What the West End is
The West End is London's theatre district: around forty theatres spread across Soho, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, the Strand and Haymarket. They are all within walking distance of each other, and of Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden stations.
When shows start
Most evening performances start at 7:30pm, with a few at 7pm or 7:45pm. Matinees are usually at 2:30pm and only run on some days of the week. Aim to be at the theatre half an hour before: there are bag checks, and latecomers often wait outside until a break in the show.
Many shows take one day off a week, often Sunday or Monday, so check the calendar before you promise a date in the group chat.
Getting seats together
This is the part groups get wrong. Six seats in a row disappear much faster than two, so book early for the big musicals, and book in one go. One person buys, everyone pays them back. Seats higher up cost less and are often the easiest place to keep a group together.
Paying less
If you are flexible about what you see, the official TKTS booth in Leicester Square sells discounted same-day and next-day tickets for a changing list of shows. It is run by the Society of London Theatre, so the tickets are genuine. Some theatres also release a few cheap day seats each morning, and midweek performances are generally easier to get into than Saturdays.
Before and after
Restaurants around Theatreland run pre-theatre menus built for a 7:30pm curtain: book a table for 5:30pm or 6pm. Most shows are out by about 10pm, which leaves time for a drink in Soho or Covent Garden before the last trains.
