Skip to main content

Day Seat Finder

www.TheatreMonkey.co.uk - How to find the best seats and theatre ticket deals.

DAY SEATS are normally limited to 1 or 2 per person.
REMEMBER: SITUATIONS VARY ON A DAY BY DAY BASIS, AND ADVICE GIVEN HERE COULD EASILY CHANGE AT ANY TIME.

Unsold "day seats" sometimes turn up online at the venue's official website, or can be bought by telephone from the official box office too.

As theatres are still aiming to keep contact in person to a minimum, plans for "in person" and "Online" day seating change all the time. The monkey updates this page as soon as information is available.

The list is based on information known AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO ALL PERFORMANCES.

Also included are productions due to begin performances soon, but which may not yet have opened.

ALL details are given in good faith, but Theatremonkey.com cannot accept responsibility for any changes or error, nor subsequent losses incurred.
Also, do note that it can't advise in advance about "the right time to get into line," on any specific day, as it can vary so much, so please use other readers' comments below as your guide!
As a rule, the nearer a show gets to its final performance, the earlier you have to try for day seats...

Be aware that todaytix.com has also now introduced "Theatre Roulette" on its app. You are allocated a random show for a set price, for those willing to gamble.

Details of events at other venues may appear at the end of this table. Scroll down to check.

 

Theatre Name / Show Title Usual
Location
Likely Number of seats Price Notes / Reader Experiences
 

Adelphi
Back to the Future The Musical
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25


RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix

Reader reports:
27th November 2021: Decided to try my luck in person. Box office, said the "day seats" were Todaytix only & he couldn't help me at all. 
March 2023: You can get £25 tickets for the first row if there is any left, so do it in advance online.
 

Aldwych
Tina The Musical
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25
RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix
 

Ambassadors
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
 

Box office discretion

Box office discretion

£29.50

RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £29.50 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix


Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue
John Cleese's Fawlty Towers - The Play
 
Box office discretion

Box office discretion

£25

RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix


Apollo Victoria
Wicked

 
With ATG Tickets: Stalls row A weekly.

/

Todaytix: Box Office discretion

With ATG Tickets: 24 very day

/

Todaytix: 12*

*May vary at their discretion.

All: £29.50

The most notorious day seat line in London is finished. DO NOT go to the theatre to buy day seats.

There are now three online methods to buy.

Weekly Rush: Enter online at www.wickedthemusical.co.uk. Click "Ticket Sales" then "Wicked Front Row." Stalls front row A will be released each Wednesday at 10am for all performances for the following week. First come, first served, the first in line can buy up to 2 (sometimes 4) tickets for their chosen performance the following week. Tickets will be allocated on a "best available" basis.

App TodayTix are offering "Daily Dozen tickets" for all performances. 12 tickets released for the performance on that day, at 10am. Download the App from Todaytix, to allow you to access the sale.

Reader reports:
9th October 2021. I miss day seats live queue fun, bun online thing has its own pros. The online Wicked queue is intense! Entered 10:02am got A30, meaning the first ten day seats for Saturday matinee were already taken.

Wednesday 9th February 2022. The Most Notorious Queue (c) it is. Entered Wicked day seats online queue 10:01am — had 271 users in front of me ? got A36 for Sunday matinee which is a miracle ???.

Friday 22nd September 2023: Booked centre A for next Tuesday at 8:29am.


Arts
Choir of Man
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25

App TodayTix offer £25 "Rush tickets" for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix, unlock the "Rush Ticketing" feature by sharing on Facebook or Twitter, and that will allow you to buy tickets.  


@ Soho Place
A Christmas Carol (ish)
 
     

No policy


Bridge
Guys and Dolls

 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25

RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, usually standing places, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix


Cambridge
Matilda The Musical
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion lottery: £25
16-25 scheme: £10
Standby: £35 (£30 Wednesday afternoons)

For Everybody: Online Ticket Lottery at http://uk.matildathemusical.com/lottery/
A chance to win the right to buy two top non-premium price tickets for £25 each. Entries can be made at any time for any performances within a two-week period. A draw is made each Thursday for the following week. Winners will be notified by email 3 to 5 days before the event, and will have 24 hours from then to book the actual tickets.

For those aged 16 to 25 ONLY. Limited to 1 per person, and may be paid for in cash or by credit card and PROOF OF AGE IS REQUIRED. The booking must be done by the person who will be using the ticket. Other seats may be substituted.
A reader advises arriving 3 hours before the box office opens.

