With Boxing Day shoppers on the lookout for value and last-minute plans, new analysis from London Theatre Direct suggests there’s still time to lock in a West End experience without stretching the budget, thanks to pockets of late availability in seats that are typically snapped up earlier.
Looking across the top 20 events in December 2025, London Theatre Direct found that 15.6% of December 2025 performances still have “great view” seats available.
The research is designed to help shoppers understand what different gift budgets can unlock during the post-Christmas rush, using choice and availability rather than “cheapest ticket” claims.
What different gift budgets can still unlock (December 2025)
Under £30: “great view” seats are still available for 20 performances of Hadestown, with some availability also appearing for Back To The Future, Matilda The Musical, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, MAMMA MIA! and The Devil Wears Prada.
Under £45: “great view” seats are still available for titles including The Devil Wears Prada, Starlight Express, Hadestown, Elf The Musical, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and WICKED, among others.
Under £60: availability widens further, with “great view” seats still showing for titles including The Snowman, Hadestown, Matilda The Musical, The Devil Wears Prada, Back To The Future, MAMMA MIA! and WICKED, among others.
Johan Oosterveld, CEO of London Theatre Direct, said:
“People assume that by mid-December, the most sought-after seats are long gone. What our data shows is that there are still pockets of opportunity for popular ‘great view’ seats, including options under £30, £45 and £60 across some of the biggest December titles. If you’re gifting theatre, a simple budget-first approach can help you find strong options quickly, even late in the season.”
Three quick Boxing Day booking tips for theatre-goers
Start with a budget band (around £30 / £45 / £60) and search within it first.
Check a few different performances for the same show as availability can vary by date.
If you hit a wall at one band, try stepping up to the next band to unlock more choice.
