Guides13 min read
Your first time at the theatre in London
How to choose a show, buy tickets without overpaying, pick a seat, and know what to expect on the night, from arriving and the interval to getting home. A plain guide for anyone going for the first time, whether you are visiting or live here.
Choosing a Show
There are far more shows on in London than anyone can see in one trip. Three choices narrow it down quickly.
A musical or a play?
Musicals
Songs, dancing and big sets. The easy first choice if you are with people who are not sure about theatre, because there is always something to watch and something to hum. Most run for around two and a half hours with an interval.
Plays
Words and acting, and far more varied than the word suggests: comedies, thrillers, family dramas, Shakespeare. They are often the better value, can be shorter, and some run straight through with no interval.
There is also dance, magic, comedy and immersive work, which our Shows page sorts into Musical, Play, Entertainment and Dance. You can filter straight to musicals or plays. Each show page gives its running time, so you know what you are committing to.
A long-runner or something new?
- Long-runners
- A show that has run for years has earned it. It is polished, the reviews and seat photographs are all there to read, and because it plays eight times a week it tends to have the most seats and the most deals. The catch is that the best-known ones are also the busiest, so peak dates cost the most.
- New shows
- More buzz, and sometimes a bargain: early performances, known as previews, are often cheaper than the same seats once the show has officially opened. The catch is that nobody has told you yet whether it is any good, and a new show can close sooner than you expect. If there is one you want, see it sooner rather than later.
Our upcoming shows list is the place to look for what has just opened or is about to, and Features collects the lists we make for particular seasons and audiences.
A matinee or an evening?
Matinee
An afternoon performance, most often on a Wednesday and a Saturday, and on some Sundays. It is usually cheaper than the evening, it finishes in daylight, and it leaves you the evening for dinner and getting home without a rush. Good for children and anyone who tires easily.
Evening
The classic night out, usually starting around seven or half past. It has more dates to choose from and a bigger sense of occasion. Friday and Saturday evenings are the dearest of the week, so try a weeknight if you can.
How the price changes through the week and the year is in our best time to visit guide, and the calendar shows school holidays and the busy weeks.
Buying Without Overpaying
The same seat can cost very different amounts depending on where you buy it. None of this is difficult, but it is worth five minutes before you hand over your card.
Start with the show's own website, or the website of the theatre it is playing in. That is the source of the standard price, there is no agent in the middle, and exchanges are usually easier if your plans change. Then check whether anywhere else is selling the same seat for less.
Compare the final total at checkout, not the price on the first page. Some sites, official or not, add a booking fee, and agents often add their own on top. A seat that looks cheaper can end up costing the same or more.
The cheaper routes, at a glance
| Route | Good for | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Show and theatre sites | The standard price, easy exchanges, booking well ahead. | Rarely discounted, and a booking fee is common. |
| Official London Theatre (TKTS) | Same-day deals on seats a show wants to fill, online or at the booth. | Only what is unsold. The biggest hits rarely appear. |
| Rush and day seats | Some of the lowest prices, released for the day of the performance. Rush is sold through TodayTix. | Fastest finger first, so it is never guaranteed. You need a plan B. |
| Lotteries | A low price for a popular show, from a weekly draw you enter. | You may not win, and you have to claim quickly if you do. |
| Twickets | Other people's spare tickets, sold at face value or less. | What turns up is unpredictable, so flexible dates help. |
| Ticket agencies | Their own sales and promotions, sometimes on shows nowhere else discounts. | Booking and exchange fees. Compare the total. |
Prices change daily, so we do not print them here. Our best theatre deals page lists what is on sale across London right now, and Shows lets you filter by the kind of deal you want. For the full list of ways to pay less, read the cheap theatre tickets guide, and for how every deal works, the deals and promotions guide.
Where to Sit
Most of London's theatres are Victorian or Edwardian, built long before anyone worried about legroom or sightlines. That makes seat choice matter more than it would in a modern auditorium.
The middle of the stalls a few rows back is the classic best seat, and the front of the first circle is often just as good. But the cheapest seats are not automatically bad ones. A seat high up or at the back will be far from the stage and still let you see and hear everything, and for many shows that is a perfectly good evening for much less money.
- Restricted view
- A seat sold as restricted view has something in the way: a pillar, a safety rail, or an angle that hides part of the stage. It is cheaper for that reason. Read what the listing says is missing before you buy. A pillar that clips one corner is very different from one that hides half the stage.
- Aisle seats
- Extra legroom and an easy way out, which helps if you are tall or expect to need the toilet.
- Standing places
- A few theatres sell cheap standing places, some for every performance and some only once the seats have gone. They are a very good deal if you are happy on your feet for a few hours.
Before you pay, look at photographs of the view from your seat. Our guide to finding the best seats explains the sections of a London theatre and the sites that show real views, and each theatre page describes its own auditorium. You can also browse shows with standing tickets.
On the Night
Rules differ from theatre to theatre, so treat this as what is usual rather than a rulebook. Your booking confirmation and the theatre's website have the details that apply to you.
Arriving
Aim to arrive around half an hour before curtain-up, and earlier if you want a drink or have a lot to sort out. Most theatres open their doors well before the start, and the curtain does go up on time.
