Wellington Street, Covent Garden — just 5 minutes on foot
Few West End nights carry the sense of occasion of a visit to the Lyceum Theatre, home to one of the most celebrated stage productions ever created. It’s the kind of evening that deserves a proper Italian dinner to open it, rather than something eaten on the move.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant is around 0.6 miles from the Lyceum Theatre’s door on Wellington Street a comfortable 5-minute walk. It’s one of the closest proper Italian restaurants to the venue and has been serving Covent Garden for over 25 years. If you want the evening to feel considered from the first course onwards, this is where to begin it.
What’s On at the Lyceum Theatre Right Now
Disney’s The Lion King
Now booking until Sunday 16 May 2027 | Tickets from £29 | Age guidance: 6+ | Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes, including a 15-minute interval
Now in its 27th year at the Lyceum, Julie Taymor’s landmark production of Disney’s The Lion King remains, by most measures, the most successful stage show in history. Set against the rhythms of the Serengeti and built around Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs including Circle of Life, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Hakuna Matata, with a score shaped by Hans Zimmer and Lebo M it tells Simba’s journey from cub to king through some of the most inventive puppetry ever brought to a West End stage. It’s a genuine spectacle, and one that continues to redefine what audiences expect from a night at the theatre, regardless of how many times they’ve seen the film.
Please note: the production uses strobe lighting at several points. Children under 3 are not permitted into the theatre, and anyone aged 16 or under must be accompanied by an adult throughout.
Performances run Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with matinees at 2.30pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. There’s no performance on Mondays, and Sunday is matinee-only, with no Sunday evening show. Look out too for Magical Mondays, a limited release of £29.50 tickets for that week’s performances, available from noon each Monday via the official Disney Tickets site.
La Ballerina: 5 Minutes from the Lyceum Door
The Lyceum Theatre sits at 21 Wellington Street, WC2E 7RQ, on the eastern edge of Covent Garden. La Ballerina is a short walk away at 7-8 Bow Street. It’s a touch further than some of the other nearby houses, but still a comfortable 5 minutes on foot, no tube, no taxi, no stress.
That matters more than it sounds with a show running two and a half hours. A 5-minute walk still leaves plenty of room either side of the performance, so you can enjoy your meal properly rather than rushing the last course.
Coming Out After the Show?
La Ballerina stays open late until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sundays. If you’d rather eat afterwards, the kitchen will still be running.
Disney’s The Lion King runs to roughly 2 hours 30 minutes including its interval, so a 7.30pm evening performance should have you finishing around 10pm, leaving time for a late table at La Ballerina from around 10:15 PM. A 2.30pm matinee, by contrast, wraps up by around 5pm perfect timing for an early dinner instead.
Vegetarian, Vegan & Gluten-Free Options
La Ballerina caters well for varied dietary requirements. Vegetarian options include the Margherita and Quattro Formaggi pizzas, Penne Arrabbiata, Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci, Caprese Salad and Minestrone Della Nonna. Vegan dishes are available too, including a Vegan Lasagne, and gluten-free options can be discussed with the team when you order. The restaurant is also child-friendly, with a welcoming atmosphere for families, useful given how many young Simba fans make their way to the Lyceum.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up on show nights, particularly at weekends and around school holidays when The Lion King draws its biggest family crowds. A call or email the day before will secure your table.
📞 Phone: +44 20 7379 6659
✉️ Email: reservations@laballerina.co.uk
🌐 Online: laballerina.co.uk/reservation/
📍 Address: 7-8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH
Lyceum Theatre: 21 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7RQ — 5 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re catching an evening performance or one of the popular weekend matinees, La Ballerina makes the whole Lion King outing easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian.
