London has a world-leading theatre scene, and it’s particularly strong when it comes to family shows. Head to the West End, and beyond, and you’ll find everything from beloved Disney movies-turned-enthralling musicals to innovative, accessible shows featuring puppetry, comedy, songs and more.
If you’re trying to decide which London children’s theatre to start with – perhaps as a treat during the summer holidays – and whether it will be suitable for your family, our expert Telegraph critics can help you choose with their incisive reviews. All the latest articles are at Telegraph Theatre.
You can find discounted tickets on Telegraph Tickets for all of the best shows for kids, such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Spongebob Musical, and The Tiger Who Came To Tea. Check out our list of top picks for London musicals and plays for kids below and get booking.
Best children’s theatre in London’s West End and beyond for 2023
The best shows for 3-6 year olds
The Smeds and the Smoos – on stage
Mog the Forgetful Cat, Old Vic
In a nutshell: Marking Judith Kerr’s centenary, the Wardrobe Ensemble’s popular touring version of her gorgeous picture book comes into London this summer. Expect vibrant storytelling, songs and a lovable menagerie.
Age recommendation: 3+
Booking until: Jul 29
The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Theatre Royal Haymarket
In a nutshell: David Wood’s faithful stage adaptation of Judith Kerr’s beloved children’s book sees that furry surprise guest join Sophie and her mum for tea – and, naturally, chaos ensues. This accessible production includes singalongs.
Age recommendation: 3+
Booking until: Sept 3
The Everywhere Bear, Polka Theatre
In a nutshell: Julia Donaldson and Rebecca Cobb’s popular tale about a small bear embarking on a big adventure comes to life in a fun, inviting stage adaptation featuring rhyme, music and puppetry.
Age recommendation: 3+
Booking until: Aug 13
Dinosaur World Live, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Dinosaur World Live
Credit: Robert Day
In a nutshell: The popular Jurassic adventure returns, with its impressive puppets bringing those roarsome creatures back to life – from the Triceratops to the Tyrannosaurus Rex. It’s interactive too: kids are invited to help feed and groom the dinosaurs.
Age recommendation: 3+
Booking: Aug 11-Sept 3
The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse, Unicorn Theatre
In a nutshell: This dark comic fairy tale, based on Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s subversive picture book, is back at the Unicorn, once again featuring the adventures of a duck and a mouse in the belly of a wolf – and an unusual friendship.
Age recommendation: 3+
Booking: Nov 17-Dec 31
The Smeds and the Smoos, Lyric Theatre
In a nutshell: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling book – a sort of child-friendly Romeo and Juliet with space travel and a happy ending – becomes an inventive, engaging stage show, adapted by Tall Stories.
Age recommendation: 3+
Booking: Jul 20-Sept 3
The Smartest Giant in Town, St Martin’s Theatre
In a nutshell: Another successful page-to-stage transfer of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler book, this musical and puppetry adaptation is all about friendship and benevolence: perfect for Christmas.
Age recommendation: 2+
Booking: Dec 2-Jan 7, 2024
The best shows for 6-10 year olds
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Credit: David Jensen
The Tempest re-imagined for anyone six and over, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
In a nutshell: As the title proclaims, this is Shakespeare adapted (and truncated – down to a manageable 75 minutes) specially for young audiences. Expect spells, monsters and revenge, then home in time for tea.
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Jul 22
The Wolves in the Walls, Little Angel Theatre
In a nutshell: The spooky tale by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, about a girl who fights back when wolves evict her family, becomes a stage play featuring puppets by Toby Olié (War Horse, the National Theatre’s Pinocchio).
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Jul 23
Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-written, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre ★★★
In a nutshell: “The delight of witnessing arrows apparently materialising from thin air as they hit their targets (illusions by John Bulleid) never palls in this Robin Hood with a feminist twist.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 8+
Booking until: Jul 30
Newsies, Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre ★★★
In a nutshell: “The athletic balletic choreography, which tips a wink at Jerome Robbins, is simply first-class. Set-piece follows set-piece of needle-sharp, vertiginous acrobatics.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 5+
Booking until: Jul 30
Hairy, Polka Theatre
In a nutshell: This raucous new production created by comedy theatre company Spymonkey especially for young audiences untangles everything to do with hair – along with clowning and original music.
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking: Jul 1-Aug 20
The SpongeBob Musical, Southbank Centre ★★★★
The SpongeBob Musical at the Southbank Centre
In a nutshell: “Silly, heartfelt and charming, it has infectious songs written by an array of top music talent – from Aerosmith to Lady Antebellum to Cyndi Lauper.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking: Jul 26-Aug 26
The Wizard of Oz, London Palladium ★★★
In a nutshell: “The time-honoured appeal of L Frank Baum’s story carries the day… There’s plenty of appealing zest from Louis Gaunt, Ashley Banjo and Jason Manford as the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Sept 3
Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors, Garrick Theatre
In a nutshell: The enjoyably grisly book series (“history with the nasty bits left in”) has proven just as effective as family-friendly theatre – plus it’s sneakily educational. This production features evil Elizabeth, Henry’s headless wives, and Bloody Mary.
Age recommendation: 5+
Booking: Jul 28-Sept 3
The Bolds, Unicorn Theatre
In a nutshell: Julian Clary’s popular stage adaptation of his bestseller, about a family of hyenas living in disguise, returns to the Unicorn for Christmas. Expect songs, secrets and wild laughter.
