Theatre breaks are one of the best ways of seeing the top London shows, even if you live near London. It might seem a bit mad to spend a night in a London hotel when your own bed is only 50 miles away but please hear me out
Theatre Breaks to Warhorse I was chatting to some folks in deepest Essex the other day and it soon became clear that for them, an evening trip to a West End show was not really a viable idea. They had been to see Warhorse and couldn’t speak highly enough of the show. But they said they’d think twice before going to the West End again. They live just over 50 miles from the centre of London but getting in and out of the city at night is no easy matter. Usually they drive to a train station, park the car there and hop on a train. Driving in the city means congestion charges and parking nightmares so they try to avoid it if at all possible. However, travelling into the city centre by rail at the right time means going against the flood of commuter traffic and paying the peak time fare (4pm to 7pm). You don’t really want to battle with the peak time tubes either so a black cab also adds to the cost. Most shows start around 7:30 but you want to be there a little early to pick up your tickets, maybe have a pre-theatre drink and order something for the interval.  This means you need to eat early (a special pre-theatre menu in one of the West End restaurants perhaps). If you try to wait till after the show to eat then you’ll have much less choice and you may well be rushing to catch the last train home.  The trains do run quite late but it can be 1am or even later before you get home. I’m exhausted just thinking about it! Here’s a glimpse of what Warhorse does best – some amazing life sized puppetry:

I gently suggested they might be better booking a theatre break next time and that was when I discovered people have some funny ideas about theatre breaks! Three Myths about Theatre Breaks 1. Expensive! My friends went to see Warhorse. A theatre break with top price tickets to see Warhorse a central hotel with breakfast the next morning starts from  around £120 each. Most sites will let you book your rail fare with a good discount. With  a hotel near the theatre you can  walk and avoid paying for a cab and  most sites offer a special price on a pre-theatre supper. By the time my friends had paid for all their little extras there really wasn’t much in it. 2. Bad seats My friends could only get single seats that were not next to each other. They were top priced seats and very nice, but not together. Most theatre breaks websites have better access to seats than the general public. You can often choose from a range of seat prices. You always get to sit together. The lesser known fact is that these sites often have tickets for top shows (like Warhorse!) that are reserved for theatre breaks customers. 3. These internet sites are dead dodgy! Buying stuff online is part of all our lives these days. My friends are sensible. They bought their tickets from a well known site that they have used before and trusted. That same site also sells theatre breaks!  If you are worried about how secure a site is check out this advice. (Book Theatre Breaks On Line with Confidence) So next time you are thinking about booking theatre tickets for the West End do check round first before you assume that theatre breaks aren’t a better idea.

This week’s new theatre includes a Mike Leigh play, Shakespeare, David Eldridge and more. London theatres mentioned are in Islington, the Almeida, Hampstead Theatre

