Seeing your first West End show is one of the great London experiences, and it is far simpler than it might look from the outside. If you have never booked a theatre trip before, this guide walks you through everything you need to know, from where the theatres are to what happens once the lights go down.

What and where is the West End

“The West End” is the name for London’s main theatre district, often called Theatreland. It is a cluster of nearly 40 historic theatres packed into the streets around Shaftesbury Avenue, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and the Strand, in the heart of central London. It is the British equivalent of Broadway, and between them these theatres stage the biggest musicals, plays and one-off events in the country. Most are within a short walk of one another, so an evening at the theatre sits easily alongside dinner, a drink or a stroll through Covent Garden.

How to book

You can book your tickets right here on westend.com. Browse all the shows, pick your performance date, choose your seats from the live seating plan and pay online. Once your booking is complete you will receive an email confirmation with your booking reference and your eTickets, which you can show on your phone at the door or print if you prefer. There is no need to collect anything from a box office in advance.

Getting there

Theatreland is one of the best-connected parts of London. The nearest Underground stations are Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross and Tottenham Court Road, and almost every theatre is a five to ten minute walk from at least one of them. Plenty of night buses serve the area too. If you are travelling home by Tube, keep an eye on the time, as the last trains generally run around midnight, a little later on Fridays and Saturdays. Driving into the centre is best avoided given the congestion charge and limited parking.

Understanding the seating

West End theatres are traditional, tiered buildings, and knowing the layout helps you choose the right seat for your budget. From the bottom up you will usually find:

  • Stalls: the ground floor, closest to the stage. Often the most sought-after and most expensive seats.
  • Dress Circle (sometimes Royal Circle): the first raised tier, with an excellent elevated view.
  • Upper Circle and Grand Circle: higher tiers that offer the same show for noticeably less.
  • Balcony: the highest level in some theatres, and usually the cheapest.

Some theatres also have private boxes to the sides. You may also see seats marked as restricted view, which are cheaper because a pillar or the curve of the circle clips part of the stage. For more on getting the best value from the seating plan, see our guide to finding cheap West End tickets.

Timings and what to expect

Evening performances typically begin around 7:30pm, with afternoon matinees usually starting at about 2:30pm or 3:00pm on selected days. Most shows run for somewhere between two and three hours, and the majority include one interval of around 15 to 20 minutes. Aim to arrive at least twenty minutes early to collect yourself, find your seat and settle in. If you are running late, be aware that theatres often hold latecomers at the back until a suitable break in the performance, so punctuality really does pay off. Photography and recording are not permitted once the show begins.

What to wear

There is no dress code for the West End. Some people love to dress up for a special occasion and others come straight from work or sightseeing, and both are entirely normal. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. The one practical tip is to bring a layer, as the older theatres can vary in temperature.

Food and drink

The streets around Theatreland are full of restaurants, and many offer pre-theatre menus designed to get you fed and to your seat in good time, so booking a table for around 5:30pm or 6:00pm is a lovely way to start the evening. Inside the theatre you can usually buy drinks and snacks, and at many venues you can order your interval drinks before the show so they are waiting for you when the lights come up.

Choosing your first show

If you are not sure where to start, you cannot go far wrong with one of the long-running crowd-pleasers. Family-friendly spectacles like The Lion King and Matilda, the soaring drama of Les Miserables, the pop thrill of Wicked or the world’s longest-running play, The Mousetrap, are all wonderful introductions to the West End. For more inspiration, browse our full range of West End shows and take your pick.

Enjoy your first night at the theatre. Once you have caught the West End bug, it is hard to shake.