Buying from the theatre box office
Theatre box offices are generally open from 10am and usually close about 30 minutes after that evening’s show has begun (they stay open throughout matinee performances).
There is usually no booking fee when you buy tickets in person.
If you telephone the box office direct to order tickets, you may be charged a modest administration fee and/or booking fee.
At busy periods, some box office telephone numbers ‘trip over’ to ticket agencies ie you may call a theatre box office and find yourself speaking to a ticket agency. In this instance, any fees should be identical to those charged by the box office.
You will find addresses and telephone numbers for theatre box offices in the listings sections of this website (search by
theatre
, or by
show
you want to see). They are also listed in most national newspapers as well as such publications as the Evening Standard and Time Out, and the Official London Theatre Guide leaflet published by the Society of London Theatre and available from many tourist outlets.
Buying from the tkts ticket booth in Leicester Square
The
tkts ticket booth
in the clocktower building in Leicester Square is the best way to buy discount tickets on the day of performance. It is open from 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 12pm to 3pm on Sundays. Not all shows sell tickets at the
tkts booth
, but there is always a great deal of choice. Also, you usually won’t be able to pick and choose where you sit -
tkts
sells the best seats it has available working from the front of the auditorium towards the back. Beware of imitations -
tkts
is the only official booth in London and is operated by the Society of London Theatre. Visit the
tkts
section of the website for more information.
Buying tickets from a ticket agency
There are many ticket agents selling London theatre tickets, ranging from well-known international organisations to tiny independent companies. The great majority of ticket agents are legitimate, honest operations. A small minority, however, are less reputable. Most legitimate agents are members of
STAR
(The Society of Ticket Agents & Retailers), an organisation that aims to encourage best practice among ticketing outlets. It’s a good idea to enquire about
STAR
membership when considering buying from a ticket agent. For more information about
STAR
members or their code of practice, call the
STAR Helpline on 0870 603 9011
or visit
www.s-t-a-r.org.uk
Ticket agents always charge a booking fee, but it will usually be no more than 25% of the ‘face value’ of the ticket (i.e. the price you would pay if you bought the ticket direct from the theatre box office in person). They might also charge a transaction fee in certain circumstances, which is a fee per transaction rather than per ticket. It’s advisable to check the size of the fees which an agent is seeking to charge you beyond the face value.
What are booking fees?
Unless you’re buying tickets direct from the theatre in person, you are likely to be charged some kind of booking, transaction or administration fee when purchasing theatre tickets. These charges cover the operational costs of selling and distributing theatre tickets. They should not normally be more than 25% of the face value of the tickets, and in most cases are significantly less.