It doesn’t always feel possible to find affordable West End tickets nowadays but here at LSBO, we’re here to help. Here is your Guide to finding the best deals and discounts for all your London theatre tickets needs! We’ve included all of our best tips and tricks for you to find the latest London theatre ticket deals.

BEST CHEAP LONDON THEATRE TICKETS

A great way of saving money when booking your London theatre tickets is to plan in advance and swipe the cheaper tickets before anyone else does. Most theatres follow a similar pricing structure so the cheaper tickets are towards the back of the auditorium. These seats are further away from the stage but you still get the same experience of seeing a West End show and can enjoy the atmosphere just from slightly further away.

These seats are normally the first to go because you guessed it… they are the cheapest! If you plan in advance what show you want to see and when then you can make sure that you are the first to book these seats before anyone else does. If you leave it to the last minute then you run the risk of being left with only the expensive seats. Booking ahead of time can not only save you money but also save any last-minute stress if you leave it to the last minute.

BOOK LONDON THEATRE TICKETS DURING QUIETER TIMES

It may seem like common sense but another great way to save money on your London theatre tickets is to book during the off-peak periods. Try to avoid busier periods like school holidays and weekends when everyone else is booking too. When there is less demand for tickets then they are often much lower in price and there also tends to be a larger variety of discount theatre tickets too around this time. If you book during the busier periods when demand is higher and everyone is looking to book the same shows then you are more likely to pay a higher price. This is especially true for family shows such as The Lion King, Matilda the Musical, and Mamma Mia as this is when parents are looking to take their kids on a theatre trip.

VISIT LSBO OUR LONDON THEATRE TICKETS BOOTH IN LEICESTER SQUARE

At Leicester Square Box Office, we specialise in offering a huge selection of half-price and discounted theatre tickets for many West End shows. Whether you are looking to book on your own or with a group, we have deals to suit everyone. We have a discount ticket booth located in the heart of Theatre Land. You can find us opposite the Hippodrome casino and round the corner from Leicester Square Underground Station. At our ticket booth, you can find both on-the-day deals and deals for the week ahead.

As we have a great relationship with many West End venues, we are able to provide brilliant deals for many shows throughout the year. Currently, our most popular discounted West End shows include Mrs Doubtfire, Wicked, and Les Misérables. We are frequently able to offer discount theatre tickets for new shows that are only here for short runs so it’s good to check weekly at our box office for new and exciting deals.

ON THE DAY DEALS

So even though we do strongly encourage booking ahead of time for certain shows, we know that this isn’t always possible. If you are looking to be a bit spontaneous and do want to book to see a show on the day then that is of course still possible. Come and visit us in Leicester Square and we can help find you the best on-the-day deals for the show you want to see. We have a list of shows for which we can offer half-price and discount theatre tickets for that day so you can find the best deal for you. We recommend popping by earlier on the day you want to go so we can ensure availability for specific shows. If you leave it too close to the show time then there will be less of a selection when it comes to tickets and ticket prices.

UTILISE DISCOUNT TICKET WEBSITES

Another great way of accessing cheap theatre tickets is by booking in advance on our website. This way you can enjoy lower prices and save not only money but also any last-minute stress. There you can easily find some of the discounts we have to offer for that week and no booking fee offers for certain shows. It is also very easy to navigate and you can easily find exactly which shows are playing that day and at what time. This also saves you from leaving the house when you don’t need to, you can book your London theatre tickets from the comfort of your own home.

BOOK IN GROUPS

If you’re looking to book a theatre trip with a larger group, then this can also unlock substantial savings on your London theatre tickets. Many London theatres offer discounted rates for groups – a much more cost-effective option for larger parties. Just get in touch with us via the group booking section on the LSBO website or give us a ring and we can put you through to our group bookings department. If you make the enquiry in advance then we can make sure that we get you the best seats for the best price for your group.

Normally the bigger the group, the larger the saving! So, grab everyone you know and get yourselves to the theatre. This is especially handy if you’re looking to book a theatre trip for a large school group as some shows even do special discounts for groups of students to encourage young people to get involved with theatre.

BE FLEXIBLE

The best way to make sure that you are always getting the best value for money when booking London theatre tickets is to be as flexible as possible. If you are open to the idea of seeing which shows have the best discounted tickets then you can guarantee yourself a cheaper ticket. You also never know; you might find your new favourite show! A lot of new West End productions that aren’t as well known are more often than not some of the best shows on the West End and a lot of the time have cheaper tickets on offer.

