Savings on top shows can be hard to come by, but if you're keen to find theatre tickets for less, you've come to the right place.

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First, we'll start with some advice. While this guide offers the best sites and methods for saving on theatre tickets, plus some great deals, there's also an element of luck and timing involved.

Almost every show has a limited run in its given theatre, and if you've got a particular show or genre in mind, your chances of getting cheap tickets will be impacted by how in-demand those tickets are and how much of the show's run remains. There are, of course, some shows which have extremely long runs — we're looking at you, The Mousetrap...

A top tip is to do your ticket shopping last-minute. Sometimes, if a show hasn't sold enough and there are lots of seats remaining, prices will plummet for last-minute buyers. Even sold-out shows may have tickets returned on the day as people realise they can no longer make it, so it's always worth checking with the box office or online.

If you're looking for London shows and can trot along in person, it's worth checking out some of the booths in Leicester Square, which often offer discounted tickets.

Finally, it's often cheaper to find theatre tickets outside of the capital. While some of the UK's most renowned shows are put on in the West End and around London, the UK has a thriving theatre scene and there are fantastic shows to be found wherever you're based, as well as musicals on tour. Now, let's help you find them.

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How to get cheap tickets for London's West End shows

wicked how to get cheap theatre tickets
Ticketmaster

The price of a West End theatre show ticket varies depending on where you sit and what you see.

Starting off with what you see. Sometimes limited-run shows will have a higher ticket price as you can only experience it for a limited number of weeks – especially if there's a big star involved – so it's best to look for the plays and musicals with a slightly longer run, i.e. more than six weeks.

That being said, a few well-established shows like Les Miserable and the Lion King have some of the highest ticket prices in the business owing to their huge popularity. So ideally you're looking for that sweet spot of a well-established show that isn't one of the classics, think The Devil Wears Prada or Back to the Future.

When it comes to seating, you'll pay more for a better, unobstructed view, usually in the stalls or the front of the Grand Circle. However, you'll pay less for a seat higher up in the Royal Circle or near the back, or for the seats where a pillar could potentially block part of the stage.

Even then however, there are some cases where a cheaper ticket will be one seat over from one with a so-called unobstructed view. We can't speak for all theatres, but one of our RadioTimes.com writers went to see Wicked and bought cheap seats where the view was supposed to be partially obstructed. However, when they got there, the view was amazing, albeit far away.

So, if you're not too bothered about where you sit, we'd recommend picking the cheapest seats to save money. Similarly, if you'd like to go to a West End show for the experience but you're not concerned about which show you see, be sure to select a cheaper one.

To get your hands on cheap theatre tickets, Love Theatre is a fantastic destination, as well as Today Tix, ATG Tickets, Headout, London Theatre Direct, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory and Fever, all of which periodically offer chances to snap up cheap tickets.

London theatre ticket deals and the cheapest theatre tickets on sale today

We've scoured the web for some of the very best deals available right now, and we've found some stunners. There's something for everyone, from Harry Potter fans to classic musical lovers, all for under £25.

How to get cheap tickets for Les Misérables

how to get cheap theatre tickets les mis
Getty / NurPhoto

Les Misérables is one of the best-loved shows on the West End. The tragic drama based on the book of the same name by Victor Hugo, first ran in London in 1985 and has been performed continuously ever since. That makes it the second longest-running musical in the world and the longest in the West End.

At the time of writing, there's quite a disparity in ticket pricing, as you can see from the listings below. Right now, the best deals are to be had via Ticketmaster, where you can get tickets for just £24.

How to get cheap tickets for Matilda the Musical

Matilda the musical on stage
Getty / David M. Benett

Roald Dahl's hit children's novel Matilda is re-imagined as a musical in this thrilling stage production. It's another West End favourite, and it's even been made into Matilda the Musical movie starring Emma Thompson as Miss Trunchbull. Currently, the cheapest deal for Matilda The Musical is £24 tickets at Love Theatre.

How to get cheap tickets for Hamilton

hamilton display outside Victoria Palace
Hamilton. Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Photo by Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Unfortunately, Hamilton's longstanding icon status on the West End means tickets are in very high demand and, as such, sizeable discounts are hard to come by.

