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The cheapest ways into London’s big musicals
Every way we know of to get into the long-running and major London musicals for less: book ahead, or go last minute with rush, day seats, TKTS and lotteries.
This is about the cheapest routes in, not a price ceiling. Each show lists the ways we know of to see it for less than the usual price, split into the ones you can plan weeks ahead and the ones you try for close to the day. The routes are read from live deals, so one that is withdrawn disappears from the page.
Rush here means TodayTix only. A theatre’s own release of seats is a day seat, and a lottery is a draw. Read rush and day seats, lotteries and TKTS for how to win each one, and see this week’s deals for what opens when, in time order.
TKTS is hit and miss by nature. “Often” and “sometimes” describe how it has behaved for each show lately, not what it will do on the night.
Standing places are a bonus, not a plan; students have a route too.
Booking ahead
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TKTS
TKTS sometimes has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Standing places
Standing places are released when a performance is close to selling out, often on the day. Nothing is promised, so treat it as a bonus rather than a plan, and check the show’s booking page on the day.
A weekly release rather than a daily scramble: set an alarm and be ready on the day.
Last minute
Day seats
Released every Monday at 12pm. Online, for performances that week. A limited number, first come first served, so be there or online at the release time.
The day seats come from the official site, and they are often good seats rather than leftovers.
Booking ahead
Booking early
Book 12 weeks or more ahead and the show takes money off selected tickets, usually for quieter, off-peak performances. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
Day seats
Released every day at 10.30am. Online. A limited number, first come first served, so be there or online at the release time.
More routes than most: a daily rush, a weekly release for the following week, and student routes.
Booking ahead
Weekly day seats
Released every Wednesday at 10.30am (24 front-row seats). Online, for performances the following week. A limited number, first come first served, so be there or online at the release time.
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
Student tickets
Students can buy reduced tickets in person at the box office on the day of the performance. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Rush is the main plan, with TKTS and a weekly deal on the official site as alternatives.
Booking ahead
Booking direct
The show runs a weekly deal on selected performances through its own website, booked like any other ticket. Book on the show’s own website rather than through an agent to get it.
Under-30s scheme
Sign up on the show’s website to hear first about its under-30s scheme; availability depends on demand. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
The weekly lottery is the route to know: enter every week, because losing costs nothing.
Last minute
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Lottery
Entries open every Friday at 12.01am. Entries close and winners are drawn every Thursday at 1pm (winners told 1–5pm, 30 min to buy). On the TodayTix app, for performances the following week. Free to enter, and you can enter every draw. Winners get only a short window to buy, so watch your email or the app.
A weekly lottery on the show’s own site, plus a saving for booking ahead.
Booking ahead
Booking early
Book well in advance and the show takes money off selected tickets, usually for quieter, off-peak performances. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Lottery
Winners drawn every Thursday at 3pm (winners emailed a link to tickets). Online. Free to enter, and you can enter every draw. Winners get only a short window to buy, so watch your email or the app.
Rush is the route to learn: the daily app release is the whole plan.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
Rush on the app, or day seats from the box office each morning.
Booking ahead
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
Day seats
Released every day at 10.30am. At the box office. A limited number, first come first served, so be there or online at the release time.
TKTS
TKTS sometimes has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Lottery winners buy a pair of tickets, so it suits two people going together.
Booking ahead
Lottery
Winners drawn every other Friday (winners emailed, 24 hours to buy a pair). Online, for performances over the following two weeks. Free to enter, and you can enter every draw. Winners get only a short window to buy, so watch your email or the app.
Last minute
Day seats
Released Wednesday to Saturday at 10.30am (get there well before). At the box office. A limited number, first come first served, so be there or online at the release time.
Rush is the main plan, with a student route if you qualify.
Booking ahead
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
TKTS
TKTS sometimes has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
The weekly lottery is drawn through the TodayTix app; booking well ahead is the other way in.
Booking ahead
Booking early
Book 6 weeks or more ahead and the show takes money off selected tickets, usually for quieter, off-peak performances. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Last minute
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Lottery
Entries open every Monday at 12.01am. Entries close and winners are drawn every Wednesday at 1pm (winners told 1–5pm, 30 min to buy). On the TodayTix app, for performances the following week. Free to enter, and you can enter every draw. Winners get only a short window to buy, so watch your email or the app.
The fixed-price midweek evenings are the safe plan; the weekly lottery is a bonus ticket.
Booking ahead
Fixed-price dates
A run of selected, mostly midweek, evenings sold at one fixed price for each seating area, booked like any other ticket. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Lottery
Entries close every Thursday at 10am. Winners drawn every Thursday at 1pm (winners told from 1pm, 24 hours to buy). Online. Free to enter, and you can enter every draw. Winners get only a short window to buy, so watch your email or the app.
Last minute
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Book ahead to save, with TKTS and a student route closer to the date.
Booking ahead
Booking early
Book 6 weeks or more ahead and the show takes money off selected tickets, usually for quieter, off-peak performances. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
The monthly lottery is the way in, and it is for performances the following month.
Booking ahead
Lottery
Winners drawn the first Wednesday of the month (winners emailed, 24 hours to buy). Online, for performances the following month. Free to enter, and you can enter every draw. Winners get only a short window to buy, so watch your email or the app.
The fixed-price evenings are the easy plan if they suit you; rush and TKTS are the same-day back-ups.
Booking ahead
Fixed-price dates
A run of selected, mostly midweek, evenings sold at one fixed price for each seating area, booked like any other ticket. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Several ways in, so there is almost always one that works.
Booking ahead
Booking early
Book well in advance and the show takes money off selected tickets, usually for quieter, off-peak performances. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
TKTS
TKTS often has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Rush first, TKTS as the fallback, but read the view note: many of the cheapest TKTS seats are restricted.
Booking ahead
Fixed-price dates
A run of selected, mostly midweek, evenings sold at one fixed price for each seating area, booked like any other ticket. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
TKTS
TKTS sometimes has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
Rush every day, with booking ahead and student routes as alternatives.
Booking ahead
Booking early
Book 6 weeks or more ahead and the show takes money off selected tickets, usually for quieter, off-peak performances. Check the show’s booking page for which performances and seat areas it covers.
Student tickets
Students can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TodayTix Rush
Released every day at 10am (for shows performing today). On the TodayTix app. Have the app open and your card saved before the release: the seats go within minutes, and unpaid ones return to sale, so keep trying for a few minutes.
TKTS
TKTS sometimes has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
A Sondheim revival with a route for younger audiences; check the view note on any TKTS seats.
Booking ahead
Under-30s tickets
Under-30s can book reduced tickets for selected performances, ahead of time. Bring valid ID, as you may be asked for it.
Last minute
TKTS
TKTS sometimes has discounted seats for this show on the day, at the Leicester Square booth or online with Official London Theatre. Look on the day you want to go, and read the view note: some discounted seats are restricted view.
