One of the most popular tourist destinations, London is best known for its theatre scene. Along with Broadway, West End is one of the most important hubs for commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Thus, it comes as no surprise that when people visit London, watching a West End show is at the top of their to-do lists!
If you’re worried that getting tickets can be a bit challenging, and that they may even be over your budget, fret not! We bring to you a guide that covers the best ways to get cheap West End tickets.
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Where to Get Cheap West End Tickets
In this section, we will cover the best ways to for you to get your London theatre tickets without breaking the bank. There are lots of ways to get discounted West End tickets - online portals, Box Office, TKTS, and Lottery - each of which is covered in depth here.
Online
What better way to get your tickets than from the comfort of your own home? When purchasing tickets online, you can easily book tickets for a show two-three months away. Most theatres tie up with websites like London Theatre Direct or TodayTix to offer tickets at discounted rates. And then, there are third-party vendors like Headout, which give you heavy discounts on the very same tickets.
Booking with Headout gives you lots of benefits, the most important being cheap West End tickets. We offer customers discounted tickets, reducing the price by 20%-40% to ensure their experience isn’t too heavy on their pocket. Additionally, we offer round-the-clock customer support in case you want to make any changes. Not just that, if you decided to watch a show at the eleventh hour, we’ve got you covered! Headout has a decent inventory of West End show tickets, ensuring that you can get last minute London theatre tickets without any hassle!
London TKTS
If you want to get tickets once you’re in London, TKTS is the way to go. The TKTS booth obtains its inventory directly from the theatre based on the availability, and sells it at a discounted rate. Unlike in Broadway, there is only one TKTS booth for all of West End, located in Leicester Square. You can check the availability of the tickets on the official TKTS website, and then head over to buy the tickets.
Please note that tickets have to be collected in person, along with a valid photo ID.
West End Lottery
When it comes to West End lottery, most shows have the day lottery or the online lottery.
The day lottery usually takes place 2-3 hours before the performance. Those wishing to participate can enter then, and must be present during the draw of the winning names. Upon winning, patrons can purchase up to two tickets (though this may change based on the theatre's discretion) at a discounted rate. Some shows with a day lottery are The Lion King and The Book of Mormon
Most online lotteries let you choose your preferred dates over a week. Once the winners are announced, they can purchase the tickets for cheap. These tickets are usually limited to 2 a person, but that depends on the discretion of the theatre. Some shows that offer online lotteries are Matilda, Aladdin, Dreamgirls, and The Book of Mormon.
Day Tickets
Day Tickets or Day Seats are tickets that are made available by a theatre for the particular show that is currently running. These tickets are sold, and are to be sued, on the same day. Tickets are usually limited, and are made availble for sale as soon as the theatre Box Office opens. Those that make it in time can purchase tickets for heavily discounted rates. Please note that most theatres only allow patrons to buy a maximum of two tickets.
The Best Time to Go
Winters are a quiet time for London theatre. This is also when tickets are super cheap, given that most people would rather stay home and watch telly. But December, January, and February are the best months to watch expensive shows, as you can tickets for as cheap as £15 - £50, depending on the show and the view.
Discounted West End Tickets
Be sure to check out our guide on the seating plan for West End theatres!
