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Your Guide to West End London Theatre Tickets
Home to over 40 venues, West End is London’s main theatre district and has hosted productions since the time of William Shakespeare. Along with Broadway in New York City, West End Theatre continues to set the benchmark for commercial theatre around the world and is home to some of the biggest theatre productions and actors in history.
2017 was a record-breaking year for West End theatre with attendance of over 15 million people and Box office revenues exceeding £700 million. This success has been fueled by West End’s unique ability to deliver a diverse set of world-class shows at affordable prices.
West End London Theatre
Famously known as ‘Theatreland’, the West End district of London is home to some of the finest theatres and shows in the world. Located in central London, north of the River Thames, the London theatre district houses over 40 renowned theatres in a relatively small cluster.
From legendary performers like Sir Anthony Hopkins and Judy Garland to contemporary superstars like Nicole Kidman and Timothee Chalamet, the London theatre stage has set the highest benchmark for serious actors to test their acting chops. Shakespeare himself performed here as part of ‘Lord Chamberlain’s Men’ at the originally named ‘Shoreditch Theatre’.
From perennial classics like ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘Wicked’ to contemporary sensations like ‘Amelie’ and ‘Mamma Mia’, the London theatre scene has something for everyone. All this means that a visit to London is incomplete without watching a production on the West End stage.
Owing to the immense popularity of the productions, getting London theatre tickets isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for west end show tickets, it’s always a good idea to book them well in advance. Grab London theatre tickets on london-theatre-tickets.com to catch the best West End shows.
What is the difference between West End and Off-West End shows?
West End primarily refers to the principal theatre district in London, where over 40 theatres are located. Some of these theatres include Adelphi Theatre, Apollo Theatre, London Palladium and Piccadilly Theatre. Some of the most well-known West End plays include, ‘The Mousetrap’, which also happens to be the longest-running play in the world, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘The Lion King’.
Off-West End generally refers to the theatres in London outside the West End district. Their capacities vary in size, from 40 to 400, with most Off-West End theatres generally being smaller than the ones at West End. A few popular Off-West End shows include, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Cinderella’, and ‘Peter Pan’.
What are the types of West End and Off-West End shows in London?
The two main types of West End and Off-West End shows are musicals and plays.
West End Plays
London theatre plays generally use dialogue and spoken word to tell a story. Any music or dance sequences in such plays are either incidental or sparingly used. Popular London theatre plays include, ‘The Woman in Black’, ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘Hamlet’ and more.
West End Musicals
West End plays primarily use music and dance sequences to tell a story. Some of the most popular West End musicals include, ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘The Lion King’, and ‘Phantom of the Opera’.
London Theatres
Knowing which seat to choose makes a world of a difference to your viewing experience. But picking the right seat can be rather tricky as most London theatres have different seating arrangements.
Here’s a little information to help you make the right choice: Most London theatres have three sections: the Stalls, Dress/Royal Circle and the Upper/Grand Circle. Many smaller theatres have only two sections: Stalls and Dress Circle. A few theatres like the Lyric Theatre have 4 sections, with the added section being the Balcony. Some of the most renowned theatres in London include the Lyceum Theatre, Apollo Theatre, London Palladium, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Sondheim Theatre.
Choosing the Best Seats inside a West End London Theatre
Let’s take a brief look into these sections and help you select the best seats for your West End experience
Stalls
Dress/Royal Circle
Grand/Upper Circle
Balcony
Seats in the Stalls are closest to the stage and as a result, also the most expensive in the house. The views from the front rows in the Stall are arguably the best and they also place you closer to the action. As is the case with every theatre, seats in the center of the Stalls are the most expensive while seats along the aisle and towards the sides are relatively cheaper. If you’re looking to have a special time at your show, then you can’t go wrong with seats in this section.
The Dress Circle is the first elevated section in a West End theater. Seats in this section will have you looking down at the stage rather than looking up, as is the case with seats in the Stalls. The Dress Circle is quite a popular seating option amongst theatergoers as it combines good views with affordable pricing. In fact, front central seats in the Dress Circle are considered to be among the best seats in the house with their panoramic views of the stage.
The Grand Circle is the second elevated section in a West End theater and is located above and behind the Dress Circle. Seats here are located quite a distance away from the action. This makes seats in the Grand Circle fall under the “budget” category. If you are looking for a budget West End experience and choosing between front seats in the Grand Circle and the back rows of the Dress Circle, then go for the front few rows of the Grand Circle.
