London trip and all things Potter

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

Hi,
We want to take the kids to London in the next year at some stage, with seeing The Cursed Child and going on the WB tour a priority (I realise this isn't strictly in London).

There are 4 of us, and obviously I would like to be paying the minimum for CC tickets as it means we can do more elsewhere. I know about the Friday forty, and that tickets for April onwards go on sale this month. I'm kinda thinking of going in Feb or April as the kids have a week off school (we're in NI).

Does anyone know how easy it is to get tickets in the Friday forty these days? Is demand as bad as ever? Would the cheaper tickets for April onwards be terrible? Do schools in England close around the same times? 18th Feb and the week following Easter (22nd April)?

Any recommendations on where we can stay? Prob be 3-5 nights.

Thanks in advance, btw.

I wish I could get Friday Forty tickets and try weekly. Never won.
Probably not what you want to hear, but cheap seats for Cursed Child mean you miss so many of the details - theatre fits around 1500 people. I’d avoid the balcony seats if you can and try for the back of the stalls or circle. High up, steep rake and seats uncomfortable in balcony.

What else would you like to do? Bloomsbury would be between the theatre and Euston so could work as a base. Then you have the British Museum and you’re near enough to Oxford Street if you want shopping. The huge Primark at Tottenham Court Road has a big HP display at the entrance.

And about a km from the theatre on Greek street is the Mina Lima exhibition with all the original artwork for the films, like Daily Prophet, Harry’s letter, the text books etc.

Thanks. Good (but bad) to know our chances are slim. Would I be mad to try and leave it to the Friday before and then if I don't get any, to just pay whatever on the given day? Do shows be sold out most days or can you queue and get them?

Great tips about location etc. Plans aren't just HP related. Any suggestions for London with 2 DS (7 and 10) welcome.

The Friday forty is a proper lottery really - I used to try every week and never got any. We eventualy paid for mid range tickets, which at the time were about £60 per part each, so over £300 for the three of us. We could see everything, but were a long way away from / above the stage, and I absolutely wouldn't go below that level of ticket. I think trying for tickets on the day is only worth it if you assume that you probably won't get them, and treat them as a bonus. Even if there are returned tickets available, they might be the really expensive ones. So you'd have to not tell your children, on the assumption that you won't be lucky. On the upside, the Warner Bros tour is brilliant! It's definitely a whole day thing, there's so much to see. It's great for all ages.