All the world and its cat are licking their lips at the thought of finding a cheap theatre ticket in London. Of course, any well-bred house cat can sniff out a 30% discount (go to the Leicester Square ticket booth), but you need to be particularly street-wise mog to get a box at the opera for less than a round of Pret lattes. Here’s how to find spectacular West End show bargains.
First, get out of your cardboard box – you aren’t going to find a top-ranking West End show on a Saturday night in a stone’s throw of Soho, but you can bag a bargain for under £20 with a bit of lateral thinking.
Consider:
- Midweek matinees (when most Londoners are working)
- Off West End Theatres, e.g. the King’s Head in Islington
- Student productions at Trinity Laban, Brit School or the Royal College of Dramatic Art (RADA)
- Shows at the start of their run or the end
- Plays with odd subject matter e,g, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (fabulous)
- Standing seats or seats high up in the auditorium, or with a restricted view
- Visiting the theatre during a tube strike, or during inclement weather
Do this, and you will be out every night at the theatre for less than the cost of a bag of Dreamies.
Here are some of the best ways to find seriously cheap London theatre tickets.
Ten Strategies for Finding Cheap Theatre Tickets in London
1. Visit the Leicester Square Ticket Booth
Everyone knows this old trick – visit the Leicester Square Ticket Booth to find a cheap London theatre ticket with a 30-50% discount. The booth is only a stone’s throw from most West End theatres and is certainly an option – albeit an unimaginative option for buying a ticket at a discount. If you’re already in Central London and fancy seeing a show that evening, it’s always worth checking the ticket booth in Leicester Square.
You can also compare all the offers in one place and walk away with the ticket and grab something to eat en route. It’s fairly seamless.
But when it comes to finding a cheap London theatre ticket, we can do better.
New to opera? Here’s the skinny on what you need to know: First Time at the Opera? Essential Tips for a Magical Night
2. Join a Seat-Filling Club
Seat-filling is akin to joining a secret society of under-the-radar theatre goers. Purrfect if you feel that your alter ego is more James Bond, or Miss Marple and that you are an abject liar who can answer tricky questions from strangers sitting next to you, like “How did you buy your seat?” and “How much did you pay for your seat?” as the first rule of seat filling is NEVER to reveal how you got your seat, or what you paid. Transgress and you’ll be unceremoniously chucked out and back on the dust heap of people who need to pay full price for their theatre tickets.
These secret societies have other rules too – bring a bag of chips, your kids, shopping bags and crazy aunt to the show and guess what? You get chicked out! Treat the box office staff as your indentured servants, or request a better seat, and you’ll be slung out. And woe betide the person who is delayed by the tube. The seat-filling gods have no patience for anyone unable to book a ticket, turn up in their theatre togs, mention in a low, discreet voice that they are on the guest list and sit quietly in their seat.
Google “Seat Filling London” and join as many clubs as you can. Some will require you to be recommended by another member, but others will allow you to join immediately. These clubs offer seats for West End shows, often for nothing more than a small admin fee, e.g. £5-6. Better-known products may offer discounted tickets for £15-20.
The principle is simple. Theatres prefer a full auditorium to empty seats, so members are invited to attend selected performances at heavily reduced prices.
Seat filling can get obsessive. If you see someone doomscrolling, they may be a member of this secret society.
To get the best results, you need to scroll multiple sites several times a day. And the tickets sell out fast- often within minutes (most of these clubs have 20,000+ members). My top tip for bagging a cheap theatre ticket is to buy your own ticket first (like fitting your own oxygen mask before helping others), then ring your friend. If the show is still available, you can book an extra seat for them. Theatres will usually seat you together.
Don’t expect stellar performances on every occasion. Sometimes you will see something perfectly wonderful. Then it will be something so horrifyingly bad that your cat could have directed it. But if you have only paid £5, do you care?