This article titled “This week’s new theatre” was written by Mark Cook & Lyn Gardner, for The Guardian on Saturday 5th March 2011 00.07 UTC Ecstasy, London So successful has Mike Leigh been as a film director, with international hits such as Secrets And Lies and the most recent, Another Year, that it’s easy to forget he started out in theatre. He’s still best known for the cult play Abigail’s Party, which premiered at Hampstead Theatre in 1977. Leigh, using his improvisational approach, has staged three more plays at Hampstead, and now he returns to direct one of them. Ecstasy is set in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher is set to change the country. In a north London bedsit, political turmoil is reflected in the maelstrom of a group of friends. Expect pain and humour in equal measure. Hampstead Theatre, NW3, Thu to 9 Apr Mark Cook The Cleansing Of Constance Brown, Birmingham Who is Constance, and how can she be everywhere and nowhere at the same time? In Stan’s Cafe’s intriguing show, first seen back in 2007 and performed without words in a 14 metre-long corridor, Constance is a mysterious presence. She’s the figure just glimpsed at the edge of the frame in a TV news story, the unidentified figure in a painting or photograph of famous people, the person nobody notices as momentous events unfurl. The corridor is the corridor of history, where the Tudor maid and the Jewish victim of the Nazis co-exist and where women are peripheral to the power machinations of men. But Constance is always there, a silent witness, unnoticed but taking note. AE Harris Factory, to 19 Mar Lyn Gardner The Knot In The Heart, London David Eldridge returns to the Almeida with a world premiere, the first since his adaptation of the Danish film Festen, which went on to conquer the West End and Broadway. He seems to have a penchant for the Scandinavians, having translated three of Ibsen’s works, but on this occasion his new play is rooted in the here and now – in fact it all takes place within a mile of the Islington theatre. The Knot Of The Heart stars Lisa Dillon – recently at the Old Vic in Design For Living and A Flea In Her Ear – as Lucy, a successful children’s TV presenter who seemingly has always had everything but gets addicted to heroin and finds her life beginning to unravel. The part was written for Dillon, and is unusual in that the character is not defined by her relationship with men. The play is ultimately about love but, says director Michael Attenborough, it defies stereotypes. Almeida Theatre, N1, Thu to 30 Apr MC From Newbury With Love, Newbury Red Cape’s The Idiot Colony, about women incarcerated and forgotten in mental asylums, put them on the map in 2008, and this new piece was also inspired by a true story. In 1971, at the height of the cold war, 73-year-old Newbury resident Harold Edwards and his wife, Olive, sent a postcard to seven-year-old Marina, the daughter of an imprisoned Soviet dissident. The result of a letter-writing campaign by Amnesty International, it led to a 15-year correspondence between the families that lasted until Harold died. By then Marina was 24. The production draws on the original letters, which were a lifeline to Marina and her family in the knowledge that there was somebody who cared about their plight. Corn Exchange, Wed to 12 Mar LG The Tempest, Stratford-upon-Avon Once seen, never forgotten, Little Angel Theatre’s collaboration with the RSC on Venus And Adonis even had hardened theatre critics professing a love of puppets. Here, Little Angel tackles Shakespeare’s late play in a shortened version for children and adults. Playwright Phil Porter has adapted the original and Peter Glanville’s production makes use of puppetry and music to create the magical isle where Prospero rules by magic. The fantastical nature of the story should lend itself well to puppetry in what should be a spellbinding spectacle. Swan, Fri to 26 Mar LG Yerma, Leeds Surprisingly, West Yorkshire Playhouse has never produced a play by Federico García Lorca, and this new adaptation has a distinctly Irish bent. Directed by Róisin McBrinn, the Trinity College Dublin-trained director whose production of Novecento was recently seen at Trafalgar Studios in London, and adapted by the Irish writer Ursula Rani Sarma, it stars Kate Stanley-Brennan, who has appeared in plays at the Abbey including Mark O’Rowe’s Young Vic-bound Terminus. Stanley-Brennan plays Yerma, a young woman who has been married to Juan for years but who has not had the child that she so desires. Desperate and fearing the lonely years ahead in a passionless marriage, she takes matters into her own hands with tragic consequences. West Yorkshire Playhouse, Sat to 26 Mar LG Diary Of A Nobody, Northampton Holloway clerk Charles Pooter really is a nobody. Condemned by class and education to be part of the faceless grind of Victorian London – unexceptional, unrecognised and unremarked upon – Charles is determined to be a somebody. So he decides to keep a diary, pointing out why he is a cut above his fellow clerks, and you are going to hear the sparkling gems within, whether you like it or not. George and Weedon Grossmith’s late-Victorian satire really is a timeless comic gem, detailing Charles’s small acts of rebellion, social gaffes and attempts to make himself appear more important than he is. This new version by Hugh Osborne is performed as a physical theatre farce by a cast of four. The Royal, Sat to 19 Mar LG Sex Idiot, Manchester There are not many shows where you learn something new: such as the fact that you can make a fake moustache out of pubic hair. That’s exactly what performance artist Bryony Kimmings does in this bonkers but really rather lovable little show, which was inspired by her experience of contracting a common sexually transmitted disease. The pubic hair belongs to members of the audience who are invited to offer it up mid-show – and many of them do in a real spirit of generosity. This probably isn’t a night out for those who hate audience participation or who are easily embarrassed, but for all its cheerful wackiness this is a serious and upfront show about love, sex, one-night stands and broken hearts. Contact, Sat LG

