When it comes to winter fun, most Brits prefer shows to shopping.(1) In London, with so much magical Christmas theatre for kids and adults to enjoy, it’s easy to see why.
In fact, there are almost too many family shows to pick from in London for Christmas 2025. So we rounded up 30 festive shows and musicals we think your little one will love.
Jump to:
- Best Christmas shows for babies & toddlers
- Best Christmas musicals and shows for kids
- The Nutcracker performances
- Top London Christmas shows for teens
In a hurry? Skim this quick list of London’s best Christmas shows for kids of all ages:
Best Christmas show for babies: Scrunch, a multi-sensory celebration of wrapping paper for babies aged 6-18 months.
Best Christmas show for toddlers: The Snowman and The Gruffalo in Concert is a magical retelling of two beloved stories, complete with a live orchestra.
Best immersive Christmas show for kids: Throw on some PJs and board The Polar Express Train Ride for immersive storytelling.
Best educational Christmas show for kids: Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas shows kids aged 4-11 how to enjoy science and tidying up.
Best Christmas musical for kids: The West End Christmas Musical promises a ‘festive feast of heart-warming classics’ for audiences to enjoy (and sing along to).
Best Christmas show for teens: Check out Wifi Wars Christmas Bash 2025, the live comedy game show where the audience plays along.
The best value Christmas show for kids: Pay what you can (£4 minimum) to see Grand Junction’s heart-warming puppetry show Under the Frozen Moon.
Christmas shows for babies and toddlers in London 2025
Disney On Ice: Find Your Hero
Join Mickey, Minnie, and friends as they skate through Disney’s most heroic tales, from The Little Mermaid to Moana and Frozen. With dazzling choreography and beloved songs, it’s a spectacular family show that brings Disney magic to life on ice.
Event details
Dates: Friday 26 December – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: The O2, SE10
Prices: Tickets from £44.75
The Snowman
Fly away with the classic tale of a boy and his snowman in the beloved stage-show adaptation of The Snowman, where magical snowfalls, dancing penguins and a live orchestra take you to the North Pole.
Event details
Dates: 22 November – 4 January 2026
Ages: All ages
Where: Peacock Theatre, WC2A
Prices: Tickets from £18.
The Gruffalo’s Child
Join the plucky young Gruffalo as she sneaks into the deep, dark wood in search of the mysterious Big Bad Mouse, in this lively musical adaptation full of songs, laughs and adventure.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 8 November – Sunday 11 January 2026
Ages: Great for 3 years+
Where: Lyric Theatre, W1D
Prices: Tickets from £11.60
Paddington the Musical
Join Paddington Bear on a heart-warming West End adventure filled with music, joy and marmalade for children aged 6+ and their families at the Savoy Theatre.
Event details
Dates: Until Sunday 25 October 2026
Ages: For 6 years+
Where: Savoy Theatre, WC2R
Prices: Tickets from £22
Father Christmas Needs a Wee!
Join Father Christmas on a festive musical adventure as he delivers presents, and tries to find a loo, in this hilarious, rhyming stage adaptation of Nicholas Allan’s beloved picture book.
Event details
Dates: Various dates in December 2025
Ages: For 3 years+
Where: Bloomsbury Theatre, WC1H
Prices: Tickets from £15
A Squash and a Squeeze
Step into the magical world of A Squash and a Squeeze as Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s classic picture book is brought to life on stage. With puppets, songs and a wise old man’s clever plan, this joyful show for ages 3–8 teaches that sometimes, less really is more.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 4 – Tuesday 23 December 2025
Ages: For 3–8 years
Where: Leicester Square Theatre, WC2H
Prices: Tickets from £11.50
Santa’s North Pole Adventure
Join Santa and his cheeky elves on a musical, interactive adventure packed with songs, laughter and festive cheer, perfect for little believers aged 3–8.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 11 – Wednesday 24 December 2025
Ages: For 3–8 years
Where: New Wimbledon Theatre, SW19
Prices: Tickets from £17.60
Scrunch
The festive season at Unicorn Theatre brings Scrunch, a gentle multi-sensory show especially for babies aged 6–18 months, where they and their grown-ups can sit together, wriggle, and gently explore the joyous rustle of Christmas wrapping paper. Running from Sunday 30 November to Sunday 4 January, tickets start at £18.50 for one adult and one child.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 30 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 6 – 18 months
Where: Unicorn Theatre, SE1
Prices: 1 Adult + 1 child tickets from £18.50
The Snowman and The Gruffalo in Concert
Seeing The Snowman for the first time is a magical childhood moment. And with a live orchestra, it’s even more special. It’s also followed by a retelling of another beloved tale: The Gruffalo. Perfect for ages 2–7. 📍Cadogan Hall, 20 Dec. Tickets from £20.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 20 December 2025
Ages: All ages
Where: Cadogan Hall, SW1X
Prices: Tickets from £20.00
The Polar Express Train Ride
Climb aboard The Polar Express for a magical locomotive journey from Euston Station, complete with hot chocolate, sleigh bells and an encounter with Father Christmas himself. Euston Station, 28 Nov – 23 Dec. Tickets from £59.95.
