Things to Do on a London Theatre Break with Your Family

Posted on August 28, 2009 by admin

There’s No Shortage of Things To Do in London

Things to do - HMS Belfast

Things to do in London - Boarding HMS Belfast

Taking your family with you on theatre breaks, whether children or even grandchildren,  is not only possible but can be a delightful thing to do.

However, children do get bored and it’s a great idea to have lots of things planned in advance so you never run out of things to do

One of the best tips is to plan your things to do according to the age of the children. There’s nothing worse than getting the age/interest equation wrong. It leads to bored, frustrated children and grumpy, resentful adults.

Read on and let’s see if I can help you avoid that, shall we?

Top 5 Things to Do for Children Age 5+

Remember on theatre trips children must be over 5 to be sure of getting into the theatre.

  1. London Aquarium – South Bank. Lots of big fish in tanks, always a winner!
  2. The Rainforest Café – Shaftesbury Avenue. Fun, themed, child friendly cafe right in the heart of theatreland. Perfect if you’re going to The Lion King!
  3. Kensington Gardens - Peter Pan statue/ Diana Memorial Playground. Park and playground, very handy if your hotel is in Kensington.
  4. Coram’s Fields -  a unique seven acre playground and park for children in London. Near  the British Museum and Great Ormond Street Hospital. No adult can enter Coram’s Fields without a child and friendly on-site staff ensure that everyone can enjoy their visit. There’s lots to do, playgrounds,  a petting zoo, it’s a great place for the kids to let off a bit of steam during their trip to London.
  5. London Duck Tours – A hybrid vehicle- drive around London and then splashdown in to the Thames for a river cruise

Top 5 Things to Do for Children Age 8+

Over 8s are a bit more sophisticated and many of them will enjoy what’s on offer at the best of the London museums. London museums have come a long way in the last few years and most are extremely child friendly. If you have a child who’s into dinosaurs, horror or mummies then the museum visit could be the highlight of their trip!

  1. Madame Tussauds – Baker Street. Endlessly fascinating, slightly creepy and great fun. You can usually get a good discount on this if it’s booked at the same time as your theatre break.
  2. The Science Museum – free
  3. The Natural History Museum – Dinosaurs etc
  4. The British Museum – Mummies
  5. HMS Belfast - perfect for little (and larger) boys

Top 7 Things to Do for Teenagers

Teenagers get 7 things to do because they are just much harder to please. It’s not easy getting things just right for teenagers. Age, gender and obsessions all matter massively. Best advice is use this list as a starting point and ask them what they’d like to do. You might be surprised what interesting ideas they come up with. Of course, if you’ve involved them at the planning stage you are much less likely to hit the sulks later when you actually get there!

  1. Camden Market
  2. Shakespeare’s Globe – South Bank
  3. The Museum of London
  4. London Transport Museum – Covent Garden
  5. London Dungeon – London Bridge
  6. Westfield – Incredible shopping for fashionable teens
  7. South Bank – An unofficial skateboard area and generally cool place to hang out.

Top 5 Tips for Things to Do with a Mixed Age Group

If there’s a teenager in your group do get them involved at the planning stage and ask them to help you plan stuff for the younger ones. Few teenagers can resist stepping back to childhood just a little, especially when they’ve got a good excuse.

  1. Hamleys – everyone loves Hamleys. Little ones adore it, some of the older kids (and adults!) get fascinated with the techie toys, others adore the cutesy, trendy Hello Kitty stuff. Just keep an eye on your spending. It’s a hard place to say ‘no’!
  2. London Eye
  3. The Trocadero – Dodgems, bungee jumping
  4. Tower of London
  5. Tower Bridge experience

It’s London! There are Always More Things to Do

Many of these attractions are either free or can be booked as extras at a good discount when you book your theatre break.

