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Post by viserys on Sept 13, 2017 6:27:36 GMT
Sorry to open a new thread, but I have a rather specific question/problem.
For the first time ever I'll be in London the week after christmas, arriving on Boxing Day and departing before NYE and its crowds. As I had hoped, I could get a great price on a fairly upmarket hotel because (I assume) the business suits are not in town during that week. On the downside I've also noted that Eurostar is bleeding me dry for the tickets on Boxing Day, presumably because people are on the move to visit family and friends for christmas.
Anyway! Thought was to take my mother along and get her to see some of the shows I enjoyed most in recent years which we either don't get in Germany at all or at twice the price for half the quality. Since Kinky Boots and School of Rock are discounting most of the time, I thought it would be easy to get half price tickets or other deals but I took a look at the seating plan for Kinky Boots on 26th December and it looks very well sold.
So I wanted to check with those who know better than me: Is it a busy week for the theatres as people go on family outings and such after christmas? Should I book ahead full price after all? I can go for dayseats to either show on the day after (27th), but as we're only arriving in the afternoon of 26th, I doubt I'd still get dayseats for the same day.
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Post by infofreako on Sept 13, 2017 6:32:18 GMT
It can be a busy week. School holidays and people out on post Christmas family trips. Others may know in greater detail. Stasia has made previous trips over around that time |
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Post by Stasia on Sept 13, 2017 6:48:49 GMT
From my previous experiences, this is quite busy and sold-out time, and the day seats queues are rather big. People are visiting family, giving them tickets to see a show and enjoy their festive outings!
I dayseated for Wicked a few years ago on Dec 31 and Jan 1 (this was cruel!), and there were lots of other people in the queue. So if I am around these days I am trying to book in advance (school of Rock might have not very pricey seats) as much as possible, as the weather is usually not very daysetting-friendly.
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Post by viserys on Sept 13, 2017 7:17:58 GMT
Okay, so going that week was a bad idea  I might look into booking cheapish seats for SoR ahead then for 26th and try my luck with the Kinky Boots dayseat queue on Wednesday morning. It will be good training for the following week when we'll be at the ski jumping in Salzburg and I'll be standing out in the cold for 3-4 hours  |
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Post by infofreako on Sept 13, 2017 7:25:41 GMT
Its a great idea. I always find it a nice atmosphere in London that week
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 7:48:50 GMT
What I particularly like about theatre at the holiday time is all the children's shows that open and play random morning slots in otherwise occupied theatres. I get that not everyone is interested in The Gruffalo's Child, but I'm quite hopeful for Wilde Creatures. Obviously if you really hate the idea of being surrounded by children you probably shouldn't look into it, but if you don't really care about that and don't mind what the target age is for a show as long as it's enjoyable, then it's worth seeing what's around.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 7:52:08 GMT
You might also luck out with the days between Christmas and New Year being less busy- people travelling/generally hibernating. Generally shows that aren't the big 'family' ones as well will be quieter. It's also a lovely time of year in London generally so not a bad time (also I'll be there from the 29th-31st so what's not to love  ) |
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Post by infofreako on Sept 13, 2017 7:54:42 GMT
I could get to london and meet viserys and @emicardiff at the same time. Sounds good |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 8:07:33 GMT
I could get to london and meet viserys and @emicardiff at the same time. Sounds good Do it! I might even bring Welsh Cakes! (p.s we're also both around and hanging out together in October) |
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Post by viserys on Sept 13, 2017 8:07:46 GMT
You might also luck out with the days between Christmas and New Year being less busy- people travelling/generally hibernating. Generally shows that aren't the big 'family' ones as well will be quieter. It's also a lovely time of year in London generally so not a bad time (also I'll be there from the 29th-31st so what's not to love ) Aww, dang, I'll be departing 29th in the morning! Will be hibernating at home over NYE/New Year, then off to Salzburg on 5th January. Why yes, we'll be doing the Sound of Music Tour, do you need to ask? If my mother makes me stand in the cold for four hours for the ski jumping, she owes me that one. Anyway, based on the advise I have now booked School of Rock ahead for the Tuesday as I think it's probably one of those popular family shows. So Wednesday morning will be spent in the Kinky Boots queue and everything else is booked ahead anyway. There's that little new show called Hamilton.... |
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Post by infofreako on Sept 13, 2017 8:10:13 GMT
I could get to london and meet viserys and @emicardiff at the same time. Sounds good Do it! I might even bring Welsh Cakes! (p.s we're also both around and hanging out together in October) October it is then by the sounds of it. When in October so I can plan ahead |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 8:10:57 GMT
You might also luck out with the days between Christmas and New Year being less busy- people travelling/generally hibernating. Generally shows that aren't the big 'family' ones as well will be quieter. It's also a lovely time of year in London generally so not a bad time (also I'll be there from the 29th-31st so what's not to love ) Aww, dang, I'll be departing 29th in the morning! Will be hibernating at home over NYE/New Year, then off to Salzburg on 5th January. Why yes, we'll be doing the Sound of Music Tour, do you need to ask? If my mother makes me stand in the cold for four hours for the ski jumping, she owes me that one. Anyway, based on the advise I have now booked School of Rock ahead for the Tuesday as I think it's probably one of those popular family shows. So Wednesday morning will be spent in the Kinky Boots queue and everything else is booked ahead anyway. There's that little new show called Hamilton.... She definatly owes you the Sound of Music tour. Which is fabulous. Never have I ever done it while wearing a dress that looked like it was made of curtains. *drinks* Also you get to see the Red Bull HQ which is weird but worth mentioning. |
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Post by kathryn on Sept 13, 2017 8:33:56 GMT
Are you spending NYE in London, Emi?
