Top Christmas Shows for London Kids and Families 2012

OUR TOP 10 FAMILY SHOWS

1. The Snowman at Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2 (Holborn tube)
Totally magical Christmas cracker with soaring score and flying snowman! For all ages (recommended 2+). 11am, 2.30pm & 7pm; £12-£32/family £95 (until Jan 6) Read our The Snowman review

2. Room on the Broom at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, WC1 (Piccadilly Circus)
The Gruffalo team do it again with a bewitching mix of comedy, songs and puppetry. For ages 3+10am, 11am & 12pm (varying dates); £13-£20.50/family £60 (until Jan 13) Read our Room on the Broom review

3. Boing at Roseberry Ave, EC1 (Angel tube)
Super bouncy fun with hip hop and ballet from 2 boys who can’t sleep on Christmas Eve. For ages 3+ 11.30am & 3pm; adult £12/child £7 (Dec 20-31) Read our Boing review

4. Slava’s Snow Show at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1
Mind blowing one-man circus performance to high drama music and blizzard finale! Recommended for ages 8+, no under 3s allowed. 2.30pm & 7.30pm, also 6pm Suns; £20-£65 (Dec 17-Jan 7)

5. Stick Man at Leicester Square Theatre, WC1 (Leicester Square tube)
Another brilliant Julia Donaldson adaptation with puppets, catchy tunes and eccentric fun for all ages. 10.30am, 12.15pm & 2pm (varying dates); adult £14.50/child £12.50/family £45 (until Jan 6) Read our Stick Man review

6. Midnight’s Pumpkin at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11
Put on your glass slippers and get ready to have a ball at this Christmas caper for ages 6+. 2.30pm & 7.30pm; adult £15-£25/child £15 (Dec 8-Jan 13)

7. The House Where Winter Lives at Discover Story Centre, 383-387 Stratford High St, E15 (Stratford overground/tube)
Wonderful, multi-sensory storytelling for the young and young at heart. For ages 3-6. 12.30pm, 2pm, 4pm & 5.30pm (varying dates); adult £8/child £6 (until Jan 13)

8. Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, W6 (Hammersmith tube)
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa on stage. Raymond Briggs adaptation for kids under 6. Varying times between 10am & 6.30pm; £8 (until Jan 5)

9. Dogs Don’t Do Ballet at Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 (Angel tube)
Pups en pointe in this charming and funny puppet theatre for ages 2-6. 10am, 11.30am & 1.30pm + 10am baby-friendly Sunday shows; adult £10/child £8 (Dec 12-Jan 27)

10. The Nutcracker at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, WC2 (Covent Garden tube)
Festive ballet favourite brings toys to life, set to Tchaikovsky’s rousing music, for ages 5+. Limited tickets left for 7.30pm, £78-£110 – book fast! (Dec 10-Jan 16)

WE ALSO RECOMMEND

FOR BABIES & TODDLERS

Sooty in Space at Duchess Theatre, for all ages

The Elves & the Shoemaker at Jacksons Lane for ages 2+

In a Pickle with Oily Cart at Unicorn Theatre for ages 2-4

FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS

The Gruffalo at Arts Depot for ages 3+

Cloud Man at Southbank Centre, for ages 4-7

Seussical the Musical at Arts Theatre

FOR BIG KIDS

Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty at Sadler’s Wells for ages 5+

59 Minutes to Save Christmas at Barbican Centre for ages 7+

TOP PANTO

Sleeping Beauty on Ice at Ally Pally

Dick Whittington at Hackney Empire

Aladdin at The O2

Beauty & the Beast at Shaw Theatre