If none of these appeal then try the listing in the Children’s Section of Saturday’s Guardian or even Time Out for even more ideas for things to do in London

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Theatre Breaks – What to Wear

Posted on July 25, 2009 by Linda

Your Theatre Breaks issues dealt with one by one. This is one of a series of articles for Theatre Breaks Magazine FAQ which each deal with a specific question about planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks. Today, What to pack for theatre breaks

Packing for your theatre break - photo credit Dwight Sipler via flickr

Packing for your theatre break photo credit Dwight Sipler via flickr

Theatre Breaks Suitcase Panic

First time I went on a theatre break I  hauled out the suitcases and stared at them for a long time. I was thrilled  we were off to London for a romantic weekend to see a show. I’d been looking forward to it for ages but then I started to worry.

” What do people wear to the theatre in London these days? Do we need to dress up? What do I need to take? Oh dear, what if I pack the wrong stuff and end up looking silly?”

If you’re feeling like I did then let’s see if I can help sort out those nasty ‘what ifs?’ about what to wear on your theatre breaks.

Do we need to dress up?

Not unless you want to! There is no strict dress code for any of the theatres in London. If you like to dress up and make it more of an occasion, that’s fine.

Most people wear ‘smart/casual’, some people may even be wearing jeans, few will be in full evening dress.

Do wear something comfortable, that won’t crease and is not too hot. The theatres are warm places even in winter.

If you do want to dress up

  • For women a day dress is fine. If you do want to wear an evening dress think cocktail dress rather than gown. It’s hard to beat a *LBD, ideally in something that doesn’t crease too badly.
  • A shawl, pashmina, or short embroidered cardi is usually enough to keep you warm outside.
  • Shoes should be comfortable enough to allow for a stroll round theatreland after the show. Heels should not be too high unless you are used to them.
  • Take a small handbag and don’t feel you always need a raincoat and umbrella. (It took me about 18 months after moving here to realise that I rarely needed my umbrella!)
  • On a cold night add a warmish coat but leave it at the cloakroom. It’s a real pain for you, and those around you, when you have to juggle it inside the theatre.
  • For gents a suit or smart jacket and trousers will be perfect. Ties are definitely optional. There’s no need for an evening suit unless you really want to make an impression.

*LBD =little black dress

5 ‘must haves’ for your theatre break

  1. Comfortable flat shoes for traveling and for sightseeing.
  2. Smart shoes for the theatre, still fairly comfy.
  3. A smallish handbag that you can wear crosswise – handy, leaves both hands free and easy to manage. This will also be more secure on crowded tube trains or buses. Needs to hold purse, keys, camera, tube map, bottle of water (optional) & not much else.
  4. Double points if your evening bag meets the same criteria!
  5. Dark glasses,  look glam even in winter and are vital in case of a slight case of morning after syndrome!

Final Word on What to Pack for Your Theatre Break

What ever you decide to take and wear remember this is your theatre break. London is a very anonymous place and mostly no one will notice or care about your choice of clothes. Wear the kind of clothes you feel happy and comfortable in. If you like to dress up for social occasions then do so, if not you can still enjoy your casual style theatre break.

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Theatre Breaks Tickets

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Linda

This post is part of a series answering questions about theatre breaks, following on from How to Book Theatre Breaks Online with Confidence and Theatre Breaks By Car. The full series will be available as the Theatre Breaks FAQ

Today we are looking at the issue of how you get your hands on the actual physical printed cardboard tickets so you know after all the anticipation that you will be let into the theatre and are definitely going to see the show!

How do I get my theatre break tickets?

Theatre breaks agencies do vary a little, some send your tickets out by post, but most will have them left at the theatre box office for you to collect on the day. It may depend how far in advance you book your theatre break, but there’s really nothing to worry about. Once you’ve confirmed your booking and authorised payment there will be a seat with your name on it. Well, it’s easy for me to say that I know, because part of the excitement of going to see a big show is the tingling anxiety that builds up in the hours before the big day. One way to help with this is to turn up as soon as the box office opens, which is usually about an hour before the show, when the queue should be fairly short still, present your booking voucher or just tell them your name and booking reference and collect your tickets. Phew! You’ve now got an hour to enjoy a pre-theatre drink or a stroll around theatreland and you can keep getting your tickets out to look at them as often as you like. You might want to memorise your seat numbers as this will aid negotiating your way around the various entrances once inside the theatre and after your tickets have been torn in half by the usherette. In any case you should really collect your tickets at least 30 mins before the performance starts.

