London Theater
 

Hello, Is there an internet discount site like broadwaybox.com for NY theater>?
Where is best to buy tickets ahead of time for London THeater>?
Years ago I remember going to London with our children and having no problem buying tickets a few days ahead. We saw memorable plays. Sometimes we went to the theater half and hour before curtain time and this way were able to get great tickets, I believe ( but I am not a hundred per cent sure) that sometimes we also got discounts in the ticket office with my children Student IDs , or was because it was half an hour before curtain time that they gave us discounts>? I bet things are not the same
I am obviously outdated, with confused memories, quite faded away....I need help and advise.We are a large family of 7, including the children (4) grandchildren this time. Thank you.

Try the SWET (Society of West End Theatres) website. This will give you details of what's on, and has an on line box office facilty too. It will provide details of any discounts available. I believe that SWET also has an 'on the day' box office in Leicester Square too, although I may be wrong as I haven't used it in years. Generally speaking, if shows aren't sold out you might be able to get a reduction on the day - I was recently 'upgraded' from £15 balcony seats to front row stalls £50 ones at the Barbican for a very poorly selling production (It had lousy reviews. Sadly they were right.) You may also get deals on the very long running shows (mostly musicals). It's also well worth looking at the many smaller theatres, the Arts, Meunier, the Donmar,the Almeida etc. They are cheaper than the commercial West End, especially if they have any 'previews, on offer. Don't expect to get any cheapies (or even tickets) for the really big hits though , like David Tennant in Much Ado About Nothing- queues round the block for returns!

btw...

Broadwaybox.com has a button at the top which will list discounts for London theatres (note the "proper" spelling)...

Discount tickets for many shows are available at the Leicester Square tkts office (be careful there, their policies have changed and not all shows listed give discounts and not all shows with discounts give 50% discounts). It's as bit of a pain to use TKTS as Leicster Square, like so much of London, is being torn up to impress everybody for next year's Olympics (as a side note, love the fact that at St. Pancras station, when you get off Eurostar you see a loarge display with the Olympic rings and the notation 2012; must really make arriving French people feel good as they thought those Olympics would be theirs)...but tkts is in operation.

Also if you're 60 or above, you might wish to ring the theatres or stop by and ask for concession tickets; many have them on the day of the performance.

Hi Graciela,

Appreciate the question as we're also heading to London this summer. When will you be therre?

"must really make arriving French people feel good as they thought those Olympics would be theirs"

It was much better when the Eurostar arrived at Waterloo.