Greetings of the season. Well, I'm actually writing this in early September. But then, how long is Christmas theatre season in London exactly? Certainly it’s in full swing by late November, with virtually every pantomime and kids’ show in the city up and running way before Advent, with most of them running until the new year.
I’m Time Out’s theatre editor, and I have seen more pantos and Julia Donaldson adaptations than any human being should. But also it’s always an exciting time of year: Christmas is the best time to take children to the theatre because there are such a dizzying array of options, for all ages.
This list is an attempt to try and put some order on the gargantuan breadth of children’s and family friendly theatre across the city during the season. It doesn’t include long running West End shows – you know about The Lion King, right – but is an attempt to compile as many festive shows for young audiences as possible, at theatres big and small.
We’ve divided our list into family-friendly Christmas shows – that is to say, shows suitable for children, but that you could easily visit without – and shows that are directly aimed at a younger audience.
Please note that there are so many pantomimes in London that they have their own seperate list – see link below.
RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas pantomimes in London.
Find more Christmas shows in London.
What is it? Giles Terera will place Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Old Vic’s beloved Christmas Carol, which returns for its tenth and surely final year: it’s the last piece of programming from its director Mattew Warchus befiore he leaves the theatre. For ages eight-plus.
Where is it? Old Vic.
What is it? Mischief Theatre – they of fringe megahit The Play That Goes Wrong – return with a reprise for last year’s enjoyable Christmas Carol Goes Wrong in which the company’s am dram alter egos the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society screw up Dickens’ seasonal classic, with side-splitting results. For ages eight-plus.
Where is it? Apollo Theatre.
What is it? The Southbank Centre’s big family-friendly Christmas show is the European premiere of Cirque Alice, an Australian circus extravangaza with an Alice in Wonderland theme from the team behidn the recent West End hit Now You See Me. Expect mind-boggling acrobatic feats made even more mind-boggling yet via the addition of Lewis Caroll’s various trippy denizens. For ages five plus.
Where is it? Royal Festival Hall.
What is it? Although the National Theatre will be running shows in all three theatres over the Christmas hols, The Jungle Book is emphatically its Big Christmas Show. A lavish family friendly adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s India-set story cycle, it’s adapted by Indian playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar (of the excellent The Father and the Assassin fame), and emphatically not a stage version of the beloved Disney film.
Where is it? National Theatre, Olivier.
What is it? The Globe has been staging outdoor Christmas shows for some years now, and this adaptation of Pinocchio feels like the boldest expression of that: a full scale, full length musical that will ran outdoors through the darkest, coldest months of 2025 and is back for 2026 (admittedly the shows generally start a little earlier than standard). The musical is, of course, an adaptation of the story of Pinocchio, albeit explictly the batshit mental original Carlo Collodi version as opposed to the admitedly still pretty wild Disney take.
Where is it? Shakespeare’s Globe.
What is it? Comics Humphrey Ker and David Reed made their names in Victorian-styled sketch troupe The Penny Dreadful, and the duo retuns to their formative obsessiuon for this festiva Sherlock Holmes adventure, which lovingly spoofs the Great Detective in a seasonal style. The show premiered at the Birmingham Rep last Christmas, where a major selling point was the selection of brand new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Those seem to have disappeared for the trransfer but hopefully won’t diminish what sounds like a fiun seasonal romp.
Where is it? Alexandra Palace Theatre.
What is it? There has been a Birmingham Rep production of Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman coming to London under the auspices of Sadler’s Wells for over 30 years now. But it’s not this one! Yes, after over three decades the original production had been retired and the two theatres have put their heads together to stage a new 2026 Snowman completely from scratch, with a new team headed by director-choreographer Will Tuckett.
Where is it? Peacock Theatre.
What is it? After a couple of Christmases of quite edgy fare from the playwright Chris Bush, this season’s Rose Theatre Kingston festive show looks a bit less provocative, being a new stage adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows from kids’ playwright Rob Evans. Still, the antics of Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole and their showdown with the rapacious Weasels are not exactly a bland evening of entertainment, and director Owen Horsely is a heavyweight best known for his work with the RSC.