Theaters with a large seating capacity have an additional Balcony section. It is the highest seating level in the theater and also the furthest away from the stage. This makes the Balcony the cheapest section in the house.
West End London Theatre Tickets
The London theatre district is always packed and getting tickets at the box office isn’t always easy.
Where to buy London Theatre Tickets?
If you are looking for cheap west end show tickets, there are many ways to get them at a discounted rate.
- One way to get cheap London Theatre tickets is to head to the London TKTS booth at Leicester Square, where they offer half-price and discounted tickets up to a week in advance. You will need to carry a valid ID to get the tickets in person.
- Some London theatre shows also offer day lottery or online lotteries, where you can get up to two discounted tickets, if you get lucky. To participate in the Day Lottery, you will need to be present 2-3 hours in advance at the venue. If you choose the online lottery, you can choose your preferred date over the week.
- Tickets are also made available on the day of the show as soon as the theatre’s box office opens. These day tickets offer good discounts but you can only buy a maximum of two.
Buy Online London Theatre Tickets
We recommend buying London theatre tickets online from sites like london-theatre-tickets.com, londonboxoffice, theatreticketsdirect and centraltickets. There are many advantages to buying London theatre tickets online:
- No more waiting: Get your tickets at the click of a button and avoid having to wait in the long lines at the box office. You’ll never have to worry about missing the opening of the show ever again.
- Book in advance: Save time and plan your day well in advance by booking your London theatre tickets days, weeks or even months in advance.
- Great seats: Booking your tickets online in advance means that you get to pick seats of your choice and get some of the best views of the stage.
- Instant booking confirmation: london-theatre-tickets.com gets you instant booking confirmation for a completely hassle-free booking experience.
Book your tickets on london-theatre-tickets.com to get instant confirmation, amazing seats, fantastic offers and discounts and pick the seat of your choice.
How to buy London Theatre Tickets?
Once you’ve chosen the west end show of your choice, booking tickets is as simple as a click of a button. Simply select the show you want on london-theatre-tickets.com, pick the date and seat you like and you’re done!
LONDON OPERA
Revered for its internationally acclaimed opera scene, West End is home to legendary opera houses like the Royal Opera House and the London Coliseum. From Mozart and Puccini to contemporary productions, London opera sees performances from the biggest companies in the world like the Royal Opera and English National Opera.
Exceptional performers like Antonio Pappano, Harrison Birtwistle, and Thomas Ades have graced the Royal Opera Covent Garden stage. Most London operas have extremely limited runs, so if you would like to get tickets to an opera of your choice, we recommend booking them in advance online.
LONDON BALLET
Effortlessly combining classical and contemporary ballet, the London Ballet scene is acclaimed for its innovative choreography and world-class productions. Dating back to the 15th century, Ballet was initially considered an art form strictly for Italian nobility. Originally restricted to the niche corners of Britain, Ballet gained popularity in the UK under the Royal Ballet, founded by Ninette de Valois in 1931.
The high-caliber choreography and exceptional performances of the Royal Ballet company helped redefine Contemporary Ballet and made it a popular art form throughout the country. Ballet stars like Alicia Markova and Julian Braunsweg have graced the West End stage as part of the English National Ballet touring company. Some of the most renowned productions include The Nutcracker and Swan Lake.
Why should I buy tickets from london-theatre-tickets.com?
Purchasing your tickets from london-theatre-tickets.com has many perks:
- Verified Tickets: Get verified london theatre tickets with instant booking confirmation straight from the box office. All your payments and transactions are 100% secure.
- Choose your Seats: Get the best views of the stage from the seat of your choice with london-theatre-tickets.
- 24/7 Customer Support: We offer round-the-clock customer support and are available any time of the day via phone, email and instant messaging.
- Trusted Platform: Over 5 million happy customers!
London Theatre Tickets FAQs
Q. How much do London theatre tickets generally cost?
A. London theatre tickets generally range from around £10 to £120, depending on the show and the seats you choose.
Q. Where can I find last-minute London theatre tickets?
A. If you are looking for last-minute London theatre tickets, we recommend looking online. London theatre show tickets are easily available at london-theatre-tickets.com
Q. Are London theatre tickets cheaper online or at the box office?
A. London theatre tickets are cheaper online than at the box office. If you buy your tickets online, you also get great deals and offers that aren’t otherwise available at the box office.
