Royal Circle at the Lyceum Theatre

648 seats on the first level up, rows A to P, split into two blocks by a centre aisle. This is the level for seeing the whole stage at once. It's a good rake, so you look over the row in front, and a popular level for families.

Where we'd put you

The middle of the front rows, with rows B to F the ones to aim for. Much of the action happens just below your eye level, so you take in all of it at once, and these are among the best seats in the theatre. They're often priced at the top of the range. Cast members come to the front of the Royal Circle during the show, so the front rows get their own moment too.

For value, the back and sides of the level. You still get a great angle on the stage, and the view holds up well towards the back. Rows J and K in the centre are a good place to look when the front rows are beyond the budget.

What to avoid

• Row A, if you're on the short side. A safety rail and a lighting gantry sit across the front, so shorter guests have to lean forward, which blocks the row behind. It's fine if you're taller, but the legroom here is the tightest on the level.
• Row AA, the slip seats tucked into the corners between the circle and the Boxes. They look at the stage from the side.
• The back few rows, if you want every moment. The Grand Circle reaches over this level, and from row L back you lose the top of the stage frame. In row P, the last row, you lose roughly a minute of the aerial ballet during Can You Feel the Love Tonight, though the main actors carry on below, so it's a small loss.

Legroom in the Royal Circle

Tight at the front, and roomiest in row P, which suits people up to about 5ft 10. The aisle seats give you somewhere to stretch a leg.

Steps and the lift

From the lower foyer it's 12 steps up to the Royal Circle landing, where the main Lion King merchandise shop is. Inside the level, the rows are stepped: the lift from the Exeter Street entrance brings you out at row H, and from there it's 14 steps down to row A and 12 up to row P.

Drinks and toilets

The Ballroom Bar is at the back of this level, 24 steps above the landing, and it opens to ticket holders 90 minutes before the show. It's named after the Lyceum's years as a ballroom, from 1945. Drinks in the front rows here have to be in plastic. There are toilets on this level.

The Royal Circle Boxes

Four of the six Boxes are at this level, two on each side of the stage. They lose part of the stage, and the Boxes page says what to book instead.