Scratching your head, wondering which theatre is best. This explains it all. How to Choose the Best West End Show: A London Theatre Guide
3. Try Day Seats
I don’t do mornings, so I have never tried this recommendation. At an ungodly hour, e.g. 11 am, many London theatres start selling a small allocation of tickets they sell on the day of the performance. The exact arrangements vary from theatre to theatre. Some operate online lotteries, e.g. the Hamilton lottery, while others release tickets at a specific time each morning.
If you’re organised and flexible, it’s worth checking the theatre’s website to see what they offer.
4. Take Advantage of Rush Tickets
Rush tickets have transformed the way many Londoners buy theatre tickets.
The National Theatre regularly releases discounted tickets through its Friday Rush scheme.
The catch is that demand can be fierce. You’ll often find yourself in a virtual queue competing with hundreds of other people.
When you’re successful, however, the savings can be substantial.
Mystified how they did it? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at special effects. London Theatre Effects – The Willing Suspension of Disbelief
5. Don’t Forget Standing Tickets
Not every cheap ticket comes with a seat.
The Globe Theatre is perhaps London’s most famous example. For around £10, you can stand in the yard and watch Shakespeare, much as audiences did 400 years ago (except you are unlikely to be urinated on, or spattered with pig’s blood).
It’s a unique experience and one I highly recommend, although it’s worth knowing what you’re signing up for. You’ll be standing for the entire performance, and volunteer stewards are generally quite strict about people sitting on the floor or leaning on barriers. However, I have noticed that the “not leaning or sitting rule” has been relaxed of late. But don’t think that you will be able to sneak into the bench seats, or you’ll suffer a Shakespearean era telling off.
If you manage to make it through the whole performance (which not many people do), you can buy a commemorative T-shirt in the theatre shop to mark your achievement as a “groundling”.
It’s not for everyone, but if your legs are up to it, it’s one of the best-value theatre experiences in London.
There are similar standing tickets at the Royal Opera House, and the advantage of these is that they include a padded rail that you can lean on. Some people prefer the standing tickets to dubious bench seats in the upper auditorium.
6. Look for Young Person Schemes
Many theatres now offer excellent schemes for younger audiences. The exact age limits vary, but if you’re under 30, it’s worth checking what’s available.
Even if you’re not eligible yourself, it’s useful information if you’re taking younger friends or family members to the theatre.
7. Check Disability Access Schemes
Most theatres offer discounted tickets for disabled patrons and, in some cases, a complimentary or discounted companion ticket. Eligibility criteria vary between venues (some require photographic proof of eligibility and others allow you to self-certify), so it’s important to check the individual theatre’s website. Expect to need to register as a disabled person at each venue.
If you qualify, these schemes can make theatre-going considerably more affordable. I have a friend who saves £8k per year on cheap theatre tickets in London with his prolific use of the disability schemes.
8. Look for Sponsored Ticket Schemes
Some theatres partner with corporate sponsors to make performances accessible to a wider audience.
The Old Vic and Young Vic have both run sponsored ticket initiatives over the years, offering selected seats at significantly reduced prices.
These schemes change periodically, so they’re worth keeping an eye on.
9. Book During London Theatre Week
If you are after a top London show and don’t want to pay the equally elevated prices, wait until London Theatre Week. I have managed to see The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera and The Great Gatsby for a bargain £25.
10. Attend a Student Production
We have three top-ranking performing arts schools: the Brit School, the Royal College of Dramatic Art and Trinity Laban. All have dedicated theatres with bars. Their productions are usually top-notch and offer significant discounts when compared with a West End show.
My Favourite Strategy for Finding Cheap Theatre Tickets in London
If I’m being practical, I’d start with Audience Club or Central Tickets, check the National Theatre rush schemes, and then see what’s available through the Leicester Square ticket booth. I would also check the seating plan and associated ticket price for shows. Some restricted-view seats still represent good value. The restriction may be nothing more than a safety barrier you need to look over, or a pillar that is not in your main line of sight.
The key is not to become obsessed with one particular show.
Some of my most enjoyable evenings in London have been productions I’d barely heard of before booking. When you’re open-minded, London’s theatre scene becomes dramatically cheaper. Like many pursuits, there is a particular thrill in finding cheap theatre tickets in London.
