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Original poster

BGT live semi finals

285 replies

Stopdropnroll · 17/05/2022 22:11

I've got tickets for the first BGT semi final but it's one of those where they give away too many tickets so you have to go and queue on the day.

In a moment of madness I've booked train tickets and a hotel on the off chance we manage to get in but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of this or any tips!

It's at Hammersmith appollo so I've booked hotel nearby as I'll have DD(8) with me so if we do get in I don't want to be dragging her on the tube late at night.

Our train gets into Euston at 9.10 so we'll tube it straight to Hammersmith to get in the queue but I'm wondering if we'll be too late even by then. I've seen something online from 2019 that said they started giving out tickets at 9.30 and all were gone by 11am... We would be there before 11am but probably only by half an hour.

If anyone has any experience of this let me know. I've already warned DD that we might not get tickets and that we'll have a lovely couple of days in London if we don't. Just want to know if I'm completely mad even trying to get tickets 😬

OP posts:
Bonjovispjs · 17/05/2022 22:45

I've been a few times now, we usually aim to get to the venue as near to 9am as possible, we have been first in the queue on more than one occasion though, so I think with your times it should be fine.

The time applause store gives out tickets varies depending on when they get them through themselves, so you could be waiting for 15 minutes or 3 hours, but once you've got them and your wristbands, you're guaranteed entry, I've seen many people in tears because they missed out, one family had even travelled from Wales, but all the tickets were gone!

You're not completely mad, it's a great evening out, I even got to shake Ant and Dec's hands when they came through the audience😁Just be prepared that there will probably be a lot of waiting around!

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 14:03

Thank you that's really helpful and made me feel a lot more hopeful that we might get in. Yes planning a good breakfast on the train down and lots to keep DD entertained if we have to wait around. I've told her it's not a dead cert we'll get in amd that if we don't we can still have a nice couple of days in London.

OP posts:
summer1971 · 18/05/2022 19:51

Do you have General tickets with a 5pm time on them? I knew we’d need to arrive early, but we were going to aim for about 1pm 😬

Bonjovispjs · 18/05/2022 20:25

Summer1971 1pm is way too late, the tickets will have all gone by then and applause store staff who give out the tickets and wristbands will have gone too! What happens is you queue for the tickets in the morning, always first come first served, then once you've got them, you can go off/home for the day, then come back at the time stated for the show!

Always read the small print, they won't issue tickets without photo ID and every member of your party needs to be present, you can't pick up tickets for someone else!

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 21:07

Will my 8 Yr old need ID or just me as its my details they have?

OP posts:
Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 21:09

summer1971 · 18/05/2022 19:51

Do you have General tickets with a 5pm time on them? I knew we’d need to arrive early, but we were going to aim for about 1pm 😬

Yes that's the tickets we have, our train gets to Euston at 9.08 so then we're hotfooting it to Hammersmith to try and get tickets!

OP posts:
Bonjovispjs · 18/05/2022 21:30

I don't think it has to be photo ID for children, but I've just browsed through the T's & C's and it says they can refuse admission if the child looks younger than 8 (minimum age to attend) so to bring her birth certificate or something.
Going through all the small print is a bit of a pain as there's so much of it, but it's important, it should be with the email you were sent! Not sure what the covid requirements are now, I went to the live auditions in January and we had to show proof of a negative test, but as we don't have any restrictions now, it probably doesn't apply anymore, I'm going on the Tuesday, I just haven't read all the conditions yet!

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 21:59

She does have a passport (out of date) so I'll take that I think as it at least proves her DOB, she's average sized for an 8 Yr old but I don't expect applause staff to know exactly what an 8 Yr old looks like. I wouldn't take her if I didn't know she'd be OK with it all, she's recently been to little mix and to beauty and the beast and totally fine with both so I'm confident she'll cope well with it all.

I'll have another read of the T&C but didn't see anything in them re covid and the appollo website says they no longer need covid passes which is good as I'm fully vacced but she's not had any as when we got the letter to say she could have it the rest of us were all covid positive and as it said to leave it 12 weeks if you'd had it I figured she must have recently had it and we'd just not caught it on a test so decided to wait!

Thanks so much for all your help with this xx

OP posts:
Bonjovispjs · 18/05/2022 22:08

You're welcome! Yeah, sounds like it all will be fine, I think the aged 8 age limit is because of younger kids might be having tantrums/crying etc on live TV(I remember that happening on Dancing on ice once😆) I'm sure your daughter will be fine!

I doubt we'll need negative tests now, I've just been too lazy to read the conditions yet, but I know people have been disappointed because they haven't checked them and weren't let in for various reasons!

I hope you have a great time😊It really is a brilliant night out, the atmosphere is amazing, which doesn't really come across on telly!

lilao · 18/05/2022 22:15

We also have tickets for Monday - I am so glad you posted this as we were going to arrive about 2/3pm as well. I can't believe how early it needs to be, it will be a long day!

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 22:32

Bonjovispjs · 18/05/2022 22:08

You're welcome! Yeah, sounds like it all will be fine, I think the aged 8 age limit is because of younger kids might be having tantrums/crying etc on live TV(I remember that happening on Dancing on ice once😆) I'm sure your daughter will be fine!

I doubt we'll need negative tests now, I've just been too lazy to read the conditions yet, but I know people have been disappointed because they haven't checked them and weren't let in for various reasons!

