Advice for a Theater newbie in London

Idiophreak

redboy1 wrote: »

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 :mad:

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?

No, they're quite different. Also be aware that a lot of them are smaller than you might imagine...so it's worth doing some research on the theatre if you want the wow factor.

What you get in the west end, that you'll miss on the tour, is the customisation of the venue to suit the show...they try and do little bits and pieces when they tour, but obviously with residencies of years at a time, they can really go to town on the theatre to tie it in with the show.

rheme

redboy1 wrote: »

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.

paddyrg

Hotel prices go up and down - just keep your eyes open

susancs

redboy1 wrote: »

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 :mad:

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?

I wouldn't book with Lastminute.com for a first visit to a West End show as you can't choose your seats, so it can be a bit hit and miss as to whether you will get good seats and for a peak time like a Saturday night bank holiday weekend in August. it may be that you will get the poorer seats. I would look on Theatre monkey for reviews of seats and pick your seats. You could look at Premier Inn hotels (the new one on Westminster Bridge looks nice, check out tripadvisor and request a room with a view, 20-25 mins walk to the west end theatres or quick tube/bus journey) for your stay, but book ASAP as prices will only go up for the bank holiday weekend. For fares keep checking megabus as they currently have £20 in total return train fares for two people from Derby to London but only have dates until the middle of July, but they will put up more fares 6 weeks or so before. Kings Cross Premier Inn is currently £89 on the saver rate (£147 on flexible rate) for the night you want if you want a hotel beside the train station you would arrive at. The Kensington Close 4 star hotel is listed under lastminute.com secret hotels for £111 for the 23rd August currently. 15 minute journey on the tube to Leceister Square for theatres (Kensington High Street tube circle line to South kensington and change onto piccadilly line).
http://notsecrethotels.co.uk/hotel/great-hotel-kensington/

www.trivago.co.uk shows the Marriot at Kensington if you like Marriot hotels reduced from £175 to £124.



If you are really quick they still have stall box 2 (private room) £29.75 seats availability on the Delfontmackintosh site on the date you want for Miss Saigon. You would probably have to share the box with another couple as there are four seats but you have your own private box with separate door entrance, coat hanging rack, curtains, table for drinks etc, instead of being in the long rows (hot in summer) in the main body of the theatre. They don't check bags, so you could bring in your own wine and glasses with you to drink in the box. We go to the theatre often and thought , it was a more luxurious way to view the show (hubby could not believe the seats were the cheaper ones), granted as there were four of us we had it totally to ourselves. I personally think the price of these seats will go up at some future point for bookings.

This box is similar to this one but larger (without the American flags) and four regency style padded chairs that can be lined up along the opening of the box and a private door around the side of a small corridor.
http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/05/60/1b/0a/ford-s-theatre.jpg

You can see the boxes 1 and 2 at the back by the green doors in this photo of the actual theatre. The overhang of the next level slightly obscures the top of the stage scenery. The box is raised above the other seats so no heads in the way.
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/PrinceEdwardTheatre/PrinceEdwardAuditorium.jpg

redboy1

Thanks very much for the in depth comments. Ill check that site out, that box looks great and can't believe the price.

redboy1

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?

Idiophreak

redboy1 wrote: »

So was just wondering if there are some decent places to park in london?

No, there aren't

Personally, when I go to the theatre, I drive to Westfield in Shepherd's Bush and get the central line from there...about 20 mins or so on the tube into the west end.

Saves congestion charge and is relatively cheap (£5 weekdays, £8 weekend). About 15 miles closer to London than the hotel, at least.

But I can't imagine you'll really struggle to get back to Heathrow at that time...

susancs

redboy1 wrote: »

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?

You should be fine with public transport as the last tube train from Leicester Square is not until after midnight going towards Heathrow Airport terminals and shuttle transfers to nearby hotels run during the night. The journey would take about an hour or more. Just check train times and engineering works on www.tfl.gov.uk journey planner.

susancs

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. £2 for Sat parking and £1.50 for Sunday (pay and display a ticket for 2 days parking).
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/tube-station-car-parks

redboy1

Thanks Susancs. What was the view like from them stall boxes? I see there right at the back and just wondered if there a little too far back.

Was looking at them grand circle box side seats for £45 they look as if you would get a good view from them.