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Post by Stasia on Sept 13, 2017 8:44:58 GMT
@emicardiff I'm also arriving to London on Dec 29! sadly missing viserys but ready to meet you" seeing Nice Fish on the 29th and (hopefully my ticket disaster will be sorted) Hamilton on 30th, nothing else booked so far. And I am spending NYE in London so looking forward to everyone's recommendations and knowledge on shows open on Dec 31 and Jan 1  (hope you don't mind me asking in your topic, viserys!) |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 8:45:21 GMT
Are you spending NYE in London, Emi? Nooooo I shall be doing the traditional 'hibernate in my living room' on NYE we head back that afternoon. October dates are the weekend of 13-15 I believe! |
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Post by Stasia on Sept 13, 2017 8:46:41 GMT
You might also luck out with the days between Christmas and New Year being less busy- people travelling/generally hibernating. Generally shows that aren't the big 'family' ones as well will be quieter. It's also a lovely time of year in London generally so not a bad time (also I'll be there from the 29th-31st so what's not to love ) Aww, dang, I'll be departing 29th in the morning! Will be hibernating at home over NYE/New Year, then off to Salzburg on 5th January. Why yes, we'll be doing the Sound of Music Tour, do you need to ask? If my mother makes me stand in the cold for four hours for the ski jumping, she owes me that one. Anyway, based on the advise I have now booked School of Rock ahead for the Tuesday as I think it's probably one of those popular family shows. So Wednesday morning will be spent in the Kinky Boots queue and everything else is booked ahead anyway. There's that little new show called Hamilton.... Good luck with queueing and please report back on the queue size! I might be dayseatting later in that week |
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Post by viserys on Sept 13, 2017 9:41:23 GMT
Haha, okay, I will And don't worry about hijacking the thread, it looks like there are several of us in town around that time and that's always lovely even if I'll be missing both you and Emily this time by a hair! |
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Post by dizzieblonde on Sept 13, 2017 9:59:42 GMT
I'll be in London on 28th Dec, for Hamilton (hopefully!!). Depending on my schedule over the Christmas break, and the relative costs, I haven't yet decided if I'll do the round trip in a day (2.5h train each way), or find a cheap overnight b&b the night before or after (if that exists in that Xmas period!). That way, I could perhaps do some dayseating the day before or after - depends what the performance schedules are for that week between Christmas and New Year - does anyone know if any shows are putting on extra matinees or changing their normal day of matinee perhaps, due to the Xmas break?
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Post by viserys on Sept 13, 2017 10:26:55 GMT
I'll be in London on 28th Dec, for Hamilton (hopefully!!). Matinee or evening? I'll be at the matinee that day The fact that Hamilton does a Thursday matinee was what got this whole trip started instead of my standard Thursday-Sunday tours. |
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Post by dizzieblonde on Sept 13, 2017 10:50:12 GMT
I'll be in London on 28th Dec, for Hamilton (hopefully!!). Matinee or evening? I'll be at the matinee that day The fact that Hamilton does a Thursday matinee was what got this whole trip started instead of my standard Thursday-Sunday tours. Yep, matinee too! See you there! The good thing about some shows doing Thursday matinees is, if I time a 2-day trip right on Wed-Thur that week, that's potentially 3-4 shows I can see in just 2 days! Just a case of finding those (affordable) tickets now! Fingers crossed the weather is OK, and I won't have to risk hypothermia for multiple hours of queuing, just to get cheap seats! |
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Post by viserys on Sept 13, 2017 10:57:11 GMT
Matinee or evening? I'll be at the matinee that day The fact that Hamilton does a Thursday matinee was what got this whole trip started instead of my standard Thursday-Sunday tours. Yep, matinee too! See you there! The good thing about some shows doing Thursday matinees is, if I time a 2-day trip right on Wed-Thur that week, that's potentially 3-4 shows I can see in just 2 days! Yea, that was my thinking too for booking this - 5 shows in 3 days! I'll be in Row D in the stalls, so say hi if you see me |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2017 19:02:04 GMT
Just to chime in, my experience is that the West End at that time of year is hell - it's prime season for once a year theatregoers having a treat, which usually involves gallon bags of noisy sweets, getting drunk, mid-show selfies, etc. However anything a bit non-obvious, unusual or non-festive gets a really well behaved audience - which I've always assumed is gratitude at having escaped the family and three hours of Coronation Street a day for a few hours!
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I might look into booking cheapish seats for SoR ahead then for 26th and try my luck with the Kinky Boots dayseat queue on Wednesday morning. It will be good training for the following week when we'll be at the ski jumping in Salzburg and I'll be standing out in the cold for 3-4 hours 
) 