"Standby" for concession groups - unwaged, seniors, students - is also available, price £35 (£30 Wednesday afternoons) at the box office on the day of the performance subject to proof of entitlement and availability. The price may be offered to other people at box office discretion on the day, again subject to availability.


Charing Cross
Jack and the Beanstalk: What A Whopper!
 
   

 

No policy.


Criterion
Titanique
 
      No policy.

Dominion
The Devil Wears Prada
 

 

 

 

No policy.

Donmar Warehouse
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Box office discretion Box office discretion £65, £50, £30, £15
(£60, £45, £25, £15 previews)

For all performances EXCEPT on Press Night.
Every day at 10am, a number of tickets at all prices will be released for the corresponding day the following week, bookable by phone 020 3282 3808 or online www.donmarwarehouse.com.


Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Tempest

 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £29.50

LOTTERY: Visit lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/the-tempest-sigourney-weaver
A chance to win the right to buy two tickets for £29.50 each. Entries can be made at any time. A draw is made each Friday at noon for the following week. Winners will be notified by email, and will have 24 hours from then to book the actual tickets.

ACCESS SCHEME: Those aged 30 or under, Key Workers or receiving government benefits can buy up to 2 tickets, located on stalls, dress circle and upper circle levels for £25 each at all performances. Tickets are available first-come, first-served at https://thejamielloydcompany.com/access-tickets until they are sold out. Proof of entitlement will be required, and both ticket users must qualify for this scheme.


Duke of York's
Barcelona

Stalls row A, plus box office  discretion

10 on row AA, plus box office discretion, maximum 200 seats each week.

£25

WEEKLY LOTTERY: 200 tickets, including 10 on the front row, A, of the stalls at £25 each.
Visit barcelonatheplay.com/lottery/ and register to receive an email.
Every Monday at a link will be sent out. Use it to enter the "waiting room" between 11am and 11.59am. At 12 noon random places will be assigned and it will be "first come, first served" for tickets to all performances in the coming week.
Open to all, maximum 2 tickets per customer.

Duchess Theatre
The Play That Goes Wrong

     

No policy.


Fortune
Operation Mincemeat
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25

Standing room and any returned tickets are released daily from 12 noon on the day of performance for all shows EXCEPT Saturday Evenings at www.atgtickets.com.


Online Ticket Lottery at www.operationmincemeat.com/lottery
A chance to win the right to buy two full price tickets for £25 each for Wednesday to Saturday performances. Entries can be made at any time for any performances within a two-week period. A draw is made every second Monday (Friday, if the Monday is a public holiday) at 2pm for the following two weeks. Winners will be notified by email and will have 24 hours from then to book the actual tickets. Seat location is at venue discretion. If you have access requirements, you can still enter the draw, and choose seats. Then email the box office, who will move your seats to more appropriate ones to match your needs.

Reader reports:
October 2023. It seems pretty easy to win the Operation Mincemeat Lottery both me and a friend won it in the same week. The catch is that all the available lottery seats were in the last three rows of the Upper Circle (with one seat here and there available on the far side of Row B of the Upper Circle).  We decided not to go for it. From comments elsewhere it seems these are the usual lottery winning seats.
October 2023. Monday ticket lottery in October: so, got £90 Saturday Matinee seats for £25! Very chuffed and grateful for this great deal!


Garrick
Why Am I So Single?
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25

RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix


Gielgud
Oliver!
 

 

 

 

No policy announced.

Gillian Lynne
The Lehman Trilogy

Box office discretion Box office discretion

£30

RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £30 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix


Harold Pinter
Macbeth
 

SEATED: Stalls row A

STANDING: Rear Upper Circle and Rear Balcony

SEATED: 19

STANDING: 34

SEATED: £25

STANDING: £20

Seated and standing tickets are sold to personal callers at the box office from 10am. Maximum 2 per person.

Extra standing tickets are also sold online on the day of the performance from 10am at www.atgtickets.com. Maximum 2 per person.

