Add some culture to your next London visit by learning the tricks of how to get cheap West End tickets. If you love a bargain, we’ll let you in on all the ways you can enjoy the latest London shows for less.
As you might imagine, London offers an array of unforgettable performances, with everything from Hamilton and The Book of Mormon to Disney's Frozen and The Crucible. Whether you’re booking well in advance or looking for last minute tickets, we’ll give you all the tips you need to save on your next stage experience.
Of course, you don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy cheap West End shows. Maybe your favourite film was turned into a musical, you’re a regular attendee, or even a complete newbie to the world of live theatre. Whatever your reason for going, you can save money and enjoy top-quality entertainment at a discount.
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Are you eligible for a concession?
Before you start looking for your West End tickets, see what concessions you’re eligible for. If you qualify for any of the below, you’ll be able to take £££s off the price of your ticket. So even if you can’t find a last-minute deal or use some of the other tricks we’ll mention, at the very least you’ll get a discount on a full-priced ticket.
We checked the major theatres and some off West End theatres for these discounts, but it’s always worth calling the theatre directly.
Blue Light workers
Those working within UK emergency services, social care, and armed forces qualify for a Blue Light Card. Blue Light Cards often get you discount London theatre tickets, although you have to register and pay for an account (£4.99 for two years). Some theatres will offer discounts for anyone with an NHS ID and the Tickets for Troops scheme means troops and veterans are also eligible.
Unemployed
Many of the major theatres we checked offer a concession for those unemployed and receiving Jobseekers or Universal Credit. For some, the concession is available for all performances, although others dictate they can’t be used on Friday and Saturday evening shows.
Registered disabled
All theatres must meet certain accessibility requirements, and many offer a concession for those registered disabled. Carers and companions to those with access needs or a disability may also qualify.
Over 60s
Plenty of theatres offer over 60s concessions on tickets, although some are only available for midweek performances and matinees.
Large group bookings
Group bookings usually qualify for discount theatre tickets for obvious reasons. The minimum number we found was eight, although most will only qualify with a party of 10+. The discounts vary between theatres; some offer one free ticket for every 10, while others offer a discount on every ticket – between £1 and £6 off from our research.
There are special rates for school & educational trips, too, with a similar variety of discounts, although usually the teacher goes free. Educational trips seem more likely to come with restrictions on when they can be used, but during the week is the best bet.
Students & young people
There's such a variety in concessions for students and young people up to the age of 30. So, there’s a good chance you’ll find a discount somewhere. We found these the most likely to be restricted by day and performance type, but with the sheer amount of theatres offering the concession, you’ll have more than enough choice.
As an additional bonus, if you have a 16-25 Railcard, you’ll get exclusive offers that save you up to 50% on tickets. This is something you’ll have to track down yourself via the Railcard site, as theatres won’t advertise this discount.
Postcode concessions
If you live near a theatre, you could get cheap London theatre tickets by virtue of your postcode. This is less common and often restricted to certain days or newly-opened shows, but sometimes you can even get these for free.
Equity
It seems only fair that actors who are members of the Equity Union (a paid membership) get money off theatre tickets. Bring your Equity card along as proof when your tickets are checked at the venue.
Buying (legit) theatre tickets online
Buying your tickets online is often the easiest way to get cheap theatre tickets or find a discount, but comes with the added issue of ticket touts. Stick to the sites below and always check against the full price from the theatre itself to make sure you’re not paying more than you should.
Online ticket agents
Ticket agents aren’t representative of the theatres themselves, but they are official agents that are authorised to sell West End tickets. Here are some of the top ones our staff members have had the most luck with.
As one of the go-to sites for cheap theatre tickets, you can get all sorts of discounts here. West End tickets are available as early as a month in advance all the way up to on the day. There are also £10 lottery tickets (we’ll cover these later), last-minute ‘rush’ tickets, and tickets under £20.
There's a variety of London shows, including Shakespeare, musicals, plays, and off West End. We found £18 tickets for The Glass Menagerie and and 48% off Twelfth Night when we looked.
Lou from TopCashback likes getting theatre tickets for a bargain:
"I used TodayTix to get £28 tickets to see Moulin Rouge, my favourite musical. I got a good price as it was midweek (Wednesday) and we saw a matinee."