Theatre Breaks Tickets boxofficeopen 300x202

What about the Hotel?

Hotels don’t issue tickets but you may receive something called a “Hotel Voucher” as part of the email confirmation you get back stright away when you book theatre breaks online. There’s no need to print this out if you don’t want to though, you can just quote the booking reference and your name when you arrive at the hotel. Earliest check in time is usually about 2pm so if you arrive early in London on the day of the start of your theatre break it’s best to take advantage of the opportunity to settle in, dump your luggage and then go out again for the afternoon or early evening.

Rail tickets booked with theatre breaks

Show and Stay is one theatre breaks agency that offers discount rail tickets when booked in advance with a theatre break. It’s a good deal because you can save up to 40% on the travel costs and arriving in central London by rail is really the best way to do it in most circumstances. These rail tickets will be sent out separately by first class post in plenty of time before you travel.

Theatre Breaks Tickets theatrebreaksbyrail 300x225

London Eye Tickets

The London Eye is the most popular add-on attraction booked with theatre breaks packages so how do you get your ‘flight’ tickets? This can get a bit complicated so please read your email confirmation carefully. If you book the London Eye River Cruise option, which is a lovely thing to do, then there’s a telephone number you need to ring to tell them when you want to go and arrange the booking. Do so as soon as you have decided upon your itinerary in order to be sure of getting your ideal flight times, and at least 72 hours in advance. You’ll also get a “London Eye Flight Only” voucher and in both cases you are asked to retain this section of confirmation to give to the London Eye people as proof of pre-booking, so in this case you probably will need to print it all out. For the Fast Track and Champagne flights, you still need to book in advance but you can turn up only 15 minutes before your flight at the fast track check-in desk and exchange your voucher for tickets there and then.

Theatre Breaks Tickets LondonEyetheatrebreaks 300x225

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Things to do in July

Posted on July 17, 2009 by admin

London theatre breaks in midsummer mean hot days and steamy nights, the occasional thunderstorm and plenty of outdoor events organised as things to do in July.

In 2009 for example, we had the enchanting Peter Pan production in Kensington Gardens, and some picnic concerts at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath. There was also the much acclaimed art installation project in Trafalgar Square on the Fourth Plinth, by Antony Gormley. Every hour a different person selcted at random from those who applied, would stand on the vacant high plinth and do whatever they like, in view of Nelson’s column and the Lions. You don’t have to be a great modern art afficianado to appreciate the voyeuristic nature of such an event, with its streaming webcam and great sense of occasion.

For most of July, the schools have not yet broken up so this makes it a good time to pick up hotel deal bargains before the crowds, and to visit some places that will become a lot noisier once the families start arriving in larger numbers. Kew Gardens for example is a delightful day out and they celebrate a 250th anniversary in 2009 with special events and the opening of a spectacular tree top walk. You can get to Kew from central London by taking a train from Waterloo, the District Line tube from Embankment or or even by boat from Westminster pier.

Things to do in July thingstodoinjuly reetopwalkkewgardens 300x225

More things to do in July

Still on a horticultural theme, July also sees the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. It’s the world’s largest annual garden and flower show and it takes place at Hampton Court, near London, organised by the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). Only RHS members can visit on Tuesday and Wednesday but anybody can visit on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Plants can be bought on any day (you can leave them in the plant creche and collect them when you leave). The easiest way to get there is take a train from London Waterloo to Hampton Court which is still within Transport for London zone 6, so a one day travelcard is valid. It is a 15 minute walk from the train station to the show.

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Theatre Breaks by Car

Posted on July 9, 2009 by Linda

Your Theatre Breaks issues dealt with one by one

This is the second of Theatre Breaks Magazine’s FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) which each deal with a topic that might get in the way of planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks.

Mr Notsure’s Dilemma

Mr Notsure and his partner were off to London for a romantic weekend to see Phantom of the Opera. He’d found a web site that promised good value. He booked right away, dismissing the idea of going by train without a thought. Later that night he started to worry. “What if the taking the car means I get stressed out driving there? What about parking in London? Oh dear, and what about that congestion charge too?