Q. Where can I buy discounted London theatre tickets?
A. One way to get discounted tickets is to head to the London theatre ticket book at Leicester Square, where they offer half-price and discounted tickets up to a week in advance. The easiest way to buy discounted London theatre tickets is online. You can purchase them at london-theatre-tickets.com.
Q. Can I exchange or refund my London theatre tickets?
A. We recommend buying your tickets online in advance on london-theatre-tickets.com. This way, you avoid losing out since tickets once purchased cannot be canceled, amended or refunded.
Q. What kinds of payments are accepted to buy London theatre show tickets?
A. All forms of debit and credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Amex, Discover, and JCB can be used to purchase London theatre tickets on london-theatre-tickets.com.
Q. Where is West End located?
A. The West End is located in a region in Central London, north of the River Thames. The district is home to several major entertainment venues, theatres, shops and businesses.
Q. What is the average length of a London theatre show?
A. The average run time of a London theatre show ranges from 2 hours to 2 hours 45 minutes.
Q. What are the general London theatre showtimes?
A. Most evening performances of London theatre shows begin around 7:30 PM. Most theatres are also closed on either Sundays or Mondays.
Q. Which are the best seats for a London theatre show?
A. The seats in the Stalls section are the closest to the stage. This closeness makes these the most coveted and expensive seats in the house. The middle section of the Dress Circle also has great views of the stage
Q. Which is the biggest West End theatre in London?
A. The Apollo Victoria Theatre is the largest West End theatre in London. The theatre can accommodate 2384 guests at a time.
Q. Can I gift London theatre tickets to a friend?
A. Yes, you can gift London theatre tickets to a friend by booking it online at london-theatre-tickets.com. All you need to do is enter their details on the payment page and the ticket will be registered in their name.
Q. What is the difference between Broadway and West End?
A. Generally, West End has more activity than Broadway, with more non-musical plays being staged. West End also typically features greater experimentation and serious topics. Broadway generally features more musicals and family-oriented shows. It is also more renowned for the dance choreography in its musicals than West End.
Q. Is there a dress code for West End?
A. There is no official dress code to attend a show at the West End. Many theatre goers wear jeans and T-shirts to shows. However, you might want to dress up in smart casuals or formals to avoid standing out in a crowd
Q. Which are the top 5 West End plays?
A. Some of the most popular West End musicals running at the moment are ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, ‘The Book of Mormon’, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’, ‘Death of a Salesman’ and ‘Sunday in the Park with George’.
Q. Where is West End located?
A. The West End is located in a region in Central London, north of the River Thames. The district is home to several major entertainment venues, theatres, shops and businesses.
Q. Which are the top 5 West End musicals running right now?
A. Some of the most popular West End musicals running at the moment include perennial classics like, ‘Wicked’, ‘The Lion King’, ‘Les Miserables’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘ Come From Away’.
Q. Which are the most expensive West End shows?
A. The most expensive musical at West End is ‘Hamilton’, with tickets costing up to £250. ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, with tickets priced at £175 for its first part, is the most expensive play
Q. What are some of the best Christmas shows playing in London?
A. The London theatre stage is home to many holiday classics. Some of the best Christmas shows playing in London are:The NutcrackerA Christmas CarolElf - A Christmas SpectacularIrving Berlin’s White ChristmasYou can purchase tickets for these Christmas shows at london-theatre-tickets.com
Q. Where can I find tickets for the latest West End shows?
A. If you are planning to buy tickets for the latest London theatre shows like ‘School of Rock’ and ‘Thriller’, you can find them at london-theatre-tickets.com.
Q. Is there an age restriction for children to watch a London theatre show?
A. Generally, children under 16 are not allowed to attend West End theatres without adult supervision. Most theatres do not allow children under the age of 5 to enter any show. However, most London theatre shows have individual recommended age limits depending on the show’s subject matter.
Q. Are there any discounted tickets for children under 12?
A. Generally, children above 5 years are expected to pay full price for a London theatre ticket. However, Kids Week, which is an annual event during the summer, lets you purchase theatre tickets for children under 16 at half price as long as they are accompanied by two adults.