Events with spaces.

My Dad started these events back in the 1970s. He was the first local group (then Benfleet Group of Friends) to offer free time before or after a performance — because why not take the opportunity to explore our wonderful London?

All prices are shown on the booking details. If a deposit applies, this will be clearly stated.

If you need anything specific, please make sure it is included in the notes section at the time of booking. Plans are made in advance, and once arrangements are confirmed, I’m unable to make changes (for example, requesting an end-of-row seat).

COACH ROUTES

Route 1
Southend · Westcliff · Leigh · Hadleigh · Benfleet · Basildon · Grays

Route 2
Canvey · Benfleet · Pitsea · Basildon · Grays

FEBRUARY 2026

Fri 13 – MJ – £79.50 (Evening) – this show is closing

MARCH 2026

Thu 5 – Dracula – £110.00 (Evening) – 2 left
Thu 12 – Six – £79.50 (Evening)
Sat 14 – Gin Factory Visit, Chiswick – £55.00
Wed 18 – Les Misérables / Book of Mormon – from £79.50 (Evening)
Thu 19 – Moulin Rouge / Hadestown / Oliver – from £79.50
Sat 21 – Thriplow Daffodil Weekend – £39.50
Sun 22 – Starlight Express – £69.50 (Early Evening) – THIS SHOW IS CLOSING
Thu 26 – Winchester Mini Break (Spa Hotel) – £149.50 total

APRIL 2026

Wed 1 – The Kinks Musical: Sunny Afternoon – £79.50 (Matinee)
Sat 4 – Wicked / Back to the Future / Hamilton – from £80.00
Sun 5 – ABBA Voyage (Seated) – £99.50
Sat 11 – Battersea Power Station – £27.50
Fri 24 – Come Alive: The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular – £99.50 (Matinee)
Sat 25 – Oxford Free Time – £37.00
Thu 30 – Stranger Things / The Devil Wears Prada – from £72.50 (Evening)

MAY 2026

Sat 2 – Mundo Pixar Exhibition, Wembley – £59.50
Wed 13 – Phantom / Oliver – from £79.50 (Matinee)
Thu 14 – Les Misérables / Moulin Rouge – from £79.50 (Matinee) – ROUTE 2
Sat 16 – Blood Brothers – £85.00 (Matinee)
Fri 22 – Kinky Boots – £85.00 (Evening)
Sat 23 – Windsor Boat Trip & Afternoon Tea – £77.50
Sun 24 – Columbia Road Flower Market & Covent Garden – £25.50
Fri 29 – Highgate Cemetery & Village Tour – £57.50
Sat 30 – Traitors Live Experience – £79.50

JUNE 2026

Wed 10 – The Lion King – from £79.50 – ROUTE 2
Thu 11 – Les Misérables – from £85.00 (Matinee)
Sat 13 – Cambridge Free Time – £29.00
Sat 20 – Ascot (Queen Anne Enclosure) – £120.00
Thu 25 – High Society / Les Misérables / Kinky Boots – from £85.00
Fri 26 – Beetlejuice – £75.00 (Matinee)
Sat 27 – Camden – £25.00
Sun 28 – Mamma Mia! The Party (O2) – £165.00

JULY 2026

Thu 2 – Avenue Q – £75.00 (Matinee)
Sat 4 – Wroxham & Broads Boat Trip – £46.50
Sun 5 – Richmond upon Thames – £25.00
Mon 6 – Bath & Bristol Mini Break – £299.00
Fri 10 – Jesus Christ Superstar – £89.50
Sat 11 – Brighton Free Time – £29.50
Sun 12 – Buckingham Palace Exhibition – £65.00
Tue 14 – Hever Castle in Bloom & Afternoon Tea – £69.50
Sat 18 – Brighton Free Time – £29.50 – ROUTE 2

AUGUST 2026

Sat 1 – Day Trip to Le Touquet (France)
£60 deposit / £55 balance due end of June 2026 – £115 per person

Sat 15 – Eastbourne Airshow or Free Time – £42.50

SEPTEMBER 2026

Fri 4 – Jesus Christ Superstar – £89.50
Mon 7 – York Mini Break – £459.00
Sat 19 – Sheringham 1940s Day – £39.50
Wed 30 – The Lion King – from £69.50 (Evening)

