London Musicals Based On Books

Here’s a handy list of London Musicals that are based on books. This can be a handy resource if you’re an educator wanting to tie in watching musicals with literature. Or perhaps you’re just like me: Equal parts book worm and musical lover!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald

This is the first of 2 London musicals currently running on the West End that are based on a book by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald was an American writer, mostly known for his depictions of the Jazz Age. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a short story that Fitzgerald released in 1922. It tells the story of a man who ages backwards.

The musical adaptation takes this story and sets it in a Cornish Fishing Village. It has an original score and the cast is made up of actor musicians who play their instruments live on stage. The production is much loved here in London. So much so in fact, that it won 3 Olivier Awards this year.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is playing at The Ambassadors Theatre until 30th August 2025.

Wicked

Wicked is a staple when it comes to London musicals and has been running at The Apollo Victoria for almost 19 years. Many people don’t realise however, that this popular musical is based on a book series written by Gregory Maguire. Maguire has written many adult fantasy and children’s literature books, with the first Wicked book being published in 1995.

Wicked tells the untold story of the witches of Oz. It tells us how exactly the wicked witch became wicked. It has also been adapted into a movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Arianna Grande. The music is written by Stephan Schwartz who actually had to convince Maguire to release the theatrical rights to him.

Wicked is defying gravity at The Apollo Victoria until 4th January 2026.

Matilda – Roald Dahl

Matilda is perhaps the show that most people will know already is based on a book as it is one of the most popular London musicals. The book was published in 1988 and has been loved by generations of children since its publication. The book was already adapted into a film in 1996 starring Danny DeVito as well as various other media.

Matilda the Musical was written by comedian Tim Minchin and debuted on the West End in 2011. It tells the story from the book of Matilda, a gifted girl with neglectful parents. Her powers and intelligence help her cope at school and home to help her reclaim her life.

Matilda is now booking until 24th May 2026 at The Cambridge Theatre.

The Devil Wears Prada – Lauren Weisberger

Most people know this show as one of the many London musicals that are based on films. However, what people don’t know is that the book came first! The book is written by Lauren Weisberger and was published in 2003.

The story is about a naive aspiring journalist who gets a job as a personal assistant to the editor of a high fashion magazine. The book became a very popular Chick Lit book and gained traction after people discovered the author has actually worked as a personal assistant to Anna Wintour, the editor of Vogue.

The West End adaptation features celebrity Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly, the “devil” editor of the magazine. It also has music written by legend Elton John.

The Devil Wears Prada is playing at The Dominion Theatre until 3rd January 2026.

Oliver! – Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

This classic musical is based on the novel Oliver Twist written by Charles Dickens. It was originally published in monthly installments with the full book released in 1838. Oliver Twist is a classic piece of literature which tells the story of an orphan boy in Victorian England who escapes a work house and falls in with a bunch of pickpockets to survive the East End.

Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation of the Dickens tale opened in the West End for the first time in 1960 making it one of the oldest London musicals based on a book. The musical was famously adapated on screen in 1968 and won 6 academy awards including best picture! It features songs which are now classics just as Food Glorious Food and As Long As He Needs Me.

The current revival of Oliver! is playing at The Gielgud Theatre until 29th March 2026.

The Phantom Of The Opera – La Fantome de l’Opera by Gaston Leroux

Originally published in French in 1910, The Phantom Of The Opera is the 2nd longest running musical currently on the West End. Gaston Leroux was a renowned journalist turned author. He was particularly well known for writing mysteries however the Gothic Romance, The Phantom of The Opera is his most famous work. Leroux was inspired both by the Paris Opera house and the ghosts believed to inhabit the opera house at the time. It tells the story of “The Phantom”, a man who lives in the opera house. He is a musical genius and falls in love with his protegee Christine Daae.

The novel was adapted into a musical in 1986 by Andrew Llyod Webber. Webber has written many hit London musicals including Evita and Sunset Boulevard. The musical has beautiful, sweeping songs in an operatic style and sells out nearly every night

The Phantom Of The Opera is currently booking at His Majesty’s Theatre until 28th March 2026.

Cabaret – Goodbye To Berlin by Christopher Isherwood

Cabaret is based on the novel “Goodbye Berlin” written by Anglo-American Christopher Isherwood. He was inspired by his own 3 year stay there. He enjoyed cabaret clubs and witnessed the extreme political climate that led to the establishment of the Nazi party. Following the enabling act Isherwood fled to England and shortly after, cabaret clubs were shut down and many of his friends – some of who, the characters are based on – also fled or were sent to concentration camps.

It was first adapted into a play called “I Am A Camera” before that was, in turn, adapted into a musical. The writers of Chicago, Kander and Ebb wrote the music for this powerful musical adaptation with Joe Masteroff writing the book.

Cabaret is playing at The Kit Kat Club and is booking until 28th March 2026.

Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

It is a wonder they managed to get this novel adapted into a musical. The novel is made up of 5 volumes and is in fact 1,462 pages long! Hugo was already an established author following his novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and it was highly anticipated when it was released in 1862. He was inspired by events he witnessed on the streets of Paris and living through the French Revolution.

The story follows many characters during this tumultuous time in Paris however, the main through line follows Valjean, a man imprisoned and later on the run for stealing a loaf of bread. Over 100 years later French composers Claude Michel Schoenberg and Alain Boubill adapted the novel to an entirely sung through musical. Following its French premiere in 1980, it was later translated into English in 1985. It has played in the West End ever since and is currently the longest running show out of all the London musicals.

Les Miserables is currently booking at The Sondheim Theatre until 28th March 2026.

Clueless – Emma by Jane Austen

Clueless is another one of the current London musicals that is well known for being based on a film. What many people don’t realise however, is that the iconic movie was based on Jane Austen’s “Emma”. Written in 1816, this is the oldest book that has inspired a musical currently playing on the West End.

In the classic romance novel, Emma fancies herself a matchmaker and constantly begins to meddle in people’s love lives. Similarly, Cher in Clueless takes on this story line and the same character traits as a wealthy girl in an American highschool in the 90’s.

Clueless is playing at The Trafalgar Theatre until 28th March 2026.

Hamilton – Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

From our list of London Musicals based on books today, Hamilton is the only one based on non-fiction! Lin Manuel Miranda took inspiration from Ron Chernow’s biography on Alexander Hamilton. Chernow is a Pulitzer prize winning writer and biographer. Alexander Hamilton is the biography of the lesser known American founding father.

The musical adaptation received global acclaim and recognition. It transferred to the West End in 2017 and has been a hit ever since. Miranda uses rap, RnB and soul music styles in this musical that is almost entirely sung through. He is quoted to say he tells “the story of America then through the voices of America now”.

You can book to watch Hamilton at The Victoria Palace Theatre until 28th March 2026

The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald has already been mentioned once. This means the author has inspired not one but two London musicals currently playing in the West End.

True to Fitzgerald’s style, this novel is set in America in the roaring 20’s. It offers an insight into the mysterious and glamorous Jay Gatsby who throws parties to die for. The novel is often studied in schools due to it’s themes and symbolism throughout the book. It was also an award winning film produced by Baz Luhrmann in 2013.

The musical adaptation originated on Broadway and opened in London earlier this year.

Book tickets for The Great Gatsby at The London Coliseum until 7th September 2025.