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Wizard of Oz crew with Claudia Winkleman

With the curtain about to rise on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of The Wizard of Oz, we accompany some of of the cast and crew along the yellow brick road to discover more about the latest stage adaptation of one of the world’s best loved movies. Claudia Winkelman’s Arts Show on BBC Radio2 will be accompanying some of the cast and crew along the yellow brick road tonight Feb 3rd at 22:00 to find out all about the latest stage adaptation of The Wizard of Oz

Sitara Johns has added a photo to the pool:

Dress Circle at Les Miserables, Queens Theatre, London.

The most incredible show I have been to see at the West End. Amazing.

Theatre Breaks Roundup for 2009 Winter 2009 is here and I’m just wondering what sort of a year this has been for theatre breaks. There’s been a recent survey that assures us reality TV has actually boosted ticket sales. The  box offices are claiming the credit crunch has had little effect on bookings with theatre usually full. So what’s been the reality? Theatre Breaks Shows In terms of shows one or two have closed early but the old favourites like We Will Rock You carry on. Avenue Q was saved from oblivion by popular demand and has moved to a new theatre. The Lion King is as popular as ever and proudly boasts that it is so well booked that it has NEVER released tickets to the reduced ticket agencies. Some good shows reached the end of their natural life and wonderful though Spamalot was it really was time for it to say goodbye. It’s been replaced by Priscilla and that has been a fair swap. Carousel never really quite hit the spot and its closure wasn’t any great surprise. It was sad to see the end of Cabaret and a shame they couldn’t take a leaf out of Chicago’s book and find a constant stream of new familiar faces to keep us going back.  Joseph went too and no doubt was mourned by thousands of Lee Mead fans but it was another one that seemed ready to go. No doubt it will be back someday. One show I thought should have done better was Spring Awakening, which I just loved. All that energy and a theatre full of young people the night we went. I felt positively ancient, and that’s a good thing! (honest!)

Oliver has of course been a total triumph with Jodie Prenger making a real name for herself. Who would have thought she’d still be there doing 8 shows a week nearly a year later? What a star. I saw her at West End live this year and she has a super voice and a lovely stage presence. She managed to upstage Christopher Biggins, to great comic effect and that takes some talent for comedy! I think we’ll see more of Jodie once she moves on but for now she seems happy where she is. She’s on her 3rd Fagin and this is the one I’d really like to see. I think Griff Reese Jones will make a great Fagin and be well worth seeing. Hairspray has seen some major changes with the departure of Micheal Ball. Still Phil Jupitus is doing a grand job and Brain Connely was very well received in the part. I wonder how long Micheal will stay away, I’m sure I heard somewhere that he’s thinking of coming back to Edna. We hope! Wicked is going from strength to strength and is the most popular musical at this witchy time of year. Kerry Ellis is just a distant memory now and Alexia Kadhim has made her own interpretation of Elphaba. I think she has a lovely voice, quite different to Kerry’s but wonderful all the same: Click here to view the embedded video. New shows coming in include Legally Blonde which I was less than keen on when first announced. Since then I’ve had a good look at the videos on youtube and listened to the cast recordings and I might just change my mind. It might be fun and has the sort of casting that makes me want to see it. What to say about Love Never Dies (apart from “I can’t wait!!”)? Well it’s definitely going to be a huge event and it should be a spectacular in the best Lloyd Webber tradition. The Coney Island setting should give it a great atmosphere, you know how creepy fairgrounds can be. We’ve all seen Scoobydoo   It’s got two fabulous stars in Sarah Boggess and Ramin Karimloo (I’ve been doing this so long I can now spell these names without flinching!) In the next part of this series of posts I’ll look at the travel aspects and prospects for theatre breaks in London 2010. a