Reader Reports
Thursday 24th October 2024. Arrived at 08:00am this morning. Bought the 5th ticket. Last people to get seats arrived around 09:15am.
19 seats available and 37 standing spots. Usually plenty of standing left, even later in the day, at the moment.
Friday 1st November 2024: Got to the queue at around 6:30am, and I was the 3rd person in the queue. 1st arrived at 4:50am, 2nd at 5:15am, and the me at 6:30am. 4th person at 7:10am.
Friday 15th November 2024: We (two people getting two tickets each) started the queue at 6am. Next 3 people arrived at 07:05am. Last person to get day seats arrived at 08:30am.
Saturday 16th November 2024: The box office had previously advised that most people arrive around 8am, so I showed up at 7:35am and was the 9th person in the queue. A couple of people arrived just before me. The last person to get tickets that day showed up right after 10am, when the box office opened. For the more popular evening show, the last person to secure a ticket arrived at 9am. 
Monday 25th November 2024: Arrived this morning at 7.40am, was 9th in the queue, people were still joining at 9.30am, person behind me got the last 2 front row tickets, think she arrived at around 8.20am.


Theatre Royal, Haymarket
Waiting for Godot
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £30

RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £30 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix


His Majesty's
The Phantom of the Opera
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £42.50 or £37.50

Visit https://uk.thephantomoftheopera.com/day-tickets/ from 10am on performance days. Seats are available, first come, first served. Maximum of 2 per customer. 

Reader reports:
Wednesday 17th November 2021: Got row L.


London Palladium
Robin Hood
 
     

No policy.

Lyceum
Disney's The Lion King
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25


MAGICAL MONDAYS: Visit www.disneytickets.co.uk/disney-day-seats-tickets at 12 noon each Monday. £25 seats are available for all performances that week, first come, first served. Maximum of 2 per customer. 

Other offers may be also be made, at box office discretion, this includes standing room in the Upper Circle, priced £20, sold once the theatre is full.

Reader reports:
May 2022:"Disney Magical Mondays": in general. I've found that logging in mid-morning ensures a good position in the queue when it opens at midday, and have been able to buy good seats for 'Frozen' and 'The Lion King' this way.


Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue
Hadestown
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £30
RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £30 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix
 
National Theatre
Olivier, Lyttelton, Dorfman


STANDBY: Unsold seats may be available at £15 off the original prices to personal callers at the box office from 1 hour before the performance.
This is reduced to a flat rate of £20 each to Students, Stage Pass, the unwaged, SOLT, NCA and other theatre union members. Valid I.D. is required for this concession.
This offer does not apply to "sold out" performances where only returned and 'producer's use' tickets are available.

FRIDAY RUSH: Every Friday at 1pm, a number of £10 seats are also released online and by phone for the following week's performances via the National Theatre's website www.nationaltheatre.org.uk.


Noel Coward
Dr. Strangelove
 
     
No policy.
 

Novello
Mamma Mia!
 
     
No policy.
 

Old Vic 
A Christmas Carol
 
     

No policy.


Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park
CLOSED UNTIL MAY 2025
 
     

 


Other Palace 
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25.50 RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25.50 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix
Palace
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts 1 and 2
     

NO "DAY SEATS."
From 12.01am each Monday until 1pm each Friday, customers aged over 18 can enter a lottery to win the right to buy up to 2 of 40 tickets, located all over the theatre, for each performance in the following week which will be released for the following week.
Tickets cost £40 (£20 per per play).
To enter the lottery, you need to visit http://www.harrypottertheplay.com/ticket-information/ OR
Download the App from Todaytix.
At 1pm every Friday the lottery will close. Successful customers will be notified between 1pm and 5pm that same Friday. If selected, you can buy a maximum of two tickets for parts one and two in a single transaction.

Returns Line: At the theatre.
Reader reports:
Saturday 11th February 2017. First in line at 7 am. Second person came at 8:30 am. 4 in line at 10 am. Got Stalls, Row M, Seat 1 at 10:30 am.


Phoenix
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £19.59

LOTTERY: Visit Stranger Things for details. Run by Todaytix, you can enter every Friday until the following Monday.
Each Monday, a draw will be held for tickets to shows the following week.
Seats may be anywhere, including the front row.
If notified as a winner, you will have 30 minutes to claim your tickets.
Maximum 2 tickets per winner.


Piccadilly
Moulin Rouge
 
Todaytix discretion Todaytix discretion £30

£30 Bohemian Seats: Enter online App TodayTix offer 30 "Rush tickets" for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served at 10am. Download the App from Todaytix, unlock the "Rush Ticketing" feature by sharing on Facebook or Twitter, and that will allow you to buy tickets.  