Let’s see if I can help  Mr Notsure’s  sort out those ‘what ifs?’ about theatre breaks by car.

What if the taking the car means I get stressed out driving in London?

To avoid getting stressed out on the journey:

  • Allow yourself lots of extra time. Use the AA online route planner if you don’t have Sat Nav.
  • Try to avoid arriving anywhere near London at peak times. These last longer than you might assume as people try to spread their travel times. Aim to arrive and leave after 10am, before 3pm or after 7pm.
  • Check for any known road works on your route before you set off.
Theatre Breaks by Car theatre breakstheatrebreaksbycar

Theatre Breaks by Car

Congestion Charging

The congestion charge applies in Central London between 7.00am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday

  • Basic fee- £8 per day if you pay the charge on the day of travel.
  • Pay on the first charging day after travel you pay £10.
  • If you do not pay the charge by the end of the first charging day after your journey you will be subject to a  penalty charge which is a whopping £120 !

Ideally you should pay in advance, either online or by post.

You can download a free map of the Congestion Charge Zone from Transport for London

What if I get lost in London?

It can happen to anyone, including Londoners! Even if you have sat.nav and a current A-Z you will inevitably take a wrong turn, encounter unexpected road works or meet some other problem that takes you off your planned route. If you decide you are hopelessly lost, and London signage isn’t always terribly helpful if you are, then according to a new web service, The Knowledge , there is an answer. You can ask a cabbie!

The Knowledge is a  24 hour helpline  manned by licensed London taxi  drivers and provided by Knowledge Capital Limited. By calling 0906 265 6565 you will be connected directly to a licensed London taxi driver.

The promise you the assistance of an off duty cab driver. The calls cost £1 per minute from a BT landline and are likely to be much more from your mobile. I cannot imagine you’ll be ringing from your landline so expect it to be expensive!  I’ve never used the service but it might just be worth it if you are driving round lost and in a panic.

DON’T CALL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING!

Pull over somewhere safe and make the call.

What about parking in London?

If the hotel offers parking it is always mentioned in the description. Often it will mean an extra charge, usually between £15 and £20 per day. You need to arrange this with the hotel. Give them a ring and they’ll usually be quite happy to sort it out for you.

Parking in Central London, especially near theatreland is very difficult. To be quite honest I simply would not recommend you even attempt it!

Choosing Your Hotel for Theatre Breaks by Car

Traffic near theatreland can be heavy. Park your car at the hotel

Traffic near theatreland can be heavy. Park your car at the hotel

One good solution can be to drive to your hotel, park the car and use black cabs or the tube to travel around the city.

For this to work best you should choose a hotel outside the congestion charge and use the tube or black cabs to get into and out of the centre. That way you can avoid the worst of the central London traffic and still have the comfort of your own car for the journey home. This gives you  much more flexibility and means that you don’t have the stress of driving in the worst of the city traffic.

Theatre Break Magazine FAQ

This was the second post of Theatre Breaks Magazine’s FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) each of which  deals with a specific topic that might come up when you are planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks.

(Photo Credit – Archangeli cc image via flickr)
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How to Book Theatre Breaks Online with Confidence

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Linda

This is the first in a series of posts for Theatre Breaks Magazine dealing with specific questions that trouble people about the process of planning, booking and enjoying theatre breaks. First up is online security.

Mrs Worry’s Problem:

Mrs Worry booked a theatre break last night. It was raining all day in Durham yesterday and the thought of another ‘English summer’ was just too depressing. She talked to Jim and tried to get him to go and see Mamma Mia, after all he enjoyed the film. He didn’t fancy Mamma Mia much but they finally agreed that either Jersey Boys or We Will Rock You looked good.

She spent ages looking round lots of web sites for a theatre break and eventually chose one that seemed to be good value for money. The 3* hotel looked nice and it wasn’t too far from the theatre. So she whipped out the credit card, booked  rail tickets as part of the package and it really seemed quite reasonable.

