Best kids’ theatre shows on London's West End to book in 2025
From toddlers to teenagers, there's a ton of family friendly theatre shows going on in London right now.
When the kids are off school and the British weather is predictably drizzly, you can't go wrong with a family trip to the West End.
Whether it's a brand new show about your toddler's favourite character (Bluey anyone?) or a classic musical with a strong moral message (like the Lion King), the British theatre scene is teeming with great entertainment and child-friendly fun.
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.
Save on West End shows and more with London Theatre Week
When it comes to buying theatre tickets, there's no time like the present – especially since it's London Theatre Week!
It's now the eighth year of this initiative, which offers tickets to over 70 London-based productions for either £15, £25 or £35.
So, whether you want to treat the little ones to big musicals like The Lion King or Mrs Doubtfire for less, or save on tickets to a Greek tragedy like Elektra, you can do just that thanks to London Theatre Week.
Save on plays and musicals at TodayTix during London Theatre Week
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 Smeds and the Smoos, from £11.60
- Hairspray, from £13
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, from £15
- Six the Musical, from £15
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, from £15
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, from £17.40
- Matilda the Musical, from £20
- Back to the Future, from £22.68
- Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain - Part Five!, from £23.40
- Mrs Doubtfire, from £28
- Wicked, from £28.25
- 101 Dalmatians - The Musical, from £29.40
- Hercules, from £30
- My Neighbour Totoro, from £30
- The Lion King, from £34
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What's on in the West End for kids?
Disney's Hercules
Suitable for ages 6 and up
6th June 2025 – 10th Jan 2026 – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
What better way to introduce your little ones to the theatre than with an adaptation of a classic Disney movie like Hercules? Following in the footsteps of productions like Disney's The Lion King, Hercules is the latest hit Disney film to land in the West End stage in an all-singing, all-dancing production.
This theatre show has one interval during its two hour 45-minutes run time, and is suitable for little ones aged six and over.
Buy Hercules tickets from £30 at Headout
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 £24 at LOVETheatre
- Buy Matilda the Musical tickets from £23 at Today Tix
The Smeds and the Smoos
Suitable for all ages
17th July 2025 – 7th September 2025 – Lyric Theatre
From the author of The Gruffalo comes The Smeds and the Smoos, a happy tale all about star-crossed aliens adapted from an award-winning book.
Think of it like Romeo and Juliet for little ones. In this universe, the Smeds and the Smoos cannot be friends. So what happens when a Smed and a Smoo fall in love with each other?
With a running time of around 60 minutes, this is an ideal West End show for younger children to enjoy.
Buy The Smeds and the Smoos tickets from £11.60 at LOVEtheatre
My Neighbour Totoro
Recommended for ages 6 and up, but younger children are welcome
10th March 2025 – 2nd November 2o25 – Gillian Lynne Theatre
We admit it's not the most important thing in the world, but when taking little ones to see a theatre show, we'd like to enjoy the performance, too. This Digital Writer went to see My Neighbour Totoro on its second run at the Barbican last summer, and they can confirm it's family-friendly fun for adults, too!
Originally a Studio Ghibli movie, My Neighbour Totoro has been transformed for the stage with a fantastic score and magical puppetry. The play explores the fantasy world of childhood and the power of imagination, and it's sure to be a hit with the kids.
- Buy My Neighbour Totoro tickets from £30 at Headout
- Buy My Neighbour Totoro tickets from £30 at LOVETheatre
For more family-friendly experiences on a budget, here's how to get cheap Thorpe Park tickets and how to get cheap LEGOLAND tickets.
Back to the Future
Suitable for ages 6 and up
21st Sep 2021 – 27th July 2o25 – Adelphi Theatre
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 £22.68 at LOVETheatre
- Buy Back to the Future tickets from £23 at TodayTix
Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Five!
Suitable for ages 5+
31st July 2025 – 30th August 2025
If your little one is a fan of the Horrible Histories franchise, they'll love the Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – Part Five! production. Historical figures from Boudicca to Guy Fawkes and Queen Victoria will be brought to life with plenty of laughs and, of course, with all of the 'nasty bits' kept in.
Buy Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain - Part Five! tickets from £23.40 at Headout
Our friends at MadeForMums have put together brilliant guides to keep the kids entertained, such as the best UK zoos and best UK waterparks.
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 heart-breaking 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 £34 at ATG Tickets
- Buy The Lion King tickets from £35 at TodayTix
- Buy The Lion King tickets from £40.60 at LOVETheatre
101 Dalmatians - The Musical
Cruella De Vil might not scare us, but missing out on tickets to take the family to 101 Dalmatians - The Musical certainly does!
By now, you probably know the story of the 1961 Disney movie which has been adapted for the stage: menacing fashionista Cruella De Vil has her heart set on a new fur coat made entirely of Dalmatian puppies, and it's down Pongo and Perdi save their young Dalmatians from her clutches.
Buy 101 Dalmatians - The Musical tickets from £29.40 at Headout
Take a look at our friends at MadeForMums' National Trust family pass explainer.
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, especially since the roaring success of the Wicked movie. 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…
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 £17.40 LOVETheatre
- 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 £15 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 from £15 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 Smeds and the Smoos.
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, Hercules and Matilda and more at the West End.
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.
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.
For more theatre news, here's how you can get tickets to see Sean Hayes in Good Night, Oscar at the Barbican.