If you are more flexible with the show you want to see then you might end up finding a lesser-known gem! It also helps to be flexible with the date and time you want to go to the theatre. Ticket prices work on live availability so some days are cheaper than others.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Finding West End theatre tickets requires flexibility and research but by taking advantage of our tips above, you can enjoy London’s vibrant theatre scene without breaking the bank. Keep these tips in mind and you can experience the magic of West End theatre in a more affordable way.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LSBO?

Leicester Square Box Office is a theatre ticket provider both online and a booth in Leicester Square itself. With us you can enjoy discount theatre tickets for many different West End shows including Musicals, Plays, Comedy, and Concerts. We have something for everyone! We are also a proud member of STAR, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers so however you book, you can book with confidence.

Where is the LSBO booth?

The LSBO booth is located in the heart of Leicester Square, opposite the Hippodrome Casino and around the corner from Leicester Square tube station.

Are all your tickets discounted?

LSBO offers half-price, discounted, and full-price tickets to most West End shows. It depends on the day, time, and the show as to whether they are discounted. We always try to help you get the best seats at the best prices.

How do I find cheap London theatre tickets?

Make the most of discount theatre ticket providers like LSBO to find cheaper deals for specific shows.

When is the best time to find cheap London theatre tickets?

During the off-peak periods – avoid weekends and school holidays.

One of the most accomplished stars of stage and screen, Dame Maggie Smith passed away on Friday 27 September 2024, aged 89. In her honour West End theatres are set to dim their lights for 2 minutes at 7pm on Tuesday 1 October.

Hannah Essex, Co-CEO of the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre, said: 

 “Today the theatre world, and the nation, have lost an icon. Throughout her seventy-one years on stage and screen, Dame Maggie Smith was a magnificent talent and will be remembered as one of the most significant performers British theatre has ever seen. Our deepest condolences are with her family and loved ones, and we are proud to be able to honour her remarkable career in some small way.” 

Smith was nominated for an Olivier Award a grand total of six times and in 2010 won the Special Award for her contributions to all things London Theatre.

The brand new play Barcelona at the Duke of York’s Theatre has released first-look images from the production. It is set to star Lily Collins and Álvaro Morte and will run for a strictly limited 12-week season from the 21 October 2024.

Lily Collins (Star of Emily in Paris) and Álvaro Morte (Star of Money Heist) will both be making their West End stage debuts in the production as Irene and Manuel.

This two-hander is set in the Spanish city of Barcelona and follows the story of an American woman (Collins) who whilst away on a hen weekend finds herself wrapped up in a one-night stand with a handsome Spaniard (Morte). During the course of the night, her romantic fantasy however turns complicated and dark.

Barcelona is written by American screenwriter and playwright Bess Wohl, her previous work includes the Tony Award-nominated play Grand Horizons. The production is set to be directed by Lynette Linton (Shifters)

Barcelona is playing at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London from 21 October 2024 to 11 January 2025. It takes over from the theatre’s current production, Shifters which will close on 12 October 2024.

Mean Girls The Musical is proving to be just as popular as Mean Girls themselves and has extended its run at the Savoy Theatre in London.

Based on the 2004 film that starred Lindsay Lohan, Mean Girls is a musical with a book by Tina Fey, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and music by Jeff Richmond. It follows the story of Cady, a teenage girl who transfers to public school after being homeschooled in Africa her whole life. There she is befriended by the ‘plastics’, a popular clique in school and she learns that high school is a lot more dangerous than the African savanna.

Directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), Mean Girls The Musical first premiered on Broadway in 2018 and was nominated for 12 awards at the 72^nd Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show opened on the West End back in June next year and has proven very popular with both audiences and critics alike.

The current West End cast includes Charlie Burn (Les Misérables) as Cady Heron. The Plastics are played by Georgina Castle (Dirty Dancing/ Elf the Musical) as Regina George, Elèna Gyasi (Six) as Gretchen Wieners, and Grace Mouat (The Great British Bake-Off Musical) as Karen Smith. Elena Skye (Les Misérables) stars as Janis and Tom Xander (The Book of Mormon) as Damian. Daniel Bravo (Cruel Intentions) plays Aaron Samuels with Lucca Chadwick-Patel as Kevin Ganatra. Ako Mitchell plays Principal Mr Duvall, while Ms Norbury – the role originated in the 2004 film by its creator Fey – is played by Zoë Rainey, who also plays the roles of Mrs George and Ms. Heron.