Many theatres check bags at the door, and there can be a queue in the minutes before the show. Take as little as you can. Large bags and luggage are a problem at many venues because they cannot store them, so if you are coming straight from a hotel, leave your suitcase behind. Each theatre page says whether there is a cloakroom.
Interval and drinks
The interval is usually fifteen to twenty minutes, and everyone heads for the bar and the toilets at once. The queue is the problem, not the drinks. Many theatres let you order your interval drinks before the performance starts, and have them waiting on a table, so look for that at the bar when you arrive.
Many theatres also let you take a drink back to your seat, usually in a plastic cup. Check the signs. Eat before you go or after, because the interval is too short for a meal.
What to wear
There is no dress code. You will see everything from jeans and trainers to evening dress, and nobody minds. Dress for comfort, because you will sit for a couple of hours, and bring a layer in case the auditorium is cold or hot. Many are warm by the end.
Phones, photographs and manners
- Phones
- Switch them off, or to silent with the screen dark. A lit screen is bright in a dark theatre and distracts the people behind you. Photographs and recording during the performance are generally not allowed, and a few theatres will ask you to stop.
- Talking and food
- Keep conversation, sweet wrappers and crunchy snacks for the interval. Live actors can hear you.
- Applause
- In a musical, it is normal to clap after a song. In a play, most people wait until the end of a scene or the end of the show. If you are unsure, follow the room. At the end, everyone claps through the bows. Cheering is welcome, and booing is not part of London theatre culture. A standing ovation is for those who feel the urge, not a requirement.
The stage door
After the show, some of the cast may come out of a side entrance known as the stage door, and some fans wait to say hello or ask for an autograph. It is never guaranteed that anyone will appear, and not everyone will stop. Some of our theatre pages say where the stage door is. If you wait, be patient and polite, keep to the side so the street stays clear, and respect anyone who says they need to get home.
Getting There and Home
Most of the big theatres are in the West End, around Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and Shaftesbury Avenue, and many are within a short walk of each other. Others are further out, on the South Bank, near Victoria, and across other parts of London. Each theatre page lists its nearest stations, so check before you leave.
The Tube is quick and cheap. You can pay with a contactless bank card or phone, or with an Oyster card, and fares are capped, so you do not need to buy tickets for each journey. Buses are slower but pleasant if you have time.
After the show
Stations nearest the theatres are crowded when a show ends. If the platform looks packed, walk to the next station along, or wait ten minutes for it to clear.
Late trains
The Tube does not run all night, and the last train differs by line and by day. A late evening show may finish close to it, so check your route for the night. Transport for London's journey planner will tell you. Some lines have a night service on Fridays and Saturdays.
Night buses and taxis
Night buses run across central London and are your fallback if you miss the last train. Black cabs wait at ranks and can be hailed, and apps are an alternative, though their prices can jump just after a show lets out.
Accessibility
Many London theatres are old buildings with steps, narrow corridors and limited lifts, and the situation differs from one venue to the next. Newer and refurbished theatres are generally easier. The thing to do is check before you book, and ask if you are unsure.
Our theatre pages note level access, accessible toilets and other facilities where we have been able to find them, but the box office has the final word for the night you are going.
- Wheelchair spaces and step-free seats
- Wheelchair spaces are limited in number and are often not sold on the general booking page. Where the website will not let you book one, call or email the theatre's access team.
- Companions and carers
- Many theatres run an access scheme, often with a free or reduced-price ticket for a companion or carer. Ask the box office what theirs is, and whether you need to register first.
- Accessible performances
- Some performances are captioned, audio-described, signed in British Sign Language, or relaxed, which means a quieter, more forgiving setting with the freedom to move and make noise. These happen on set dates, so check the show's own website for them. Many theatres also have a hearing loop or similar.
- Assistance dogs
- Let the theatre know in advance so they can suggest the best seat for you and your dog.
Bringing Children
London has plenty for children, but theatre is not made for all ages. Many productions set a minimum age and will turn away anyone younger, and some shows have scenes, language or loud effects that are not for small children. Check the age guidance on the show's own website before you book.
For a first visit with younger children, a matinee works best. It is earlier, shorter on the day, and easier on bedtime. Take an aisle seat if you can, for the toilet trips. Some theatres lend booster cushions for smaller children, so ask the box office.
Check the age
Minimum ages vary by show and by theatre. Check yours before you pay, not at the door.
Look for family tickets
Many shows have family tickets or other deals for children, and some need proof of age.
If you are looking for ideas, see our best family shows in London list, grouped by the age each suits.
The Short Version
If you remember nothing else:
- Pick the show you want most. Musical if you are unsure, play if you like the sound of it. Matinees are cheaper and easier.
- Check the official site first, then see if a deal beats it. Compare the total at checkout, not the headline price.
- Do not be afraid of a cheaper seat. Read what a restricted view means, and look at photographs of the view before you buy.
- Arrive half an hour early, travel light, and put your phone away once it starts.
- Plan your way home before the show, and check the last train.
- Ask the theatre if you need step-free access, or you are bringing young children.