West End breaks are a great way to really get to know the glitziest area of London. Staying in the West End for a few days gives you a chance to see the capital and really get familiar with one small part of the metropolis. London can seem a bit overwhelming when you have to whiz about on the tube. Staying in one area where everything is within walking distance really helps you to connect with the city and start to feel comfortable with it.

Things to do in the West End

See a show, or even two.

West End breaks - The Mousetrap

The West End has some of the best shows and theatres in the world. Everything from the quintessentially English The Mousetrap to the Broadway production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof can be found within a few minutes walk. If you are booking a West End break to see one show why not try fitting in a matinée of another as well? You can get half price tickets for many matinees actually on the day at the Official Ticket Booth on Leicester Square. Do not be seduced by deals at the other so-called discount booths as these are often overpriced once you add in booking fees etc. If you do not feel like another show you could even check out the latest films in Leicester Square. If you are lucky you might happen on some stars attending the latest world premier!

Shop till you drop

Shopping during a West End break is easy and fun. You are within walking distance of Covent Garden where there’s a wonderful selection of interesting little shops, the Apple Market (which is full of crafts and antiques) and The Jubilee which is a fascinating market. On Mondays, Antiques; from Tuesday-Friday clothing and household goods, and on Saturday and Sunday arts and crafts.
Venture a little further and you find one of the biggest shopping centres in Europe in Oxford St, Bond St and Piccadilly Circus. There you will find all the high end fashion and major shops you might want. Where the West End really scores though is with little unique shops in Seven Dials and Carnaby St which will intrigue and tempt you in to look at and buy things you didn’t even know you needed.

Eat the world

Food on a West End break is very easy to organise. You might want to book your pre-theatre dinner when you book your break. Most companies offer good deals on early dinners and restaurants are used to making sure you have had your meal with plenty of time to spare for what is usually a short walk to the theatre. It is so much more relaxing than trailing across London after you’ve eaten and worrying about getting to the show on time.
The West End has lots of restaurants and they are always changing. You can eat in just about any style you fancy from Classic French to Japanese and just about everything in between. In Covent Garden you can even get a real Cornish pasty and a pint of genuine Cornish beer if that is what you fancy. Check the menu boards outside if you are worried about the prices but most places are fairly reasonable. London’s reputation for being expensive really is not deserved and prices compare very favourably with tourist traps like the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. For real food bargains head for Soho and explore China Town. It is just a short walk but a world away.
West End breaks are a great way to get to know London and I hope this little introduction will help you to see that London is definitely worth getting to know.

West End Guide shows and theatres May09

When you are thinking about shows for theatre breaks you can use our West End Guide to What’s on Where to get an idea of the size of the theatres.
This can be very useful when you are looking for a show but you aren’t really sure what you want to see.
Bigger productions like Sister Act or Wicked are in the largest theatres whereas something like Stomp, although it’s still great fun, isn’t in quite such a spectacular setting.

Of course size isn’t everything when it comes to theatres. Phantom of the Opera and Les Miz are both in smaller, older theatres but the theatres are quite grand and their productions are still full of spectacle.

West End Live

West End Live is an annual event usually held in Leicester Square towards the end of June. Most of the big musicals take part and extracts are performed live on a stage in the Square. The whole event is free and, although it can get very busy, well worth a visit. If you are in London for a theatre break anyway it’s a great way to add even more excitement to your trip.

WEST END LIVE 2009

When- Sat 20th June, 11am to 6pm and Sunday 21st June 12 noon to 6pm

Where – Leicester Square

This summer as usual some of the biggest shows on in the West End and Off will be taking part in the free entertainment.

You can expect to see performances from all these shows, plus some surprises.

• Wicked,
• We Will Rock You,
• Thriller LIVE,
• Stomp,
• Sister Act,
• Priscilla Queen Of The Desert,
• Oliver!,
• La Cage Aux Folles,
• Jersey Boys,
• Hairspray,
• Dirty Dancing,
• Carousel
• Avenue Q.

Now in its 5th year West End LIVE offers world class free entertainment. There will be lots of cool activities, stalls and freebies. The event is expected to be attended by 150,000 people.

I’ll add a running order as soon as it’s available.