Trouble is it’s 4 a.m. now and Mrs Worry is awake and worried. The ‘what if’s?’ are spinning round her head.  Let’s see if I can deal with those nasty ‘what if’s…’ one at a time:

What if they just take my money and I never get my theatre break?

Ok, Mrs Worry, let me explain why that’s not going to happen. All the larger online theatre breaks agencies are very reputable and are all set up to provide you with a safe, secure way of getting the theatre break you want.

Still worried?  Let’s just say you were unlucky and it did happen. Your credit card will cover you against online fraud.

In the UK, you have exactly the same cover as you would have ordering products over the phone.You automatically get fraud protection with all credit cards. Since the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the European E-commerce Directive 2002 you are protected from fraud whenever you use your credit cards. And that includes online.

If you use your credit card on a web site you are covered against anyone stealing your credit card details and your money.

You are also covered when you buy goods from a company that goes bust before the goods can be delivered.

Feeling better yet? Just to make absolutely sure, follow this advice when you are booking your theatre break:

5 top security tips for booking your theatre break

How to Book Theatre Breaks Online with Confidence theatre breakssecuretheatrebreaks

1. Before you buy make a note, on paper, of the company’s contact details, including the street address and a landline phone number. The phone number is usually clearly displayed. The address will often be at the bottom of the web page or on an ‘About Us’ page. If these details are not available on the website, consider going somewhere else. Do not rely on the e-mail address alone.

2. When you buy your theatre break there are a few things you can see that will reassure you your transaction is secure. When you start to put in your details you should check that the site address changes from http to https.

How to Book Theatre Breaks Online with Confidence theatre breakshttps 1

Then make sure a security icon is displayed when you get to the payment point. This is a small padlock that sometimes appears at the bottom of your browser when you begin your transaction over the Internet. Usually you can click on the padlock to see if the retailer has an encryption certificate. This should explain the type and extent of security and encryption it uses. Only use companies that have an encryption certificate and use secure transaction technology.

Other sites use padlock icons on the page to show you that they are secure:

3. Print out your order . You can do this by using the “print screen” option on your computer.

4. Print out your confirmation e-mail when it arrives and keep it in a safe place. Check your SPAM folder if it doesn’t arrive before you panic.

5. Check your credit or debit card statement when it arrives to make sure you’ve been charged the correct amount.

If you follow these simple guidelines you don’t have to worry when you buy your theatre break online.

Changing Sites

Sometimes sites like ours and our sister site London Theatre Breaks have a form on the page like this one:

Example form

Example form

This isn’t a booking form, it just allows you to check if your show and dates are available.

When you click to book from this form or from other links on our sites you’ll notice that you are taken to another site. This is the web site of the agency through which you are actually booking your theatre break. This will be the theatre breaks agency we think is offering the best deals at the moment. This is the site that will handle your credit card details and where you can expect to see the padlock icon and the ‘https’.

Click here to get our  handy printable Secure Theatre Breaks Checklist to record everything you need. (Right click to download)

Make sure your theatre break is secure.

This post is the first in a series of answers to those 4 a.m. “What if…” questions about theatre breaks

(Source of advice BBC Webwise) (Image credit – Garry Knight CC licence)
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Things To Do in June – West End Live

Posted on June 27, 2009 by admin

Things to do in June

Flaming June comes around just after Spring has well and truly sprung, but before the main Summer holidays, which is in some ways ideal for theatre breaks with outdoor things to do in London. The river trips and topless bus tours come into their own at this time of year, as do the green spaces and parks.

West End Live

For the West End, there’s one special event which comes around each year usually around the third week and that’s West End Live. It’s a free entertainment festival put on in central London’s Leicester Square, right in the heart of theatreland, which serves to promote individual shows which take part and the West End as a whole. Participation varies, for example with Hairspray sending a full cast in costume to perform one number to kick of the show in 2009, and others such as Oliver and Wicked sending along one star to do a big number solo.

west end live 2008

West End Live takes place over one weekend towards the end of June and I’m not suggesting anybody hangs around for the whole thing from start to finish, especially if your time in London is limited. Standing up for that length of time is exhausting enough and there’s a certain amount of waiting about between acts. It’s not really worth arriving early and queuing up to get inside the square for the start either, as the queues do build up to quite a length with people wanting to bag a place near the front but it definitely is worth dropping in for an hour or as proceedings get going and the crowds stabilise , and catching any shows you particularly want to see by keeping an eye on the programme of events. This will be found each year on the London Theatre Breaks blog in the West End Live section and they do stick very closely to the times stated because the singers and dancers need to know exactly when they will be on so they can schedule it in amongst rehearsals and even matinee performances on the Saturday.

