Where to get bargain theatre tickets in London

West End tickets don’t have to break the bank. It’s no secret that theatre tickets can add up quickly, but some of London’s most talked-about shows currently have tickets available for under £40 each.

From movie-turned-musicals and Shakespeare plays to boy wizards and critically acclaimed revivals, these shows offer a wide breadth of options for £40 or less, subject to availability. Going to the theatre shouldn’t feel like a luxury, but ticket prices these days can be disheartening. We’ve compiled this list of shows that currently have tickets available to suit a range of budgets, whether you’re an avid theatre goer or an occasional dabbler wanting to see the next big hit.

Budget Tickets to Book in London

RENT

Tickets from £38.50*

Duke of York’s Theatre

26 September 2026 – 13 February 2027

Jonathan Larson’s iconic award-winning musical RENT announced its West End return starring Gaten Matarazzo, and in this case, the early bird gets the bargain. This vibrant and empowering musical will be a hot ticket when it opens later this year, so booking now is ideal.

Set in New York’s East Village, RENT follows a group of struggling artists trying to live life on their own terms as they navigate the wider world. Featuring songs like ‘Seasons of Love,’ ‘I’ll Cover You’ and ‘Out Tonight,’ this new 30th anniversary production will be the first major West End revival in almost 20 years of a musical that captivated and defined a generation.

Rent

The Tom Stoppard Theatre (formerly the Duke of York's Theatre), London

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Heathers the Musical

Tickets from £34.50*

The Arts at Marble Arch

9 July 2026 – 22 August 2026

80s movie-turned-musical Heathers the Musical returns this summer at The Arts at Marble Arch. Since it first premiered at St. James Theatre in 2017, the musical has built something of a cult following and has come back to the West End twice before. The darkly funny musical is based on the iconic cult film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, following high school outsider Veronica Sawyer as she becomes entangled with the dangerously charismatic JD and the cutthroat Heathers.

With unforgettable musical numbers like ‘Freeze Your Brain,’ ‘Candy Store’ and ‘Dead Girl Walking,’ Heathers has become one of the most beloved modern musicals, one as iconic as the film that inspired it.

Heathers the Musical

Arcadia

Tickets from £26.00*

Duke of York’s Theatre

20 June 2026 – 12 September 2026

Following a sold-out run at the Old Vic, Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia will transfer to the Duke of York’s from 20th June 2026. Tickets have just gone on sale, which means there are seats available at a reasonable price.

Arcadia is widely regarded as one of the greatest modern plays, exploring the relationship between past and present as it exists within Sidley Park, where characters in 1809 and the present grapple with love, sex, identity and so much more. The Duke of York’s will be specially renovated to accommodate in-the-round staging, just like the original production.

Arcadia

The Tom Stoppard Theatre (formerly the Duke of York's Theatre), London

My Neighbour Totoro

Tickets from £32.00*

Gillian Lynne Theatre

Booking to 10 January 2027

The multi-award-winning My Neighbour Totoro has announced a final extension before it closes on 10 January 2027, which means a fresh batch of tickets have been released for the remainder of the run.

This acclaimed production is well worth a trip, bringing Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved 1988 animated film to the stage with breathtaking visuals and astonishing puppetry. The story follows sisters Satsuki and Mei during one extraordinary summer of wonder. My Neighbour Totoro also features new music from original film composer Joe Hisaishi and a book by Olivier Award-winner Tom Morton-Smith.

My Neighbour Totoro

Gillian Lynne Theatre, London

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A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Tickets from £13.00*

Shakespeare’s Globe, London

Booking to 29 August 2026

For your Shakespeare fix, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a fun night of magic and frivolity. Part of the summer season at Shakespeare’s Globe – along with Much Ado About Nothing, Love’s Labours Lost and As You Like It – A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays.

Following two pairs of lovers, a troupe of bumbling actors and a fairy king and queen on the outs as they all move through the fairy kingdom one night, this production has received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its infectious energy and crowd-pleasing spirit.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Shakespeare's Globe, London

An Ideal Husband

Tickets from £19.50*

Lyric Hammersmith

Booking to 6 June 2026

Now in its final weeks, An Ideal Husband at the Lyric Hammersmith has proved a delightful evening at the theatre. One of Wilde’s most enduring plays, An Ideal Husband follows gentleman Sir Robert Chiltern as betrayal, secrets and deception threaten to destroy his reputation.

Under director Nicholai La Barrie, An Ideal Husband’s sharp-witted comedy is reimagined for a contemporary London, and features an all-Black cast, pulsing contemporary soundtrack and lavish costumes.

An Ideal Husband

Lyric Hammersmith, London

Driftwood

Tickets from £15*

Kiln Theatre

3 June 2026 – 4 July 2026

Transferring to the Kiln Theatre after a brief run at the RSC’s The Other Place, Driftwood is the highly anticipated debut play from Martina Laird. Called ‘immersive’ and ‘wonderfully vibrant’ in reviews at The Other Place, Driftwood explores loyalty, love and survival in a 1950s colonial Trinidad on the cusp of independence.

Directed by Justin Audibert, Driftwood boasts several familiar faces, including Martins Imhangbe (Bridgerton, Othello) and Ellen Thomas (Eastenders, The American Clock). This new play runs from 3 June until 4 July 2026.

Driftwood

Kiln Theatre, London

To Kill a Mockingbird

Tickets from £38.50*

Wyndham’s Theatre

25 June 2026 – 12 September 2026

Richard Coyle (The Other Bennet Sister, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) returns as Atticus Finch in courthouse drama To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee’s novel of the same name.

Given the success of the show’s run in the West End from 2022-2023, which received rave reviews, this production is likely to be a popular choice, especially given its limited run. To Kill a Mockingbird runs at Wyndham’s Theatre from 25 June until 12 September 2026.

To Kill a Mockingbird

Wyndham's Theatre, London

Equus

Tickets from £39.00*

Menier Chocolate Factory

Booking to 4 July 2026

A revival of Peter Shaffer’s groundbreaking 1971 play, Equus opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory to rave reviews this week. Playing until 4 July 2026, this revival strips back the reputation of the play and offers a more intimate, captivating experience.

Equus explores the tangled relationship between troubled teen Alan Strang, sent for treatment after a brutal attack on six horses, and his psychiatrist Dr. Martin Dysart as he seeks to understand the root of Strang’s actions. It’s a gripping play, and director Lindsey Posner’s revival is exceptional.

Equus

Menier Chocolate Factory, London