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Lion King Anniversary theatre breaks As you may well know by now, the Lion King musical is celebrating a tenth anniversary in London’s West End. It’s a great family show and we’d like to offer this special theatre break package from Superbreak of Lion King theatre tickets and a three star hotel for only £60 per person: The Lion King Celebrates its 10th Anniversary, ticket & 3*, £60.00pp Show Available until August 2010 The Lion King Theatre Breaks Disney’s marvellous musical about the young Prince Simba, his father King Musafa and evil Uncle Scar. An award-winning score with fantastic choreography continue to make The Lion King one of London’s favourite shows. Lion King London Video

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London Theatre Breaks London Theatre breaks involve short breaks to London to see a top West End show and stay in a smart hotel close to London theatreland. Top tickets to the most popular shows are hard to get hold of, especially for a Saturday night or close to holidays but the hotel and theatre packages hold block tickets in reserve so it’s often the best way to secure the dates you want and also make sure you don’t have to worry about getting back home again after a great theatre night out. Theatre breaks can also be extended to include discount rail fare from any UK railway station, and arriving in London by train is a very sensible plan by the way, and also London attractions such as the London Eye, Thames river trips, Madame Tussaud’s etc. If you’re one of those people who always like to know where you are going to be eating you can get a good deal booking pre-theatre restaurant meal at the same time too. Here is a selection of 7 from the current top musicals on offer: Les Miserables Theatre Breaks Les Miserables (or Les Miz) has remained one of the most popular London theatre breaks after becoming the longest running musical with a 25 years unbroken run. This spectacular musical show with a highly emotional score tells of the epic story of Jean Val Jean, an ex-convict who could not escape his past, all against the background of turmoil sweeping through 19th century France. Sales of tickets for Les Miserables went up by 46 per cent after Susan Boyle sang I Dreamed a Dream in the first round of Britain’s Got Talent. Grease West End Theatre Breaks

“Grease is the word” Come on, haven’t you always wanted to get up and sing like Sandy or Danny? The songs are so familiar that with a Grease theatre break in London, you know exactly what kind of fun you’re going to get. The super line up for the West End staging makes sure this is the most professionally stunning production of Grease you’ve ever seen. Oliver! “Can I have some more please?” Oliver the musical is the famous Lionel Bart staging from the Oliver Twist story by Dickens. Jodie Prenger the leading lady confounded sceptics by holding down the part she won in a TV competion and will continue to delight audiences with her powerful voice and dedication to the hard West End lifestyle well into 2010. The part of Fagin has been played by big names Rowan Atkinson and Omid Djali and after December 14th is taken over by Griff Rhys Jones. Legendry classic musical songs such as “Food glorious food”, “Consider yourself” and “You’ve got to pick a pocket or two” are all part of the timeless Oliver theatre breaks experience. Mamma Mia! Did you see the movie with Meryl Streep? I loved it. This is the stage musical the film was based on and they do turn the inside of the theatre into a fabulous sunny Greek island. It’s both funny and fun. Mamma Mia theatre breaks with the enormous feel good factor are great for parties, groups, couples young and old and if you do drag somebody along who thinks they dislike Abba songs they still end up having a brilliant time. Priscilla Queen of the Desert Another musical that has its origins in a film of the same name, Priscilla Queen of the Desert on stage has taken on a life of its own. After years of success in Australia, Priscilla finally arrived on the London West End scene in spring 2009 with Jason Donavon and Tony Sheldon. The costumes and sets are completely mad and Stephen Fry said “It’s one of the most fantastic evenings I’ve ever had in a theatre. It’s just simply infectious.” Phantom of The Opera