The full company is completed by Tia Antoine-Charles, Georgia Arron, Liam Buckland, Shonah Buwu, Baylie Carson, Freddie Clements, Siobhan Diffin, Clíona Flynn, Fergie Fraser, Angus Good, Jenny Huxley-Golden, Holly Liburd, Corey Mitchell, Mervin Noronha, Aharon Rayner, Trézel Sergeant, Josh Singleton, Annie Southall, Lillia Squires, Tommy Wade-Smith and Holly Willock.

The show will also be celebrating ‘Mean Girls Day’ on 3 October 2024 with the Mean Girls Fetch Quest. This will be a one-day treasure hunt that will take place across London’s West End with the opportunity to win Mean Girls themed prizes. A series of clues will be released throughout the day revealing secret locations, people will need to solve the clue and identify the location to be in with a chance of winning.

Mean Girls The Musical is now booking up until 6 April 2025 at the Savoy Theatre. Book your Mean Girls tickets now online via the LSBO website or visit our box office in Leicester Square.  

Les Misérables is the longest-running musical in the West End, the longest-running musical in the world, and the second longest-running show in London. The show will celebrate its 40^th anniversary in London next year and has extended its run to September 2025.

New cast members who will join the show from 14 October 2024 are Ian McIntosh (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Jean Valjean, Jacob Dachtler (Babies) as Marius, Robson Broad (Hamilton) as Enjolras and Annabelle Aquino, now playing Cosette after previously being in the ensemble.

They will join current cast members Stewart Clarke as Javert, Luke Kempner as Thénardier, Katie Hall as Fantine, Amena El-Kindy as Éponine, and Claire Machin as Madame Thénardier.

The full company is completed by Matt Bateman, Michael Baxter, Emily Olive Boyd, Daniel J Brian, Ella May Carter, Adam Colbeck-Dunn, Matthew Dale, Irfan Damani, Sophie-May Feek, Matt Hayden, Christopher Jacobsen, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Sam Kipling, Anouk van Laake, Mia Lamb, Sarah Lark, Matthew McConnell, Aaron-Jade Morgan, Ben Oatley, Adam Pearce, Jordan Simon Pollard, Danielle Rose, Jonathan Stevens, Georgia Tapp, Noah Thallon, and Imaan Victoria.

Boubil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables is one of the biggest musical phenomenons in the world and has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries and 22 languages. The musical is adapted from the novel by Victor Hugo and takes place during the French Revolution.

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed fully staged new production of. Les Misérables is currently playing at the Sondheim Theatre. Book Your Les Mis tickets now online via the LSBO website or visit our box office in Leicester Square.

The hit musical comedy Mrs Doubtfire has announced its final performance date in London’s West End. The show is currently playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre but is set to close its doors on 26 April 2025. The musical has also announced that it will be going on tour with more details to follow.

Mrs Doubtfire has issued the following statement herself:

“Following lots of speculation in the gossip columns, I have decided to make the following statement to the press. I have made it known loudly that I’ve had a lovely time here in London. I have loved that so many parents made my show their choice for their children’s first visit to the theatre, but I’m starting to get itchy feet dears – so the time has come to have a little VaCAY. I’ve decided I’m going to take myself on a world tour – like Taylor Swift – but with bigger corsets. Fear not though poppets, I won’t be leaving London just yet, you can catch me here at The Shaftesbury Theatre until April 26th – see you soon dears!”

Mrs Doubtfire is a musical based on the 1993 film of the same name with music and lyrics by Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. It follows the story of out of work actor Daniel Hillard who goes through a messy divorce and loses custody of his kids. In order to try and stay in their lives he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire and becomes their nanny! In the process the character takes on a life of its own and teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about being a father.

The show first opened in May 2023 and currently stars Gabriel Vick (Avenue Q) as Daniel Hillard, Laura Tebbutt (School of Rock) as Miranda Hillard, Cameron Blakely (Newsies) as Frank Hillard, Marcus Collins (Kinky Boots) as Andre, and Micha Richardson (Come From Away) as Wanda Sellner.

The company is completed by Charlotte Fleming as Lydia Hillard, Matthew Goodgame as Stuart Dunmire, Ross Dawes as Mr. Jolly, plus Michael Afemaré, Alex Bowen, Nicole Carlisle, Joshua Dever, Joseph Dockree, Autumn Draper, Maria Garrett, Cristina Hoey, Peter Houston, Jodie Knight, Ryan Lay, Adam Lyons, Lisa Mathieson, Ellie Mitchell, Perry O’Dea, Rhys Owen, Bleu Woodward, and Tom Woollaston.

