VIP theatre packages are on offer for several London shows but are they worth the money. They seem to offer a more exclusive ‘luxury’ experience for theatre-goers, at a price. Might you not be better off with a theatre break? I thought I’d look into it in a bit more detail after a friend’s recent VIP visit to Les Miserables.
What do you get in your VIP theatre package and how much does it cost?
Les Mis offers a full VIP reception. According to the theatre website the package is available with tickets included from £194. So what do you get for your money?
VIP reception includes
- Specially designated hospitality area 45 minutes before the performance, and during the interval
- Savoury canapés are served before the performance and dessert canapés will be served during the interval.
- Your choice of drinks including house champagne, beer, wine and soft drink
- Show programme
- Souvenir brochure
- Theatre host to look after your every need
(It must include your ticket as well but does not actually mention this on the site.) From £194 per person.
What is it like?
VIP theatre package -worth it or not?
My friend Leslie and her daughter Julie opted for the full VIP Theatre package to celebrate Leslie’s birthday. She and her daughter had a lovely time, and enjoyed feeling like VIPs for the day. They were quite tired by the time they actually got to the theatre as they’d driven down from York in the morning, coped with the London traffic, found somewhere secure to park for the day, done a bit of shopping and grabbed a quick bite. Phew!
The hospitality area was nice, less of a crush than the bar. They had 45 minutes before the show to eat a few tiny but delicious canapés and have a drink. Leslie opted for the house champagne but of course her daughter Julie had to have a soft drink as she was going to drive them back to York after the show. Leslie said it was nice and added to the special feeling of the day but she did feel ever so slightly guilty about Julie! It’s not the first time they have seen the show and overall they felt they slightly missed the buzz of anticipation in the theatre bar and foyer.
The seats were very good and the show was of course tremendous. Les Miserables never disappoints in that area!
Interval drinks and canapés were waiting for them and this time they were sweet rather than savoury. Again Julie missed out slightly as the designated driver but she was happy for her Mum as it was really her treat. What she didn’t know was that her Mum had nipped out in the break and bought her a really nice t-shirt with Cosette in silver foil printed on the front!
They left the show with their souvenir brochures and show programmes at around 10:30pm and headed back to their parked car and drove off into the night. It took more than four and a half hours door to door. This meant they got back to Lesley’s after 3am! Julie decided to spend the night there as she was totally exhausted by that point.
It all sounds lovely but……I wish they’d spoken to me first!
You see, I could have told them a way of having just as special a trip but getting rather more for their money. A whole theatre break package to Les Miserables from York, including coach, Saturday night theatre tickets, a night in a 4* outer London hotel, and a few hours in London on the Sunday could have cost them from just £149 each! That’s quite a big price difference! More than enough to pay for champagne for both of them in the theatre bar!
Just have a look at our Saturday Night London Theatre -two days by coach deal!
What you Get
- Return coach travel from your chosen local departure point
- A ticket for a Saturday evening performance
- Overnight stay in a twin/double bedded room* at a 4 star outer London hotel
- Full English breakfast
- Services of an Omega Holidays coach driver/tour representative
- VAT at the government’s prevailing rate at the date of travel
What it Doesn’t Mention
- No London traffic to worry about,
- No parking worries
- No congestion charge
- No nightmare drive home at silly o’clock!
- Everyone can enjoy the champagne!
- A fun giggly Mum & daughter night in a 4* hotel!
- Sunday morning London shopping B-)
As canny Yorkshire folk I’m sure Julie and her dad (who footed the bill!) would agree that the theatre break package is much better value. Oh and those souvenir brochures? £7.50 each from the foyer.
Fancy a Saturday Night Theatre Break yourself? Click here to check it out. Lots of top shows available.
