A Squash and a Squeeze, Little Angel Theatre, 2025
Photo: Suzi Corker
Photo: Suzi Corker

Children’s theatre in London: the best shows for kids of all ages

From tiny tots to older kids, we've got your next family theatre trip covered with the best children’s theatre in London

Andrzej Lukowski
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Hello – I'm Time Out’s theatre editor and also a parent, something that has considerable overlap in London, a city with three dedicated kids theatres and where pretty much every other theatre might play host to a child-friendly show.

Listing everything would be a slightly psychotic undertaking and probably not that illuminating, as many kids’ shows are only on for a day or two. So instead this round up forcusses on the flagship shows at London’s kids theatres – that’s the Little Angel, the Unicorn and Polka – plus other major shows aimed at or suitable for youngsters.

On the whole, pre-school and primary children are the age groups best served specifically, because secondary school aged teenagers can generally see adult theatre perfectly well (and will indeed often be made to do so!). So while the odd teen focussed show will make it in here, if you’re looking for something to do with teens why not consult our reviews page or what to book list.

Our London kids’ theatre page normally contains information for all the main children’s shows running in London theatres this month and next month, and is broken down into three categories.

Theatre for all the family is suitable for any age, including adults without children.

Theatre for older children is specifically aimed at school-age children and teenagers.

Theatre for babies, pre-schoolers and younger children does what the title suggests, and also includes shows suitable for younger school-age children.

See also:
50 things to do in London with kids.
The best child-friendly restaurants in London.
The top 9 museums in London for kids.

Theatre for all the family

  • Children's
  • Kingston

Dinosaur World Live isn’t afraid to give the audience what it wants – that is to say, a T-rex. In fact, there are two T-rexes, an adult and a baby, plus a brace of Triceratops and some semi-obscure additional dinos (Giraffatitan, Segnosaurus, Microraptor) that parents may or may not have heard of depending upon the extent of their children’s dino-love…

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  • Musicals
  • Covent Garden
  • Recommended
The Lion King
The Lion King

Nothing prepares you for the sheer impact of The Lion King's opening sequence: the adburdly successful Disney musical may have been around for decades, but there’s a good reason for that.

  • Musicals
  • Seven Dials
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Matilda the Musical
Matilda the Musical

Matthew Warchus's RSC production of Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s Roald Dahl adaptation remains a treat.

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  • Musicals
  • Soho

While super-producer Cameron Mackistosh still has breath in his body we’ll never be too far from the next revival of Lionel Bart’s all-singing Dickens adaptation Oliver!. Fifteen years after the last, it’s back in new guise in a Matthew Bourne directed production that premiered at Chichester Festival Theatre back in the summer to reviews that praised it as comfortingly nostalgic rather than doing anything particularly bold. But that’s what we want from ‘Oliver!’ really, isn’t it? 

  • Musicals
  • Strand
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Six the Musical
Six the Musical

This short musical romp through the (after)lives of Henry VIII’s six wives is perfect for adults and secondary school kids alike.

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  • Musicals
  • Wembley
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

Quite possibly the most aggressively ‘80s artefact in existence, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Starlight Express’ is a musical about anthropomorphic roller skating trains that often feels like being forced to watch ten consecutive episodes of some trashy Saturday morning action cartoon…

Theatre for primary school children and older

  • Children's
  • Wimbledon

The sky is falling in and you just know Chicken Licken is going to tell the king about it. Sarah Brigham’s new stage adaptation of the beloved if probably darker-than-you-remember-it fable about an innocent young chicken and his poultry pals who panic when an acorn falls from a tree and may or may not get eaten by a fox at the end depending on what route writer-director Brigham takes.

  • Children's
  • Wimbledon

Asif Khan’s new play for tweens (ages eight to 12) is based on the story of a trio of hijab-wearing skateboarder sisters from Hull. In this fictionalised version there are just two sisters, and they’re from Bradford, and there’s a little more drama in the mix: Fatima and Salima and half-sisters, and there’s talk of their parents going their seperate ways, much to the horror of the skate-mad duo.

Theatre for babies and pre-schoolers

  • Children's
  • White City

A touch of magic at Westfield Shepherd’s Bush with this official immersive CBeebies theatre adventure for ages zero to six featuring contributions from a host of beloved characters from the pre-school network, ranging from Mr Tumble to Bluey herself. 

  • Children's
  • South Bank

A shy little mouse wishes he could become as brave as a lion – but ends up learning that even lions aren’t always brave. Puppet-powered stage adaptation of Rachel Bright and Jim Field kids’ book from Sarah Punshon, who also directs. For ages three-plus.

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  • Children's
  • Canonbury
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended

In essence, the Travelling Circus is a very winning spin on traditional kids’ party entertainment, with  a series of old-school party tricks – audience participation! collapsing wands! (puppet) rabbits out of hats – and a succession of turns from the various puppet animals in the circus, who range from some ‘fleas’ to a farty dog (‘Smelly Dog’). 

  • Children's
  • Tower Bridge

This show for youngsters aged 18 months to four years comes from Spanish company Imaginart and is based around a series of interactive projections that change shape and colour when touched by young hands. 

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  • Children's
  • Wimbledon

The classic tale of the delicate princess who proves her nobiity by making a fuss about a pea in her mattress is turned on its head in this new kids’ show, written by Rachel Barnett-Jones. Exact details are TBA, but it would seem that Elise Zavou’s Princess is a ninja. 

  • Children's
  • Canonbury

Another year, another Julia Donaldson adaptation premieres at the Little Angel – and why not? Theatre and author have spend the last few decades churning out a steady supply of pure delight for the little ones, often in concert. 

New theatre this month

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