However, finding cheap tickets is something of our forte, and we've found some tickets for a snip at Ticketmaster.

How to get cheap tickets for Wicked

best west end shows
GettyImages/Darren Bell

Wicked is one of the longer running musicals in the West End, having been playing since 2006, but has had renewed popularity since the song Popular went viral on TikTok. It's currently in the Apollo Victoria Theatre and is one of our favourites. And luckily for you, we've managed to find tickets available at Ticketmaster for just £27.50.

How to get cheap tickets for The Lion King

the lion king how to get cheap theatre tickets
Getty / George Rose

The Lion King is one of the most beloved shows on the West End. The 1994 Disney film has been reimagined as a spectacular theatre production, which boasts glorious special effects, enchanting music, and brilliant animal costumes and figures.

While The Lion King tickets are still cheaper than those of a limited-time-only show's, the musical's popularity means that finding tickets for under 45 quid is no mean feat. Well, no mean feat for anyone other than the RadioTimes.com team! Currently, Ticketmaster sells the cheapest seats at £39.50 each.

How to get cheap tickets for Cabaret

Eddie Redmayne dances on a table with a party hat on with the cast of Cabaret during a performance for the Tony Awards this year
Eddie Redmayne and the cast of "Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club" perform onstage during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Set in Berlin during the Jazz Age, Cabaret invites you to step inside, loosen up, and be yourself! Cabaret follows the story of struggling American writer Clifford Bradshaw as he wanders into the seedy yet exciting Kit Kat Klub and meets Sally Bowles, a talented cabaret performer. The musical has won seven Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival, and promises to be an electrifying night out.

Currently, the cheapest tickets for Cabaret are at ATG Tickets for £30.

How to get cheap tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

London West End Palace Theatre showing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play written by Jack Thorne, based on an original story written by J. K. Rowling.
John Wreford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

If you just can't get enough of the Harry Potter franchise, then it's time to tick Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off your list if you haven't already.

The play is set 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and follows the story of Albus Severus Potter (son of Harry) as he enters Hogwarts.

The play has won countless awards and has been staged at theatres all over the world. Now, thanks to an amazing deal at Ticketmaster, you can snap up tickets for just £15.

How to get cheap tickets for Mean Girls The Musical

Mean Girls musical
TodayTix TodayTix

Get in loser, we're going to see Mean Girls The Musical on the West End! This hotly anticipated musical event is going to be just as popular as Regina George, especially after the release of the Mean Girls The Musical movie.

So grab your best pink outfit and head over to the Savoy Theatre. The cheapest tickets are £25 at ATG Tickets, so it would be rude not to.

How to get cheap tickets to TINA - The Tina Turner Musical

Aisata Blackman performs as Tina Turner at the "TINA – Das Tina Turner Musical" Premiere at Stage Apollo Theater on March 16, 2023 in Stuttgart, Germany.
Getty Images

We've all heard of Tina Turner, but how much do you really know about her? This musical, featuring the original works of Turner as well as other artists like Marvin Gaye and Ann Peebles, will answer any questions you have about the rock legend's life and upbringing, and will have you crying as well as tapping your feet while it does. Trust us - it's Simply the Best.

So far, the cheapest tickets you can buy for TINA - The Tina Turner Musical are £22 ones from Ticketmaster.

Best London theatre and hotel deals available today

Another great way to save on a trip to the West End is to bundle tickets in with a hotel stay. Companies like Virgin Experience Days and Holiday Extras offer tickets to specific shows packaged in with a range of London hotels, making it much easier for your to sort your experience in one booking.

Right now, most packages available are for the most well-known musicals, like Wicked, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and Tina. However, you can find more flexible choice vouchers that give you a selection of shows to choose from.

Here's the best deals at the moment:

And here's a bigger list of the companies offering hotel and theatre packages:

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To make even more savings this month, be sure to check out our how to get cheap Disneyland Paris tickets, how to get cheap LEGOLAND tickets, and how to get cheap Thorpe Park tickets and how to get cheap London Eye tickets.

Authors

Laura Wybrow
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