I will be in London for a week in July.  Can you please tell me which
of the currently running plays are the most critically acclaimed?  I
know that some of them may have been running for years and may be a
bit "tired".  Which are most popular?  What would you recommend for a
drama and a musical?  The group will be middle-aged and 18-year-olds. 
Where is the best website to read reviews?  Where is the best place to
purchase advance tickets?  Thank you!

Hi! Thanks for the question.

The London Theater Guide website provides ratings of shows currently
playing.

London Theater Guide - Ratings
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/index.htm

The following shows are the ones which garnered 3 out of 3 stars.

Blood Brothers
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/bloodbrothers.htm

Chicago
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/chicago97.htm

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/chitty02.htm

Contact
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/contact02.htm

Les Miserables
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/miserables.htm

The Lion King
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/lionking99.htm

Mamma Mia
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/mammamia99.htm

My Fair Lady
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/myfairlady01.htm

Phantom of the Opera
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/phantom.htm

Taboo
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/taboo02.htm

Dance of Death
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/danceofdeath03.htm

The Woman in Black 
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/womaninblack.htm

Stones in His Pockets
http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/reviews/stonesinhispockets00.htm

---------------
Our next link lists what shows would be available in July. The link
does not go directly to the list so I will just list them here.

Absolutely
Apples and Snakes
Blood of Brothers
Bombay Dreams
Chicago
Complete Works of William Shakespeare
The Eternity Man
The Girl of Sand
Henry V
His Girl Friday
Hobson's Choice
Jerry Springer The Opera
Jumpers
The Lion King
Mamma Mia
Les Miserables
Our House
Power
Richard II
Richard III
Sirius on Earth
Tell Me on a Saturday
Thwaite
Tocororo- A Cuban Tale
Twyla Tarp Dance
We Will Rock You
Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm?

You can view the list by doing a date search on the left side of the
website.

London Theater Guide
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/

-------------
You can purchase tickets at the following websites:

Broadway.com
http://www.broadway.com/concierge_2003.asp?SL=L

London Theater Tickets
http://theater-ticket.conciergedesk.co.uk/

London Theater Ticket Service
http://www.londontheatreticketservice.com/

Razor Gator
http://www.razorgator.com/theatre_tickets.asp?group=theater&open=Theater&c=1-1-0-15-0-1-35

What's on Stage
http://www.whatsonstage.com/dl/page.php

1st 4 London
http://www.1st4londontheatre.co.uk/

London Theater Direct
http://londontheatredirect.com/

Search terms used:       
London theater tickets ratings
           
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
           
Thanks for visiting us.            
           
Regards,            
Easterangel-ga            
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Answer by easterangel-ga on 07 Apr 2003 04:59 PDT

Yes apologies for the spelling error and thanks to probonopublico-ga
for pointing this out. It should have read Blood Brothers. It is the
same show that was first on the list of 3 out of 3 stars.

Hi,

I think 'Blood of Brothers' should actually have read 'Blood Brothers'.

It's a musical that I haven't seen myself but friends who have have enjoyed it.

Mosaicmama --
Easterangel-ga gave you a good list, but did you know that you don't
have to
use a ticket broker to buy London theater tickets?  Unlike on
Broadway, in London you can actually call the theater box offices
directly, schmooze with the ticket agents, buy tix with your credit
card--all in a couple of minutes flat.  It's so easy and the long
distance phone bill is usually less than the commission fee per ticket
you end up paying a broker.
My fave website to read London reviews is www.albe-marle-london.com. 
They're also brokers, but I don't buy thru them.  They're smart, so
they don't list the phone numbers of the box office, but I easily get
those from www.playbill.com.  Click on "London" theater, and there you
go.
I'm in New York and have always had great luck calling the box office
myself, and if something's sold out, the reps very often will
discreetly tell you of special brokers who WILL have the tickets.   So
refreshing!