The Phantom of The Opera is another very long running musical which relates more towards the classical side of musical theatre, having superbly visual gothic scenes and a big soaring orchestral musical score. Worth seeing more than once, Phantom of the Opera theatre breaks are appreciated for anniversaries and smart city breaks. With the impending launch of an unusual sequel musical, called “Love Never Dies“, there is likely to be more interest in the Phantom than ever. Dirty Dancing Nobody seems to be able to explain quite why Dirty Dancing theatre breaks attract such enthusiastic devotees, but Saturday night tickets are always scarce and the glitzy young people who do turn up are usually all set for a big night out. You have to be impressed by spectacular dancing and expect to get caught up in the music and romance. Other Theatre breaks in London Of course there are plenty of other choices for theatre breaks in London if none of these top musicals are exactly your cup of tea. How could I leave out “We Will Rock You” for example, the only British rock musical currently in the West End ( but not for long we hope ). And if it’s a good play that does more for you than musicals then there’s an opportunity to see Lenny Henry’s powerful Othello, The Shawshank Redemption and of course long term favourites such as The Mousetrap and Woman in Black. For information about the logistics of planning London theatre breaks you can also browse the theatre breaks magazine or join the theatre breaks facebook page.

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Related posts:Summer Theatre BreaksTheatre Breaks MagazineNew Year Theatre Breaks

West End Live West End Live West End Live is an annual event usually held in Leicester Square towards the end of June. Most of the big musicals take part and extracts are performed live on a stage in the Square. The whole event is free and, although it can get very busy, well worth a visit. If you are in London for a theatre break anyway it’s a great way to add even more excitement to your trip. WEST END LIVE 2009 When- Sat 20th June, 11am to 6pm and Sunday 21st June 12 noon to 6pm Where - Leicester Square This summer as usual some of the biggest shows on in the West End and Off will be taking part in the free entertainment. You can expect to see performances from all these shows, plus some surprises.

Wicked, We Will Rock You, Thriller LIVE, Stomp, Sister Act, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Oliver!, La Cage Aux Folles, Jersey Boys, Hairspray, Dirty Dancing, Carousel Avenue Q.

Now in its 5th year West End LIVE offers world class free entertainment. There will be lots of cool activities, stalls and freebies. The event is expected to be attended by 150,000 people. I’ll add a running order as soon as it’s available.

Eating Out in London - A short Guide to the West End Some people worry about eating out in London’s West End, and perhaps with good reason. Food in central London can be a bit expensive, some places are overcrowded at certain times of day, restaurants may be pretentious and not very good. But it really doesn’t have to be that way. A weekend theatre break for example, should be a thoroughly enjoyable experience all the way through and dining out should be one of the high points, a part of the treat. West End Guide to Pre Theatre Dining Suppose you arrive at Kings Cross Station or Euston at about 4pm on a Friday afternoon and make your way by taxi cab to your four star West End hotel. Pre-booked Pre-theatre Dinner in the West End

When you book a theatre break with hotel stay and show tickets included, it’s easy to add a pre-show dinner, either at the hotel where you will be staying or at a suggested nearby quality restaurant. These meal deals or add-ons are all set up to make sure you have an relaxed restaurant dinner and can still arrive at the theatre in plenty of time to take you seats well before the show starts. The restaurant bill is then included in the total cost of your break and it’s usually very good value. Choosing a West End Restaurant by  walking  in off  the street Alternatively many of the cafes and restaurants in the West End offer fixed price pre-theatre menus. These are usually two course and cost vary wildly between £15 - £40 per person, without wine.

Here are some tips to consider before walking in off the street:

First have a good look at the menu before you go in. Is is the kind of you food you fancy? Is there a special pre-theatre menu deal and if so what exactly is included Decide if you are happy with the price and check there are no hidden’extras’(VAT, Service etc) Now look in through the windows and see who is already eating. If nobody at all, that’s not always a bad sign if it’s still very early evening but some places are crowded from late afternoon with people coming straight out from work. If there are diners eating within sight, or waiters carrying food to table then have a nosy glance at the food itself. In just a second you can often get an impression if it looks appetising, artistic, not quite right, too big or too small. I think it’s also important to look at the tables and chairs offered to see if you think you will be comfortable and not too squashed together.

Now, once you do go in through the door of your selected restaurant you are most likely to end up eating there, but you are still really in the next stage of the evaluation process.

