Official London Theatre will celebrate the grand reopening of its iconic Ticket Booth in Leicester Square on Wednesday 18 June, following a major refurbishment project.
The relaunch event will feature costumed stars from 25 West End shows, alongside key figures from London’s theatre, culture, and tourism sectors.
Owned by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), the not-for-profit organisation that has championed theatre since 1908, the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth has been transformed to enhance customer service and accessibility.
The refurbishment was made possible through funding from Westminster City Council and support from the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), the organisation behind tkts New York.
The reopening also marks a renewed partnership between SOLT and Westminster City Council, who together produce West End LIVE, Europe’s largest free musical theatre festival, returning to Trafalgar Square on 21 and 22 June for its 20th anniversary.
Cllr Ryan Jude, Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology and Culture at Westminster City Council, said:
“The reopening of the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth in Leicester Square is fantastic news for theatre lovers, making it easier than ever to access the magic of the West End. Last year, 17.1 million theatregoers attended 18,500 performances in the West End, which highlights how critical culture is to driving tourism, supporting jobs and powering the wider economy of Westminster and the UK.
“Partially funded through the council’s Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy, this investment enhances the visitor experience and reflects our ongoing commitment to making arts and culture more accessible and inclusive for everyone in Westminster.”
Emma De Souza, Executive Director (Audiences & Commercial) at Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, added:
“For 45 years, the Society of London Theatre has proudly operated an in-person ticket booth in Leicester Square. Thanks to the support of Westminster City Council and our Board, we’ve been able to reimagine the space as a vibrant hub for theatre in the heart of London – a place to celebrate all that’s brilliant about the West End.”
First opened in 1980 as The Half Price Ticket Booth, the Leicester Square booth was the first of its kind and has since become a global icon for discounted theatre tickets.
The booth moved into its current clocktower location in 1992 and partnered with tkts New York in 2001, cementing its status as the go-to destination for affordable West End tickets.
The Official London Theatre Ticket Booth offers up to 50% off top musicals, plays, and entertainment, available in-person for same-day or week-ahead bookings. The same deals are also available online.
All profits from ticket sales go back into initiatives that support and grow the theatre industry, including the popular Kids Week campaign, which offers free tickets to children aged 17 and under throughout the summer holidays.
To mark the reopening, Official London Theatre will take over the Piccadilly Lights at 5.20pm on Wednesday 18 June, celebrating Kids Week, West End LIVE, and the revitalised booth.
More information can be found here.