Travel review: London

We were in London for just 24 hours and determined to make the most of it. So, pre-paid Oyster travel cards in hand, my husband and I opted to use the capital's famous red double decker buses and spot a few landmarks on the way. Despite it being a Friday afternoon, we made good progress and completed the journey from Euston train station to The Strand in less than half an hour.

Our art deco hotel the Strand Palace is in a great location, being close to Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, where we stopped for a pizza on our way to see Disney's new West End musical Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre.

Fire & Stone's gourmet global pizzas are inspired by cities from around the world – from Casablanca to Mumbai.

I opted for Madrid on the recommendation of our waiter. It was made up of spicy chorizo, prawns, roasted red peppers, garlic and mozzarella topped with garlic mayonnaise for £13.50. My husband chose the Arizona pizza for £11.75, which included mesquite chicken, jalapenos, fresh tomato salsa topped with mozzarella. Pre-theatre deals are also available.

The Prince Edward Theatre is an easy 15-minute walk from our hotel, with plenty to see on the way.

From Covent Garden we wandered through Chinatown with its pretty red lanterns strung across pedestrianised streets to celebrate Chinese Moon Festival. Delicious aromas assaulted our senses and we vowed to return.

There was just time for a swift pint at The Coach and Horses.

The traditional pub was once visited by the Queen Mother and a picture of her pulling pints behind the bar takes pride of place. By the time we arrived at the theatre we were refreshed and ready to enjoy the show.

Our daughters grew up with the animated tale of Aladdin, the diamond in the rough, who wooed a princess and Disney has done a great job of bringing the blockbuster to the stage.

The genie played by Trevor Dion Nicholas is everything you could wish for, a mix of fabulous fairy godmother and flamboyant panto dame.

And straight from Broadway where the show has been a box office hit, he's certainly brought the magic with him.

Friendly staff help the hype along.

As I waited to take my seat in the stalls, they asked me 'are you excited?', well maybe just a little, I admitted, surprising myself.

The musical has been adapted for British audiences, including references to our much-loved TV show Strictly. It felt like panto season had already started.

Jafar played by Don Gallagher was the baddie we loved to boo, who with his funny sycophantic sidekick Iago (Peter Howe) helped move the narrative along. Dean John-Wilson's Aladdin and former Sugababe Jade Ewen's Princess Jasmine had us believing love conquers all in their beautiful duet A Whole New World, while Aladdin's partners in crime the streetwise Babkak (Nathan Amzi), Omar (Rachid Sabitri), and Kassim (Stephen Rahman-Hughes) make great mischief together.

There isn't a weak member of the cast, who all clearly adore being part of this 100 miles-a-minute, no expense spared extravaganza.

If you can catch your breath, spare a thought for the stage hands and dressers who wrestle with hundreds of costumes and wigs at lightning speed.

Members of the cast arrive and exit through trap doors seamlessly and the special effects are stunning. The magic carpet ride is exactly that, magical.

But for me the glittering Cave of Wonders scene tops it all. The musical number Friend Like Me is sheer razzamatazz. And when those dancing girls pop out . . . Can your friends do that, asks the genie?

I doubt mine could.