Where is it? Rose Theatre Kingston.
What is it? Pantomimes are, of course, family-friendly fun, but there too many of them to include here – click through to our dedicated panto page.
What is it? An eccentric explore meets a succession of very odd antarctic creatures in the return of this mid-’10s Christmas show from sweetly experimental theatre company Little Bulb.
Where is it? Polka Theatre.
What is it? The return of the Unicorn’s lovely show about a penguin single dad and his antics with his adorable little chick. For ages one to four.
Where is it? Unicorn Theatre.
What is it? Little Bulb’s delicious quirky, non-ballet spin on The Nutcracker returns to London for its third Christmas on the trot. A lovely eccentric treat, it proves this enchanting story is more than just a dance show. For ages five plus.
Where is it? Soho Theatre.
What is it? This Lyric Christmas staple brings Raymond Briggs’s Father Christmas to enchanting life. The author of The Snowman is known for his beautiful depictions of the season – and this adaptation by theatre company Pins and Needles is equally charming.
Where is it? Lyric Hammersmith.
What is it? The plots of these generically-named Peppa Pig stage extravaganzas don’t tend to vary very much, being loosely thematically strung together from the plots of various episodes of the longrunning cartoon. Change has, however, come to Peppa Pig’s worldwith the arrival last year of Baby Evie, and the newborn piglet is back as Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show returns for second year. The story nominally follows the Pig family as they get ready for Evie’s birth.
Where is it? Theatre Royal Haymarket.
What is it? JM Barrie’s magical romp Peter Pan isn’t technically a Christmas story at all, but it naturally gravitates towards the season and is often (slightly awkwardly) squeezed into a panto shape. That’s not what the Polka’s big Christmas show is though: rather it’s a beatbox/rap overhaul from the team – headed by adaptor/director Conrad Murray – who did similar Polka treatments for Romeo & Juliet and the story of the Pied Piper. For ageas five to 12.
Where is it? Polka Theatre.
What is it? Unicorn boss Rachel Bagshaw adapts Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith’s picturebook, in which Santa’s kind-hearted elves decide to fill in for their boss and let him experience Christmas for the first time. It’s directed and choreographed by James Cousins, with songs by Harry Blake. For ages four plus.
Where is it? Unicorn Theatre.
What is it? It’s the night before Christmas and Scruff the puppy can’t sleep: he’s worried he hasn’t got the perfect gift for his owner. Can you help him find one? Sure you can in this short, sweet, heavily interactive festive show for ages three to eight.
Where is it? Little Angel Theatre.
What is it? Seen at the Polka Theatre last Christmas and now transferring to the Little Angel for 2026, this festive show for younger children is a sweet-sounding number adapted from a Benji Davies picturebook that follows a girl, her dad and – of course – a snowflake as they try to find the places they belong. It’s aimed at children ages three to six.
Where is it? Little Angel Theatre Studios.
What is it? Freckle Productions returns with its splendid puppet-driven family adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's popular book. The hapless Stick Man's domestic idyll – living up a tree with his Stick Lady Love and their trio of stick sprogs – is shattered when an enterprising dog mistakes him for a common or garden piece of wood. Ages three-plus.
Where is it? Bloomsbury Theatre.
What is it? Returning for 2026, this sensory show from Catalunya’s Egruna Teatre is aimed at very little ones aged zero to two and offers an immersive experience themed around the delicate balance of the universe, in which even the smallest object can create massive change.
Where is it? Barbican Centre, The Pit.
What is it? This immersive Christmas experience – it’s a bit like a posh grotto – returns for 2026 in expanded form at a new venue. Take a 50-minute journey to ‘the North Pole’, where you’ll travel through various seasonally decorated rooms simulating Santa HQ – meet elves, Mrs Claus, and even the big man himself. Every punchase includes a photo with Santa.
Where is it? ImmerseLDN.
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