One of the best ways to entertain children (and parents!) during the upcoming autumn holidays is to book half-yearly theater tickets. London has a fantastic range of entertainment, from family-friendly musicals to plays, and from much-loved long-running productions to exciting newcomers.
If you’re not sure which family theater shows are best for you, read on for the Telegraph’s handy guide, which includes insights from our expert critics on these children’s plays and musicals. We also have age recommendations for each production, and you can find discounted tickets at Telegraph cards – whether you are looking for Matilda tickets, Harry Potter tickets, Six tickets or something else.
Plus, we’ve got handy lists of the best plays and musicals in London, as well as the best family shows. So make plans now and book your tickets for the best theater shows for half the year.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Palace Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “British theater hasn’t seen anything like it for decades and I haven’t seen anything like it in all my reviewing days… It raises the bar for family entertainment.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 10+
Booking until: March 3, 2024
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Matilda the Musical, Cambridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Matthew Warchus’ exciting, heartfelt production, lavishly designed by Rob Howell and with razor-sharp choreography by Peter Darling, continually combines comedy with a sense of wonder.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 6+
Booking until: December 15, 2024
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Back to the Future: The Musical, Adelphi Theater ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Thanks to video and illusionistic wizardry, the steam-spurting DeLorean comes into view from nowhere and rises over the stalls, creating a kind of 3D Hollywood magic… A feel-good triumph.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 6+
Booking until: February 11, 2024
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Six, Vaudeville Theater ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Six is a great show, dripping with ingenuity and intelligence, and a show that not only brings happiness for the moment, but also hope for the future of British musical theater.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 10+
Booking until: April 28, 2024
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Frozen the Musical, Theater Royal Drury Lane ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “It’s pure West End spectacle, exactly what you want for a production that will likely be many children’s first theater experience, and told with a blazing passion that is surprisingly impactful.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 6+
Booking until: June 2, 2024
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The Lion King, Lyceum Theater ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Watching the show with my delighted children, I was struck by the extent to which it manages to speak to the heart rather than the head… A deeply felt celebration of life.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 6+
Booking until: June 2nd
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Mrs Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Never doubt that I love Mrs Doubtfire, the feel-good but not fluffy musical shown at the newly revamped Shaftesbury Theatre… A real hit, my dear people.” Read the full review
Booking until: June 2nd
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The King and I, London Palladium ★★★★
In a nutshell: “The whole affair is a satisfying mix of bombast and subtlety. Many of the songs remain extremely sweet, most importantly the invitation to a crazy polka, Shall We Dance?. Read the full review
Recommended age: 5+
Booking until: March 2nd
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My neighbor Totoro, Barbican ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Totoro is beautifully gigantic, with a mighty, resonant growl, a wicked smile, a lumbering gait and a bouncy castle with a fluffy twist. The wow factor of his spectacular performances is worth the price of admission alone.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 4+
Booking until: March 23
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Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Phoenix Theater ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Netflix gives the West End its event of the year… The breathtaking coups range from the hellish, supernatural engulfment of a colossal American battleship to levitation.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 12+
Booking until: June 30th
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Mamma Mia!, Novello Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Phyllida Lloyd’s slick production is still a huge crowd-pleaser… Buoyed by Abba’s enduring brilliance, it’s a welcome recording of pure sunshine.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 5+
Booking until: September 28
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Guys & Dolls, Bridge Theatre ★★★★★
In a nutshell: “Nicholas Hytner’s bag of tricks, the Bridge, unleashes the show all around you if you’re one of the 380 punters standing in the middle of it… It’s an extravaganza that explodes in all directions.” Read the full review
Recommended age: All ages (under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult if purchasing immersive pitches)
Booking until: August 31th
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Bad, Apollo Victoria Theatre ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Joe Mantello’s production has a satisfyingly old-fashioned bombast: instead of screens, the impact comes from the detailed, fantastically over-the-top steampunk design. The orchestra is the largest in the West End – and it shows.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 7+
Booking until: December 15
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The play that goes wrong, Hertogintheater ★★★★
In a nutshell: “Rarely has a disaster produced so many belly laughs… This parody of an am-dram staging of an Agatha Christie whodunit is the perfect recipe for absurd slapstick.” Read the full review
Recommended age: 8+
Booking until: November 3
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