This guide will help you find your way around Londons famous Theatreland so your journey is as smooth as possible; you can enjoy the wealth of entertainment on offer and make the most of Londons buzz and excitement.

01 Plan your journey ahead02 Order your tickets

beforehand03 Check the show

information 04 Use your contactless bank

card and save time and hassle

05 Keep up to date with travel alerts

06 Make the most of your trip 07 Alternative ways to get

around 08 Explore theatres outside

the West End (click to jump to section)

London theatre travel guide 2015

Official London Theatre & Transport for London

Introduction Top tips

01 Plan your journey aheadEven if youre a regular visitor to Londons theatres, we still advise you plan your journeys carefully to make sure you get to your show on time. Its always a good idea to allow extra time too, as some stations and Tube lines get very busy.

Use Transport for Londons Journey Planner to find the quickest way to your final destination, including step-free routes all the major theatres are listed, as well as the most popular shows: tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey

For more information about accessible transport options visit: tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/

03 Check the show informationIts always wise to check your shows start and finish times so you can plan your journey these can be subject to change, especially around holiday times such as Christmas and Easter.

Pick up a free copy of the Official London Theatre Guide from Londons theatres, hotels, mainline railway stations, airports and tourist information centres. This gives a complete whats on listing as well as show times and locations with a handy map of Theatreland and a Tube map. It also often includes information on theatrical events such as the Olivier Awards with MasterCard and West End LIVE.

All the latest theatre information and show times can be found online at officiallondontheatre.co.uk

02 Order your tickets beforehandMany of Londons productions announce ticket availability well in advance so its best to book the best deal in advance via your theatre ticket agent or online safely and securely at officiallondontheatre.co.ukor other booking agencies.

It is important to check that booking agents or online systems are a verified member of Secure Tickets from Authorised Retailers (STAR) star.org.uk.

If you normally collect your theatre tickets from the box office, why not have them posted to your home instead to avoid any last minute delays?

04 Use your contactless bank card and save time and hassle

It is now possible to pay for your travel in London with a contactless bank card. Simply look for the contactless symbol on your card,

and tap in and out on the yellow readers as you would with an Oyster card.

Buying travel tickets in advanceYou can buy a Visitor Oyster card from visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk before you leave home it will be posted to your home address. It costs 3 plus postage.

A Visitor Oyster card is a travel smartcard that holds pay as you go travel credit which you use to pay for travel on bus, Tube, DLR, tram, London Overground and most National Rail services in London. Its much cheaper than buying a paper Travelcard ticket or paying in cash.

To pay for your travel, simply touch your Visitor Oyster card in and out on the yellow card readers at the gates on Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services to pay the correct fare. On buses and trams, you only need to touch your card on the yellow reader at the start of your journey. If you run out of travel credit, it is easy to add more at the ticket machines in any of our stations. There is also a range of special discounts and promotions available with your Visitor Oyster card to help you save money on shopping, eating out and entertainment, while enjoying your trip to the capital.

Find out more about the Visitor Oyster card: tfl.gov.uk/visitinglondon

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/http://www.star.org.uk/http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/http://visitorshop.tfl.gov.uk/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/visiting-london/?cid=visitinglondon

07 Alternative ways to get aroundMany of Londons theatres are within a short walk of major rail stations. For the West End in particular, it is often quicker to walk from Charing Cross or Waterloo mainline stations, for example, than to take public transport.

Official London Theatre has developed access maps which can be printed off for easy navigation to theatres around the capital. The routes shown are all step-free to make travelling easier for those using wheelchairs, pushchairs and mobility scooters. For our overseas visitors, the routes are easy to understand, with photographs and a simple time-bar that shows travelling times between each part of the journey. Visit officiallondontheatre.co.uk/access/enabled-maps for details.

You might also enjoy using your bike or hiring one from Santander Cycles to get around central London. This is a fun and cheap way to get around. Find out more: tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycles

06 Make the most of your tripWhy not come into the capital for the afternoon or the day and take advantage of the range of things to do or get yourself settled at the theatre early with a pre-show drink?

Many shows will have matinee performances which are a great way to enjoy your favourite show andmake the most of your evening afterwards. Make a stress-free evening of it and enjoy a pre/post-theatre meal close to your venue perhaps even using one of the special deals on your Visitor Oyster Card.

And dont forget: from 12 September 2015, Transport for London is introducing a 24 hour Tube service on five key lines at weekends! So you can have an even more leisurely post-theatre meal.

05 Keep up to date with travel alerts

You can keep up to date with all the latest Transport for London travel news by:

Visitingtfl.gov.uk/status-updates Following@TfLTravelAlerts on Twitter for updates

on Tube, DLR, London Overground and Emirates Air Line services

Following@TfLBusAlerts on Twitter for updates on bus services

You can also register for email updates on weekend station closures or maintenance plans: tfl.gov.uk/emailupdates

08 Explore theatres outside the West End

Dont forget there are hundreds of theatres outside central London which are all really easy to reach on public transport.

If you dont fancy the hustle and bustle of the West End, why not visit a local theatre in one of Londons suburbs? These smaller venues run fantastic shows and entertainment and can be closer to home than you think.

Find your nearest Greater London theatre with Transport for Londons Small theatres, Tube and rail map visit tfl.gov.uk/maps/visitors-and-tourists

Photo: Mark Foley

http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/access/enabled-maps/http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/access/enabled-maps/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/cycling/santander-cycleshttp://www.tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/?cid=status-updateshttps://twitter.com/TfLTravelAlertshttps://twitter.com/tflbusalertshttps://www.tfl.gov.uk/forms/12424.aspx?cid=emailupdateshttp://tfl.gov.uk/maps/visitors-and-tourists

Example: Charing Cross station to Novello Theatre

3. See your detailed journey plan. You can click on the tabs at the top of the page to see the different times it takes to travel on public transport, by bike or on foot.

1. Visit tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner

2. Enter your journey details and click: Plan my journey

4. Click on: View details for full information about the route you can also print this for ease of use.

You can specify the time of day you are travelling, and any accessibility requirements.

You can choose how you want to get there: on public transport by bike or on foot. It is sometimes quicker to walk.

How to use Journey Planner

tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner