West End Day Seats: Your guide to cheap last minute tickets

Here’s your 2019 guide to Day Seat tickets to West End shows with all you need to know.

Day Seats provide a way to grab cheap, last minute tickets to some of the biggest musicals and plays currently running in and around the West End.

But what are they, how do you get them and how much do they cost? Here’s all you need to know.

What are day seats?

As the name suggests, Day Seats are a limited number of tickets that can be purchased on the day of performances, typically from the time the box office opens.

Where to buy day seat tickets?

Day seats are available in person from the box office at the theatre. They’re on sale from whatever time the box office opens for performance(s) that day.

The box office usually opens at 10AM (but always check, especially on a Sunday) however for popular shows people may start queuing long before then. Generally, arriving 2 to 3 hours before box office opening time will give you the best shot of getting tickets.

How much do they cost?

The price varies depending on the show, but in most cases tickets will be reduced to less than £30 each and sometimes as little as £5.

Can I buy day seats online?

Not day seats, but some shows may offer similar ‘Rush’ tickets online via the Today Tix app. Just like day seats, a limited number of discount Rush tickets may be made available on the day of the performance. Check the app for the latest.

What’s the catch?

There are usually some restrictions on day seats. Firstly, day tickets are almost always limited to one or two per person. The total number of tickets available can vary depending on the show and performance. Naturally, there will likely be more availability in the week off peak compared to Saturday nights.

Note that some shows may have additional restrictions, only offering day seats for certain performances or for certain groups (e.g. students).

Above all else, day seats are strictly provided subject to availability and box office discretion.

Even if day seat tickets sell out, there may be other tickets still available to purchase – always ask!

What West End shows offer day seats?

The list of West End shows offering Day Seats in 2019 and their policies are subject to change. Always phone the box office of your chosen show beforehand to get the latest information.

A non-exhaustive list of musicals with Day Seats (and any restrictions) in 2019 are: Waitress, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Wicked, Matilda (For those aged 16-25 ONLY – proof of age required), School of Rock, The Phantom Of The Opera (For Thursday Matinees ONLY), The Lion King, Come From Away, Aladdin, 9 to 5 The Musical (Monday-Friday performances ONLY).