I’m planning on taking my 12 y/o aspiring actor to London this July. We would like to stay near the West End or theater district, so we can walk home at night after seeing a musical. What neighborhoods or hotels do you suggest? Thanks in advance

There isn't one 'theatre district'. There are theatres all over. A lot around Covent Garden; many on/near Shaftesbury Avenue; on Haymarket; on the South Bank; near Victoria and Sloane Square; Tottenham Court Rd . . . and other places.

Stay anywhere in the big triangle formed by Victoria / Holborn / Temple and you be walking distance to some to many theatres.

Can't help with hotels without knowing your budget.

If you stay at the Z Hotel Soho, you will be a 10 minute walk from about 25 different theatres. Theatres likely to host Broadway musicals will be among your choices in that area. Since you mention 'musical' rather than a play in your OP, I am assuming you are not likely to take in the National Theatre of Great Britain or the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The rooms at the Z Soho are teeny tiny -- like really really small. the biggest doubles are less than 110 square ft and most are 96 sq ft. Plus they do not have any two/twin bedded rooms -- all rooms have only one bed. Hardly practical for a parent/child stay.

Just -- no.

Oops, sorry for mentioning it then. Still it does give the OP an idea for a neighborhood that fits their clue.

Actually -- with a child along I'd much rather stay in the Covent Garden area than Soho -- lots of pedestrianized streets, the market and buskers, the London Transport Museum, Trafalgar Square, lots of theatres, and lots of hotels.

But then again - anywhere in central London will be convenient to loads of theatres. We just need a budget to give useful suggestions

Of course, if money is no object, you could always stay at the Savoy that has the famous Savoy Theatre on the premises! When I was living in London in the early '80's, we'd get cheap student tickets 1/2 hour before showtime, cost then about 5 quid, great seats. Remember seeing Noises Off there. The theatre was gutted by fire during renovations in 1990, but lovingly restored a few years later. Currently playing there is Pretty Woman, the musical.

If money is a concern (LOL), then follow Janisj's advice . . . theatre is easy to get to from any hotel in central London. You can take a bus, the tube, or taxi if you don't feel like walking.

I understand wanting to walk to hotel after the theater. I've stayed at the Strand Palace twice, and found this location very walkable to Covent Garden and many theaters. If it were just one of you, or if you can get connecting rooms (?), I'd recommend Hub by Premier Inn at Covent Garden, but it's a small room. I've also stayed here and found it very convenient. Unless you and your daughter are good with sharing a double bed and squeezing past each other, maybe not the right choice. But it is a cool room, being a pod. However, there is a Premier Inn Leicester Square, but haven't stayed there personally. Wish I could guarantee a star sighting, but on one day, I saw Eddie Redmayne and the legend Mark Rylance, (with wife and dog), walking the Strand before curtain times while staying at the Strand Prince. Of course, your daughter could always try to get an autograph at the stage door after a performance. I'd been able to do this in NYC a few times; not sure if it's the same in London. Your daughter should ask the theater staff (like a house manager, or box office), and if she asks nicely, you never know what the staff may do for her. I worked at a theater for a decade, and for certain patrons--especially the ones you could tell were huge fans, or for the young--the staff would bend over backwards to make their night special.

Always good to check tripadvisor.com for hotel reviews, too. Have fun planning with your daughter. I don't know if you two have any traditions, but one of mine is getting dim sum in London's Chinatown, which is nearby.

https://www.strandpalacehotel.co.uk/
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hot...DESKTOP_LONLEI

" Of course, your daughter could always try to get an autograph at the stage door after a performance. I'd been able to do this in NYC a few times; not sure if it's the same in London. "

Even easier IME/IMO in London than in NYC.

Turned total slack-jawed yokel seeing Ciaran Hinds on the way to The Seafarer. What a presence.