To give a sample of the happy atmosphere and the kind of performances to expect live in the square here are a few crowd videos from theatre breaks youTube.

Wicked

Alexia Khadime from Wicked sings The Wizard and I.

Priscilla Queen of The Desert

All singing All dancing All camp Priscilla

We Will Rock You

Every year the cast from We Will Rock You put on a big show with a full cast in costume doing several numbers

Oliver!

Jodie Prenger from Oliver sings As Long as He Needs Me

Chicago

In 2009 the cast of Chicago included none other than Jerry Springer

Other Things to do in June

Long light evenings are conducive to wandering about outdoors and pavement cafe meals in interesting side streets. Hyde Park and Regents Park are best known but the smaller St James Park is close by Victoria and Westminster and features a bandstand with live music sometimes, an airy Inn The Park with beautiful roof terrace, and a lake with exotic ducks geese and pelicans.

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London Breaks to the Ballet

Posted on June 12, 2009 by Linda

London Breaks to English National Ballet

5 Star London Breaks at Reduced Prices!

Winter seems a long way off as we enjoy the lazy days of an English summer but if you want to get a great deal on a wonderful break to see some of the best ballet around you need to plan ahead. There’s really limited availability on this offer so you need to act fast. Each ballet is only on for a short run and will sell out quickly.

Three Wonderful Ballets at The London Colliseum

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker.jpg

First – from mid December to early January: Dec 16th 2009 – 2nd of January 2010

A magical London break to see The English National Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker in the majestic surroundings of the London Colliseum would make a perfect start to the festive season.

The Nutcracker, complete with all the classic trimmings is a wonderfully indulgent way to kick off the winter blues and get into the mood for all that lies ahead.

The story we all know and love comes to life as Clara meets The King of the Mice, journeys to the Land of Sweets and sees the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. No child and few adults can resist this sugary confection! It’s the perfect introduction to the ballet for children.
This production has been staged in London for the last 7 Christmases and this year is your last chance to see it. It definitely won’t be on next year!

The show runs from Dec 16th 2009 – 2nd of January 2010.
Book a London Break to see The Nutcracker

The Snow Queen

Next, for just one week – Jan 8th – 16th 2010 - The Snow Queen

London Breaks to the Ballet London BreaksSnowQueen

Snow Queen London Breaks

Perfect for slightly older, brave children, (or adults!) is the scary tale of Gerda and Kay and their encounters with the evil, heartless Snow Queen. Little ones might find it just a bit too scary but anyone 8 or over should be fine.

The story, dancing and music work wonderfully together in this production and create an amazing atmosphere.

The production is choreographed by Michael Corder. Prokofiev’s music and the magical set designs all fit together to create the icy court of the Snow Queen.

Just fabulous!

You will really need to be clever and act fast to grab tickets for this one!

Book a London Break to see the Snow Queen

Giselle

Only on for 4 nights! Jan 20th to 23rd

Last is my own favourite, Giselle. It is the ultimate romantic ballet. Best suited to adults and older children Giselle is a wonderful, tragic love story.

Giselle falls in love with the handsome Duke Albrecht, but she discovers that he has deceived her. She dies of a broken heart.

Albrecht finds Giselle’s grave in a mist-wreathed forest glade. The grave is haunted by the vengeful ghosts of abandoned brides that force men to dance to their death. Giselle returns from the grave to save her beloved Albrecht from this fate.

Book a London Break to see Giselle

London Breaks to see Giselle

London Breaks to see Giselle

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West End Guide – Theatres Summer 2009

Posted on May 26, 2009 by admin

Your West End Guide to What’s On Where Summer 2009

West End Guide shows and theatres May09

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.