OCTOBER 2026

Fri 2 – Phantom of the Opera / Paddington – from £85.00 (Evening)
Thu 8 – Paddington – £99.50
Fri 9 – Disneyland Paris Mini Break
Sun 11 – Westlife – O2 London
Thu 15 – Lord of the Dance (Riverdance) – £89.50

NOVEMBER 2026

Ely Cathedral – TBC
Sun 22 – ABBA Voyage – £99.50 (6 pm performance)
Thu 26 – Sounds of the Musicals (stationary London boat with Christmas lunch & entertainment) – £85.00 (Matinee)
Sun 29 – Canterbury Christmas Market – £29.50

DECEMBER 2026

Sat 5 – London Christmas Lights – £25.50
Sun 6 – Thursford – £99.50
Thu 10 – Christmas Lights Tour – £25.00
Thu 10–Fri 11 – Ambassadors Cruise (meal, accommodation & entertainment) – £189.00 per person
Fri 11 – Mamma Mia! The Party – £165.00
Sat 12 – Snow White Panto – £49.50
Sat 12 – Windsor Castle at Christmas – £65.00
Fri 18 – Thursford (Matinee) – £99.50
Sat 19 – Carols at the Royal Albert Hall – £99.50
Sat 19 – Hever Castle Christmas Lunch (2 courses, castle and grounds) – £75.00
Mon 21 – Carols at the Royal Albert Hall (Matinee)
Wed 23 – Carols at the Royal Albert Hall (Matinee)

FEBRUARY 2027

Thu 4 – Paddington – £99.50 (Matinee)
Sun 28 – Alan Carr – Cliffs Pavilion – £65.00

MARCH 2027

Thu 11 – Paddington – £79.50 (Evening)

by Nicola Haynes

Theatre Etiquette & What To Do If Others Spoil the Show

Sadly, two of our lovely customers had their Les Misérables experience spoiled yesterday by disruptive audience members behind them—talking, singing, and generally forgetting they weren’t in their own living room.

It’s always disheartening, especially when people have paid alot of money for their seats and have been looking forward to the show for months. A theatre is a place to watch a performance, not perform one yourself.

If this ever happens during one of our trips, please don’t suffer in silence.

Speak to an usher at the theatre during the performance—they are there to help and can often discreetly resolve the issue.

We always want you to have the best experience, and we’ll continue to do our part by booking excellent seats and travelling in comfort—but we kindly ask all attendees to respect others around them.

Let’s all help keep the magic of live theatre alive—for everyone.

I would add the disruptors were not part of my group!

by Nicola Haynes

What seats do you have in the Theatre?

Theatre Seating & Ticket Info – What You Need to Know

I’m often asked what kind of theatre tickets and seats I offer – so here’s a quick guide to help clarify things!

For nearly all shows, I offer Band A seats, which are just one step down from premium seats for groups, but at fantastic group discounted rates. For some brand-new shows, especially early in the run, I might offer Band B seats – still great views and value.

Theatre Layout Basics:

Most London theatres are arranged as follows:

• Stalls (ground level) - often steps to access your seats

• Royal Circle / Dress Circle (first tier – known as either “Dress” or “Royal” depending on the theatre) (I find better for mobility).

• Upper Circle / Grand Circle

• Balconies

I do not offer Upper or Grand Circle seats for London Musicals as we find these can be a little too high for comfort. My focus is always on ensuring you have a great view and a comfortable experience.

Arenas are very different to theatres — the whole layout is completely unique. You’ll really notice the difference when you take your seats. Unlike the intimacy and tiered structure of a traditional theatre, arenas are designed for scale, with vast open spaces and often a central or end-stage setup. It creates a whole new atmosphere and dynamic for the performance, you will have steps to your seats.

Seat Preferences:

Most customers tend to prefer either Stalls or Royal/Dress Circle. I mainly offer Stalls, but when I do provide seats in the Royal /Dress Circle, I will always specify that – and rest assured, these are never in the high seats - you just may have your own preferences!

As a group booker, I’m allocated specific blocks of seats in the theatre, and I use those allocations to create your all-in-one package, which includes your theatre ticket and luxury coach travel.

by Nicola Haynes

GROUP SEATS UPDATE

Seats offered are usually stalls or first circle seating group rates as a package with travel and in Band A. Band A is one seating level below premium seats.

