My 2025 London trip was incredible. I saw several amazing exhibitions, I revisited some historical sites that I didn’t have enough time to properly explore the first time, and I met up with some lovely people. (Not to mention visiting three separate royal residences.) However, I was also very fortunate to be able to get tickets for a few shows. And that includes tickets to Paddington the Musical in previews. Today I’m sharing my Paddington the Musical review in the hopes that you will book tickets for yourself!
Paddington the Musical Info
As one might guess, this musical is indeed about Paddington Bear and his arrival and new life in London. While the general story line is similar to the first book and first film, it is independent of the two, so there are things that happen in the musical that you will not find elsewhere.
Tom Fletcher (of McFly fame) wrote the music- all new songs!- for the show and Jessica Swale wrote the book. If you happen to be a fan of SIX the Musical, Gabriella Slade also did the costumes for Paddington.
The show opened for previews on 1 November 2025 at the Savoy Theatre in London and is set to officially begin on 30 November! We saw the show on Friday, 7 November. As of mid-November 2025, the closing date is October 2026, so you can definitely get tickets for the holiday season.
Paddington himself
I will admit, one of my only regrets about seeing Paddington is not grabbing photos during the bows and curtain call- I don’t have any photos of the cast myself. However, I’ve included an official Paddington video above so you can see the incredible costume.
There is an actor inside the costume, and a second actor off-stage who is the singing and speaking voice of Paddington in addition to controlling the facial motions. I was not sure what to expect before seeing it- would it be something like War Horse’s animals? Or a Cat in the Hat situation? Paddington is his own unique creation though, and it makes the show incredibly special. Because his heart and personality are at the centre of the musical, being able to have an incredibly expressive Paddington on the stage in front of us is massive. Realistically, I have long loved Paddington and would be enthralled no matter what, but it kept me glued to the stage for the entire show.
We were lucky enough to see Abbie Purvis’ West End debut when she was the on-stage actor for Paddington, and she was absolutely perfect. (I can’t imagine a better WE debut.) James Hameed was also brilliant as the voice of Paddington- I can’t wait for the album to be out in May 2026!
London
If Paddington himself is at the heart of the musical, so is London. Yes, we obviously have Paddington Station and the Natural History Museum as London icons, but the people and bustle of London are also integral to the show. (‘The Rhythm of London’ is a great song!) As someone who has been lucky enough to visit London many, many times and knows the city well, I loved the London element. It is worked in cleverly throughout in both the songs and the script, and it gives a grounded feeling to the show if you do know London. My only question about this element (which I adored) is how it would affect any potential transfers to other countries. A lot of the London-specific lines and jokes would not land if you didn’t know the city well, so I could see them potentially being changed. However, because London is at the heart of it, changing them would also potentially change the feeling. (I do have to say- the musical is brilliant even if you don’t catch these!)
A very talented cast
While I have already shared my thoughts on the actors behind Paddington, I would be remiss if I didn’t chat about the other cast members as well. Amy Ellen Richardson was a true standout as Mrs. Brown, and that is saying something for an amazing cast like this. We were in the second row of the Upper Circle and I could see and feel her emotions like she was standing within arms’ reach. (It helps that she also has some great songs to show off!)
Adrian Der Gregorian as Mr. Brown, Delilah Bennett-Cardy as Judy, and Joseph Bramley as Jonathan were also all wonderful in their roles.
I also have to shine the spotlight on Tom Edden for his comedic genius as Mr. Curry, and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as our villain, Millicent Clyde. Both have substantial roles and held their own well without taking away from Paddington himself, and that is a very fine line to walk. (Once again, this cast album is going to be INCREDIBLE.)
The little touches
I know that this is standard for most shows on the West End or Broadway, but I loved all of the little touches around the Savoy (and beyond). The platform sign that greets you inside the Savoy is perfect- Paddington certainly deserves his own arrival board. You will also spot London on the backdrop during the intermission (below)- I thought that this was a fantastic touch, and shows that Paddington the Musical is already a part of London’s culture. You can also spot a lot of Paddington-related items in Mr. Gruber’s shop if you have a few moments before the show.
I also think that the creative and marketing teams have done a brilliant job of capitalising on Paddington’s existing IP while not directly copying. I saw countless adverts at numerous Tube stations, and they really do stand out in a true sea of advertising.
If you find yourself in London, a seat at the Savoy Theatre to see Paddington the Musical is a must. Paddington has quickly become one of my favourite musicals of all time, and it is more than worth your evening!
Cheers,
The Historian
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