The best ways to save on your next family theatre trip | AD

*This is a collaborative guest post

Going to the theatre with your kids is a great way to make memories, especially as Christmas and panto season approaches. Sadly theatre also has a reputation for being an expensive treat, especially if you’re desperate to see popular shows like Wicked and The Lion King live on stage. 

There are plenty of ways to make a trip to the theatre more affordable however, and we’ve shared some of our top tips for families below. 

Save on Christmas pantos with key worker discounts

If you or a member of your family is a key worker, ATG’s Local Heroes scheme covers venues across the UK. Discounts are available for selected shows if the lead booker works in one of these professions.  

This might come in handy during panto season. At time of writing, there are Local Hero discounts for the big pantomimes in Manchester, Aylesbury, Glasgow, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Stoke-on-Trent, Richmond, Sunderland, Woking, Wimbledon and York.

Get free London theatre tickets during Kids Week

Kids Week is an annual promotion which runs (counter to its name) during the month of August, offering free theatre tickets for major West End shows to under 18s when accompanied by a full paying adult. One free ticket is allowed per adult ticket, and additional children’s tickets are also reduced.

Try a kids’ theatre outside the West End

Big West End shows are a lot of fun for all ages, but are also quite expensive. If your children are between 2 – 11, have a look at theatres which solely produce kids’ shows in London like Unicorn Theatre in Southwark or Little Angel Theatre in Islington. These venues are popular with parents because they produce a range of engaging shows for different age groups at affordable prices.

Go as a group for a fun day out

If you want to make a day of it in London and see a West End show, there are often no concession prices for children. A good option is to check group booking rates and invite grandparents, cousins or friends to join you and share the excitement of a live play or musical. 

Choose your seats wisely for the best value

Premium seats are always very expensive in the West End (and at some regional theatres if a big musical like The Lion King is on tour) so the best way to save on popular shows is by taking a bit of time to choose seats which offer the best value for money. 

If you’re not sure about restricted view seats or worry that your youngest child might struggle to see over people’s heads, check SeatPlan for thousands of seat view photos and reviews from real theatregoers at West End and regional theatres, or TheatreMonkey for audience comments on London shows.

Want more ways to save? Find lots of tips and tricks for cutting the cost of your theatre trip in our Cheap London Theatre Guide.