Event details
Dates: Friday 28 November – Tuesday 23 December 2025
Ages: Great for 3 years+
Where: Euston Station, NW1
Prices: Tickets from £59.95
The Snowflake
Based on Benji Davies’ gentle story, this live show invites children and their grown-ups to float into a magical winter world of snowflakes, longing and belonging.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 29 November – Sunday 25 January 2026
Ages: For 3–6 years
Where: Polka Theatre, SW19
Prices: Tickets from £13
The Night Before Christmas
Inspired by the classic poem, this festive show follows six-year-old Amber and her snow globe on a magical winter’s journey filled with puppetry, music and surprise guests. artsdepot, 8 – 31 Dec. Tickets from £13.75.
Event details
Dates: Monday 8 – Wednesday 31 December
Ages: For 3–7 years
Where: artsdepot, NW4
Prices: Tickets from £13.75
Under the Frozen Moon
A heart-warming winter story of a girl facing a fire-stealing dragon and a frozen moon, brought to life with poetry, puppetry and live music for ages 3+. Grand Junction, 13 Dec. Tickets from £4 (pay what you can).
Event details
Dates: Saturday 13 December
Ages: For 3 years+
Where: Grand Junction, W2
Prices: Pay what you can (tickets from £4)
The Littlest Fir Tree
Bring your little ones to this tender puppet-and-music retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic, designed especially for ages 2–7. Half Moon Theatre, 13 Dec. Tickets from £9.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 13 December
Ages: For 2–7 years
Where: Half Moon Theatre, E1
Prices: Tickets from £9
Christmas Comes to Moominvalley
The beloved Moomins wake up from winter hibernation to discover Christmas — and you’re invited into a beautifully quirky, circus-inspired adaptation filled with snowball juggling, ukuleles and festive wonder. Jacksons Lane, 5 Dec – 4 Jan. Tickets from £12.
Event details
Dates: Friday 5 December – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 3 years+
Where: Jacksons Lane, N6
Prices: Tickets from £12
Sleeping Beauty on Ice
Glide into a winter fairy-tale with the classic Sleeping Beauty reimagined on the ice at Alexandra Palace — think graceful skating, glittering costumes and a historic rink backdrop. Alexandra Palace, 4 – 8 Dec. Tickets from £16.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 4 – Sunday 8 December 2025
Ages: For 3 years+
Where: Alexandra Palace, N22
Prices: Tickets from £16
Petit Pierre and the Stolen Moon
A whimsical puppet adventure for children aged 3+ as Pierre travels through moonlit cities in a quest to reclaim a stolen lunar star. Well Walk Theatre, 29 Nov – 21 Dec. Tickets from £15.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 29 November – Sunday 21 December 2025
Ages: For 3 years+
Where: Well Walk Theatre, NW3
Prices: Tickets from £15
Yetis’ Christmas Tale!
Meet snowy-forest yetis preparing for Christmas in a fun, interactive show where every child becomes part of the story, complete with a confetti finale and personal gift.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 30 November – Saturday 13 December 2026
Ages: For 3–11 years
Where: Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, SW1X
Prices: Kids’ tickets from £26.25
Top Hat
A lavish musical production of the classic film at Southbank Centre, packed with tap dancing, big band sound and theatrical sparkle for ages 8+.
