Newlybroad in London: A Visit to the Theatre

Seeing a performance at a West End theatre is a great activity for our visitors to do in London! Since we've moved, we've had the opportunity to check out quite a few: Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys, The Commitments, Once, We Will Rock You, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King. I even got to see a few that I couldn't drag Aaron to with Becs: Dirty Dancing and The Bodyguard. So here are a few tips for seeing a show in London.

Buying Tickets

If you want to see a big name or new production (like Book of Mormon), you should buy tickets ahead of time or expect to sit in the very back (it those are still available). You can buy tickets online at the box office website or I've also had success through LondonTheatreDirect.com

But if you just want to see a show and have a few that you could see, you should visit a half price ticket booth on the day you want to see the performance. The ticket booths are located all over Leicester Square and Covent Garden.

Selecting a Seat
If you are buying your tickets online, one of the most helpful websites I've found is Theatre Monkey. It lists each theatre and then has reviews from other people with their seat numbers listed so you can see if what exactly "Obstructed View" means before you buy the tickets. It also has theatre maps with good value seats, ones that you should avoid, etc. It's a bit confusing to navigate but very helpful. http://www.theatremonkey.com/INFORMATIONBYSHOWTITLEAtoZ.htm

Finding the Theatre
Lucky for those of you that are staying with Aaron and I, we live in the West End! Not within walking distance, but only a short tube ride away. Here is a map that will show you where the theatres are located and their nearest tube stops: http://londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/maps/index.htm

Things to Know About Inside
Often times, if you are more than 10 minutes late, the staff wait until a good pause in the performance to seat you. You can't bring outside food or drink in (unless you can hide it... my purse has never been searched). They serve beer and wine in the theatre lobby, but the most popular thing to get is ice cream. Everyone gets this during intermission. So save dessert, and be prepared to shell out some pounds (both kinds) on this little tub.

Now enjoy the show!