Advice for a Theater newbie in London

A question about : Advice for a Theater newbie in London

Want to take the misses in august as she has always wanted to go.

Would like advice such as best place to buy tickets,

Show recommendations,

Which are the best Theaters?

We will be going around the 23rd august, Any advice much appreciated

Best answers:

• Best place to buy will depend on which show you are going to and how you define "best".
  Ticketmaster for example "randomly" assign you seats from their allocation, the last show I went to I booked directly with the theatre as not only was their booking fee lower than TicketMaster, they allowed you to actually select the seats you wanted and had much better selection of seats listed for the same price.
• Thanks for the input folks. Tickets are going to have to be booked before we go as I don't want to chance just trying to buy on the day.
  That les miserables has some great reviews. Its hard to think what the misses would like, I know she likes Michael Jackson so thriller would be good but I'd sooner her (and mine) first experience of a theatre be more of a play. I imagine thriller would be more like a concert type show. It wouldn't surprise me if she would like that Matilda, even though Iits aimed at kids.
  Just can't believe the price of these tickets though, didn't think they would be so high.
• Les Mis is really good, but you need to book well in advance to get good seats, especially for a Saturday.
  I am going to see Miss Saigon this week and it is getting a lot of positive feedback, but we did book months ago for it.
  Jersey boys is the true story of The Four Seasons group.
  If your wife likes the Wizard Of Oz then Wicked is the story prior to this. It is well staged.
• Many productions will tour when they come off the West End, maybe in a slightly trimmed down form, but cheaper. The West End is great for big shows, but sure know how to charge.
  If you're not that fussed about what you see, then don't book ahead and get yourself a bargain on the day at the "tkts" booth (the only official one) actually in Leicester Square. Many great shows launch on the West End with massive investment but don't last forever - "Betty Blue Eyes" for instance was a great show, very technical, but vanished after a short run. Get a copy of Time Out and find something you haven't really heard of but that could be interesting, and take a punt.
  Or if you're wanting to book ahead at one of the most important West End plays of the last decade, it has to be "War Horse".
• I went to see Miss Saigon yesterday and it was really good. I took a chance on Ј27.75 seats that were in a box at the rear of the stalls and thought they were great value, with only the very top of the stage/scenery not visable. Lots of legroom as there were four free standing chairs and a table.
• Sorry for not getting back folks. Ive been trying to get in touch with someone i used to work with to book a Marriott hotel as they have a platinum account so get all the perks for cheap rates.
  I have not had a reply and im a bit gutted as lastminute.com had some good prices up until 17.00 today and now its over. Also the marriott had some good rates for august and now they have gone up
  Oh well it gives me more time to investigate shows. were from close to derby but im looking for london theaters as i thought this would be the best experience for her to see a show, its also why i would like the theater to be a decent one to round off the whole experience or are they all pretty much the same?
• [QUOTE=redboy1;65633926]
  I'd sooner her (and mine) first experience of a theatre be more of a play.
  Go and see War Horse it is brilliant, thought provoking, moving, both funny and sad and it doesn't take long to forget that the horses are puppets as they are so realistic.
  The theatre itself is not huge so even the cheapest tickets have a good view.
  It is probably the best show/play I have seen.
• Hotel prices go up and down - just keep your eyes open
• Thanks very much for the in depth comments. Ill check that site out, that box looks great and can't believe the price.
• Can anyone recommend somewhere to park in london? we will probably be staying in the Heathrow/Windsor Marriott Hotel as we stayed here last time when i took the misses for her first trip to london.
  Using the public transport was easy to get into london from there but im sure if i get a late showing at a theatre which wont finish untill around 22.00 im not too sure all public transport will be working that late to get us back.
  So was just wondering if there are some decent places to park in london?
• If you want to stay in a London hotel overnight instead of the longer journeys to Heathrow, but drive down, you could look at parking up at a tube station such as Stanmore which is off the M1 and getting the tube in. Ј2 for Sat parking and Ј1.50 for Sunday (pay and display a ticket for 2 days parking).
  https://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/...tion-car-parks