Children's Christmas Shows 2025 in London Theatres

What is it? Children’s theatre company Tall Stories – best known for their blockbuster Julia Donaldson adaptations – will be adapting the adventures of David McKee’s much loved patchwork elephant Elmer. We’ll join a group of adventurers searching the jungle for Elmer – expect song, gentgle interactions, and an all round lovely time for ages three-plus.

Where is it? Soho Theatre Walthamstow.

What is it? A brand new stage version of Philip Pullman’s much adapted, popular-in-schools kids’ novella about Lila, a young girl who desperately wants to be a firework-maker, and goes on an epic adventure to prive she’s up for it despite the considerabel scepticism of her father, who argues it’s no job for women. For ages six to 12. 

Where is it? Polka Theatre.

What is it? Tall Stories' musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's award-winning sequel to 'The Gruffalo' is packed with inventive storytelling, energy and furry jumpsuits from the cast of three. Ages three-plus.

Where is it? Lyric Theatre.

What is it? The brilliantly anarchic theatre company Told By An Idiot calls in at the Unicorn this Christmas with an adaptation of Mac Barnett’s Jon Klassen-illustrated book that poses the titular question. Expect glorious physical theatre lunacy from the Paul Hunter-led company as they experiment with the various ways by which Old Saint Nick might gain entry to your home. For ages two plus.

Where is it? Unicorm Theatre.

What is it? Me…, is a puppet charmfest that’s unlikely to upset even the most lily-livered pre-schooler. Featuring a cute bundle of day-old penguin fluff and an icy antarctic environment shaped like a half pipe, it is simple, short and sweet. 

Where is it? Little Angel Theatre.

What is it? Immersive arts specialists Wild Rumpus return to Battersea Arts Centre for the third Christmas on the trot with another theatrical trail through the huge building. Hal Chambers directs a new show based around European Yuletide traditions, which have got out of control – you need to save the season. It’s suitable for ages three plus.

Where is it? Battersea Arts Centre.

What is it? Given the inevitably generational nature of the annual audience, it’s not a surpise that these blandly 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 this year with the arrival of Baby Evie, and you can rest assued that the newborn piglet has been shoehored into this year’s adventure. 

Where is it? Lyric 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 Unicorn Theatre’s baby-friendly long-runner is back for another year. Scrunch is a show about baby's first Christmas, where there's a ring at the door and some excitingly scrunchy paper to crumple. A sensory offering strictly aimed at babies aged 6-18 months.

Where is it? Unicorn Theatre.

What is it? The Polka’s 2025 Christmas 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? Polka Theatre.

What is it? Birmingham Rep’s ballet spin-off of Raymond Briggs’ dreamy Christmas classic is back in London once again, now homing in on its thirtieth anniversary. Unlike the ageless book and TV animation that inspired it, it’s creaking a little – but it is a classic in its own right, and still inspires rapture in the two-to-eight-year-old target audience and nostalgic sniffles in their middle-aged parents.

Where is it? Peacock Theatre.

What is it? After running seasonally at the Leicester Square Theatre since what feels like the dawn of time, Freckle Productions’s moves to a new venue as it 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? Matt Aston’s adaptation of Benji Davies kids’ books about the delightful relationship between a young boy, Noi, and the little whale he rescues after a storm heads off on tour, calling at Polka over half-term. Ages four-to-eight.

Where is it? Little Angel Theatre Studios.

What is it? This sensory show from Catalunya is aimed at 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.