How to buy tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk
Follow our step-by-step guide through the ticket buying process, from choosing your show and seats to checking out, managing your order, and getting your tickets before the performance.
You will always find something terrific to watch in London, whether you’re a fan of classics or new work, musicals, plays, comedy or family entertainment. From the glamorous West End to the fantastic subsidised and fringe theatres, there is something to suit every taste.
LondonTheatre.co.uk makes choosing and booking for your show wonderful easy, quick and reliable. Follow our step-by-step guide to ensure your buying experience goes smoothly.
Book tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.
Choosing your London show
This is probably the toughest part when there is so much on offer! But we’ve helped by grouping everything available to book in handy sections. There are Musicals, Plays & Dramas, Family & Kids, plus Top 10 Musicals and Top 10 Plays, and more specific pages such as Shakespeare, Weekday Matinees, and Stars on Stage.
On each show page, you’ll find all the information you need, including a plot summary, booking dates, run time, venue information and directions, age recommendation, critical and audience reviews, FAQs, and interesting show-related articles.
Picking the date and time
The majority of London shows have performances six days a week, although those days can vary – some might run Monday to Saturday, others Tuesday to Sunday. Most also have two matinees a week as well as evening shows. The start times for performances vary, so make sure you check those when you’re choosing your dates.
To give you a steer, we’ve got pages dedicated to shows Opening Soon and Closing Soon, so you can see at a glance which new productions are available and which ones you need to book fast before they end. We also have filters by date range, and even for Today and This Weekend for last minute booking.
Or you can go straight to the page for your chosen show to find the full performance calendar. When you click on a date, you’ll see the available show times. Most shows, especially long-running West End productions like The Lion King and The Book of Mormon, have tickets available long in advance, so you can plan ahead and book your preferred seats before they sell out.
Choosing your seats
West End theatres offer seats in the stalls (level with the stage) and the dress circle or royal circle (offering an elevated view), and some larger venues also have seats in upper levels like the grand circle and balcony. Generally the closer you are to the stage the more expensive the tickets will be, but there are advantages to all those seats: you often get a great view of the whole stage from higher up.
Once you’ve chosen your show and performance date, click into the booking calendar and you’ll see a price range for available tickets. LondonTheatre.co.uk colour-codes the seats by price, so it’s easy to see at a glance where the best seats are in your price range. Prices may vary depending on how many tickets you’re purchasing.
You’ll also notice that the show’s booking calendar has some tags on particular dates, such as “Show of the Week” or “Selling Fast”, which gives you extra guidance. If you’re hunting for cheap tickets, keep an eye out for the “Restricted View” label: part of the stage may be obstructed, but you can usually still have a good experience at a bargain price.
Checkout and delivery
Once you’re sure that you’ve got the show, date and seat choice you want, click on those seats and then click on the “Go to checkout” button. Here we’ll ask you for your contacts details and preferred payment method.
You can also buy Ticket Protection, which allows you to cancel up to 24 hours before showtime and get a voucher for the full value of your order, minus the Ticket Protection fee, to be used toward a future purchase.
Most tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk are delivered via email, so keep an eye out for your purchase email confirmation shortly after you’ve completed your order. Your e-tickets are then sent to you 24-48 hours before the performance. The confirmation email will provide details on when to expect the e-tickets in your inbox.
Managing your order
Ticket sales on LondonTheatre.co.uk are final once you complete your order, unless you have purchased Ticket Protection. However if you need to change your contact information after your purchase, or if you don’t receive a confirmation email or have any other concerns, visit our Help and Support page.
There you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions. If you need further assistance, you can use our self-serve chatbot, or be transferred to a representative on London Theatre’s customer experience team.
If everything is fine, then all you need to do is get excited for your theatre trip!
Using your tickets
On the day of the performance, make sure you have your e-tickets ready on your phone and show those to the ushers when you enter the theatre. If your order contains more than one ticket, you can scan for everyone in your group at the door to save time.
The final step is to buy a programme and refreshments, browse the merch stand, and head to your seats to enjoy the show.
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