Queen Elizabeth Theatre - The Lion King Seating Guide & Ticket Recommendations

Expert Tips for Choosing the Best Seats at Queen Elizabeth Theatre

As a theatre with excellent sightlines throughout, Queen Elizabeth Theatre offers different experiences depending on your section. For "The Lion King," you'll want to balance view quality with budget. Here's my professional breakdown of the current ticket availability with recommendations:

💰 Best Value Tickets (Under $140)

• BALCONY CENTER Row 31 ($139): Surprisingly good sightlines from elevated position - perfect for enjoying the full spectacle of Pride Rock scenes.
• BR/BC Sections Rows 22-34 ($67-$139): Side balcony seats with slight angle but full stage visibility. Rows 24+ avoid potential overhang.
• DCR Row 20 ($139): Dress Circle Right offers closer view than balcony at same price point.

🎯 Sweet Spot (Best Balance of Price & View $140-$200)

• ORCHESTRA LEFT CENTER Row 13 ($190): Slight angle but excellent proximity to stage - perfect for seeing facial expressions.
• CTR (Center) Rows 21-24 ($177-$213): The classic theatre "golden zone" - centered with ideal viewing angle.
• DRESS CIRCLE CENTER Rows 16-19 ($160-$225): Elevated enough for full stage views while still feeling close.

✨ Premium Seating ($200-$350)

• ORCHESTRA CENTER Rows 1-12 ($206-$493): For those wanting to be "in the action" - you'll see every detail of costumes and puppetry.
• ORCHESTRA LEFT/RIGHT CENTRE Rows 2-5 ($214-$223): Closest side sections with excellent sightlines to main stage action.
• DRESS CIRCLE CENTER Rows 3-6 ($217-$289): Arguably the best overall views in the house at this price point.

💎 VIP/Last Minute Options ($350+)

• ORCHESTRA CENTER Row 1 ($493-$654): The ultimate "I was there" seats - so close you might make eye contact with Simba.
• RIGHT/LEFT CENTER Rows 10-16 ($509-$550): Front-center mezzanine for patrons who prefer slightly elevated perspective.
• DRESS CIRCLE Sides Rows 14 ($470): Luxury box-style seating with extra legroom and quick aisle access.

Viewing Considerations

• Orchestra Center vs Sides: Center sections (CTR) provide perfect symmetry for the circular stage, while side sections (L/R) offer more dynamic angles for processionals.
• Row Depth Matters: At Queen Elizabeth, Rows 15-25 often provide the ideal balance between proximity and full-stage visibility.
• Balcony Sightlines: While higher up, the balcony actually offers excellent overall views of the spectacular production elements.
• Avoid Extreme Sides: Sections labeled BL/BR in highest rows may have partially obstructed views of far-stage action.

My Top 3 Recommendations

1. CTR Row 22 ($213): The absolute sweet spot - centered view at reasonable price with perfect elevation.
2. ORCHESTRA LEFT CENTRE Row 5 ($223): Fantastic value for proximity - you'll feel the energy of stampede scene.
3. BALCONY CENTER Row 31 ($139): Best budget option that still delivers full production impact.

Final Advice

For "The Lion King," I recommend prioritizing center sections when possible, as the production makes brilliant use of the entire stage space. The puppetry and costumes reveal different details from various angles, so there's no truly "bad" seat at Queen Elizabeth Theatre - just different experiences at different price points.