I am offered seats in certain parts of the Theatre in the stalls or the circle. The circle seating are one level above the stalls.

The seats are know as either the Royal or the Dress depending upon the Theatre (they are the same, one level above the stalls).

by Nicola Haynes

Refunds, Customer booking errors, Cancelled performances please read.

Our events have always been non refundable unless a show is cancelled by the Theatre.

The website charges me a fee for each booking as STRIPE looks after your money and whilst I am not requesting any admin fees for errors you may make when you book (eg, I booked in error,  I can no longer make the date or find someone to take my place etc.) the fee STRIPE charges me will be requested by me to you (it's not usually a huge amount but I am sure you would realise these amounts all add up). Same process applies for double bookings, eg ' I only wanted 4 for Brighton but I clicked twice so it looks like I have 8' ! the addtional 4 incur a  stripe fee for your error.

Due to admin volume I am unable to resell or readvertise your events if you can no longer make the date, however,  you can resell (at no additional cost and not on social media) and advise me who is taking your place and where they are boarding the coach.

If we arrive in London and the show is cancelled I still have to pay for the coach.  I will adjust the refund accordingly to offset the coach payment I have to make (that's if the show has been cancelled and we've arrived in London or wherever the show may be).

For me to be able to offer these events going forward the less admin burden I have then the more time I have to find shows and days out for us all to enjoy.

Stripe's payments platform lets me accept credit cards, debit cards, and popular payment methods around the world—all with a single integration. 

Love to you all, N x 

Just a reminder refunds are not available once you have booked.

by Nicola Haynes

Bar Codes and updates 13th October 2023

Good Morning, it appears the new website maybe be issuing bar codes on bookings  - these are not your tickets so just ignore please.

Last night the group enjoyed The Choir of Man and Matilda, two equally brilliant shows.. thank you all for your positive feedback particularly the sweets on the coach, more Banana Toffees (noted) !

Next we have Abba Voyage on Sunday - loved by everyone each time we go!

Have a super lovely weekend everyone.  Please do share the website with friends and family , invite anyone to join my private facebook group 'theatre trips essex' where you will hear all about upcoming events first.

Love N x

by Nicola Haynes

Harry Potter tour ready to book now

I have to tell you it's taken months and months to source group tickets for the Warner Studios Harry Potter Tour and finally I have these on sale now for Saturday the 16th of March 2024 ... The tour starts fairly early at 09.30am so I thought it would be nice to make a full day and stop on the return in the stunning St Albans which I hope you will enjoy as much as I have in the past on coach trips.

It's always made so much easier for us to travel by Coach, sit back, relax and enjoy the travel stress free from driving/ trains/ tubes and the like.

So we head to the venue  on Saturday the 16th of March 2024.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour 
Studio Tour Drive
Leavesden
WD25 7LR

The tickets are ready to book on the website, just search Potter and you will be able to find all the details. I think this would make a lovely gift idea for someone special. I wasn't really a Harry Potter fan until I saw the shows (matinee and evening show on the same day at the Palace Theatre , London) and absolutely loved it.  Any questions -  email me, nicolahaynes@yahoo.co.uk and I'll reply as super fast as I can Love N x

by Nicola Haynes

Good afternoon Theatre fans...

Good afternoon,  I do hope your week is going well.. I've enjoyed the lovely weather as have the dogs.. Not too many walks as a tad too warm for them.

I'm planning lots of new trips and events for you - exciting having so much to look forward to.  Mamma Mia the Party at the 02 is always a massive hit for the group and I hope to be able to offer these very soon for you.

I had two guest / group organiser tickets last night for 'Dear England'. Dad enjoyed the show - we managed to park outside the Prince Edward Theatre as he has the badge now - driving into the West End still far better than using Tubes/ Trains.Last week we enjoyed ' Old Friends ' another brilliant show.

This week we have Matilda  and  The Choir of Man.. next week we are off to Abba Voyage, Magic Mike and the Time Traveller's wife, what a mix which works perfectly for the group having so many choices.

I have some spaces on the mini break next year to Stratford upon Avon £40 is the deposit to hold the room. We had such a lovely time in June many customers rebooked as soon as I advertised.

Facebook group is where I often advise what's coming soon, so do join me there at theatre trips essex.

See you on the coach  Love N x

by Nicola Haynes