Is it cheaper to watch Radiohead in Europe or London?
Were I to mark the Radiohead tour announcement out of ten, it would be a solid eight.
Ahead of any official statement, rumours swirled through the handheld magic of flyers, found in several European cities. Then, once it was officially announced, their digitally stripped back website fed into the appropriate levels of nostalgia while providing the brilliant hammer blow to make this entire tour worthwhile. No dynamic pricing and a flat standing ticket rate of £85. Did you hear that Oasis, no dynamic pricing.
Fans know exactly where they stand as they warm up their laptops and stretch their fingers ahead of the ticket sale. But then comes the time when you choose your preferred dates. You corral your friends in the group chat, forcing at least one person to cancel the family plans they had that date, in the name of collective joy.
But as I did this very activity, with my own friends yesterday, I swiftly realised that I was on holiday for the entire time Radiohead played in the UK. As my eyes darted for more dates, in different, more convenient locations, I quickly learned that this was a residency tour. One city, for each country, and that was simply it.
Suddenly, I realised that going on holiday wasn’t such a bad thing. In fact, it was an entirely cheaper activity. Because in modern Britain, where trains are cripplingly expensive and the welcome solace of a quiet pint is now riddled with spending guilt, the idea of heading to the Big Smoke for an overnighter no longer feels palatable. And right there was where Radiohead lost two marks. Centralising its tour dates around London, which, for many, is just too damn expensive.
So, I continued scrolling through Radiohead’s tour dates, spotting a similar story in every European country they are visiting. But as someone who thinks about moving to Copenhagen on average, two to three times a day, it got me thinking, would it be cheaper for me to just catch a show there?
Sure, their pints are notoriously expensive and yeah, maybe I would have to drop £300 on an outfit that might just make me cool enough to fit in. But I know the flights there are relatively cheap, so that might just offset the cost. But come to think of it, I have never been to Madrid or Bologna, so if I’m going to travel for Radiohead, why not somewhere new?
Essentially, it’s time to get the spreadsheet out and compare exactly which city will give me the biggest bang for my buck, were I to set off where it all started for Far Out: Leeds. So below is a breakdown of every Radiohead destination, comparing travel, accommodation, dinner and most importantly, pint. Each metric is measured per unit, and the accommodation has been worked out on average price, in the respective neighbourhood of each arena. Alongside that, I have assumed the tickets after conversion would be roughly the same. Therefore, I am comparing them fairly at £85 per go.
Is it cheaper to watch Radiohead in Europe or London?
London
Given my scepticism, our capital is unsurprisingly the most expensive option of the lot. Our domestic train costs have absolutely blown this out of the water, pricing a return ticket from Leeds, during the weekend of the show, at a whopping £149.59.
Accommodation doesn’t get any better with Airbnb’s in the Greenwich area averaging at £100 a night, and the pubs nearby, sucking up whatever cash you have left. While current data says the average price of a London pint sits at £6.50, the reality is that the bars in and around the O2 Arena, will comfortably sit above that.
Ticket: £85
Train: £149.59
Accommodation: £100
Pint: £6.50
Dinner: £20
Grand Total: £361.09
Madrid
Next up we have Madrid, which at £347.34, is £20 cheaper than London. Now this factors in a £10 train ticket from Leeds to Manchester airport (which all European breakdowns do) and a £5 allowance for the train on the other side, which in reflection of my research, will comfortably cover the journey from the airport to the city centre.
Accommodation comes in at the same as London, while the price of a pint feels much more palatable. The dinner is largely the same price, but will undoubtedly be more exciting than the lukewarm Nando’s you might have in the 02.
Ticket: £85
Flights: £123
Train: £15
Air Bnb: £100
Pint: £3.45
Dinner: £17
Grand Total £347.34
Berlin
The German capital comes in next, with the punchiest accommodation options of the lot. However, this is all offset by the remaining costs, which are relatively fair if you ask me. Having been to Berlin recently, I can attest that the pint prices were surprisingly cheap and of the purest quality, which prevented me from experiencing any hangover symptoms. That’s a fact, and I’m not willing to dispute it.
Moreover, the dinner options are indeed varied, but were you to choose the middle-of-the-road option, it would set you back around £15. However, with the plethora of currywurst stalls on offer and an appetite for processed meat, harvested by the city’s brilliant lager, you can take that option and cut even further costs.
Ticket: £85
Flights: £91
Train: £10
Air Bnb: £140
Pint: £3.48
Dinner: £15
Grand total: £344.48
Copenhagen
Okay, I’ll go to Copenhagen and watch Radiohead, if I must. The city that started my curiosity has once again won me over, by offering me the second cheapest option of all. The reasonably priced flights have set a low benchmark upon which their most expensive extras can flourish, making the trip a whole £31 cheaper than going to London.
Dinner is, of course, variable in Copenhagen, as are the pints. But like Berlin, Copenhagen loves a sausage-based snack, meaning cheap, easy and delicious food is available on pretty much every street corner. Moreover, it’s the quickest flight of the lot, so you’ll be home before Thom Yorke’s falsetto has left your ear.
Ticket: £85
Flights: £104
Train: £10
Air Bnb: £100
Pint: £6.35
Dinner: £25
Grand Total: £330.35
Bologna
This is where I was surprised. Because Bologna is not only classy, sophisticated and beautifully historic, it’s an absolute pain in the arse to get to from the UK. Your best bet is flying to Pisa, and then hopping on a train from there. I thought this option was surely going to be the most expensive, but it wasn’t setting me back £124 all in, which still remains cheaper than a train from Leeds to London.
Dinner is cheaper and again, a lot better than what you’ll find in the vicinity of the 02 arena and should you wash it down with a nice local beer, then you won’t be getting a loan out after. Accommodation is suitably priced, meaning all the extra costs should offset the faff of getting there.
Ticket: £85
Flights: £99 – £25 return train
Train: £10
Air Bnb: £80
Pint: £4.30
Dinner: £15.60
Grand Total: £318.90
