London's West End is famous for its theatrical productions, and this year’s programme is as exciting as ever, with three of the hottest new shows being adaptations from the silver screen, books and TV.

All About My Mother is based on the Oscar-winning Pedro Almodóvar film of the same name. It marks the first time one of Almodóvar’s works has been adapted into English and has been given his seal of approval. The story concerns Manuela, played by Lesley Manville; a single mother living in Madrid, who, following the tragic death of her teenage son, decides to travel to Barcelona to meet the father her son never knew. Along the way, she gets caught up in the lives of three different women, including a long-lost transvestite friend, a young nun in search of love and a famous actress, who her son greatly admired. The play deals with complex issues such as sexual identity, AIDS, existentialism and faith, but always with an edge of dark humour.

Elling is based on a trilogy of Norwegian novels about a socially inept man - the eponymous title-character - who has spent his entire life living with his mother, and his subsequent difficulty in dealing with the outside world for the first time after her passing. After spending time in a mental health institution, he and his roommate, the equally socially inept, overweight and sex-obsessed Kjell-Magne, are given a flat in the centre of Oslo by social services, and told to either re-assimilate into society or move back. The story combines some of the darkest and satirical humour with uplifting stories about camaraderie, and starring TV’s John Simms (Life on Mars) as Elling and Adrian Bower (Teachers) as Kjell-Magne; it is well worth seeing.

It might seem unlikely for ITV’s Bad Girls to translate well into a musical, but theatre has always been a medium to defy conventions, and Bad Girls: The Musical is a prime example. The musical, like the show, is set in fictional HMP Larkhall and incorporates characters from the TV show as well as new ones. The plot focuses on the suspicious death of inmate Rachel Hicks and guard Jim Fenner's efforts to rid himself of any implications of his own involvement. The play also includes the subplot of a romance between Wing Governor Helen Stewart and lifer inmate Nikki Wade. After a successful run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse last year, the West End production features some of the actresses reprising their roles from the TV show, including Helen Fraser as Sylvia Hollamby and Maria Charles as Noreen Biggs.

Buying tickets for West End productions can be booked online in advance, or if you are willing to take the chance you can find last-minute discounted tickets to shows at the TKTS ticket booths on Leicester Square. Formerly known as the Half Price Ticket Booth, and operated by The Society of London Theatre, it is the only official discount theatre operation in London and offers a better range and price of tickets than touts.

Booking travel and accommodation for a trip to London can also be done with few clicks online. London is currently serviced by six airports and is also easily accessible by train and bus, giving visitors plenty of choice of travel. Most hotels in London will have a website with information about their facilities and about the local area to help making these decisions easier.

So make the trip now and experience the best modern theatre has to offer. Whether you’re looking for humour, pathos or to simply be whisked away by the music, London’s West End has it all.