TKTS London
As well as their booth in Leicester Square, the TKTS London site offers on-the-day West End tickets for pretty decent discounts. The biggest we saw was 52% off and they feature a range of theatres.
A popular site with an easy interface and plenty of deals. You’ll find plays and musicals as well as dance & opera performances, with discounts as good as 42% – Opening Night – when we looked. They sometimes team up with Three+ to offer exclusive deals to customers, such as 10% off West End tickets.
As a great all-rounder site for things to do in London, it’s no surprise TimeOut offers discount theatre tickets available too. We found fewer offers and variety of London shows overall, but good discounts of up to 70%.
Stagedoor
If you’re more of an app user, Stagedoor should be your top choice for finding cheap tickets, discounts, reviews, and personalised recommendations. Join the loyalty card scheme and you’ll get £10 off your first ticket and earn a stamp with every following purchase, irrespective of the theatre it’s at.
These stamps will add up to exclusive rewards and discounts, anywhere from 10% to £70 off. Great for regular theatre-goers and those completely new to stage performances who need some recommendations.
Look out for the STAR symbol, which indicates the site is a Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers member. If it’s not there, it could be a breeding ground for ticket touts.
Ticket resale sites
If someone has theatre tickets they can’t use, ticket resale sites come in handy for selling them off at a discounted price. Use authorised ticket resale sites to ensure you’re not buying from a tout, although it can be tricky. All of the below sites allow you to set up email alerts for shows you’re interested in if there are none available at the time.
Twickets is popular for buying and reselling tickets for music, sports, and theatre. It’s our favourite as sellers cannot make a profit on their tickets, so it’s fairly tout-safe. Each listing is clearly marked as either face value or its percentage below face value, along with any restrictions and whether the seller will accept offers.
Tixel is a popular site, although it’s important to note tickets can be resold at up to 20% above face value, so make sure you do your research to get a good deal.
TicketSwap isn't as intuitive to navigate, but you should find what you need when you filter by city and category. Another site with a 20% cap on resale profit, so be aware before you buy.
Voucher sites
Although less consistent than the other two options, it’s always worth considering voucher sites. Popular voucher site Groupon offers tickets as standalone deals, although always check against other sites as we didn’t find any lower prices when we looked.
Wowcher, Red Letter Days, and Virgin Experience Days usually feature theatre tickets sold as part of a package deal. These are more useful if you’re planning a London city break at the same time, and usually include a hotel stay and/or dinner & drinks for two.
You’ll have to do some maths to compare, but it often works out cheaper than booking tickets, accommodation, and food separately, especially when factoring in booking fees. Sometimes, it’s simply worth the time you’ll save.
At certain times of the year, you’ll be able to find a discount on top of the deals at these sites. Good times of year to check are Black Friday, Halloween, Easter, Christmas, and New Year.
For example, when we checked, there was a 20% discount code on Virgin Experience Days for Halloween, and a 10% Wowcher discount on purchases over £50.
Plus, all of these companies feature on TopCashback, so you can earn cashback on top of your savings.
New to cashback? Here’s a quick example:
If we offer 12% cashback on Virgin Experience Days, when you click through to their site and purchase a Theatre and Dinner for Two deal for £99, you’ll get £11.88 in your TopCashback account.
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Last-minute London theatre tickets
If you’re flexible on times, shows, and seating arrangements, why not see what you can grab last minute? You can score huge discounts on West End tickets this way; theatres want to fill seats as best they can, even if it means giving them away for next to nothing.
Last-minute West End tickets can be on the day or even an hour before and are often known as rush tickets. They’re usually open from 10am on the day and these last minute tickets are very popular, so be prepared to queue, whether it’s digitally or in person.
Online
For rush tickets online, the most popular site is TodayTix, although you’ll have to download the app to claim them as soon as they become available, from 10am.
The National Theatre also offers £10 rush tickets every Friday from 1pm for its three locations. The tickets cover each of the upcoming week’s performances at the Olivier, Lyttelton, and Dorfman theatres.
Lastly, TKTS London also features on-the-day tickets for cheap London shows at a range of theatres.
In person
Both TKTS and the National Theatre offer in-person discounts that are worth trying out. The TKTS booth in Leicester Square is open every day of the week for last-minute London theatre tickets. It’s fairly easy to spot with its red signage and long queue outside. If you’re in the area and willing to wait, why not give it a try?
