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Wigmore Hall: £5 Tickets for Under-35s, Monday Lunchtime Concerts, the 125th Season and How to Book

Wigmore Hall is the best small concert hall in London and one of the best for chamber music and song anywhere, a 125-year-old room on Wigmore Street in Marylebone with about 550 seats and acoustics that musicians rave about. It opened in 1901, so the 2026/27 season is its 125th. This page covers how to get cheap tickets, including the £5 scheme for under-35s, the Monday lunchtime and Sunday morning concerts, the hall's history and what to expect on the night.

A short history

The hall was built by the German piano maker Bechstein next to its London showroom and opened in 1901 as the Bechstein Hall. During the First World War the company's British property was seized as enemy-owned, and the hall was sold and reopened as Wigmore Hall in 1917. Over the following century it became the London home of chamber music and song recitals. Its most famous feature, apart from the sound, is the Arts and Crafts painting in the cupola above the stage, which shows the Soul of Music, by Gerald Moira.

For the 125th anniversary season the hall's director, John Gilhooly, has programmed a year of celebratory concerts; the season brochure and full listings are on the Wigmore Hall website.

How to get cheap tickets

£5 tickets for under-35s

Wigmore Hall and Classic FM run a scheme that sells tickets at £5 to people aged under 35 for selected concerts across the season. The two partners announced 25,000 such tickets a season when they launched it, and in 2025 a £500,000 grant from the AKO Foundation was announced to keep it going for another five years. To use it, add your date of birth in the My Account section of the hall's website, then look for concerts marked as part of the scheme; you can also book by phone by quoting the Under 35s Scheme. Bring photo ID showing your age, as you may be asked for it on entry or when collecting tickets.

Monday lunchtime concerts

The Monday lunchtime concerts, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, are short recitals that start at 1pm and are some of the best-value classical music in London. They are good for a first visit or a lunch break from the West End.

Sunday morning concerts

The Sunday morning series is another lower-priced way in, and fits well with a morning at the Marylebone Farmers' Market.

Concessions

Student and senior concessions apply to many concerts, and the hall sells standby tickets for some events, though not for the BBC lunchtime or Sunday morning concerts. Check each concert's page for what is available.

Choosing a seat

Because the hall is small, there are few bad seats and nobody is far from the stage. For piano recitals, seats on the left side of the stalls give a view of the pianist's hands; for song recitals, pick a seat where you can see the singer's face; for string quartets, almost anywhere works. The seating plan on the booking page shows prices by area, and the cheaper seats sell first for popular artists, so book early.

What to expect on the night

• No dress code. You will see suits and jeans in the same row.
• Be on time. Latecomers usually wait until a suitable break in the music.
• Concerts are often short. Many evening recitals run about two hours including an interval, and lunchtime concerts around an hour.
• Food and drink. The hall has its own restaurant and bar. For dinner nearby, see our where to eat in W1 guide; 2 Veneti, a few doors along at 10 Wigmore Street, is a long-standing pre-concert choice covered in our Italian restaurants in W1 page.

Getting there

Bond Street station, on the Central and Elizabeth lines and the Jubilee line, is a few minutes' walk south. Oxford Circus is about ten minutes east. Parking in Marylebone is limited and expensive, and the hall is inside the Congestion Charge zone, so public transport is easier; see getting around W1 and parking in W1.

Make a day of it

Wigmore Hall sits at the heart of Marylebone, a few minutes from the free Wallace Collection on Manchester Square and the shops of Marylebone High Street. Our Marylebone guide suggests a full day, and what's on in W1 lists other events this month.