Money matters II

Theatres, concerts etc

London used to be famous for its theatre life. Now, it’s mostly the same as anywhere else.

But you can find interesting local productions if you look around.

More theatres use dynamic pricing. As shows become popular, prices increase. Buying early saves money. On the other hand, unpopular shows can become cheaper.

Theatres outside the centre can be considerably cheaper (eg £40 v £300).

To buy a ticket, go to the website for the theatre. Follow a link from there to booking. Some theatres are in groups (eg ATG) and use a centralised booking system. Concert venues often use systems like Ticketmaster.

Be very careful of scam sites selling nothing.

For theatres, there are sites that sell tickets at full price (plus service charge, plus theatre restoration fee) plus their own fees (could be £10 or more). You may be able to get the exact same ticket elsewhere cheaper. These sites look convincingly official, but often they are not. Look carefully at what you are paying for. If in doubt, don’t. Ring the box office.

There is a reduced price ticket booth in Leicester Square. What is available may vary and could be pot luck. They are official and will give you information on seating etc. It might be worth a punt on a rainy day. You can see on-line what is available.

There are other places offering tickets (or cheap tickets) for shows. What you get may be overpriced and behind a pillar (very many theatres have restricted view) or it may be just fine and you are lucky.

Turning up on the morning of a show at a theatre may get you a cheap ticket. Popular shows may get returns. Not cheap, but available.

Look out for additional charges on-line. Some are unavoidable (service charges), some may be optional (theatre restoration fund, though increasingly this is just added regardless) and then you are invited to add more. Don’t. This all can add £30+ per ticket extra.

Programmes are nice souvenirs but are often overpriced (£10) for what they are (books of adverts).

Big ticket events always attract touts. They are not a charity. Many venues do not allow you in if you are not the named person on the ticket. It’s illegal.

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Money matters I

London is an expensive city, to live in and to work in. If that’s news to you, you need to do some more research.

It’s not the most expensive in the world by miles, but it still may be a shock for you.

We have a philosophy for our holidays which is very simple and may work for you. It is:

DON’T BE CHEAP

Look, it’s a holiday. Maybe you have spent a fortune on flights and accommodation, travel insurance, someone to feed the cats twice a day, you have taken time off work, dealt with airport security and airport parking, and passport fees, and lost bags and you come to London and find Westminster Abbey costs £30 and you think that’s too much and you skip it.

But look, you wanted to see it. You may never come back here (and if you do, it won’t be cheaper) and where else can you see it? How many other Westminster Abbeys are there in the world (hint: none).

It’s fine not to go there, just don’t complain afterwards.

Don’t waste your money on things you can find at home, or everywhere. Look for local colour.

When we go on holiday, we don’t worry too much about the costs because it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What’s a happy memory worth? But we don’t want to be conned or taken advantage of.

We can’t make your holiday cheap, but we can give some advice to make sure you aren’t scammed and get the best value you can ie not pay more than you have to.

We also have advice that directly contradicts the first advice.

Such is life…

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