Playhouse
Cabaret
 
Box office discretion but will include stalls tables. 6 £25

 

DAILY LOTTERY: Via app Todaytix at www.todaytix.com/london/shows/23939-cabaret. Entries open at 0.01am on the day of the show, with the draw closing 4 hours before performance time. Winners are contacted by email and have 30 minutes to accept their tickets. Maximum 2 tickets per winner.
 


Prince Edward
MJ The Musical
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £30

WEEKLY LOTTERY: via app Todaytix at www.todaytix.com/london/shows/28638-mj-the-musical. Entries open at 0.01am on Thursday and close at 1pm on the following Wednesday each week.
Winners are contacted by push notification from 1pm onwards, and have 30 minutes to accept their tickets. Maximum 2 tickets per winner.
Tickets could be in any section of the auditorium.

Prince of Wales
The Book of Mormon
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25

App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets" for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix.

Royal Court Theatre
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and Jerwood Theatre Upstairs
 
      If the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs is sold out, standing places are available at 10p per ticket on the day of performance.

If a show in either theatre is sold out in advance, a waiting list is opened. Join it by phone on 020 7565 5000 and the box office will contact you if tickets become available.

Returned tickets on the day are sold first-come, first-served to anyone waiting at the box office.
 

Savoy
Mean Girls
 

Box office discretion

/
Here's Offer
Row BB (front row)

Todaytix: Box office discretion

/

Here's Offer
15

Both £25

App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets" for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix.

HERE'S WHERE YOU BELONG SEATS: 
Visit www.atgtickets.com at 10am each Wednesday. £25 seats are available in the front row for all performances in 2 weeks time, first come, first served. Maximum of 4 per customer. 

Shaftesbury
Mrs Doubtfire

Box office: box office discretion,, normally stalls and dress circle

/

Todaytix: Box office discretion

Box office: box office discretion

/

Todaytix: Box office discretion

Both: £30

Box office: Monday to Friday ONLY, strictly subject to availability. They reserve the right to withdraw them if the show is near to selling out.
Customers can buy in person from the box office counter from NOON on the day. They are limited to TWO per person. 

App TodayTix offer £30 "Rush tickets" for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix, unlock the "Rush Ticketing" feature by sharing on Facebook or Twitter, and that will allow you to buy tickets.  


Sondheim
Les Misérables
 
     
No policy.
 
St Martin's
The Mousetrap

Box office: Box office discretion

/

Todaytix: Box office discretion

Box office: Box office discretion

/

Todaytix: Box office discretion

Box office: £22.50

/

Todaytix: £20

Available from 10am on the day of performance online from www.the-mousetrap.co.uk, in person or by phone on 020 7836 1443.

To book, select the performance date and tick the "Day Seat" price in the list.

ALSO
App TodayTix offer £20 "Rush tickets" for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix

Reader reports:
Thursday 24th November 2022: Day tickets online for matinee and evening performance were still available at midday although all were filled by the start of the 3pm performance.  £19.52 for front row seats.

Wednesday 11th August 2021: Checked online at 7:15pm and day seats for the following evening hadn’t been released yet. Checked at 8pm and the front row had been made available for sale at the day seat price, however 4 seats had been sold. I booked stalls A10 for £19.52. Checked at 10pm and all seats had been sold except for 2.
Sunday 25th July 2021. Picked up a day ticket at 7pm the night before. Offered the stalls or side dress circle. B22 had enough leg room to be comfortable. Rake could have been better as my view of half the stage was obscured by the man in the row in front. Thankfully b23 was empty, so I moved along.


Trafalgar
The Duchess
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25 RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix
Vaudeville
Six The Musical
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25
RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering  £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix
 

Victoria Palace
Hamilton
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £10
£10 Lottery: Enter using App Todaytix - download it, find the show's name in the list and click the button.
Tickets are for the following week's performances.
The draw opens at 12:01am each Friday and close at 1pm the next Thursday. 
If you share that you have entered on social media, you get a second entry chance.
All entrants will be told "winner" or "not a winner" every Thursday between 1pm and 6pm via email and mobile push. 
Winners have 1 hour from the time they are notified to claim, before tickets go to another entrant.
Maximum 2 tickets per application.
 

Wyndhams
OEDIPUS
 
     

No policy.

OTHER EVENTS

County Hall Theatre
Witness for the Prosecution
 
Box office discretion Box office discretion £25
RUSH TICKETS: App Todaytix are offering £25 "Rush tickets," located at venue discretion, for all performances. Released for the performance on that day, first-come, first-served. Download the App from Todaytix