Advice needed from those familiar with/living in London

[lilibet]

A group of five us want to go to London for the night and go to the theatre. What's the cheapest way of doing this. Can anyone recommend good cheap places to stay close to the centre and the best way to get theatre tickets.

I've had a look on webisres but not having stayed in London for years and years I have no idea of where anything is.

Not decided what we watch yet, so recommendations on that woudl be welcome as well.

try cheap tickets and hotels for cheaper theatre tickets and you can also check out places to stay on that.

alternatively, you could get your tickets once u arrive in London from that booth near Leicester Square (can't remember what its called? cheap west end ticket booth???or something as obvious as that)

but i normally find cheaper deals on lastminute.com.

if you want to stay in the centre of London, it tends to be excruciatingly expensive.also, will you be driving or using public transport, like a train to get there, and then once you're in London, the tube? cos that helps in deciding where you will stay as well

Re what to see... well...depends what you want (heavy/light etc)
Mamma mia is great fun (frothy but fab!) but tickets are hard to come by I think...

The Old Vic new season is just starting (Kevin Spacey directing Cloaca, I think) and there are a few cheaper option chain type hotels in the area - Days Inn/Novotel places. Depends if the theatre is the focus or if you want a swish hotel?

lilibet, look here for some advice about what is on London and where to get cheap seats.
There is an increasing number of "discount" chain hotels (Travelodges etc) in the centre now, the best situated I think is the one in County Hall. This is handy for the Royal National Theatre and the Old Vic (if going to see Cloaca, which has a good cast and advance word of mouth - try Meson Don Felipe nearby for yummy tapas) and a delightful walk across Waterloo Bridge to the rest of "main" theatreland.
For frivolity you can't beat Mamma Mia; The Woman in White has just opened if you like Lloyd Webber (v. mixed reviews though!)Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is also great if you want to make your children envious!
My must-sees in the more serious end of the market would be Stuff Happens (returns only...); Democracy; Festen; and, depending on when you visit, the Donmar is opening its Christmas show, Grand Hotel, in late November.
There is more info about all of this on the link I posted.
Happy travelling! Us Londoners tend to forget what riches we have on our doorsteps until posts like yours remind us

Since there are five of you it may be worth trying out Citadines who have apartments in various places in London?

Lots of recommendations for Laterooms on this site.

If you fancy a straight play then I've heard nothing but rave reviews, personal and media, about The History Boys at the National Theatre - supposed to be funny and really well acted.

have a look at superbreak's website too (www.superbreak.com), they do discounted london theatre packages, otherwise i'd recommend lastminute too.

Yes, you are seriously luckly living in London - appreciate it!

I would love to see Cloaca, but I'd be on my own! Everyone else fancied Mamma Mia, but its sold out.

The Woman in White is my all time favourite book and I know if I went to see that I would throw things!!

lilibet, i went to the press night of WIW, and enjoyed it though i haven't read the book, so didn't despair at how it had been butchered . it was entertaining though..

Would definitely reccomend the County Hall hotel for value and brilliant convenience- is it a TRavelodge or Travel Inn?

Think it's a travelinn. i'd agree it's really good. if full maybe the Days Inn Waterloo which doesn't look great but the rooms are big for budget hotels, nice duvets too