The best theatre shows for kids to see in the West End
Sophie Thomas
February 16, 2022 19:56
London is packed with theatrical experiences, with some shows designed with younger audiences in mind. Shows typically fall into two brackets; either they're either created for kids, or are suitable for both children and adults.
Over the years, many musicals have even featured kids in their cast, including Matilda, The Lion King, Annie and The Sound of Music. They've all inspired upcoming generations of West End stars, so why not encourage your kids to create a love of theatre from an early age. It's even been shown that theatre can significantly improve a child's academic performance
Introduce children to the theatre from a young age with our picks of the best theatre for kids in London. There's a list of musicals for kids, including comedy plays and children's theatre for the best London theatre.
Musicals for kids
Inspire children by taking them to a West End musical. There are even musicals based on Disney films and Roald Dahl books.
Matilda the Musical
Matilda follows the same story as told in the Roald Dahl novel. Matilda is a gifted child, who possesses powerful psychokinetic powers. Her parents don't care for her. Her evil headmistress Miss Trunchbull wants to get rid of her. So who can Matilda turn to? Thankfully, her teacher Miss Honey and her classmates save the day.
A David-and-Goliath story complete with plenty of cheek, Matilda is a perfect musical for young kids. Once they've seen Matilda in London at the Cambridge Theatre, we'll bet they want to be one of the "Revolting Children" at Crunchem Hall. Read our London theatre reviews of Matilda here.
Find out everything you need to know about Matilda the Musical in London.
Book tickets to Matilda in the West End.
Mary Poppins
Swallow a spoonful of sugar and say hello to the West End's favourite Nanny, as Mary Poppins is back in London at the Prince Edward Theatre. The lovable Nanny looks after the Banks children, taking them on all sorts of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" adventures with local jack of all trades Bert.
There's plenty of magical moments, including tap-dancing chimneysweeps on the ceiling and a flying Mary Poppins. Yep, Mary Poppins actually flies. We won't ruin the magic for younger ones. Read our London theatre reviews of Mary Poppins here.
Find out everything you need to know about Mary Poppins in London.
Book tickets to Mary Poppins in the West End.
The Lion King
Roaring at the Lyceum Theatre since 1999, The Lion King in London continues to entertain audiences from around the world. At the start of the musical, audiences see Simba as a tiny lion cub. Then, as he journeys across the Seregenti, he survives stampedes, stand-offs, and Scar to become King of the Pride Lands.
The Lion King is full of Disney songs that children will have definitely heard before too, including "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata." There's also hundreds of puppets on display showcasing the animal kingdom, and they'll soar over the heads of young children transfixed by the musical spectacle. Read our London theatre reviews of The Lion King here.
Find out everything you need to know about The Lion King in London.
Book tickets to The Lion King in the West End.
West End theatre for kids in summer
As well as West End shows with storylines suitable for younger audiences, there are a lot of West End theatre events created for children. Kids musicals and kids shows in the summer are typically based on best-selling storylines or television shows. They usually post a running time of around 1 hour — a great length of time for kids to stay focused.
Stay tuned for summer theatre for kids in 2022.
Browse the best West End shows for kids here and West End deals, and book tickets today on London Theatre.
Photo credit: The Lion King (Photo by Johan Persson)
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