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Romantic theatre breaks – 3 great shows

Posted on May 25, 2009 by admin

How to Plan a Romantic Theatre Break in London

Book Your Romantic theatre break now

Theatre breaks make a great anniversary treat and London can be just as romantic a city as Paris if you know how to make the best of it. I’m going give you some top tips on making the most of your theatre break and then suggest 3 top shows for romantic theatre breaks.

romantic theatre breaks

romantic theatre breaks

What makes the difference is a bit of planning. Stress and last minute stuff can be romantic but it really isn’t the best way to be sure of having a good time. Make sure you:

  • Plan well in advance to be sure of getting your choice of show and dates (3 to 6 months is ideal, but you can do it much nearer the time if you have to.)
  • Choose a show you’ll both enjoy
  • Think about choosing a slightly more upmarket hotel than you’d normally book. Maybe try one of the boutique hotels with all the extra attention to detail and decor. That extra star brings with it the little touches that spell luxury, and, to be honest, luxury is romantic!
  • Consider your travel arrangements well ahead of time.You can often book cheap rail tickets with your theatre break, saving both money and stress.

Three Shows for a romantic theatre break

Ideally for a romantic theatre break you want a show that you can both enjoy, something with a strong, possibly tragic, plot about relationships is a good choice for most couples. The classic shows really deliver for a romantic theatre break. Most of them have been running for many years and that’s no accident. People choose them because they know they can expect an evening of fine music and acting.

#1 Les Miserables

Les Mis is perfect for a romantic theatre break so long as you both enjoy a slightly operatic style of music. If your other half is a committed pop or rock fan you might need to reconsider. Of course the “Susan Boyle Effect” might help ease them into the idea so don’t just assume it’s a no go.
In One Line:

Lots of love, death and highly charged emotions.

#2 Phantom of the Opera

The plot of Phantom is slightly less complex than Les Mis and the music is a bit less operatic. The tragic story sweeps you along and this is definitely gothic Romance with a capital R. You definitely come out of the theatre feeling you’ve been on an emotional journey with the characters and that’s great for a romantic theatre break.

In One Line

Doomed, gothic, tragic twisted LOVE

#3 Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing

Dirty Dancing

Change of mood for this one, Dirty Dancing is much lighter than the other two I’ve suggested. There’s lots of great dance numbers and good songs and it’s much less operatic than Phantom or Les Mis. Dirty Dancing’s central love story has some very tender moments that make it ideal for romantic theatre breaks. It’s sometimes thought to appeal to a younger age group but I think people of all ages can enjoy a high energy show like this.

In One Line:

“Nobody puts Baby in the corner!” coming of age, first love, passion and lots of dancing.

Other Shows and Attractions for Romantic Theatre Breaks

Of course this is just my selection of the possible choices for a romantic theatre break. For some couples an evening at Priscilla or Hairspray might be more to your liking. After all laughing at shared jokes is very romantic! For others Jersey Boys or We Will Rock You will bring romantic reminders of the early years of their romance. Or you could go for the gothic thrills of Woman in Black, being spooked is pretty good at invoking romantic feelings too!

  • Book a pre-theatre meal with your theatre break. Italian or French is the classic choice for romance.
  • A dinner cruise on the Thames is definitely romantic, twinkling lights, soft music, good food. Perfect end to the second day of your theatre break. You can save quite a bit of money and stress by booking that at the same time as your theatre break too.
  • If you don’t fancy the river cruise how about a Champagne Flight on the London Eye? This is another sure fire romantic choice, you get a luxury London Eye experience without all the queues and a chance to see all the London sights from the comfort of the Eye. Again you save money by booking this with your theatre break.
Not everything in London cost money!

Not everything in London costs money!

Not everything on your romantic theatre break needs to cost money. A arm in arm stroll along the banks of the Thames down by the Southbank, a wander through one of the many London parks (St. James’ is my favourite) or sitting at a pavement cafe watching the world go by are all great ways to reconnect with each other and keep the romance alive.

I suppose in the end that’s the whole point when you book romantic theatre breaks.

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