West End ticket prices have risen sharply in the last decade, but there are still several reliable ways to pay less than the top sticker price. This page is updated as new schemes appear.
1. The TKTS booth at Leicester Square
The Society of London Theatre runs the TKTS booth in Leicester Square, selling same-day and next-day tickets at face-value or discounted prices. Best for plays and musicals with empty seats they want to fill.
2. Daily lotteries
Hamilton, Wicked, Six and others run daily lotteries through TodayTix or their own apps. Tickets are usually £25 or less. You enter the night before or the morning of the show and find out the same day.
3. Rush tickets
A handful of shows release a small number of cheap tickets to the venue box office on the day of performance. Most are first-come-first-served from when the box office opens.
4. Day seats
Some West End theatres (the Old Vic and the Bridge Theatre are notable examples) release a handful of front-row seats at low prices when the box office opens.
5. Restricted view
Most major theatres sell restricted-view seats at a discount. For a long-running musical you have probably already seen, restricted view is often a fair trade for half the price.
6. Midweek matinees
Wednesday matinees are the quietest performances of the week for most shows. Prices in the stalls and dress circle are typically lower than weekend evenings.
7. Off-West End
The Old Vic, Bridge Theatre, Almeida, Donmar Warehouse, Hampstead Theatre, Park Theatre, Kiln Theatre and Soho Theatre all programme strong work at noticeably lower prices than Shaftesbury Avenue.
8. Friends and members schemes
If you go to one venue often (the National, the Royal Court, the Bridge, the Almeida, the Old Vic), it is usually cheaper to take out a membership and book early at member prices than to buy three or four full-price tickets a year.
For more on discount sources, see our discounts page.