Best kids’ theatre shows on London's West End to book in 2024

So we've put together this guide to the best kids theatre shows to catch in London and the rest of the UK right now. No matter where you're scattered, we've found the very best musicals, plays and ballets to suit your child.

For each show, we've included the desired age rating, plus a little bit of advice on what kind of performances you should be searching for this spring.

Now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

For our full list of theatre fun, here's the best West End shows. Plus, you can take look at the best musicals on tour UK and the longest-running West End shows.

Jump to:

• Best kids' theatre shows at a glance
• What's on in the West End for kids?
• What theatre shows are on for kids in the rest of the UK?
• Can three-year-olds go to the theatre?
• What theatre shows are good for kids?
• What is the most popular musical for kids?

Best kids' theatre shows at a glance

• The Smartest Giant in Town, from £10
• Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out, from £12
• Hairspray, from £13
• Room on the Broom, from £13
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, from £15
• Six the Musical, from £15
• Matilda the Musical, from £20
• The Snowman, from £20
• Back to the Future, from £23
• Tom Fletcher's The Creakers, from £25
• Father Christmas needs a wee!, from £27
• Mrs Doubtfire, from £28
• Wicked, from £28
• Stick Man, from £29
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, from £30
• The Lion King, from £35

What's on in the West End for kids?

Matilda

Suitable for ages 4+, recommended age 6

Ongoing – Cambridge Theatre

Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel Matilda first got the stage treatment in 2010 from writer Dennis Kelly and Australian comedian-turned-composer Tim Minchin. Now, the show is an absolute hit on the West End featuring hit songs such as Naughty, Revolting Children and When I Grow Up.

The story follows Matilda, an extraordinarily gifted girl who’s underappreciated by her parents, who finds herself at a school run by the dreaded Ms Trunchbull – but what happens when Matilda suddenly realises she’s gifted at more than just maths? Running until May 2025, Matilda the Musical is the ideal family day out.

Buy Matilda the Musical tickets from £20 at Matilda the Musical

Buy Matilda the Musical tickets from £23 at Today Tix

Peppa Pig's Fun Day Out

1st Nov 2024 – 31st Jan 2025 – Theatre Royal Haymarket

Suitable for all ages

Peppa Pig returns to the West End this winter for a strictly limited run. Don't miss the adventures of Peppa, George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig while they're here!

Buy Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out tickets for £12 at LOVE Theatre

Back to the Future

21st Sep 2021 – 27th July 2o25 – Adelphi Theatre

Suitable ages 6 and up

You can now catch one of the most beloved family movies on stage in London's West End. With jaw-dropping special effects and an energetic rock musical score, your little ones are sure to be blown away by this production.

Buy Back to the Future tickets from £23 at TodayTix

Stick Man

4th Dec 2024 – 5th Jan 2025 – Bloomsbury Theatre

Julia Donaldson's beloved story is being brought to life this winter at the Bloomsbury Theatre. See Stick Man caught up in a series of adventures as he's chased by dogs, swans and people, all the while trying to get back to his family in time for Christmas, but will he get there?

Buy Stick Man tickets from £29 at London Theatre Direct

The Snowman at Peacock Theatre

Suitable for ages 2+

23rd Nov 2024 – 4th Jan 2025

Returning to the West End for its 27th year, The Snowman will be showing at the Peacock Theatre, once again based on the original picture book by Raymond Briggs and the iconic 1982 TV movie.

Buy The Snowman tickets from £20 at London Theatre Direct

Father Christmas needs a wee!

Suitable for all ages

7th – 23rd Dec 2024 – Arts Theatre

Be honest, you’re already sold on this one based on the title alone, aren’t you? Well, just in case you need a bit more convincing, Father Christmas Needs a Wee! is a family-friendly musical based on the book by Nicholas Allan. In it, Father Christmas is busy going to all the different houses on Christmas Eve when, suddenly, all that milk makes him desperately need a wee, but what can he do? To find out how this high-stakes situation resolves itself, you’ll see the play for yourself at London’s Arts Theatre.

Buy Father Christmas needs a wee! tickets from £27 at London Theatre Direct

Disney's The Lion King

Suitable for ages 3+, recommended age 6+

Ongoing – Lyceum Theatre

Disney’s The Lion King has been feeling the love from fans since 1999. The classic Disney show features a heartbreaking story, stunning props, and an incredible roster of songs such as Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata and Be Prepared. If you’re looking to get your child into musical theatre, there’s no better way.

Buy The Lion King tickets from £35 at ATG Tickets

Buy The Lion King tickets from £42 at TodayTix

The Smartest Giant in Town

29th Nov 2024 – 5th Jan 2025 – St. Martin's Theatre

Suitable for all ages

The Smartest Giant in Town shows kids the joy of helping others, brought to you by the creator of The Gruffalo. Julia Donaldson's play follows a giant in a sharp new suit as he helps some animals in need— expect music and puppets in this fun stage production.

Buy The Smartest Giant in Town tickets from £10 at TodayTix

Wicked

Suitable for ages 7+

Ongoing – Apollo Victoria Theatre

Another permanent resident of the West End, Wicked’s influence over theatre fans really does defy gravity. Whether your child has seen the Wizard of Oz or not, this play is sure to delight thanks to the power of its story and the performances of its cast.