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking: Nov 11-Dec 31
Frozen the Musical, Theatre Royal Drury Lane ★★★
In a nutshell: “The show details the growing chasm of estrangement between the siblings and between Elsa and her inner self: witness the meltingly lovely, achingly mournful ballad about repression, Dangerous to Dream.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Jan 7, 2024
The Lion King, Lyceum Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Watching the show alongside my rapt children, I was struck by how much it succeeds in speaking to the heart rather than the head… A deeply felt celebration of life.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Feb 11, 2024
Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Thanks to video and illusionist wizardry, the steam-spouting DeLorean skids into view from nowhere and takes off over the stalls, achieving a kind of 3D Hollywood magic… A feelgood triumph.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Feb 11, 2024
Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre
In a nutshell: Bride-to-be Sophie invites three of her mother’s exes to her wedding (on a fantasy Greek island) in hopes of meeting her biological father. Take a chance on this ABBA-tastic show, which features all of the band’s big hits.
Age recommendation: 5+
Booking until: Mar 2, 2024
Mrs Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Never doubt I love Mrs Doubtfire, the feelgood but not fluffy-minded musical that has pitched up at the newly made-over Shaftesbury Theatre… A sure-fire hit, my dears.” Read the full review
Booking until: Jun 2, 2024
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Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Matthew Warchus’s thrilling, warm-hearted production, exuberantly designed by Rob Howell and with pin-sharp choreography by Peter Darling, constantly combines comedy with a sense of wonder.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 6+
Booking until: Dec 15, 2024
The best shows for 10-17 year olds
Heathers the Musical, The Other Palace ★★★★
In a nutshell: “It sends you on a psychological roller-coaster, lurching between sincerity and insincerity, triviality and profundity, challenging you to gag or guffaw at the runaway, rebellious bad taste of it all.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 14+
Booking until: Sept 3
Grease, Dominion Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “The evening abounds with infectious delight, above all in We Go Together, which has the amiable delinquents building a dance sequence; it’s silly and sweetly affecting. Just right for the summer.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 7+
Booking until: Oct 28
The Ocean at the End of the Lane, Noel Coward Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Young and old alike will be entranced by this illusion-packed Neil Gaiman adaptation… This is British theatre at full gut-busting tilt and at its gob-smacking best.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 12+
Booking: Oct 11-Nov 25
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Wicked, Apollo Victoria Theatre
In a nutshell: “The exposing of the dark, corrupt heart of Oz and the trumpeting of the need for tolerance strikes a chord. Beneath the glitter there’s an important story.” Read the full article
Age recommendation: 7+
Booking until: Jan 7, 2024
Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Nicholas Hytner’s box of tricks, the Bridge, unleashes the show all around you if you’re one of the 380 punters standing in the thick of it… It’s an extravaganza that explodes every which way.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: All ages (under-16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult if buying immersive standing tickets)
Booking until: Feb 24, 2024
Les Miserables, Sondheim Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “In its density and epic ambition, its mixture of high-powered ideas and gut-wrenching emotions, it’s a show that feels lastingly revolutionary.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 7+
Booking until: Mar 2, 2024
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre ★★★★★
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre
Credit: Manuel Harlan
In a nutshell: “British theatre hasn’t known anything like it for decades and I haven’t seen anything directly comparable in all my reviewing days… It raises the benchmark for family entertainment.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 10+
Booking until: Mar 3, 2024
The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Boy does it hit the funny bone. The audience is bludgeoned with a succession of sight gags, mistimed lines, misplaced props and collapsing scenery that creates a rising tide of hysteria.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 8+
Booking until: Apr 28, 2024
Six, Vaudeville Theatre ★★★★★
Six at the Vaudeville Theatre
In a nutshell: “Six is a marvellous show, dripping with invention and intelligence, and one which brings not just happiness in the moment but hope for the future of the British musical.” Read the full review
Age recommendation: 10+
Booking until: Apr 28, 2024
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theatre
In a nutshell: Netflix’s nostalgic sci-fi mega-hit comes to the stage, in a new story set in the world of 1950s Hawkins co-written by Jack Thorne and directed by Stephen Daldry.
Booking: Nov 17-Jun 30, 2024
Book tickets now
Frequently asked questions
Can children go to all theatres in London?
Most West End shows are suitable for people aged 12 or older. Some productions might have material that is too mature for younger theatregoers. However, there are also fantastic family shows which are appropriate for all ages, or which are specifically aimed at kids – including shorter children’s shows with elements like puppetry and singalongs.
We have included the official production age recommendations with all of our London show picks on this page, but you can always consult the theatre in question for further information to ensure the show is suitable for your children. Find the best deals on London family shows at Telegraph Tickets.
Can I take a 1 or 2 year old to the theatre?
The majority of London theatre shows are aimed at kids from ages 3 upwards at least. The longer running times, and elements like busy lighting and sound design, plus more mature material, probably won’t suit 1 or 2 year olds. Most productions recommend that 3 year olds or older should attend.
However, there are some London plays and musicals for 1 or 2 year olds. For example, children’s theatres like the Polka Theatre, Half Moon Theatre, Unicorn Theatre and Little Angel Theatre host productions aimed at very young children, as well as fun interactive workshops. Find all the latest recommendations for London kids shows and more at Telegraph Theatre.
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