You may well be able to enjoy smells coming from the kitchen and the food at tables. If anything is wrong, just turn around and walk out. You’ll be greeted and asked if you have a reservation, and the size of your party. Even in a busy restaurant though, an extra table for two at pre-theatre times is rarely a problem. When offered a table according to the size of your party, check the location before accepting. A window table is nice but not right next to the front door. Beware of the table the waiters normally keep clear because it’s right by the kitchen exit or worse. Even in an empty restaurant with no reservations, they will try to tell you where you have to sit. I don’t know why they do this, but I do know that you can certainly say “no thanks, I’d rather sit over there” and negotiate. And you can still walk out at this stage, when there are plenty of other places just two minutes walk away.

Popular Restaurants Booked with Theatre Breaks

West End Restaurant Type of Cuisine West End Area Handy for These Shows Features

Christophers Restaurant American Bar and Grill Overlooking Waterloo Bridge Avenue Q Chicago Derren Brown Enigma Dirty Dancing Calendar Girls Hairspray Joseph The Lion King A Little Night Music Oliver Stomp Woman In Black A modern, sumptuous menu served in a grade II listed building with a sweeping staircase, soft lighting, opulent decor and fantastic views over The River Thames.

L’Escargot Owned by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White,  need I say  more? Right in the Heart of Soho Grease Jersey Boys Les Miserables Priscilla Queen of the Desert THRILLER Live Fine dining with fresh ingredients, art on the walls and a famous name.

Creation restaurant Oriental meets British cuisine Covent Garden Blood Brothers The Mousetrap We Will Rock You Open kitchen, fine art work

Salierie’s restaurant European cuisine The Strand Carousel Derren Brown Enigma La Cage Aux Folles Joseph The walls are decorated with theatrical memorabilia

Dial Restaurant at the Seven Dials complex Updated British classics Covent Garden Chicago Stomp A popular meeting place amongst Londoners and theatre goers

Bertorelli’s Restaurant Italian Covent Garcden Dirty Dancing Hairspray The Lion King OliverWoman In Black Opposite the stage door for the Royal Opera House

Chez Gerard French Victoria Billy Elliot Wicked Marble floors and columns

Criterion Restaurant

French and Mediterranean Picadilly Mamma Mia Phantom of the Opera 39 Steps Luxurious Persian styled dining area

Too many things to do in London! I hesitate before providing a list because for some people there may be simply too many things to do in London sot the problem is more one of working out how to fit them all in if you’re only there for a short theatre break or weekend break. I guess the knack is to pick one or two top quality activities or visits for each day or part day, and then allow plenty of time in between for getting about and relaxation. If you must try and visit a museum, busy London shopping street, out of the way restaurant, art gallery, river trip and theatre show all in one day then the best thing to do is to make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes with soft soles because otherwise your feet are going to get mighty tired! But if you are looking for inspiration then here is a starter list of popular attractions and things to do which I think you’ll find worth considering. Popular Things to do List London Eye Way out ahead is the simple pleasure of getting up high above the skyline for a spectacular view over central London courtesy of a London Eye flight. Its simply something that everybody has to do when they come to London, and if you’ve done it before, you might want to try a night flight or taking someone along who hasn’t had the pleasure yet. As a bolt-on booking for theatre breaks there are a few options. The champagne flight sounds luxurious and of course that makes a difference as to who else is likely to be sharing your capsule, in other words quiet couples like yourselves rather than noisy families. The London Eye Fast Track is also popular, cutting the waiting time down to just 15 minutes from checking in to boarding your capsule. When you book your theatre break and add on a London Eye Fast Track you get a booking confirmation number and will end up pre-booked for your day and time. Present this to the London Eye box office and you can walk onto the next free capsule. Without this you would have to queue up once to buy the tickets, then join an average forty minute queue for the flight.

