London Theatre Breaks

Wankpot_Smith

Hey guys,

Looking around for a London theatre break (ie hotel and a show) experience for the girlfriend's Christmas pressy but not having much joy finding anything under £200 Has anyone got any pointers?

Thanks!

richardw

Guoman have some hotel offers http://www.guoman.com/corporate/offers/london_winter_breaks.html?utm_source=guardian&utm_medium=press&utm_campaign=winter&tmcampid=48&tmad=c&tmclickref=guardian&tmclickref=winter

Show offers http://www.theatremonkey.com/CURRENTSPECIALOFFERS.htm http://www.lastminute.com/site/entertainment/theatre/

McKneff

Wankpot_Smith wrote: »

Hey guys,

Looking around for a London theatre break (ie hotel and a show) experience for the girlfriend's Christmas pressy but not having much joy finding anything under £200 Has anyone got any pointers?

Thanks!

Have a look at National Holidays, I know they are a coach holiday company but they do overnight theatre breaks (you can just use this part of it and not travel on the coach) prices are brilliant and normally there is transport from hotel to theatre and back

Wankpot_Smith

Had a check on National Holidays but it won't let me search for anything departing from my region? (South East)

Should also add I'd prefer a choice of shows if poss

simon_harding

Hi
to keep the cost down for a Lodnon theatre break you can do one of three things: cheap hotel, cheap tickets or avoid a Saturday.

In general during the week hotels are expensive because they know they can sell to the business market. The exception to this rule is school holidays and the beginning of the year when the business market goes quite.

For theatres the quiter time is mid week so they tend to do deals then (apart from during school holidays).

Are you noticing the problem - yes when one is cheap the other is not!

However some shows do offer discounts on Friday nights as do hotels! So the best idea is skive off work early on Friday - dash down to London in time to check in and grab a pre-theatre meal and get in a show. Then you have the whole of Saturday to go around London - the hotel will look after your bags all day although they will want you out of the room by 11am.

So how much of a deal?

You are probably not going to get best seats and a 4 star hotel included under £200 but there is no reason why you can't get a 3 star. I've just searched theatrebreaks.co.uk using the "search by date" button for 16th December and been offered Chicago, Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Blood Brothers AND a range of 3 star hotels all for under £100pp.

The Kensinton Close 4 star is only £107 pp which is a great deal.

After Christmas it is pretty much the same sort of thing. Even during Twixmas - on 30 December the site is offering the Kensington Close and best seats for Blood Brothers for £79pp.

Just to show what a deal that is: that same package on Saturday 7th January 2012 is £143pp

At this point let me say the reason I know all this is that theatrebreaks.co.uk is my site, but I'm here to help not to sell and yes you can go to other sites and get similar deals, the rules for everyone are the same: no-one has exclusivity these days.

Regarding travel to London you can add on rail travel once you get to the confiormation page - just as you can add on pre-theatre meals, London eye flights etc.

Because of the way the rail tickets are priced sometimes they are a great saving sometimes they are not - the best thing is to check them against thetrainline - the fares are quite clear so this is easy to do.

Lastly if you have to go on a Saturday you could consider a matinee - some shows discount that performance a bit.

You can tell if a ticket is discounted as soon as you select the show because the ticket you will be offered will be a Top Price "Saver" Ticket: look out for the word "Saver"

There are tonnes of other ways of saving a bit of money - book a hotel outside of the West End then make sure you buy an Oyster Card for the travel. I hope that helps a bit.

All the best

Simon

McKneff

Wankpot_Smith wrote: »

Had a check on National Holidays but it won't let me search for anything departing from my region? (South East)

Should also add I'd prefer a choice of shows if poss

When you search, search from say Leeds, if you see anything you like then just tell them you will self drive and meet the coach at the hotel. There is a choice of shows.

Do you want to see any particular shows, I could have a look for you.

McKneff

simon_harding wrote: »

Hi
to keep the cost down for a Lodnon theatre break you can do one of three things: cheap hotel, cheap tickets or avoid a Saturday.

In general during the week hotels are expensive because they know they can sell to the business market. The exception to this rule is school holidays and the beginning of the year when the business market goes quite.

For theatres the quiter time is mid week so they tend to do deals then (apart from during school holidays).

Are you noticing the problem - yes when one is cheap the other is not!

However some shows do offer discounts on Friday nights as do hotels! So the best idea is skive off work early on Friday - dash down to London in time to check in and grab a pre-theatre meal and get in a show. Then you have the whole of Saturday to go around London - the hotel will look after your bags all day although they will want you out of the room by 11am.

So how much of a deal?

You are probably not going to get best seats and a 4 star hotel included under £200 but there is no reason why you can't get a 3 star. I've just searched theatrebreaks.co.uk using the "search by date" button for 16th December and been offered Chicago, Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Blood Brothers AND a range of 3 star hotels all for under £100pp.

The Kensinton Close 4 star is only £107 pp which is a great deal.

After Christmas it is pretty much the same sort of thing. Even during Twixmas - on 30 December the site is offering the Kensington Close and best seats for Blood Brothers for £79pp.

Just to show what a deal that is: that same package on Saturday 7th January 2012 is £143pp

At this point let me say the reason I know all this is that theatrebreaks.co.uk is my site, but I'm here to help not to sell and yes you can go to other sites and get similar deals, the rules for everyone are the same: no-one has exclusivity these days.

Regarding travel to London you can add on rail travel once you get to the confiormation page - just as you can add on pre-theatre meals, London eye flights etc.

Because of the way the rail tickets are priced sometimes they are a great saving sometimes they are not - the best thing is to check them against thetrainline - the fares are quite clear so this is easy to do.

Lastly if you have to go on a Saturday you could consider a matinee - some shows discount that performance a bit.

You can tell if a ticket is discounted as soon as you select the show because the ticket you will be offered will be a Top Price "Saver" Ticket: look out for the word "Saver"

There are tonnes of other ways of saving a bit of money - book a hotel outside of the West End then make sure you buy an Oyster Card for the travel. I hope that helps a bit.

All the best

Simon

Extremely helpful post there Simon, I'll keep it on my favourites bar for future reference

jools27_2

Have a look on Show and Stay website, Ive used it a few times, stayed at Holiday Inn Bloomsbury and saw some great shows, they often have offers on

Pixiegill

You can get some good priced tickets for Jan/Feb - see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3658023

starchbag

If you are looking for Jan/Feb - see Get into London Theatre just booked 2 tickets for Ladykillers for £70 and then a London hotel including breakfast for £89 on Travelzoo

megsimmy

Hi, does it have to be actually during Xmas? I've just booked 4 tickets for Stomp for £15 each with no booking fee (down from £49.50) for a Sunday afternoon in January. Amazing seats too. This was via the link in Martin's email this week called "£10 tix for over 50 London Shows & Pantos". It turned out to be really easy to find offers. Just a thought, but it may be worth ringing a theatre or 2 and asking them to recommend a local hotel that's not so expensive? Good luck!