A Guide To Obtaining London Theater Tickets
London theater tickets are highly sought after both by the resident art aficionados and the inquisitive tourists. The theater circuit of London is known as West End theaters or Theatreland. The West End area of London is home to a number of theaters. A wide variety of musicals, family dramas, dramatic thrillers, and music concerts take place in these theaters everyday. Seasoned visitors to West End will be familiar with the ways for obtaining the tickets to the shows. But newcomers should learn a few things about tickets and the theaters in general before visiting the place that’s known as the Mecca of British drama.
An Introduction To London Theaters
The London theater culture has a long history. The first of the theaters that now constitute the West End theater circuit was built in the 16th century. The first theater was constructed at Shoreditch in 1576. It was aptly named as The Theatre. Then, more theaters were built in the nearby areas. Today, it has become a global tourist attraction. Shaftesbury Avenue, which hosts six theaters, is generally considered as the hub of the theaters in West End. The London theater ticket distribution system has also undergone tremendous changes. Earlier there were only the box office counters at the theaters and some select agents. Today, you can even book your tickets through the internet.
The attraction of West End Theater is not only in the high quality dramas and music concerts played on the stages. The whole atmosphere of the area with gothic buildings of Edwardian and Victorian style buildings, which surely lend an old world charm to the place, provides a unique experience to the visitors. Most of the old buildings are protected by legislation. So, restructuring these buildings is not possible. Tourists from all over the world visiting London make it a point visit West End to watch concerts and dramas. The internet booking facility of London theater tickets is very helpful for foreign tourists.
Prominent among London theaters are the following: The St Martin’s Theater, the Queens Theater, Her Majesty’s Theater, the New London Theater, the Phoenix Theater, the Prince Edward Theater, and the Lyceum Theater. There are non-commercial theaters also in London such as the National Theater, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the Globe Theater.
Some of these theaters have hosted, and are still hosting in some cases, some legendary dramas and concerts. For example, it is in the St Martin’s Theater that The Mousetrap, the longest running play in the world, which is written by Agatha Christie, has been playing. The first staging of the play was on November 25, 1952. And it is still running. It is said that the tickets for the coming years have already been booked. You may not get tickets for the play in the near future in any of the outlets that sell London theater tickets. The long running musicals include Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera.
If you are booking tickets through a website or an agency, you have to check whether the agency is authorized or not. Dealing with unauthorized agencies for London theater tickets may lead you towards frustration. Fortunately, there are several professional agencies that provide tickets at bargain rates on the internet and through counter sales.
About the Author
Al writes many articles about Broadway entertainment such as London Theater Tickets and information. His articles include resources for Broadway and New York City including more London theater tickets resources.
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