Tate Modern The enormous Bankside power station turned into one of the world’s premier modern art exhibition spaces at Tate Modern has become another of London’s iconic landmarks, situated right on the South bank of the river Thames. The building itself is worthy of a visit and if you like modern art that’s a bonus. Admission is free to the huge turbine hall and also the themed collections of twentieth century art genres but if there’s a visiting exhibition on one of the floors you can buy tickets there and then. True art buffs can then catch the Tate to Tate fast catamaran ferry upstream to Tate Britain. Madame Tussauds The old waxworks at Madame Tussauds has seen millions and millions of people through their doors since they first opened over 200 years ago, and now the modern experience there has also become just as popular as it ever was. It’s an emotion charged journey up close and personal with A-list celebrities, sporting legends, political heavyweights and notorious historical icons, reliving the times, events and moments that made the world talk about them. Gone are the museum-style ropes and poles so you really can get up close and personal with the mind bending lifelike sculptures. Dim Sum

When you’re on a theatre break in London, eating times can become slightly out of synch from the normal routine, and you can end up feeling a bit peckish when it’s too late for lunch but also too early for dinner. Of course there are plenty of  restaurants, cafes and pubs serving food all afternoon but to make the most of London why not try going to Chinatown for Dim Sum?  Dim Sum are tasty little dishes such as fried dumplings, grilled pork buns or vegetable rolls which you can order as few or as many as you please to share between you. Chinatown or Soho is situated right next to or perhaps overlapping with London’s Theatreland and you will easily find plenty of Dim Sum restaurants to choose from. Best after 2.00pm and before 7.00pm The Apple Store, Regent Street Whether you are principally a Mac or a PC person, the famous Apple Store in Regent STreet is always worth a visit. The UK flagship Applestore is spacious and impressive with enormous high ceilings and a glass staircase leading to the showroom and genious bar section. Here you can get hands on advice about all the Apple products from ipods to Macs, software and professional music and video editing suites. Research your next laptop, buy a gift for your teenager back home or just check your email on one of the hundreds of demo machines without any hassle.

More things to do in London I’m going to stop right there with this little list before I get carried away. For more things to do in London stay subscribed to our new Theatre Breaks Magazine

CLARE .H. has added a photo to the pool:

Talking about Mamma Mia Theatre Breaks, and just to be clear I mean the stage musical that's been going for ten years, not the film although the film is great too.So this is a top feel good musical with fantastic choreography and of course no lack of toe tapping singalong tunes thanks to the 22 Abba songs incorporated into the story.Mamma Mia theatre breaks transport you to a sunny Greek island instead of London!

London breaks What is it about the grand hotels and theatres that makes London breaks ever popular? Something more than just the convenience I’m sure. Old fashioned style, social aspiration, romance maybe? The anonymous but attentive service combined with an expectation that everything you could possibly need will be there ready and waiting, or easily conjured up via room service. Modern life is relentless and for the most part let’s be honest, it can consist of following a series of rather dull routines so you don’t have to be an art intellectual or wealthy bon vivant to feel attracted by the idea of just one or two nights break in a smart central London hotel as a complete escape from the same old four walls, kitchen, relatives and other humdrum at home. The West End It’s not that I have any illusions as to what the image of London conjures up in many people’s minds. It’s a great big, busy, noisy city where the citizens are often tired and frazzled from over-stimulation, pressure and travel. They’d like a break too! London as a capital is nothing like Paris, Edinburgh or Cardiff and there can be resentment that so much political, financial and cultural leadership seems to be assumed to begin and end in London. That’s unfortunate in some ways, but then the sheer weight of population, history and connection gives London a momentum that cannot be ignored. Regional theatre may be more innovative in its creativity, and perhaps more intimate in the performance but it’s only when a show makes it to the West End that the bigger name stars can be attracted and the investment comes in for the stunning sets and longer runs. It’s the same story for music, fine art, dance etc. So people come on short breaks to London to see the best shows and soak up the West End atmosphere. London Theatreland

You see, London’s theatreland is quite a small area in the central part of the city which is a stamping ground not just for Londoners (many of whom may not go there for months on end) but for all people from every city, village and nation. On any day, weekend or midweek the culture vulture crowds are present in large numbers, ambling about in groups or couples, plenty of singles too. The lights and buzz hold an attraction for young people as much as the distant familiarity does for people who have been visiting London occasionally for one reason or another over decades. And much of theatreland has not been spoilt. That’s because the classic old theatre buildings themselves have been classed as grade two listed, both exterior and interior. So even when there is a poor year for theatre bookings, as happens from time to time, they cannot be pulled down or turned over for a completely different use. London Map This first map is just to give an idea of how London breaks up into distinct geographical areas with the red central area so much smaller than the great connurbation where the majority of Londoners live and work.

