Frequently Asked Questions
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About Us
Who are London Theatre Direct?
London Theatre Direct have been providing theatre tickets, hotel accommodation and restaurant bookings online since January 2000. By combining the very best of London theatre with top restaurants and hotel accommodation, we hope we can help even more people book the night, weekend or week of their lives in one of the most famous and exciting cities in the world. We aim to offer a simple, friendly and informative service and are delighted that many of our customers keep coming back for more of the same! We not only provide top quality entertainment, but also offer hotel accommodation at a number of central London hotels. We offer excellent seats for all the great shows in London and believe our service is second to none. Our customers are able to enjoy the very best London has to offer and purchase tickets safely and securely through our online booking system.
What are your office hours? How do I contact you?
Our office hours are 9am to 6pm GMT (London time) Monday to Friday and between 10am and 5pm on Saturdays. We are closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Our telephone number is 0871 733 1000 (UK national rate applies). If you have any particular questions that are not answered on this page, then please e-mail us. We can also be contacted by fax on +44 (0)870 124 9127 or by post at:
London Theatre Direct Ltd
29-30 Margaret Street
London
W1W 8SA
Please note, this address is for correspondence only and you cannot purchase or collect tickets from this address.
What is STAR?
London Theatre Direct is an official agent of London theatre and a full member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers. STAR is a self-regulatory body operating within guidelines supported by, amongst others, the Office of Fair Trading, the British Tourist Authority, the London Tourist Board, Westminster Council and the Society of London Theatre.
Pricing and payment
What's the difference between Face Value and Selling Price?
London Theatre Direct is a ticket agency. As we are not producers of the shows, we charge booking fees on all tickets sold. Details of any booking fees charged are displayed before you place an order.
How do I pay?
We are able to accept payment from the following credit/debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Eurocard, Delta, Switch and Solo cards. We do not accept payment by American Express or Diners Club. We are not a theatre and therefore are unable to accept payment in cash. All tickets must be paid for prior to the event. All prices are quoted in Pounds Sterling.
Is it safe to use my credit card on London Theatre Direct?
London Theatre Direct uses the latest secure SSL processing to ensure that your card details remain safe and out of sight of potential fraudsters. Notice the small padlock symbol on any payment pages on the website, this indicates that you are using a secure connection.
Travelling In London
What's the best way of travelling around London? Where can I park?
What's the best way of travelling around London? Where can I park? We always recommend travelling by public transport in and around London. Car parking in the capital can be very expensive. The best way to travel is by bus or tube. The London Underground is easy to follow and will connect you to all places of interest. London's Theatreland is a relatively small area and most theatres are within a short walking distance of each other.
Theatres
What are Stalls and Dress? And which is better?
Stalls are otherwise knows as Orchestra Stalls or Orchestra Seats. They are the lowest seating section of the theatre and closest to the stage. Dress Circle or Royal Circle is the next tier of seating above the Stalls, this is sometimes known as the first balcony or mezzanine. Our top price seats consist only of the best seats in the theatre, typically most of the Stalls and the first few rows of the Dress Circle. None of our top price or "Best Seats" will have restricted views. We also offer less expensive tickets which may have restricted views.
Is there a dress code for London theatres?
There is no dress code for most theatres, however we would advise that customers dress smart-casual. Dress code for our evening cruises is smart only, no jeans or trainers. As a general guide, we would recommend that you make an effort to look smart, but be comfortable.
Are there any performances on Sundays?
Most theatres in London are closed on Sundays. However, some shows such as The Lion King at The Lyceum, Blue Man Group and Stomp do have Sunday performances.
What time should I arrive at the theatre?
It is best to arrive at the theatre at least 30 minutes prior to the performance.
Can I take photographs of the show?
No video cameras, cameras or recording devices are allowed in any theatres. In some of the larger theatres, images from the show can be bought in the foyer. Souvenir programmes are also available at most shows.
Do the theatres have wheelchair access? Do they have induction loops for the hard of hearing?
Most London theatres offer facilities for the disabled. However, you will need to contact our administration team to make your booking, as there are only a small number of such facilities at each venue. For further information, it's probably best to contact the theatres directly.
Children
Can my child/baby attend the theatre? Will the show be suitable for children?