The National Theatre also provides standby tickets if you turn up in person one hour before the show. General standby tickets get you £15 off and reduced standby tickets (for certain concessions like students, theatre union members, and unemployed) are available for £20.
Other theatres may offer last-minute theatre discounts, so if you’re passing a theatre an hour or so before the performance, it’s worth asking at the box office if they have any unsold tickets.
Other discounts for London shows
Up for hearing more tricks on how to get cheap West End tickets? We’ve got a few more up our sleeve for those dedicated to finding discounts.
Play the lottery
Feeling lucky? Theatre ticket lotteries are exactly what they sound like: enter your name and email into a draw to win tickets to London shows. You won’t get them for free, but you’ll get a pretty major discount, from as low as £10, and most around £20–£25.
TodayTix is yet again the go-to for lottery theatre tickets, for which you’ll need the app. It’s free to enter (never pay) and you’ll be notified by email if you win, although the chances are pretty slim.
Lou from TopCashback has tried her luck:
"I like to go to the theatre whenever I visit London, so I always try for £10 lottery tickets...no luck as of yet, but it's definitely worth a go."
You can search specifically for what you want, as you’ll find dedicated sites for lotteries to shows like Hamilton, Matilda, Moulin Rouge, and Harry Potter.
If you win, you’ll have around 30 minutes to claim and pay for your tickets. Lottery tickets will be valid for a very short period of time, sometimes only on the day, so this option isn’t very tourist-friendly.
Globe tickets for £5
Die-hard Shakespeare fans can grab tickets for as low as £5 but the catch is that you’ll be standing throughout the show. Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre sells 400 groundling tickets for the ‘yard’ section situated directly in front of the stage – a nice throwback to how his plays were enjoyed in the 1600s.
These tickets are priced at £5 and £10, and you can guess which ones sell out quickest. There’s no dedicated section related to what you’ve paid, so you might want to get there early for a better view, although this means standing longer.
Disney Magical Mondays
Briefly known as Disney Day Seats, Magical Mondays offer tickets for participating Disney shows at £29.50. The discounted tickets go on sale every Monday at noon for that week’s shows and are limited in number. You’ll need to register for a free account and be quick to click at 12pm. Shows usually include Frozen and The Lion King.
Official London Theatre Sale
The New Year Sale from London Theatre is a bit of a misnomer as it actually runs from November. General booking opens at 10am on November 21st, but Mastercard holders can start booking from November 16th via Priceless.com.
West End tickets cost anywhere between £10 and £50 and can be used for London shows between January 1st until February 29th. There are no booking fees to pay and you can get them both online and at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square.
See a preview
Interested in the newest shows? Get discount theatre tickets when you see a show before its official opening, known as a preview. Join mailing lists of theatres you love to be the first to hear about upcoming shows.
For example, The Old Vic offers £10 theatre tickets for the first five performances of every show. This option is best for those who are a little more adventurous as you won’t be able to rely on reviews.
Peek your seat with Seatplan
There are several benefits to using SeatPlan for your West End tickets. Many of the discount tickets are sold without fees, but the real bonus is knowing how good your seat is. Previous theatre-goers snap a pic from their seat and upload to the site so you know what you’re getting.
When you attend a show, you can do the same and earn points to get money off your next ticket. Their new Best Seats feature means you’ll get an idea of the layout and recommendations for the best viewing experience.
TopCashback staff member Kayleigh is a regular user of SeatPlan:
"Whenever I’ve been to the West End, the most I’ve ever paid is £30 for a ticket. I use SeatPlan and usually the view from the cheapest seats is pretty decent, so I’ve never felt the need to spend on a higher-band ticket.
I have shared a photo and review of my seat a few times and the points show up instantly. You get 50 points, but new shows get you 100 points so you can get to the 600 points needed for a £10 reward quite quickly if you go often."
Free (and free-ish) tickets
You can earn yourself a free ticket or join a scheme that gets you tickets for a minimal price, sometimes just the cost of the membership or an admin fee.
Join theatre ticket schemes
Theatre ticket schemes offer free or heavily-discounted tickets in exchange for honest feedback about the show. The rule is you need to be discreet about your discount or free ticket, so no sharing on social media or letting people use your account. Prices range from completely free to £15, although most hover around the £5 mark once you factor in fees.
