How to do theatre in London on the cheap

London’s West End is one of the world’s most prestigious, pulsating and pricey theatre districts. But theatre in London doesn’t have to be a rare luxury; to help make this art form more accessible to everyone, here are some top tips for enjoying theatre in London on the cheap. (And check out our affordable opera tips here).

Previews

Most shows run preview performances for a couple of weeks prior to opening night, and tickets sell for a fraction of the normal price. Sign up to regular emails and newsletters from high-profile London theatre venues like the Almeida, Lyric, Arcola, Royal Court and Young Vic, and you’ll get alerts for preview tickets going on sale. Sure, you’ll be watching a slightly less polished version of the show but it’s totally worth it when you get a seat for a ten pounds. To stay in the midst of the action, book a suite at the Haymarket Hotel, right next door to the Theatre Royal.

Standing room

While some other theatres like the Donmar do offer standing room tickets, the Globe Theatre’s standing pit right in front of the stage is the best. 700 standing tickets are kept aside for every production here at a price of just £5 each. The experience is wonderfully immersive; actors brush past you as they dash onto the stage, interact with the audience and encourage raucous reactions from the crowd. And you don’t have to remain stand like a statue for several hours, you’re free to move around to stretch your legs or get a better view. Just minutes from the Globe, The Ned is a hotel in a historic building with mahogany four poster beds and all the trimmings you’d expect of a stately home.

TKTS Booth

If you’ve got the time for a brief visit to the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, you’ll find deals on all the big, current West End shows and it doesn’t have to be for the same day. The booth is reliable and run by the Society of London Theatre for zero profit, so it’s trustworthy and legitimate (unlike ticket touts). Find it in Leicester Square’s Clocktower Building, or at its outlet in Brent Cross. A modern hotel right by Leicester Square, staying at the Z Hotel Piccadilly means you won’t have to travel far to get your discount tickets.

Alternatives to the West End

Some of London’s most high-quality theatre happens far from the West End lights; check out the fringe venues starring big theatre names alongside emerging talent. To name a few, The Bush Theatre in Shepherd’s Bush, the Tricycle in Kilburn, The Southwark Playhouse, Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, the Canal Café Theatre in Little Venice, the MCT at Alleyn’s School and the Finborough Theatre in a pub in West Brompton. A short walk back from the Tricycle Theatre, Apartment Wharf is a highly rated accommodation with spongey carpets, a marble kitchen and designer furniture.

Discount schemes

Most London theatres have their own discount schemes, from the National Theatre’s Entry Pass programme for 16-25s and the Barbican youth discounts to ‘Barclay’s Front Row’ deals at the Donmar and special deals for residents of Lambeth and Southwark at the Old Vic Theatre. The National Theatre also partners with Travelex to offer tickets for just £15 for nearly half of its productions. Contact the box office of any theatres you’re keen on to find out how you might be eligible. A 19th-century building on the banks of the Thames, The Mad Hatter Hotel is also within easy walking distance of the National Theatre.

Wait for returns

Or, you could do this the old-fashioned way. For all the thousands of theatre tickets sold each day in London, many of these tickets are resold back to the theatre and are up for grabs for a fraction of the price on the day. You will have to queue at the theatre’s box office but it’s totally worth it for the money you save on getting a good seat at a sought-after West End show. Stay in Covent Garden in the middle of the West End at the splendid Fielding Hotel.

Seat-filling clubs

One technique to enjoy theatre on the cheap is to join a ‘seat-filling club’ like The Audience Club. Theatres provide these clubs with tickets to distribute in order to generate a bit of word-of-mouth publicity for a show. In turn, the clubs provide the theatres with a well-behaved, enthusiastic audience – so expect a few rules to abide by in order to become a member. The majority of the tickets are free but sometimes you’ll have to pay a small fee. Stick to your budget staying at Villa Fitzrovial, a self-catered, West End apartment you can walk home to and enjoy a homemade supper after the show.