With May half term coming up, you're probably looking for ways to entertain the whole family in London. How about a trip to the theatre? London's stages are packed with options, from upbeat musicals, to adaptations of beloved children's books, to unusual takes on the works of Shakespeare. Disney, Alice in Wonderland, Studio Ghibli, Harry Potter and Roald Dahl all feature. Whether you're looking to entertain toddlers, teenagers, or all ages in between, here's our pick of the best family-friendly theatre shows and musicals in London right now. Get booking!
Family-friendly musicals in London: summer 2025
THE LION KING: A perennial favourite that's been running for over 25 years, and with good reason. Watch Simba's adventures on the Serengeti come to life in The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre, told through stirring puppetry and live music. Top tip: if you're buying tickets for the stalls, go for aisle seats to get a good view as the cast weaves down the aisles mid-performance. Age six+. Currently booking until March 2026
MATILDA: Roald Dahl's story of a child genius, transformed into a musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Matilda the Musical at Cambridge Theatre is as entertaining for adults as it is for kids. All the charming detail of Dahl's original words remain, with catchy Tim Michin songs thrown in. Age six+. Currently booking until May 2026
MAMMA MIA!: Show the kids there's more to ABBA than bopping to Dancing Queen at family weddings. Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre takes the super Swedish quartet's songs and plants them on a Greek island, as one young woman tries to figure out who her real father is shortly before she gets married. Colourful, catchy and upbeat, it's everything ABBA should be. Age five+. Currently booking until March 2026
STARLIGHT EXPRESS: A 40+ cast on roller skates tells the story of a child's train set coming to life, in Starlight Express at the Troubadour Theatre. Andrew Lloyd Webber's high-octane musical sees Rusty the steam train inspired to become the fastest engine in the world. Be warned: your children will want to take up roller skating after seeing this. Currently booking until March 2026
BACK TO THE FUTURE: "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads". Introduce your family to the time-travelling japes of teenager Marty McFly and batty scientist Doc Brown in Back to the Future: The Musical at the Adelphi Theatre. Starting out in the 1980s, the unlikely duo build a time machine out of a DeLorean, transporting them back to the 1950s, for a oedipal caper like no other. Great Scott! Age six+. Currently booking until January 2026
Children's theatre shows to see in May half term 2025
SHUCKED: The Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre gets its Summer 2025 season underway with the UK premiere of Shucked, a Tony Award-winning musical comedy about a woman named Maizy (see what they did there?) who has to save her small American town when the corn it grows starts to die. Remember this one's an open-air venue, so dress for the weather. Age eight+. 10 May-14 June 2025
GREATEST SHOWMAN CIRCUS: Circus show meets West End musical in Come Alive! The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular at Empress Museum in West Brompton. Inspired by the 2017 film of the same name — but minus Hugh Jackman, sorry — a brand new storyline plays out in a 700-seat big top, featuring songs from the film. Age six+. Currently booking until September 2025
MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO: The much-loved Royal Shakespeare Company production of 1988 Studio Ghibli film My Neighbour Totoro plays out on stage at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. The show — which has already scooped six Olivier Awards — features elaborate sets that shift from village to forest to school, small and huge-scale puppetry, and a small orchestra performing a new arrangement of the original score. It's the story of two sisters exploring the forest near their new home, and is as charming for adults as it is for children. Age six+. Currently booking until March 2026
Top London musicals and theatre shows for teenagers and older kids
Teenagers can be trickier: too mature for sing along puppet shows, not quite ready for adult shows. These productions toe the line perfectly — buy them an ice cream in the interval and they might even admit to enjoying themselves.
HARRY POTTER: Drawing in Potterheads since 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is an unusual set-up, in that it consists of two parts, each more than 2.5 hours long. Your ticket includes both parts, one in the afternoon and the second later that evening. As for the storyline, it picks up almost two decades after Harry, Ron and Hermione left Hogwarts... but we won't give anything else away. Age 10+. Currently booking until February 2026
SIX: It's the Tudors, but not as you know them. SIX The Musical at Vaudeville Theatre empowers the six wives of Henry VIII, who tell their own stories in their own words, backed by all-female band, the Ladies in Waiting. History becomes herstory. Age 10+. Currently booking until June 2026
ROMEO AND JULIET: Teenagers studying Romeo and Juliet at school? Show them Shakespeare's love story in a whole new light setting: the American Wild West. Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare's Globe features stetsons, cowboy boots, saloon brawls and pistol fights aplenty -— if that doesn't get them interested in the Bard, nothing will. And once they're hooked, try some of these other unusual takes on Shakespeare plays coming to London this summer. Until 2 August 2025
HAMILTON: Still going strong, Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton at the Victoria Palace spins the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, from his involvement in the American Civil War, to his career as a lawyer and his marriage to Eliza Schuyler. The soundtrack is mainly hip-hop, and it does help to know a bit of background about the historical context, so give the kids the lowdown before you go. Age 10+. Currently booking until March 2026
WICKED: One of the biggest films of last year — and with the second instalment coming this November — Wizard of Oz prequel Wicked casts its spell over the Apollo Victoria. BBC News dubbed it "one of the most successful musicals of all time", so provided your children can handle a couple of dark/borderline scary bits, it's a spellbinding introduction to musical theatre at its finest. Age seven+. Currently booking until January 2026
Book ahead for these upcoming shows
Looking ahead beyond May half term, perhaps to the summer holidays? Tickets for these family-friendly summer 2025 theatre shows are on sale now.
