London’s West End is one of the world’s most famous theatre districts, and with the sheer scale and quality of the shows on offer, it’s easy to see why. Unfortunately seeing a top rate musical or play in the West End can come with a price tag to match, so here’s how to enjoy your theatre break in London without having to score your own starring role in the West End to fund it!
Accomodation and Travel
In order to see a great show or two, first of all you need to get there and find somewhere to rest your head as you settle down for a night dreaming about joining the chorus line! With over 50 locations to choose from across the city, a Travelodge hotel in London is a great option for a fuss-free place to stay that’s just a short twirl or pirouette away from the theatre. If you’re travelling to London with friends for your theatre break, why not car share so you can split petrol money? If you’re planning to come by rail or plane, book early to get the best fares.
Eating Out
One of the best things about London is its fantastic range of pre-theatre dining options in restaurants ranging from cheap’n’cheerful chains to some of the top eateries in town. This means it’s possible to get a usually-hard-to-bag table in a fabulous restaurant for a fraction of the usual cost. If you’re kicking off a romantic evening, try Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden for a magical atmosphere and wonderful food for £21.50 for three courses. Even though deals like this are widespread, it’s best to book and find out the walking time to your theatre as you don’t want to miss curtain up! Alternatively, if you’ve had a big lunch and you’re not worried about disturbing the performance with your tummy rumbling, you can wait until after the show for an equally good value post-theatre meal.
Tickets
If you’ve got your heart set on a new show that’s creating a buzz as the hottest ticket in town, then you’ll need to pay top whack and do it in advance too. However, given the massive variety of long-running shows on in the West End, it’s always possible to bag a bargain. Websites like London Theatre Direct offer savings for some of the biggest shows like The Bodyguard, Jeeves and Wooster: Perfect Nonsense and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Alternatively if you don’t mind leaving it until the last minute, head to TKTS Leicester Square, the official discount outlet of the Society of London Theatre to choose between hundreds of bargain options. This is a great way to see a musical or play at a great price and often the spontaneity of the experience adds to the excitement!
So whether you want to sing along to Mamma Mia, sob along to Les Miserables or discover something completely new and different in London’s treasure trove of theatre, what are you waiting for?
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