Event details
Dates: Friday 12 December 2025 – Saturday 17 January 2026
Ages: For 8 years+
Where: Southbank Centre, SE1
Prices: Tickets from £30.50
Pinocchio Musical
A family-friendly take on the classic tale of the wooden boy, staged at Shakespeare’s Globe with standing tickets from just £5 for younger audiences.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 29 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 5 years+
Where: Shakespeare’s Globe, SE1
Prices: Standing tickets from £5
The Nutcracker: London’s most magical Christmas ballet
Here are four distinct productions of The Nutcracker, each at a different London venue for the festive season:
Royal Academy of Dance’s The Nutcracker
A family-friendly version of the beloved ballet by the Royal Academy of Dance with all ages welcome.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 20 December 2025
Ages: All ages
Where: Royal Academy of Dance, SW11
Prices: Tickets from £18.70
English National Ballet’s Nutcracker
A full-scale festive production by the English National Ballet at the London Coliseum.
Event details
Dates: Thursday 11 December 2025 – Sunday 11 January 2026
Ages: For 5 years+
Where: London Coliseum, WC2N
Prices: Tickets from £20.70
St Martin’s Theatre’s The Nutcracker
An accessible version of the classic ballet at the smaller scale venue St Martin’s Theatre.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 10 December 2025 – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: Great for 5 years+
Where: St Martin’s Theatre, WC2H
Prices: Tickets from £12.50
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker
An acclaimed ballet – the classic story of Clara, the Nutcracker and the Mouse King – performed by the Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall.
Event details
Dates: Monday 29 – Wednesday 31 December 2025
Ages: Great for 5 years+
Where: Royal Albert Hall, SW7
Prices: Tickets from £30
Best Christmas musicals and shows in London for ages 5–12
West End Musical Christmas
A surprise cast of West End musical stars, a live band and dancing ensemble bring this feel-good festive concert to life — with a closely guarded set list of Christmas classics and musical theatre favourites.
Event details
Dates: Monday 15 December 2025
Ages: Suitable for all ages
Where: Lyric Theatre, 29 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7ES
Prices: Tickets from £22.50
Maddie Moate’s Very Curious Christmas
Join science presenter and author Maddie Moate for a festive stage show packed with songs, stories and seasonal experiments that bring science to life. It’s an interactive Christmas adventure for curious kids aged 4–11.
Event details
Dates: Friday 12 December – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 4–11 years
Where: Garrick Theatre, WC2H
Prices: Tickets from £22.20
Sleeping Beauty panto
Julian Clary, Beverley Knight and Gary Wilmot star in this spectacular pantomime at the London Palladium. Expect dazzling sets, show-stopping numbers and plenty of festive fun in one of the West End’s biggest Christmas shows.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 6 December – Sunday 11 January 2026
Ages: For 4 years+
Where: London Palladium, W1F
Prices: Tickets from £37.50
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Live in Concert
Enjoy The Muppet Christmas Carol on the big screen with a live orchestra performing the original score, as Kermit, Miss Piggy and Michael Caine bring Dickens’ tale to life. Eventim Apollo, 23 Nov. Tickets from £53.60.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 23 November 2025
Ages: Great for 5 years+
Where: Eventim Apollo, W6
Prices: Tickets from £53.60
Ballet of Lights: Cinderella in a Sparkling Show
A glittering retelling of Cinderella performed by international ballet dancers, illuminated by hundreds of lights in a visual spectacle for the whole family.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 30 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 5 years+
Where: Shaw Theatre, NW1
Prices: Tickets from £34
Fireside Tales
Settle in for Fireside Tales, an atmospheric new show from Punchdrunk Enrichment that mixes live storytelling with immersive theatre. Designed for ages 7–11, it invites children into a world of imagination and adventure around the fire. Punchdrunk Enrichment, 6 Dec – 4 Jan. Tickets from £15.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 6 December – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 7–11 years
Where: Punchdrunk Enrichment, HA9
Prices: Tickets from £15
ZooNation’s Ebony Scrooge
A fresh and energetic hip-hop retelling of A Christmas Carol by award-winning company ZooNation. With powerful dance, music and storytelling, this modern take follows Ebony, a successful influencer learning what truly matters at Christmas. Sadler’s Wells East, 26 Nov – 4 Jan. Tickets from £19.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 26 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: Great for 5 years+
Where: Sadler’s Wells East, E20
Prices: Tickets from £19
Cinderella
Hackney Empire’s much-loved panto returns with Cinderella, featuring spectacular costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy and plenty of audience participation. Perfect for families looking for a classic Christmas outing. Hackney Empire, 22 Nov – 31 Dec. Tickets from £11.40.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 22 November – Wednesday 31 December 2025
Ages: Great for 4 years+
Where: Hackney Empire, E8
Prices: Tickets from £11.40
Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas
Join the cast of Horrible Histories for a hilariously gruesome journey through the history of Christmas, from Victorian villains to medieval mischief. Packed with laughs and learning, it’s perfect for curious kids aged 5+. Cadogan Hall, 22 Dec. Tickets from £20.
