Half-price London theater tickets?
Oct 30th, 2001, 09:22 AM
#3
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And it is actually much better than the one in New York. They have seats for many, many shows and all are truly half price plus small service fee -- unlike New York when many seats are discounted but not half price. The one other thing however, about London is that they only handle the most expensive seats so you are assured of getting a good seat -- not a back row corner. What this means, of course, is that you can usually buy full price seats at a theatre for less than the half price seats at Leicester Square, but they won't be as good seats. If you are really on a budget, then you are probably better off at the theatres. Do not be fooled by approaching Leicester Square and seeing several other "store fronts" selling "half-price" tickets. Many of those will sell you cheap seats at half the price of full price ones -- clearly no bargain. There is only one official half-price booth and that is the one that is in an independent building in the south side of the actual "park" at Leicester Square. Cash only by the way.
Oct 30th, 2001, 09:28 AM
#4
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We have seen many shows in London by waiting in line at the booth run by the theater guild. You do get very good seats but many are in the first three rows. The British do not regard these as choice seats so they are usually available. We have also gone directly to the theater and taken cheaper seats but so many of the theaters are small that the seats are good.
Oct 30th, 2001, 01:43 PM
#6
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They started accepting credit cards in May -- BUT in late September they stopped again. They are having technical difficulties w/ credit card transactions. So, they MAY accept cards -- but don't worry if it is still down when you get there because there are 2 ATM machines less than 50 feet away.
Oct 30th, 2001, 03:33 PM
#7
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At 10:30 this morning, 1/2 price tickets were available for the following evening performances today. This should give you some idea of availability. <BR> <BR>Antarctica <BR>Art <BR>Blood Brothers <BR>Blue/Orange <BR>Buddy <BR>Caught in the Net <BR>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (25% off only) <BR>Complete History of America(Abridged) <BR>Day in the Death of Joe Egg <BR>Fame <BR>Graduate <BR>Grease <BR>Homecoming <BR>An Inspector Calls <BR>Jackie Mason <BR>King and I <BR>Kiss Me Kate <BR>Luther <BR>Mahler's Conversion <BR>Noises Off <BR>Over the Moon <BR>Starlight Express <BR>Stones in his Pockets <BR>Woman in Black
Oct 31st, 2001, 06:38 AM
#9
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So are you able to get seats to say "Phantom of the Opera" & "The Lion King" at the half price booth or are these shows normally sold out? We have family coming from Australia in December and I'm not sure if I should book for these shows or chance getting half price tickets. We are in London for a week.
Oct 31st, 2001, 06:50 AM
#10
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No, those shows are not available at the half-price booth, nor tickets to Mama Mia. Top shows are long sold out, but you might go to the theatre day of performance and see about returns (at full price, of course, and possibly cash only as some are returns by cast members). We lucked out with approx. 5th row center to both Lion King and Mama Mia by going to the theatres day of performance, although it took three tries to get the Mama Mia ones.
Oct 31st, 2001, 07:09 AM
#11
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Rhonda: You may have a hard time getting tickets for the shows you mention for December. Lion King only has returns and that usually means standing outside the theatre for 90 minutes or an hour+ and then not being guaranteed getting tix. In Early October I queued for Lion King on Sunday morning (yes - it is one of the few shows playing on Sundays). The tickets go on sale at noon and there were folks in line at 10:30AM. Cash only. <BR> <BR>Phantom is not a sold out as it has been in the past - but it still wwon't be at the 1/2 price booth (None of the Cameron Mackintosh biggies ever are) so you MAY be able to get tickets if you call the box office right away. Otherwise - it is the same procedure - queue outside the theatre a couple of hours before returns go on sale each day.
Oct 31st, 2001, 09:08 AM
#14
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Theatre in London far surpasses most productions I have found in NYC. My suggestion to you is that while half price tickets might be great don't cheat yourself by not seeing something really great at full price. Remember theatre being a more intrical aspect of British culture shows are cheaper. We saw Starlight Express very similar to Cats and were very disappointed to put it gently. Those tickets came from the half price ticket booth. On the other hand we went to Miss Saigon in the last month of production bought orchestra seats at full price day of show at $50 and had one of the best musical experiences of our vacation. Still could not forget the roar from the audience at the end of the production.
Feb 5th, 2002, 01:31 PM
#18
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I have been researching London tickets for the past week. I really wanted tickets for My Fair Lady in Sept. and have been told they never go to the 1/2 price booth. I got a quote from an on line broker at 75 pounds each, so I called the theatre box office directly and got the best seats (orchestra stall section center seats)for a Saturday evening performance for 35 pounds each. They will mail them to me. It was very easy. With at least one show assured, I will take my chances at the 1/2 price booth for others.
Feb 5th, 2002, 03:31 PM
#19
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For a show that you really, really, want to see, which doesn't look as though it would be available at TKTS, I'd suggest locating a seating chart of the theatre and it's phone number. <BR><BR>Then, noting the time differences, call, and buy your tickets. You can have them mailed or have them held at the box office. If you book far enough ahead, you can get great seats without having to pay scalpers or being frustrated by repeated trips to the theatre for returned tickets.<BR><BR>
Feb 5th, 2002, 07:27 PM
#20
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I always buy the difficult shows in advance by calling the box office from the states. I print off a seating chart of the theatre first so I know what they're talking about. And I never have them mail me the tickets (which will cost extra anyway). They will hold them at the box office and I can pick them up night of the show, or anytime the week before. I just don't understand the idea of paying extra to go through a broker when the actual theatre will have the full choice of empty seats. I only wish that Broadway theatres would still do that.<BR>
