In 1980 the Society of London Theatre established the very first half price ticket booth in Leicester Square. It was also the year when Nicholas Nickleby and Willy Russell's Educating Rita were the hottest shows in London's Theatreland. The Theatre Museum opened its doors to the public and a site was chosen for Shakespeare's Globe theatre.

The Original Half Price Ticket Booth

Known as 'The Half Price Ticket Booth', it was a small, wooden hut painted in green and yellow stripes which stood on the West side of Leicester Square. It was the first ticket booth of its kind in Leicester Square and has subsequently spawned many imitations. (See the warning page for more details). Following the installation of an electricity sub-station beneath the garden, Leicester Square was reopened by the Queen in 1992 and tkts was welcomed to its new home in the Clocktower Building by the Mayor of Westminster. It was renamed ‘tkts' in 2001 adopting the name of its Broadway counterpart in New York.

Changes at tkts

The ticket services available at tkts have changed significantly since 1980. Alongside the original 50% discounts, tkts now has a wide range of offers making it a one-stop shop for buying tickets in the West End.

Customers can buy tickets from tkts at a range of discounts up to 50% off the ticket price both on the day of the performance and up to a week in advance. tkts also sells a host of tickets at full price to concerts, sporting events and family attractions.