OUR COSMIC DUST: The English language debut of Japanese play Our Cosmic Dust comes to Park Theatre, telling the story of Shotaro, a curious school boy who sets out on an adventure to find his late father among the stars. Puppetry and video are used to create a charming show, but be aware that it contains themes of grief and loss. Age 12+. 2 June-5 July
DISNEY'S HERCULES: It was only a matter of time before someone made a stage musical out of the 1997 Disney animated film, itself based on a Greek myth. Disney's Hercules opens at Theatre Royal Drury Lane this summer, promising "a wise-cracking, column-shaking, underworld-rocking ride of adventure, self-discovery and love. In tunics". Delightful. Age six+. 6 June 2025-10 January 2026
NOUGHTS AND CROSSES: Malorie Blackman's powerful novel Noughts & Crosses plays at Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre, set in dystopian Britain and telling the story of two young friends divided by racial segregation. It's a tough watch, featuring racism and oppression, violent scenes, sexual references, swearing and depictions of hanging, so may not be suitable for all young people. Age 14+. 28 June-26 July
JEMIMA PUDDLE-DUCK: A brand new adaptation of Beatrix Potter book The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck plays out in the open-air at The Actors's Church in Covent Garden. Head for the lawn for the hour-long production about a duck who leaves her farm to go in search of somewhere to lay her eggs, and ending in a spot of peril. 4 July. Stick around at the same venue for...
ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS: After the above, Quantum Theatre stays at The Actors' Church for an open-air show of Alice Through The Looking Glass on the same evening. There's a live music soundtrack, and all of Lewis Carroll's beloved characters are present. 4 July
ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Take another trip down the rabbit hole with Alice in Wonderland at Marylebone Theatre. Look out for the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit and co as you follow Alice on her adventures through Wonderland using puppets. Age five+. 12 July-31 August
THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA: As fully-formed adults, we feel no shame in admitting that we love The Tiger Who Came To Tea — and now he's coming to the Theatre Royal Haymarket stage for the summer holidays. Judith Kerr's charming story of little girl called Sophie and her mum opening their door to a tiger and inviting him in takes the form of a musical play, and if they use the same soundtrack from the animation shown on TV each Christmas, it'll be bouncing around your head for weeks afterwards. Age three+. 14 July-7 September
THE SECRET GARDEN: Another outdoor performance in the garden of the Actors' Church, The Secret Garden is a re-imagining of the classic Frances Hodgson Burnett book about three children who discover a magical hidden garden. Age five+. 16 July
101 DALMATIANS: Follow the twilight bark over to 101 Dalmatians - The Musical at the Hammersmith Apollo. It's an all-singing, all-dancing rendition of the tale of a huge gaggle of the spotted dogs doing their best to outwit baddie Cruella de Vil, who wants to make them into a fur coat. The dogs are played by puppets — imagine the chaos backstage otherwise. Age 5+. 18 July-30 August
THE SMEDS AND THE SMOOS: Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's beloved characters the Smeds and the Smoos comes to live on stage at the Lyric Theatre for the summer holidays. Find out what happens on a far-off planet when a young Smed and a young Smoo fall in love, despite the fact that the two groups aren't allowed to be friends. Age 3+. 18 July-7 September
ROUGH MAGIC: After a successful run last year, Rough Magic is back at Shakespeare's Globe. It's a family-friendly show set in the world of Shakespeare's characters, specifically Macbeth's Weird Sisters. Audience members are invited to dress as their favourite mythical creature (think fairies, witches, ghosts, monsters) for the show. Age five+. 19 July-23 August
WIND IN THE WILLOWS: Another classic of children's literature reenacted on the lawns at the Actors' Church. The Wind in the Willows tracks life on the Riverbank for Mole, Rat and Badger, whose peace and tranquility is disrupted by Toad's latest idea. Age five+. 29 July
THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE: Snapping his way back into the Regent's Park Open-Air Theatre after being a big hit last year is Roald Dahl's The Enormous Crocodile. It takes the form of a musical, with various relaxed and BSL performances throughout the run. Age three+. 15 August-7 September
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE: Step into Narnia with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at Sadler's Wells. Join Lucy, Edmund and Peter as they step through the back of the wardrobe, marking the novel's 75th anniversary. Age seven+. 20 August-7 September
