking to keep the party going.

Tube stations and bus stops near MJ The Musical

The closest tube stations to the theatre are Tottenham Court Road for the Northern, Central and Piccadilly lines and Leicester Square for the Northern and Piccadilly lines, both five minutes’ walk away. Piccadilly Circus is also a ten-minute walk away, served by the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. The nearest train station to the theatre is Charing Cross, which is thirteen minutes on foot, and is also served by the Bakerloo and Northern lines. Multiple bus routes also drop off and pick up near the theatre. It’s best to plan your route with TFL.

On-theme activities for MJ The Musical

If one blockbuster jukebox musical isn’t enough for you, then Just For One Day at the Shaftesbury Theatre makes the perfect double feature. The Live Aid musical, set seven years before the Dangerous tour, features other musical legends from the era, staging familiar hits in a brand new way.

If MJ’s moves inspire you, we suggest giving them a go for yourself with the Music Video Dance Classes at Frame. These classes, which run regularly at their Angel and Shoreditch locations, create a judgement-free environment suitable for dancers of all levels, breaking down a new music video routine each week.

Of course, the best place to rub shoulders with legends in London is at Madame Tussauds. Over the years, 13 figures of Michael Jackson have been created for the museum, making him almost the most-depicted person in the museum’s history – second only to the Queen. MJ himself visited the museum in 1985 for his unveiling. If you’re introduced in immersing yourself in more of MJ’s history, a trip to see Wembley Stadium always makes for a good day out – even if you’re not catching a show or doing a tour, you can spend hours exploring the activities and eateries at Box Park. The original stadium, demolished in 2003, saw MJ perform 15 times – the most in the venue’s history.

Whilst it’s unlikely that this last suggestion will fit perfectly in your day out, we’d be remiss not to include it. If you can’t get enough of MJ, make sure you book your tickets for Michael Starring Ben at a theatre near you. This tribute show is touring across the UK, starring ultimate MJ tribute act Ben Bauman.

MJ The Musical is now booking at the Prince Edward Theatre until 28 Feb – find tickets here