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You’ve exhausted all your box sets and there’s nothing good on TV. The radio just plays the same thing over and over again. The last time you went to a party at that person’s house, you had the same conversation with five different people in the space of an hour. Is there nothing to do tonight?!
To think that, just a bus or a tube away, some of the best theatre, music, art, is flourishing, and you’re bored at home. But it’s all far too fancy and expensive for you, right?
Wrong!
Don’t let the stereotype put you off. Arts institutions in London not only welcome young audiences, but many are desperate to get you guys in! Know where to look, and you can find some amazingly cheap ticket deals for people of your age. I’ve listed some of them below – so do have a look before you resign yourself to watching ‘House’ from start to finish yet again.
Theatre
National Theatre
16-25s can sign up to the ENTRY PASS SCHEME to access a limited number of £5 tickets to all productions here. If you’re struggling to convince your friends to sign up too, you can even get them a £7.50 ‘mates rates’ ticket when you order your own.
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/entry-pass
Royal Shakespeare Company
Again for 16-25s, membership to the RSC KEY programme can get you £5 tickets to performances in Stratford-Upon-Avon and London.
http://www.rsc.org.uk/support-us/key/
Globe Theatre
Doesn’t matter what age you are here – if you’re ‘young’ enough to stand up through a whole play, you can get a £5 ticket to stand in the pit right in front of the stage. The generous people here offer 700 standing tickets to every single performance in their summer season of Shakespeare plays and new writing.
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on
Old Vic Theatre
No need to sign up for anything here – if you’re under 25, you can get a ticket for £12. There are 100 of these available for every performance.
http://www.oldvictheatre.com/your-visit/under-25s/
Young Vic Theatre
Every production here has a number of £10 tickets available for students and under-25s.
http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on
Southwark Playhouse
Under-16s and full-time students can get concession tickets here.
http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/your-visit/booking-tickets/
Lyric Theatre
Concession prices available for under 16s.
http://www.lyric.co.uk/whats-on/
Royal Court Theatre
Another ageless offer: get on these guys the next time you have a Monday evening free, when all their tickets cost just £10. You can also call their Box Office on 020 7565 5000 to find out about £12 tickets for under-26s to any shows in their Upstairs space, or about concessions for students.
As if that isn’t enough, turn up an hour before any show in their Downstairs space and you’re in with a chance of picking up one of four standing tickets – at just 10p each!
http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/
Donmar Theatre
Sign up to the BARCLAYS FRONT ROW newsletter, and they’ll tell you how to get £10 front row seats for every performance. They are released at 10am every Monday, for performances two weeks later.
http://barclaysfrontrow.donmarwarehouse.com/
They also offer £7.50 standing tickets, which can be ordered online or in person on the day itself.
http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/whats-on/donmar-warehouse
Theatre Royal Haymarket
For the slightly older among you, the MASTERCLASS scheme for 17-30s not only offers you free tickets to Q and As with amazing industry professionals, but also sends you e-mails every so often with last-minute £3 ticket offers to shows across several London venues.
http://www.masterclass.org.uk/
Music
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Through NOISE membership, anyone under 26 can get the best available seats to selected concerts for just £8 each. If you’re a student, it’s even better at £4 each.
http://www.lpo.org.uk/whats-on/noise-under-26.html
Opera Holland Park
For the younger ones among you, the INSPIRE programme allows 7-18 year olds to apply for free opera tickets. If you’re under 16, you have to bring an adult with you – but the good news is that their ticket is free too. Birthday gift for mum, maybe?
http://goo.gl/aR8aM3
Wigmore Hall
Their CHAMBER ZONE also has some free tickets going to 8-25 year olds to select concerts, on a first-come first-served basis.
http://wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning/chamber-zone
City of London Sinfonia
16-25 year olds and students can become members of CLS 5IVER to access £5 tickets to a selection of concerts. There are also opportunities to work with their team behind the scenes, from blogging and interviewing players, to volunteering at their events.
http://www.cityoflondonsinfonia.co.uk/CLS-FIVER/
English National Opera
16-30s or full-time students can join ACCESS ALL ARIAS to get two discounted tickets per production from £10 each. Also look out for their e-newsletters with last-minute ticket offers.
http://www.eno.org/experience/access-all-arias
Places with a bit of everything!
Barbican Theatre (Music, Dance, Film, Art)
Join YOUNG BARBICAN for a limited number of tickets for £5, £10 and £15, advertised on their members’ online domain.
http://www.barbican.org.uk/youngbarbican/home/
Roundhouse (Music, Theatre)
Their GET IN programme gives access to £5 tickets to selected gigs and shows for 16-25 year olds.
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/young-creatives/get-in/
Tricycle (Theatre, Film)
Under 25s can join TRIKE to access a limited number of £10 theatre tickets for each production and £5 cinema tickets Monday-Thursday for standard film screenings.
http://www.tricycle.co.uk/young-people/trike/
Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (Music, Theatre)
£10 standing tickets are available for their whole diverse programme of plays, candlelit concerts, operas and comedy.
http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on/sam-wanamaker-playhouse
Last but not least…
London has so many art galleries that are totally free to go to, it would be a crime not to work your way through them all!
National Gallery
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
National Portrait Gallery
http://www.npg.org.uk/
Saatchi Gallery
http://www.saatchigallery.com/
Serpentine Gallery
http://www.serpentinegalleries.org/
Somerset House
http://www.somersethouse.org.uk/visual-arts
Tate Britain
http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
Tate Modern
http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
Whitechapel Gallery
http://www.whitechapelgallery.org/
So what’s there to lose? Take the plunge and get yourself out there – and let yourself be pleasantly surprised when the London arts scene welcomes you with open arms.
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