And theatreland is only a part of that centre. Arrival by intercity train for London hotel theatre and train breaks will mean a short journey from one of the famous mainline rail terminals into the centre and then you may not need to venture outside again or set foot in a tube or taxi until it’s time to return home, as long as you book a hotel which is inside the zone. Getting to the Theatres Here’s the street map of London Theatreland clearly showing each of the Theatres by name so it’s easy to find your way around. The same goes for the Hotels and restaurants which can be booked for pre-theatre meals, often very reasonably as part of a show, hotel and travel deal.

Top Musicals

Oliver! Phantom of the Opera Dirty Dancing Joseph Billy Elliot Sound Of Music Hairspray Lion King We Will Rock You Grease Jersey Boys Blood Brothers Mamma Mia! Les Miserables

Plays * God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (ART!) with Ralph Fiennes, Tamsin Greig (Black Books, Green Wing, Love soup and Debbie Aldridge from The Archers) * The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie still going strong decades later - who dunnit? * The Vortex by Noel Coward with Felicity Kendal Pre-Theatre Dining on London Breaks Overall, London simply has a wider selection of fine international restaurants than any other world city. You can pre book as part of a London theatre and hotel breaks package, or just wander round for a short while until you are tempted. So ‘bon appetit’ and enjoy your capital. Stumble It!

Posted by Andy Roberts London breaks with theatre show and hotel

Ever thought about weekend theatre breaks in London? Book London theatre break tickets now, with hotel or travel and meal in any combination via DARnet through London Theatre Breaks It’s well known that in London we have lots of famous old theatres all around the Shaftesbury Avenue area of the West End ‘Theatreland’ as well as Drury Lane, Shakespeare’s Globe and the South Bank complex. Ticket sales have struggled a bit in recent years, particularly during the Americans fear of flying after 9/11 in 2001. They were an important source of customers. The standard of some the shows dropped a bit too, with many of the great musicals being replaced by tribute band shows, but things are looking up again now. Noel Coward From February 2008, for example the great Noel Coward classic of “The Vortex” is playing at the Apollo Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. Felicity Kendal has been cast as Florence Lancaster. Theatre Deals Londoners themselves often don’t take advantage of the world class entertainment available in the capital, with out of town visitors making up the majority of theatre goers. The best plan is to arrive by train, plane or coach (never by car) and stay in a centrally located hotel so that getting back after the show isn’t an issue. It’s the central hotel which can add massively to the overall expense so that’s why a lot of people look for all inclusive package deal theatre breaks in London, or weekend deals, with just the cost of a restaurant meal or two to find after paying for the break in advance. Restaurants in theatreland are diverse and offer special pre-theatre menus for quite reasonable prices, so you can have a good night out in the area even if you don’t have show tickets for any particular evening. I often find myself wandering up from Charing Cross station and just following my nose, or else revisiting regular haunts. Off West End For those who don’t mind venturing a little further afield than the traditional tourist venues, there are always the Theatre Bars in Islington, Theatre Royal Stratford East, and others mentioned in OffWestEnd where some more challenging, contemporary and economical performances may be found. Book Theatre Breaks in London For booking a show and hotel package deal, with or without discount rail travel I’ve found one site which seems to have the best selection available and also offers a best price guarantee: Book London theatre tickets now, with hotel or travel and meal in any combination via DARnet through London Theatre Breaks . .

Posted by Andy Roberts Theatre breaks in London