All London theatres state that no babies in arms may be allowed to attend. This is to ensure that all customers enjoy the show. Young children are admitted but are not encouraged to attend unless the parent is confident the child will not distract other members of the audience. Everyone must have a valid ticket and occupy a seat. Accompanying adults will be asked to remove any noisy infants. Generally, most musicals in London's Theatreland are suitable for children but please note that as a GENERAL guideline, an age of 5 years and over is recommended (more specific age limits may apply with differing productions).
Do you offer child/student discounts?
Sadly, there are no reductions for children. However, depending on the hotel, children can often stay for free in their parent or guardian's room. Child prices are typically less at attractions such as Madame Tussaud's. There is no discount for students unless you are part of a school group. For more information regarding discounts for school groups, please e-mail us
.Groups, Schools and Corporate Bookings
London Theatre Direct offers excellent discounts on group bookings. For more information, please e-mail us
Do you offer theatre tokens or a pre-payment scheme?
Yes, for more information on our gift vouchers, click here. We only accept gift vouchers purchased from London Theatre Direct.
Can I order tickets from overseas?
Yes. We accept orders from every country. We will collect payment from you in British pounds (GBP£). Tickets can also be mailed overseas for an additonal cost or you can collect your tickets at the theatre box office prior to the show at no extra cost. We are unable to leave tickets for collection at hotel receptions.
Delivery and Collection
Can I collect my tickets at the theatre or can they be posted?
Customers may have their tickets left at the theatre box office (or "will call"). This option allows you to travel to London without the worry of keeping your tickets with you. You may collect the tickets from the theatre up to an hour before your chosen performance where they will be waiting for you. Box Office collection costs £1.00 for the entire booking. We can also mail tickets for an additional £1.95 per booking to UK addresses, or £2.95 worldwide. Tickets can only be mailed out for bookings more than two weeks away.
I requested tickets to be mailed but have not yet received them. What should I do?
Very occasionally tickets become lost in the post. If you have not received your tickets within 7-10 days, then please contact us. When tickets do get lost, we are unable to issue duplicates. This is to protect our customers. Instead, if time allows, you will be sent a special letter to present at the theatre. Otherwise we will arrange for you to be admitted by the box office. If your tickets arrive in the meantime, they should be destroyed.
My tickets appear to have been posted from the Czech Republic. Why is this?
LondonTheatreDirect.com is based in the UK. However, to cope with increased demand, we recently opened a new call centre in Prague, Czech Republic, from where our administration and ticketing is managed.
Restaurants
What if I have a special diet?
If you have any special dietary requirements, our restaurants will normally be able to accommodate your needs. Please detail any specific requirements when you order or by sending us an e-mail. Please note that all meals may contain traces of nuts and sesame seeds.
Cancellations
Can I cancel my booking?
Sorry, but all bookings made with London Theatre Direct cannot later be cancelled or exchanged. This is standard industry policy.
What if the show is cancelled?
If a show is cancelled, you will receive a full refund or seats at a different performance. We will do our very best to contact you beforehand and as soon as we are made aware of any such cancellation.
Mailing List and Further Information
Why should I join your mailing list?
All customers of London Theatre Direct are added to our mailing list unless they choose not to when ordering. We also have an option for visitors of our website to subscribe. Joining the mailing list will ensure that you are made aware of any special offers we are currently promoting and offer you the chance to win tickets to London shows. Your subscriber details will not be passed on to any third party and we will only mail you once or twice a month. Mailing list members may unsubscribe at any time.
Do you have information you would like to share with other customers of London Theatre Direct?
If you have information, comments or advice you would like to share with other London Theatre Direct customers, if you have been particularly happy with our service, have suggestions for our site, or wish to write a review of a show, then please send us an e-mail. Please note that we reserve the right to edit comments and reviews for size, spelling and punctuation where appropriate and that not all submissions will be posted.
Marketing
Do you have an affiliate program?
Yes. LondonTheatreDirect.com has an affiliate program in place that allows approved partners to generate revenues from their theatre, travel or London related website. We can provide you with graphics, banners and links to LondonTheatreDirect.com and a unique code that will allow you to gain commissions from sales of theatre tickets, packages and hotel bookings. For more information on joining our programme, please click here
Can I advertise on London Theatre Direct?
If you wish to discuss advertising or marketing opportunities, then contact our marketing team
.Will you sell my restaurant/hotel/show?
We are always looking for new and exciting product to offer to our customers. If you run a hotel, restaurant or theatre and wish us to investigate the possibility of selling your product online, then please e-mail our marketing team
.© 1999-2005 London Theatre Direct Ltd. All rights reserved.
email us | fax: +44 (0)870 124 9127