Help re London Trip

[zacsGranny]

I have been gifted a trip to London to see the Abba Voyage show as a Birthday treat by my son and DIL. Not booked yet as we have to choose dates, accommodation and length of stay.
We live in NE England so travelling by train.
I would like to stay two or three days and do other things. I love live theatre / musical shows.
Our dilemma is whether to book a hotel near the Abba arena or more central? The last time we stayed in London we were very disappointed by the hotel so any personal reviews appreciated. Also looking for show recommendations and best ways to book (best prices)

Was also wondering if it would be better to wait until the Spring for better weather?

If you can go in term time I definitely would.

I'd always stay centrally. I think there's a Premier Inn on Euston Road, just along from King's X, but there'll be other options. Advantage of being near the station is that at a Premier you can leave your luggage after checking out and pick it up later on way to get the train.

London will be quietest between New Year and Feb half term, but weather at it's worst.

Agree about avoiding school hols if poss. Just before or just after Easter hols might be best, days longer but before tourist season really kicks in. But May can be a good time, long warm days if you're lucky but not too hot and the parks can be lovely then.

Love theatre for cheap tickets, they sell all shows.
Don’t stay need the ABBA arena, it’s purpose built in the docklands and not near anything. You could stay in London/Tower Bridge which would be close to the arena by the DLR and then just along the embankment on bus/taxi to the other west end shows.
Abba’s great, been twice. Enjoy!

TodayTix is good for buying cheaper theatre tickets.

@PeachCriticthe arena isn’t in the Docklands, it’s in Stratford.

OP definitely no need to stay near the area. It’s simple to get to on public transport from anywhere more central in town. I’d stay as centrally as possible. It all depends on your budget as to the hotel of course. if I had £££ I’d choose the St Pancras! Alternatively the Premier Inn on St Martins Lane is well located for everything.

Assuming your train arrives at Kings X then anywhere from there down through Bloomsbury to the West End would be easy enough though.

Agree with others to try term time / mid week if do-able.

Show-wise it depends on what kind of thing you like. Theatre Monkey has good specific advice on best seats in the West End theatres. You could also go to the National to see something and explore the whole of the Southbank from Waterloo to London Bridge which has excellent places to eat and drink.

7-Dials and surrounding streets are nice to explore if you’re going to a traditional West End show around Shaftesbury Ave etc.

My personal favourite is mischief theatre the Play That Goes Wrong if you’ve not already seen it and feel like a belly laugh.

Also the area around Kings Cross / Granary Square is quite nice to explore if you end up with time in your hands before the train back.

other nice places to explore minus the theatre are the City of London / around St Paul’s, Leadenhall Market for lovely food, and river clipper (uber boat) to Greenwich and walk up to the viewing point at the Royal Observatory.

Also the area around Kings Cross / Granary Square is quite nice to explore if you end up with time in your hands before the train back.

Or if you want something undercover, there's the British Library the other side of St Pancras. Always one or two free exhibitions, shop and cafe.

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.
We have done the river trip to Greenwich and the market.
Also done the National and Shakespeare Theatre.
I love Musical Theatre so I'm thinking along those lines.
My daughter was looking at a voucher for theatre tickets, but not sure if any or all of the places mentioned would accept this. Would cash be better?

Lovetheatre.com is also good for theatre deals.

Don't stay near the Abba venue - just go in and out on the DLR, or the central line to Stratford and onto the DLR. The station is Pudding Mill Lane - it's directly across the road from the venue.

Not sure what you mean by a voucher for the theatre? You can get theatre tokens but you're better off using the discounted sites or Today Tix or the Tkts booth in Leicester Square for on the day deals.

We like the Premier Inn in Angel, lovely areas with lots of independent bars and restaurants.

Operation Mincemeat is brilliant if you love musical theatre. So witty and brilliantly done.

Yes!

I think we have decided to wait until April for, hopefully, better weather.
Looking at Les Mis, and / or Wicked tickets, so any advice about best price tickets please?

Yes wait till the spring. Nothing to be gained walking around with soggy shoes.

We go to the west end a LOT as we don't live far from London, we always buy through the specific theatre website, it's often slightly cheaper. I also buy the day the tickets come out but that prob won't be possible for you. We sit in the cheap seats as the view is usually absolutely fine. But for a treat I'd advise the Royal Circle.

Theatre tokens can be used everywhere but you have to ring in advance to use them.

I don't rate Wicked at all, I was totally underwhelmed when we took the DC when they were little. So out of those Les Mis would be my choice.

Second PP, seven dials is lovely. Seven dials food market is great fun. Choose from many different cuisines and sit in a central area on big canteen style tables. Choose a drink from the bar and a burger or cheese or dim sum or vegan etc. Pay at the indv kiosk and then everyone can eat the food they like but sit together.