How to Get Cheap Concert Tickets in the UK: 15 Tricks That Actually Work

Concert ticket prices in the UK have gone up significantly over the past few years, and dynamic pricing has made things worse. But there are genuine ways to pay less than face value, avoid inflated resale prices, and sometimes get into sold-out shows for a fraction of what other people paid. Here are 15 that actually work.

TL;DR

• Buy during presales to get face value tickets before demand spikes and dynamic pricing kicks in.
• Use DICE's waiting list and Ticketmaster's official resale for face value or below on sold-out shows.
• Midweek dates, opening nights, and added shows are almost always cheaper and easier to get.
• O2 Priority and Three+ sometimes offer discounted tickets, not just early access.
• Set up alerts on Evnt Central to catch price drops, added dates, and presale windows automatically.

1. Buy during presales, not general sale

Presale tickets are almost always cheaper than general sale tickets when dynamic pricing is in play. Dynamic pricing adjusts ticket prices based on demand, and by the time general sale opens, the hype has peaked. During presales, demand is lower because fewer people have access, so prices tend to sit closer to the base level.

Sign up to artist mailing lists, get on O2 Priority or Three+, and track presale dates on Evnt Central so you're buying when prices are at their lowest.

2. Pick midweek shows

If an artist is playing multiple dates, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday shows are consistently cheaper than Friday and Saturday nights. Dynamic pricing reflects demand, and midweek demand is lower. The difference can be significant, sometimes 20 to 30% less for the same seat in the same venue.

The experience is identical. The artist isn't playing a B-set on a Wednesday. You're just paying less because fewer people want to go on a school night.

3. Go to the opening night

The first date of a tour is often the easiest and cheapest to get tickets for. Fans tend to fixate on dates closest to them geographically or on weekend shows, which leaves opening nights undersubscribed. If you're flexible on travel, this is one of the simplest ways to save money.

4. Watch for added dates

When a tour sells well, artists add extra dates. These added shows are announced after the initial hype has died down, which means less competition and lower dynamic pricing. They're also less likely to sell out instantly, giving you more time to buy without panicking.

Keep an eye on Evnt Central for added date alerts. These get announced quietly and are easy to miss if you're not tracking them.

5. Use DICE's waiting list for sold-out shows

DICE doesn't allow resale at inflated prices. Instead, if you miss out, you join a waiting list, and when someone releases their ticket, it goes to the next person in line at face value. You're charged automatically if a ticket becomes available, so make sure you actually want it before joining.

This is one of the most underused ways to get into sold-out gigs at the original price. People release tickets all the time as plans change.

6. Check Ticketmaster's official resale

Ticketmaster has a fan-to-fan resale marketplace where people sell tickets they can no longer use. Prices are set by the seller, but they're often at or just above face value. It's not the same as third-party resale sites where prices are routinely doubled or tripled.

Check the event page on Ticketmaster after a show sells out. Resale listings appear on the same page as the original event, and new ones pop up regularly as the show date approaches.

7. Buy tickets on the day of the show

Last-minute prices on resale platforms tend to drop sharply on the day of the show. Sellers would rather get something than nothing, and if the show is that evening, they're running out of time. This works best for arena and stadium shows where there's high resale volume.

This is a gamble. You might get a great deal, or you might not find anything. But if you're flexible and don't mind the uncertainty, it's a legitimate way to save.

8. Look at restricted view and partial view seats

Restricted view tickets are significantly cheaper and often perfectly fine. "Restricted view" can mean anything from a slightly obscured sightline to a pillar blocking one corner of the stage. In many cases, especially at standing gigs or arena shows, the restriction is barely noticeable.

Check the venue's seating plan and look for reviews from people who've sat in those seats before. More often than not, you'll find the restriction is minor and the saving is substantial.

9. Use O2 Priority and Three+ for exclusive deals

O2 Priority and Three+ don't just offer presale access. They occasionally run exclusive discounts and special offers on tickets, including 2-for-1 deals, reduced-price packages, and priority pricing that's lower than general sale.

These deals aren't available for every show, and they tend to favour mid-tier tours over massive stadium acts. Check the apps regularly, especially midweek, when new offers tend to drop.

10. Book through the venue box office directly

Some venues sell tickets through their own box office without the booking fees that platforms like Ticketmaster or See Tickets add on. The face value might be the same, but you avoid the service charge, delivery fee, and facility fee that can add 15 to 20% to the total.

This doesn't work for every venue or every show, but it's always worth checking before you buy through a third-party platform. A quick phone call or visit to the venue's website can save you a tenner or more per ticket.

11. Follow artists and promoters on social media

Artists and promoters sometimes run flash sales, competitions, and discount codes through their social channels. These are often announced with very little notice and expire quickly. Twitter/X and Instagram stories are the main channels for this.

This isn't a reliable strategy on its own, but it costs nothing to follow the accounts and keep an eye out. Even a 10% discount code adds up if you're buying multiple tickets.

12. Buy standing instead of seated

For shows that offer both options, standing tickets are almost always cheaper than seated. You lose the comfort of a chair, but you gain a more energetic atmosphere and a lower price. For most gigs, standing is the better experience anyway.

13. Skip the VIP and experience packages

VIP and experience packages are heavily marked up and rarely worth the premium. A "VIP" ticket often just means early entry, a lanyard, and access to a slightly nicer bar. The actual view of the stage isn't always better than a standard ticket in a good section.

If you want to be close to the stage, buy a standard floor ticket during presale instead. You'll get a better position for less money.

14. Avoid third-party resale sites

Sites like Viagogo and StubHub charge massive markups over face value, plus their own fees on top. For popular shows, you can end up paying two or three times the original price. These platforms are legal, but they're not in your interest as a buyer.

Always check official resale (Ticketmaster, DICE waiting list, Twickets) first. If the show isn't on any of those, wait and see if tickets reappear closer to the date before resorting to inflated resale.

15. Set up price and availability alerts

The single most effective thing you can do is stop missing the cheapest buying windows. Presale prices are lower than general sale. Opening nights are cheaper than Saturdays. Added dates are easier than original dates. But none of that helps if you find out too late.

Set up alerts on Evnt Central for the artists you care about. You'll get notified when presales open, when new dates are added, and when tickets become available. It's free, and it takes about 30 seconds.

The bottom line

You don't need to pay over the odds for concert tickets. Be strategic about when you buy, which date you pick, and which platform you use. Most of the savings come from being informed early, not from secret hacks. Get your alerts set up, buy during presales, and be flexible on dates. That alone will save you more than any discount code.