West End ticket pricing has multiple tiers. The same show charges very different prices for different seats and different booking methods.
Typical pricing for a major musical (Book of Mormon, Mamma Mia, Hamilton level):
| Seat Location | Standard Price | Day Seat | TKTS Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium stalls (front rows) | £120 to £250 | Not available | Not available |
| Stalls (middle rows) | £65 to £100 | Not available | 25 to 50% off |
| Rear stalls / dress circle | £45 to £75 | Not available | 25 to 50% off |
| Upper circle / gods | £25 to £45 | Not available | 25 to 50% off |
| Day seat | £25 | £25 | Not applicable |
These prices are indicative. Long-running smash hits charge premium prices even for standard tickets. Newer productions and plays (versus musicals) are typically 20 to 40% cheaper.
TKTS (Ticket Sellers) operates the official same-day and next-day discount ticket booth in Leicester Square.
Location: The distinctive round booth on the south side of Leicester Square gardens.
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10:00am to 7:00pm; Sunday 11:00am to 4:30pm
Discount: 25% to 50% off the standard ticket price for that specific performance. The discount level is set by each theatre and changes daily.
Process:
What is available on TKTS: Shows that have unsold seats for that evening or the following day. The boards update throughout the day as theatres add availability. Popular shows appear here less frequently; newer shows and runs with availability appear regularly.
What is not available: Premium seats, seats for sold-out shows, seats for the most in-demand performances (opening nights, last nights, award ceremony periods).
Enter a show name or search by date to see which West End shows currently have discounted tickets available through TKTS, day seats and other last-minute channels. Updated throughout the day.
Find Tonight's DealsGet West End Booking GuideMost West End theatres sell a limited number of same-day seats at significantly reduced prices. These are typically restricted view or furthest-back seats released on the morning of each performance.
The standard process: Arrive at the theatre box office from 10am on the day of the performance. Queue if necessary. A fixed number of day seats at a set low price (typically £25 to £35) are sold. One or two per person maximum. Payment by card at the box office.
Digital day seats (lottery system): Several shows now run digital day seat lotteries through apps and websites rather than physical queues:
The SeatPlan and TodayTix apps aggregate day seat availability across multiple West End venues. Checking these apps at 10am on any given day shows what is available for that evening at below-standard prices.
Every West End show sells tickets through its own official website and through several authorised ticketing platforms. The fees vary significantly:
| Platform | Service Fee Per Ticket |
|---|---|
| Theatre direct website | £0 to £3 per ticket |
| Official Society of London Theatre (SOLT) | £0 to £3 |
| ATG Tickets (atgtickets.com) | £3 to £5 per ticket |
| Ticketmaster | £3 to £6 per ticket |
| See Tickets | £2 to £4 per ticket |
| Official London Theatre (officiallondontheatre.com) | Links to official sources; no additional fee |
The cheapest booking route: Go directly to the theatre's own website. TKTS. Or book through officiallondontheatre.com which links to official box offices. Avoid booking through aggregators or third-party resellers that add 15 to 40% above face value.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the South Bank offers standing (groundling) tickets at £5 per performance. These are the same tickets bought by Elizabethan audiences in the 16th century.
The Globe standing experience is one of London's most genuine theatrical traditions and one of its best value tickets.