Masterclass offers free memberships to those aged 16–30 and their Ticket Giveaways feature West End tickets for just £5.
Central Tickets offers free memberships with special offers to London shows and tickets from £4 up to £15.
ShowFilmFirst charges an admin fee of £2.50 and is a popular scheme for films, concerts, and theatre shows. You’ll get both free tickets and exclusive rates.
Audience Club charges a membership fee of £5 which goes to a nominated charity. You’ll be able to get two tickets at a time for a £3.75 admin fee plus VAT.
Kids Week for West End shows
Throughout August, the Kids Week sale offers anyone under 17 a free ticket alongside a full-price adult ticket. The snag is that you can’t use a discount on your own ticket to qualify, but it’s still a pretty good deal, and there are almost 50 shows that qualify.
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Tickets sell out fast, so if you’re looking ahead for a family trip, be ready as soon as they go on sale. Got more than one child? An additional two children can attend for half price with the deal. This means a family with two adults and three children will only pay the equivalent of two and a half tickets.
Write a review
If you’re a budding writer or critic, apply to review a show in exchange for a free ticket. Most of the programmes are unpaid, so it’s better suited for students and those looking to gain exposure and experience.
Keep your eyes peeled for paid opportunities; in early 2022, SeatPlan advertised for a Theatre Show and Seat Critic role which paid £50 per review for up to four shows a month.
Our top money-saving theatre tips
Now that we’ve been through all the techniques on how to get cheap West End tickets, don’t forget these top tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your bargain.
Use the official website as a benchmark
With any of the sites and schemes above, make sure you’re actually saving money on your ticket by checking against the theatre’s prices.
Box office vs buying online
If you can’t find always find tickets at a discount online, buying in person at the box office means you can at least avoid booking fees and delivery fees.
Check the seat
If a discount seems too good to be true, it might be. Check the seat using SeatPlan to see if the price is worth the view.
Be wary of touts
Ticket touts buy tickets in bulk then sell them back at a profit. Avoid this by only buying online from sites verified with the STAR symbol, meaning they are official ticket agents.
Stand for a bargain
If you really want a bargain, ask the box office if there are any standing tickets left. You may even be able to snag a seat if someone dips out midway through.
Stream online for free or cheap
If it’s all about the show and not the venue, you can stream online for cheap or even free. Online streaming services from Globe Player, Digital Theatre, Marquee TV, the National Theatre, and Stage2View provide subscriptions and pay-per-view options for watching theatre from the comfort of your own home. Prices range from around £6–£10 a month and £60–£100 a year and with some you can get a free trial.
See live theatre at your local cinema, like Becca from TopCashback did:
"I've been to a couple of National Theatre Live screenings at my local cinema. These are sometimes live-streamed theatre performances and others are screenings of previously recorded ones.
I think it's a really great way to see shows I'm interested in for a cheaper price and without having to travel. I've seen Fleabag and Prima Facie through NT Live and I probably wouldn't have seen these shows at all if it wasn't for these cinema screenings."
Take your own snacks
Don’t waste your savings on overpriced theatre food. Bring in your own food if you can, but make sure you’re subtle about it.
Ask for an upgrade
Stuck with a bad seat and a terrible view? Ask for a free upgrade, they can only say no.
Go during the week or matinees
Matinees and weekday performances are consistently cheaper than Friday and Saturday evenings. We also found most concession rates applied more often during these times.
School term time is cheapest
Unless you’re taking kids, you can save on your theatre tickets by attending during the school term time when it’s less busy.
Get cashback from us
Cashback is commission we get from brands that we pay back to you. We feature ATG Tickets and London Theatre Direct on our site so you’ll get cashback when you click from our site to theirs and make a purchase. There are also cashback offers for Matilda, Phantom of the Opera, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Sign up and click the ‘get cashback now’ button to go through to the ticket site and purchase. You’ll get a percentage of your purchase back as free money in your TopCashback account.
Bonus tip: You can either withdraw this money straight to your bank account or boost the amount by transferring it to a TopGiftCard. We feature Red Letter Days and Theatre Tokens as gift card options with cashback rates of 16% and 3.4% respectively*. This means whatever is in your account will be transferred to use at one of those sites with a boost in the amount.
*Cashback amount correct at the time of writing.
What are some of your favourite ways to save on West End tickets? If you have some tricks we haven’t mentioned, let us know in the comments below.