04 Apr 2019
Posted by Aisling Bonner 
Are you partial to flashing your jazz hands when the mood is right? Do you stare into the mirror and practise crying on cue? Maybe it’s time to leave it to the pros, and what better way to do that than with a trip across the pond to London’s West End? With over 40 theatres hosting performances every day of the week, the choice can be overwhelming. We have the low-down on putting together an unforgettable trip, and a look at some of the biggest arrivals to the West End this year.
Getting the best deal
Although booking ahead will guarantee better seats and peace of mind, one of the novelties of the West End is that bargain hunters can nab themselves some great last-minute deals. There are countless ticket kiosks offering discounts all over the city, but the official TKTS Booth in Leicester Square is the most authentic and reliable. Show up on the day and choose from an impressive selection of musicals and plays at a discounted rate.
Prices vary depending on the show and the day of the week, but if your timing is right you could be off to The Lion King, Mamma Mia or Phantom for as little as 30 quid. Midweek shows are usually cheaper than weekends, and you’ll tend to get a better deal on a matinée than an evening show.
You can check which productions are available and their prices before heading to the booth here.
If that’s not enough, there are over 80 theatres and venues ‘off-West End’ where you can see musicals, plays, comedy gigs and more at a cheaper rate.
Hot tickets
Waitress
Waitress became one of the hottest tickets on Broadway when it opened in 2016. With music and lyrics written by ‘Love Song’ singer Sara Bareilles, Waitress features an all-female creative team and tells the story of Jenna, a pie-making aficionado, who is trapped in a loveless marriage in a lifeless town.
Jenna’s life is shaken up when an unexpected pregnancy leads her into the arms of her gynaecologist. Like the homemade pies on offer from the Front of House crew, this show is a feel-good treat. Running at the Adelphi Theatre, Strand, London WC2R 0NS.
Come From Away
If you missed its sell-out run at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, Come From Away hasn’t gone too far – the award-winning musical landed on the West End in January.
Set in the small Canadian town of Gander, the show chronicles the true events that occurred when 38 planes carrying 7,000 passengers were forced to land in Newfoundland in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
With a powerful soundtrack bearing a distinctly Celtic influence, this incredible story will leave you laughing one minute and crying the next. Running at the Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0JP.
9 to 5 The Musical
Cowboy boots and mullets at the ready, it’s time for a hoe-down! Based on the 1980 film of the same name, 9 to 5 The Musical is a feast for country music fans and features tunes from the iconic Dolly Parton.
Set in the late 1970s, this energetic, uplifting show sees three female co-workers get even with their sexist boss and flex their girl-power muscles to Dolly’s country classics.
Starring singer Louise Redknapp, actress Bonnie Langford and comedian Brian Conley, this production has plenty of big names behind it. Running until August at the Savoy Theatre, Savoy Ct, London WC2R 0ET.
Fiddler On The Roof
It’s over fifty years since Fiddler On The Roof first hit the West End, beginning a run of 2,030 performances.
Set during the Russian Revolution, the story surrounds Tevye, the father of five daughters, as he struggles to preserve his Jewish traditions amidst the encroachment of modern life and growing anti-Semitism.
Featuring classic songs ‘Tradition’, ‘If I Were a Rich Man’ and ‘Sunrise, Sunset’, Fiddler On The Roof is a staple on many musical bucket-lists. Tissues at the ready – this one’s a weepy. Running until June at The Playhouse Theatre, Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5DE.
Perennial favourites
If you’ve got some pennies to spare, why not team a new arrival with an established great? Join the revolution at Hamilton or Les Misérables, experience the magic of Wicked or Matilda, or sit back and marvel at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.
London’s West End is also home to a host of plays. Agatha Christie’s murder-mystery epic The Mousetrap is the longest running play of all time and now in its 67th year. J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child needs no introduction. There are also great opportunities to see some well-known actors in the flesh, with many plays boasting high-profile bills.
Getting There
Travelling to London is as easy as it gets. Dublin, Cork, Kerry, Shannon, Knock, Derry and both Belfast airports all have direct flights to London several times each day.
Depending on which of the six London airports you fly to, transfer times to the city centre vary. However, all are within an hour’s train ride from the heart of the city.
Generally, the most direct route will cost you more, so if you want to save money you’ll probably have to compromise on travel time.
If you decide to take a ferry to Britain and drive to London, don’t forget that your AA Membership also covers you in the UK. And don’t forget to buy your AA Travel Insurance before you set off – click here for full details. There’s nothing like peace of mind!
Where to stay
London’s West End is well-connected by public transport, with Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden stations all in its vicinity. Staying a few Tube stops away could allow you the funds to add a sneaky matinée to your itinerary.
The Mandeville Hotel is a stylish boutique hotel less than ten minutes on the Tube from Covent Garden, and it’s 4* AA-approved. A little further out, Lancaster Gate Hotel is 3* AA-approved, and neighbours the royals at Kensington Palace.
Those looking for theatres on their doorstep will need to be prepared to pay for it. But if you’re willing, the 5* AA-approved Savoy Hotel is the luxury treat you deserve. It even has its own theatre!
If you’re lucky enough to have nabbed a Hamilton or Wicked ticket, you’ll become acquainted with the Victoria area where both shows reside. Its modern restaurant complex is full of choice with pre-theatre deals in abundance. The 4* AA-approved St. Ermin’s Hotel will leave you with less than a 10 minute walk to Victoria, and it’s equally close to Westminster and Big Ben.
The Millennium Hotel in Knightsbridge covers all bases location-wise, and being close to Harrod’s it’s the shopaholic’s dream. AA Hotels have given it a 4* rating.
Remember that for £5 you can get yourself an Oyster card (like a Leap card), which you can top up as you go and use on buses, trams, trains and the Tube – where there’s always a great post-show atmosphere!