The role of Christopher Hillard is played by Thommy Bailey Vine, Herbie Byers and Parker Newman; and Natalie Hillard is played by Rachelle Bonfield-Bell, Ellemie Shivers and Felicity Walton.

Book your Mrs Doubtfire tickets her on the LSBO website or visit our box office in Leicester Square. Now playing at the Shaftesbury Theatre and booking until 26 April 2025.

The iconic comedy play that does exactly what is says on the tin celebrated its tenth anniversary at the Duchess Theatre last night. The production also announced that it is now booking all the way into 2026.

The Play That Goes Wrong first premiered in the West End in September 2014 and since has won a multitude of awards including the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2015. The play is written by Mischief Theatre Company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. It follows an amateur dramatic group during their performance of a murder mystery play when chaos ensues.

The current West End cast includes Jordan Akkaya as Trevor, Daniel Anthony as Dennis, Joe Bolland as Jonathan, Daniel Fraser as Chris, Billie Hamer as Annie, Owen Jenkins as Robert, Jay Olpin as Max, and Hannah Sinclair Robinson as Sandra. With Alex Bird, Munashe Chirisa, Colm Gleeson, Dumile Sibanda, and Alice Stokoe as understudies.

The Play That Goes Wrong is currently playing at the Duchess Theatre and is booking until 1 February 2026. Book tickets now online via the LSBO website or at our box office in Leicester Square.

Clueless A New Musical is set to run in the West End in 2025. The brand new musical will open at the Trafalgar Theatre next year.

Based on the 1995 film of the same name, Clueless features an original musical score by singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and lyrics by Glenn Slater (Sister Act, Tangled) with a book written by the film’s original screenwriter Amy Heckerling. The show will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh who previously directed The Great British Bake-Off Musical. Prior to its West End transfer the new musical had a two-week try-out earlier this year at the Churchill Theatre Bromley.

Clueless follows the story of a wealthy and popular high school student, Cher Horowitz who tries to play matchmaker with her classmates and is based loosely on Jane Austen’s Emma.

Clueless A New Musical opens at the Trafalgar Theatre on 15 February 2025 and is booking until 14 June 2025. Keep an eye out for further announcements including casting here on the LSBO website.

The West End run of Les Misérables has been extended once more. The show is currently playing at London’s Sondheim Theatre and is now booking until 6 September 2025.

Les Misérables is the longest-running musical on the West End to date and the second longest-running show, second only to Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. With music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Alan Boubil and Jean-Marc Natel, and a book by Schönberg and Boubil, the musical is based on the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo.

The current London production stars Milan van Waardenburg as Jean Valjean, Stewart Clarke as Javert, Katie Hall as Fantine, Will Callan as Marius, Amena El-Kindy as Éponine, Lulu-Mae Pears as Cosette, Luke Kempner as Thénardier, Claire Machin as Madame Thénardier and Djavan van de Fliert as Enjolras.

The full company is completed by Annabelle Aquino, Hazel Baldwin, Brad Barnley, Michael Baxter, Emily Olive Boyd, Rosy Church, Ben Culleton, Matthew Dale, Matt Dempsey, Sophie-May Feek, Matt Hayden, Tom Hext, Christopher Jacobsen, Jessica Johns-Parsons, Yazmin King, Sam Kipling, Anouk van Laake, Harry Lake, Sarah Lark, Ellie Ann Lowe, Ben Oatley, Adam Pearce, Jordan Simon Pollard, Jonathan Stevens, Phoebe Williams and Ollie Wray.

Book your Les Misérables tickets now online via the LSBO website or visit our box office in Leicester Square.

The Award-winning production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow has announced a new West End cast.

The stage show is a prequel to the popular Netflix series and is written by Kate Trefry with a story by the creators of the TV series The Duffer Brothers, alongside Jack Thorne and Trefry. It follows the story of young Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado, and Bob Newby in Hawkins in 1959. The stage show expands on the TV show’s story and mythology with incredible stagecraft and stunning visual effects.

Joining the production from 14 November will be Louis Healy (The Full Monty) as Henry Creel, Callum Maxwell (Peter Pan) as Bob Newby, Miranda Mufema (Macbeth) as Patty Newby, Luke Mullins (The Tempest) as Dr Brenner), Jessica Rhodes (The Tempest) as Joyce Maldonado and George Smale (AS-NT) as James Hopper Jr. Full casting from that date is yet to be revealed.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is currently playing at the Phoenix Theatre and is booking up until February 2025. Book your Stranger Things tickets now online via the LSBO website or at our box office in Leicester Square.