Would you suggest that we get our tickets before our Oct. 3 arrival into London for a week?
OR do we wait and try to get cheaper tickets?

It depends what you want to see and how fussy you are about your seats. Some shows sell-out, others don't.

For the most part, at this time of the year, there are very few absolute sell outs in the West End right now; most shows will have some availability especially weekday evenings. At the same time, you may not want to take a morning to run over to the theatre to see what's available (although you can book pretty easily via the phone) so...

I don't think it's really necessary to book most of the shows in advance. If you have something particular in mind that you simply must see on a certain evening, then you might wish to book those in advance.

Otherwise, a trip to the tkts half price venue in Leicester Square (make sure you don't fall for the rip offs claiming they are the half price booth on the walk on the pedestrian street from Charing Cross Road and the tube station there) will usually have a minimal wait and give you a good choice of shows to see.

Also, some of the most popular shows, have day tickets available which you can check on too once you're there.

If you're not after the very latest shows then I'd suggest booking in advance somewhere like lastminute.com, particularly as you can book a dinner and theatre package which generally works out to be pretty good value.

Also an excellent discount site for London theatre tickets is www.broadwaybox.com

Can get significant discounts purchasable in advance on many west end shows.

No need to buy tix ahead of time - nor to go from theatre to theatre to get tix. (they don't sell discount tickets at the theatres themselves - except for some student discounts and such)

Unless you want to see one of the few blockbusters - like Billy Elliot just go to TKTS in Leicester Square for day-of-performance half price tickets to most of the shown in London. (Only TKTS - not any of the os called "half price" ticket brokers near the square).

Not all play will be offered at TKTS - the Globe isn't, the RSC isn't and most fringe venues aren't - but 80% of the plays and musicals are . . . .

for example - here is what was available at TKTS last Saturday:

MATINEE...
Afterlife
Avenue Q
Blood Brothers
Brief Encounter
Buddy
Chicago
Fat Pig
Female of the Species
Her Naked Skin
Into the Hoods
Les Miserables
Marguerite
Never Forget
Phantom of the Opera
Pygmalion
The Sound of Music
Spamalot
Stomp
39 Steps
Under the Blue Sky
We Will Rock You
Zorro

EVENING...
Afterlife
Avenue Q
Blood Brothers
Brief Encounter
Buddy
Chicago
Female of the Species
Her Naked Skin
I Lear
Into the Hoods
Les Miserables
Marguerite
Never Forget
Pygmalion
The Sound of Music
Spamalot
Stomp
39 Steps
Under the Blue Sky
We Will Rock You
Zorro

Just for information - I followed xyz123's advice and booked tickets to see French & Saunders in London in October. The total cost was 80 pounds (for two) and they gave me my seat numbers immediately so I could check the Theatre Royal's seating plan before I paid. Lastminute.com was going to charge me 139.50 and I didnt' get to know my seat numbers before I booked.

YOU all are GREAT!!! This is exactly what I needed. We were thinking about Wicked, but I know it is so popular.
Do they ever show Fiddler on the Roof? (one of our favorites)

We got in line about 2 hrs before Wicked & was 6th in the que line. Got fantastic seats. We waited till we got there to get tickets. If something you really want to see get them before you leave.

We went to the theater "on the morning of" and got returned tickets to Wicked. It was great!

We are interested in seeing The Glass Menagerie at The Richmond theatre next month; tickets seem to be easy to get.

Question: Is the Richmond a long trek from our hotel in Knightsbridge?

About a half hour on the tube. Richmond is in zone 4.

Thank you very much, ron. Prompt and concise: just the way I like things.

LucieV, I don't know if you have bought your tickets yet for the Glass Menagerie, or whether this is a good deal, but I got this promo offer in a message today from the National Theatre,

"Ticket offer: £20 Tickets! Call the Richmond Theatre Box Office on 0870 060 6651 (bkg fee) and quote “£20 National Theatre Offer” or enter NAT into the promo code box if booking online."

I just got back from London on Monday. I saw "We Will Rock You" (Great show) at matinee for 30 pounds (6th row) and I saw "Rainman" (good show and Josh Hartnett is soooo cute!) for 26 pounds (7th row) both bought at The TKTS booth in Leicester Square. Then paid full price for "Jersey Boys" (Fantastic!!!!) and cheaper and better seats then TKTS booths we got at the theatre the day of the show for 60 pounds (7th row center!!!!).

I love London theatre!!!!

ron, I just noticed your second response-post. Thank you so much. I did get tix for TGM, with no problem. (I just wish the Trenitalia website were 1/10 as easy to use as the Ambassador Theatre website!)