I hope you have a great time😊It really is a brilliant night out, the atmosphere is amazing, which doesn't really come across on telly!

Yes totally we went to a panto at Xmas and my 4 Yr old spent the first 5 mins sat on my knee crying that she wanted to go home. It was Peter pan so nothing scary she just didn't like the big noise! They can't have that going on in a live TV show!

OP posts:
Bonjovispjs · 18/05/2022 22:36

Lilao It is a long day, but I know that's why a lot of people get caught out, they see the 5pm show time and think they can come just in time for that, but the tickets will be long gone by then! I think it is all explained in the T's & C's but so many people obviously don't read them, hence the disappointment, but as I said, once you've got the tickets, you don't have to come back until later, it's fine for me as I live in London, so just come home, but a bit trickier if you've travelled here especially, but at least there's plenty to do in London😁

Bonjovispjs · 18/05/2022 22:39

Oh dear, at least it was only 5 minutes😬

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 23:39

Top tips thank you!

Also do you know about taking children on the tube? If it was just me I'd use my card but I assume I have to do something different with a child?!

I've looked at TfL wedsite but not sure if I need an oyster card for her or not!

OP posts:
summer1971 · 18/05/2022 23:56

Thank you. We’re going on the Wednesday. Can you both report back with your experiences? 😊 I did go to an afternoon audition at the Palladium in January but we had priority tickets and when we turned up at 1pm we were told to go away away for an hour. We then picked up our tickets at 2 and had to be back to go in at 6. It all ran very smoothly and we had amazing seats!

spongedog · 19/05/2022 00:25

Have fun - I took my DC about 4-5 years ago. It was a laugh! But we got there - not as early as PP's are saying - but got the tickets and went off for a long lunch. I was nervous that we might not get in.

ThisBooksCanDo · 19/05/2022 00:50

Are you bringing luggage and how are you going to check in to the hotel if you're in the early queue and get late out?

summer1971 · 19/05/2022 06:48

ThisBooksCanDo · 19/05/2022 00:50

Are you bringing luggage and how are you going to check in to the hotel if you're in the early queue and get late out?

Once you’ve got the tickets and wristbands you’re free to go away for the day until doors open (probably 5 or 6pm ish).

summer1971 · 19/05/2022 06:51

I think children 11 and under are free and just travel with you.

summer1971 · 19/05/2022 06:54

Stopdropnroll · 18/05/2022 23:39

Top tips thank you!

Also do you know about taking children on the tube? If it was just me I'd use my card but I assume I have to do something different with a child?!

I've looked at TfL wedsite but not sure if I need an oyster card for her or not!

oops. See above.

Bonjovispjs · 19/05/2022 09:28

Kids travel free on London transport, you don't need an oyster card for her, she just goes through the barrier with you, there are bigger barriers for people with kids/buggies etc!
You can use an oyster card or contactless for yourself!

Summer1971 I will definitely report back😊Everyone had priority tickets for the auditions in January, I was told it was as a sort of 'treat' after covid, that's not the case now!

Original poster
Stopdropnroll · 19/05/2022 23:29

Bonjovispjs · 19/05/2022 09:28

Kids travel free on London transport, you don't need an oyster card for her, she just goes through the barrier with you, there are bigger barriers for people with kids/buggies etc!
You can use an oyster card or contactless for yourself!

Summer1971 I will definitely report back😊Everyone had priority tickets for the auditions in January, I was told it was as a sort of 'treat' after covid, that's not the case now!

Thank you that's so helpful (again!) honestly it's so long since I went on public transport and it's all changed so much since! I just wanted to be prepared as I'll have DD with me, if I was ony own I'd be happier to wing it!

She's very excited about going, she knows we might not get in but is happy that we can either do something else or just watch from hotel room, she's very excited about hotel just on its own and the fact there will be a TV in the bedroom.

We aren't leaving London till 4.30 the next day so I think we'll book the eye and then just visit the Palace etc as I'm sure that'll be exciting for an 8 Yr old especially with it being jubilee week!

OP posts:
Bonjovispjs · 20/05/2022 00:04

Sounds like you'll have a great time whatever you do😊but I don't think you'll have any trouble getting into the show now you know how it all works!

summer1971 · 20/05/2022 20:33

Bonjovispjs · 19/05/2022 09:28

Kids travel free on London transport, you don't need an oyster card for her, she just goes through the barrier with you, there are bigger barriers for people with kids/buggies etc!
You can use an oyster card or contactless for yourself!

Summer1971 I will definitely report back😊Everyone had priority tickets for the auditions in January, I was told it was as a sort of 'treat' after covid, that's not the case now!

So just to clarify…. They won’t only be handing out priority tickets first thing? And do you get better seats the earlier you’re in the queue?

Bonjovispjs · 20/05/2022 20:53

It will be on your tickets if they're priority, just everyone had them in January! I think if they are priority, you don't need to get there so early as you're already guaranteed entry! You definitely get better seats the earlier you're there (don't think that applies to priority as they'll already have certain seats reserved for those) but general seating is given out starting from the front row and working their way back, so the earlier you get there the better, I was in the 5th row of the stalls for the last semi final😁Although things were done a bit differently at the auditions, the stalls were kept for friends and family of the act, so I was in the front row of the circle, don't know if they'll do that again though, I hope not as I like being in the stalls!

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