Cheap theatre tickets in Leicester Square

Kate Goldstone 11 November, 2014, 10:05

London's Leicester Square is packed with little booths selling cheap last minute theatre tickets. The original is the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth, long known as TKTS, in the Clocktower Building on the south side of the square.

The Official London Theatre Ticket Booth (TKTS) in Leicester Square. Photo by R Sones.

About the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth

Run by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), a not-for-profit organisation, it's their only official ticket booth and has been in Leicester Square since 1980. SOLT is an associate member of STAR, the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers, which supports the theatre industry and re-invests in it. TKTS sells discounted theatre tickets, mainly same-day tickets, with advance tickets available in person at the booth, plus a few full price tickets for some shows. They charge a £3 booking fee per ticket (correct as of October 2026), which covers the cost of running the booth, with any profit reinvested in theatre. The booth is open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm (correct as of October 2026).

TKTS is ideal if you're already in town and fancy seeing a show on impulse, though the choice can be limited. If you're planning ahead, we're probably your best bet. Here's how the two compare:

When tickets go on sale: TKTS sells on-the-day tickets from 12.01am, online at OfficialLondonTheatre.com/TKTS or in person at the booth.
Choice: at TKTS, you can only choose from what is left on the day.
Discounts: TKTS discounts vary by show, while ours go up to 60% off face value.
Theatre Tokens: TKTS accepts them, both online and at the booth.

It's also worth checking that the seats on offer have a good, unrestricted view of the stage.

Other Leicester square tickets booths and touts

Leicester Square is studded with different theatre ticket outlets, and STAR's advice is to take care when using them. Most importantly, make sure the booth is a STAR member, bound by its customer-friendly guidelines and rules. If you're not sure, ask to see their certificate.

Some Leicester Square theatre ticket outlets have no connection with the Society of London Theatre and aren't regulated by the society either. While they might be perfectly legitimate, when you buy theatre tickets through them you don't help support the theatre industry, which is a shame. It's nice to play a part in keeping the city's vibrant theatre scene one of the best in the world.

If you're ever tempted to buy theatre tickets from a tout, step away. They're often sold at more than face value, there are no guarantees, there's no comeback if something goes wrong, you could have your identity stolen and your tickets might even turn out to be fake or stolen.

Buying West End theatre tickets online with us

We accept all major cards for ordinary bookings and take alternative methods of payment if you're making a group booking for ten or more people. You can either pay online via our 100% secure website or over the phone via our friendly helpline, available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, weekends 9am to 7pm.

We don't charge a booking fee for discounted tickets or tickets sold at face value. If we can't find discounted tickets for you we'll charge a fee in accordance with STAR guidelines. And we always display the face value of tickets before you pay so you can see exactly what you are getting.

Our 24/7 reservation system lets you search for real time ticket availability, compare seats and prices on different dates and buy your theatre tickets in just a few clicks. And there are no other hidden charges.

We always have excellent ticket availability because we hold large ticket allocations and connect directly into most west end theatres box offices. This means we can offer the maximum ticket availability all year round at the best prices.

We sell tickets for most London shows and hold the largest inventory in the West End. In addition to that, when you chose to buy discounted tickets, you’ll pay substantially less than box office prices, up to 60% discount off face value prices on weekday and matinee performances.

Our special offers

Looking for a bargain? Our special offers page rounds up the latest discounted tickets across the West End, from long-running musicals to new plays. Offers change regularly, so it's worth checking back before you book.