It follows Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, before she received that name, and Glinda, who would later become the Good Witch - but as you’ll soon learn, things are not always as they appear…

Buy Wicked tickets from £28 at TodayTix

Room on the Broom

Suitable for ages 18 months+

22nd Nov 2024 – 5th Jan 2025 – Lyric Theatre

Another one of Julia Donaldson's beloved children's books gets brought to life. Join the witch with a hat and a plait and her cat soaring through the skies.

Buy Room on the Broom tickets from £13 at London Theatre Direct

Tom Fletcher's The Creakers

Suitable for ages 6+

18th Dec 2024 – 5th Jan 2025 – Southbank Centre

McFly's Tom Fletcher is bringing his children's book The Creakers to London this winter for a magical musical adventure!

Here's what it's about: "Ever wondered what you would do if you woke up and all the adults had disappeared? Lucy, and the kids of Whiffington hadn’t, until one morning…that’s exactly what happens!"

Buy Tom Fletcher's The Creakers tickets from £25 at London Theatre Direct

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Suitable for ages 10+

Ongoing – Palace Theatre

Nineteen years on from the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Albus Potter is starting his first year at Hogwarts School – but will he live up to his famous father’s legacy?

With unbelievable visual effects and logic-defying sets, this show will have you believing in magic in no time. Perfect for any little Potterhead or those just looking for a fun day out, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is truly spellbinding.

Buy Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets from £30 at Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Play

More of this in the best Harry Potter experiences plus how to get cheap Harry Potter Studios tickets.

Mrs Doubtfire

Suitable for ages 7+

Ongoing – Shaftesbury Theatre

Mrs Doubtfire the musical is still going strong at Shaftesbury Theatre. Featuring fun songs, crazy comedy and a truly heartfelt story, this is a great choice for the children who are slightly older or hard to impress.

Buy Mrs Doubtfire tickets from £28 at TodayTix

What theatre shows are on for kids in the rest of the UK?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Suitable for ages 5+

7th Aug 2024 – 10th May 2025

This April, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is starting a year-long tour that will take him, Caractacus Potts, Truly Scrumptious, and the two children, Jemima and Jeremy, all around the UK. The show is based on Ian Fleming’s timeless story and the classic 1968 film, which sees Chitty take its owners to the dangerous land of Vulgaria, where they find an evil baron and… the Child Snatcher.

Buy Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tickets from £13 at ATG Tickets

Six the Musical

Suitable for ages 10+

Now – 25th Oct 2025

If you have a budding historian in the family, you can catch the ongoing UK tour of Six the Musical. Starring the six wives of King Henry VIII – Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr – the show turns these unfortunate queens from history into modern-day pop princesses. Across the show, each queen is given their own hit song and the chance to finally tell their story.

Buy Six the Musical tickets from £15 at ATG Tickets

Hairspray

Now – 19th Apr 2025

Hairspray is back on tour until next spring, so you've got plenty of chances to watch this hip musical at a city near you. Starring Joanne Clifton as Velma Von Tussle, it's set to be an incredible sixties extravaganza!

Buy Hairspray tickets from £13 at ATG Tickets

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

18th Nov 2024 – 15th Nov 2025

CS Lewis's magical tale, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, is going on tour this winter until November 2025. You and your family can follow the story of Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they step into the amazing new world of Narnia. Combining puppetry with an amazing wealth of talent and effects, this show is not one to miss.

Buy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tickets at ATG Tickets

Can three-year-olds go to the theatre?

The majority of theatre shows are aimed at children aged three and up, and most don’t even allow infants into the venue. This is due to the long running times, loud sounds and general busyness of productions which may cause some distress to very young children, so unless it is explicitly stated, you should assume that one or two-year-olds won’t be admitted.

Some performances do allow all ages but you should always check what the recommended age is, as your little one may not be at the right point to appreciate it yet – best not to spend money on something they won’t really enjoy. However, if you're determined to start them young, the best productions we’d recommend for under threes at the moment are: The Enormous Crocodile, The Tiger Who Came for Tea, and Bluey’s Big Play.

What theatre shows are good for kids?

For young children, the best theatre shows will often include puppetry, music, direct address and audience participation, humour, or an easy-to-follow narrative structure. It’s also always best to go with a show where the runtime isn’t too long and the rhythm is short and sharp.

If you’re worried about taking your child to a mainstream show, there are specific theatre companies aimed at kids like the Unicorn Theatre, Little Angel Theatre and the Polka Theatre. They specialise in bringing theatre to all ages and provide year-round performances across the UK.

What is the most popular musical for kids?

As you can probably expect, the most popular musicals for kids come from Disney and other major movies. Right now, you can catch The Lion King, Frozen and Matilda at the West End, plus Shrek the Musical will be returning to the stage later this year.

For slightly older children however – we’re thinking 10+ – most of the mainstream musicals will be suitable. You could try Mrs Doubtfire or Back to the Future, for example.

There are also plenty of non-musical performances about which are centred around popular kids’ characters. Bluey, Zog and The Tiger Who Came For Tea are all getting their own shows this year and so much more.

Take a look at our full guide of best family days out, plus how to get cheap Chessington tickets and how to get cheap Alton Towers tickets. Here's Bonnie Langford on the Les Misérables Arena tour.