London Theatre - small venues and off beat performances

The Southwark Playhouse in London Bridge

Everyone who comes to London will have their must-have musical to tick off - The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Legally Blonde... 

But if you're staying for longer than 2-3 days and want to experience more than one aspect of London theatre, try a night at an off West End theatre. Cheaper tickets, quirky, intimate venues and more experimental and exciting performances - what's not to love?

We caught a two night run of A Clockwork Orange at the Southwark Playhouse in London Bridge recently. We definitely recommend it, especially if you're staying in one of our Southwark apartments.

There were still tickets for £10 left five minutes before the play started and the bar area (with similarly reasonable prices) had such a fantastic arty vibe that we wished the interval could have lasted longer.  No queueing up in Leicester Square on an early morning, no expensive ice cream to tempt you and not a musical number in sight.

Check listings at Time Out London for Critics' Choice and a theatre podcast or Off West End - a site covering independent theatres in London, with special offers.