Some people worry about eating out in London’s West End, and perhaps with good reason. Food in central London can be a bit expensive, some places are overcrowded at certain times of day, restaurants may be pretentious and not very good. But it really doesn’t have to be that way.

A weekend theatre break for example, should be a thoroughly enjoyable experience all the way through and dining out should be one of the high points, a part of the treat.

West End Guide to Pre Theatre Dining

Suppose you arrive at Kings Cross Station or Euston at about 4pm on a Friday afternoon and make your way by taxi cab to your four star West End hotel.

Pre-booked Pre-theatre Dinner in the West End

When you book a theatre break with hotel stay and show tickets included, it’s easy to add a pre-show dinner, either at the hotel where you will be staying or at a suggested nearby quality restaurant. These meal deals or add-ons are all set up to make sure you have an relaxed restaurant dinner and can still arrive at the theatre in plenty of time to take you seats well before the show starts. The restaurant bill is then included in the total cost of your break and it’s usually very good value.

Choosing a West End Restaurant by  walking  in off  the street

Alternatively many of the cafes and restaurants in the West End offer fixed price pre-theatre menus. These are usually two course and cost vary wildly between £15 – £40 per person, without wine.

Here are some tips to consider before walking in off the street:

• First have a good look at the menu before you go in. Is is the kind of you food you fancy? Is there a special pre-theatre menu deal and if so what exactly is included
• Decide if you are happy with the price and check there are no hidden’extras’(VAT, Service etc)
• Now look in through the windows and see who is already eating. If nobody at all, that’s not always a bad sign if it’s still very early evening but some places are crowded from late afternoon with people coming straight out from work.
• If there are diners eating within sight, or waiters carrying food to table then have a nosy glance at the food itself. In just a second you can often get an impression if it looks appetising, artistic, not quite right, too big or too small.
• I think it’s also important to look at the tables and chairs offered to see if you think you will be comfortable and not too squashed together.

Now, once you do go in through the door of your selected restaurant you are most likely to end up eating there, but you are still really in the next stage of the evaluation process.

• You may well be able to enjoy smells coming from the kitchen and the food at tables. If anything is wrong, just turn around and walk out.
• You’ll be greeted and asked if you have a reservation, and the size of your party. Even in a busy restaurant though, an extra table for two at pre-theatre times is rarely a problem.
• When offered a table according to the size of your party, check the location before accepting. A window table is nice but not right next to the front door. Beware of the table the waiters normally keep clear because it’s right by the kitchen exit or worse. Even in an empty restaurant with no reservations, they will try to tell you where you have to sit. I don’t know why they do this, but I do know that you can certainly say “no thanks, I’d rather sit over there” and negotiate. And you can still walk out at this stage, when there are plenty of other places just two minutes walk away.

Popular Restaurants Booked with Theatre Breaks

In the heart of the West End of London is an area sometimes called ‘Theatreland’. Traditionally it is bordered by The Strand to the south, Oxford Street to the north, Regent Street to the west, and Kingsway to the east.
Important streets with theatres include :

• Drury Lane,
• Shaftesbury Avenue,
• The Strand.

The area contains around forty of London’s largest theatres.They tend to show mostly musicals, with a few classics, new plays,and comedy performances.

West End Guide to the Theatres

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Most of the theatres were built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. All of them are privately owned.
All of the older theatres have great architectural character and range in style from the grand neo-classical to the very ornate rococo. They usually have luxurious, detailed interior design and decoration, with lots of gold and plush.
Occasionally the older theatres have limited leg room and restricted views from some parts of the theatre. Tickets for these areas are usually sold cheaper and are not usually offered as part of theatre breaks.
Audience facilities such as bars and toilets are often much smaller than in modern theatres.
The buildings are all listed and this can make it hard to make improvements. However several theatres have introduced modern comforts such as air conditioning and new sound systems.

The Largest Theatres in The West End

The largest theatres in the West End seat over 2,000 theatre-goers.

• The Palladium – currently about to show Sister Act – 2286 seats
• The Apollo, Vcctoria – Wicked – 2208
• The Theatre Royal – Oliver!- 2196 seats
• The Dominion – We Will Rock You – 2163 seats
• The Lyceum – Lion King – 2100 seats

I’ll be posting more soon on our West End Guide