Event details
Dates: Monday 22 December 2025
Ages: Great for 5 years+
Where: Cadogan Hall, SW1X
Prices: Tickets from £20
Wicked Witches: Panto with Jeremy Corbyn
A political twist on the classic panto, Wicked Witches promises humour, satire and plenty of surprises — starring Jeremy Corbyn alongside a cast of West End performers. Pleasance Theatre, 30 Nov – 4 Jan. Tickets from £10.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 30 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: Great for 5 years+
Where: Pleasance Theatre, N7
Prices: Tickets from £10
My Christmas Orchestral Adventure
Join Santa and his friends on a musical journey through the orchestra in this magical, family-friendly concert featuring favourite Christmas tunes and classical pieces. Royal Albert Hall, 7 Dec. Tickets from £25.
Event details
Dates: Sunday 7 December 2025
Ages: All ages
Where: Royal Albert Hall, SW7
Prices: Tickets from £25
Top London Christmas shows and musicals for teens
The Old Vic’s A Christmas Carol
Jack Thorne’s acclaimed adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol returns to The Old Vic, complete with music, mince pies and the unforgettable transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Event details
Dates: Tuesday 18 November – Saturday 10 January 2026
Ages: For 8 years+
Where: The Old Vic, SE1
Prices: Tickets from £47
WiFi Wars Christmas Bash 2025
Join the interactive comedy-gaming show where the audience compete using smartphones and tablets in a festive challenge hosted at the historic Royal Institution.
Event details
Dates: Friday 19 December 2025
Ages: For 12 years+
Where: Royal Institution, W1S
Prices: Tickets from £16.00
Christmas at Backyard Cinema
Step into a magical indoor “Enchanted Forest” at a Victorian warehouse in London Bridge to watch your favourite Christmas films in a full immersive set-up by Backyard Cinema.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 26 November – Wednesday 31 December 2025
Ages: All ages (PG)
Where: 49 Tanner Street, SE1
Prices: Kids’ tickets from £17.50
The Lost Library of Leake Street
An immersive festive show at The Glitch where visitors explore a magical “lost library” filled with stories and hidden objects in a unique holiday experience.
Event details
Dates: Wednesday 26 November – Monday 22 December 2025
Ages: For 8 years+
Where: The Glitch, SE1
Prices: Tickets from £16.50
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Immersive Theatre
An immersive theatrical experience based on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy at Riverside Studios, blending sci-fi adventure and stagecraft for older kids and families.
Event details
Dates: Saturday 15 November 2025 – Sunday 15 February 2026
Ages: Great for 12 years+
Where: Riverside Studios, W6
Prices: Tickets from £42
A Christmas Carol
This chilling retelling of Dickens’ classic ghost-story by Mark Gatiss returns to the ornate setting of Alexandra Palace Theatre for a supernatural festive experience.
Event details
Dates: Friday 21 November – Sunday 4 January 2026
Ages: For 12 years+
Where: Alexandra Palace, N22
Prices: Tickets from £16.50
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FAQs
What is the Christmas show for toddlers in London?
The Christmas show for toddlers in London is Father Christmas Needs a Wee! adapting the popular book by Nicholas Allan. Saddler’s Wells performance of The Snowman is also a great show for toddlers.
What’s on in London over Christmas Theatre?
There are lots of theatre shows on in London over Christmas, from classic ballets like The Nutcracker to Sadler’s Wells’ The Snowman.
For one night only, West End Musical Christmas sees West End stars come together for a night of music. There are shows for toddlers, too, with Father Christmas Needs a Wee!