Our annual Christmas Shows in London for Kids roundup is packed with panto and puppets, dazzling spectacle, music and the festive spirit. Here are shows to charm every one from babies and toddlers to big kids and the whole family!
TOP PICK
Slava’s Snow Show (pictured) at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX (Embankment/Waterloo tube)
Simply one of the best pieces of family theatre we’ve ever seen. Critically acclaimed solo circus act filled with humour, awe-inspiring vision, soul-stirring soundtrack and a finale that practically blows you away! Recommended for ages 8+ but suitable for ages 5+. NB: no under 3s allowed. 2.30pm & 7.30pm, also 6pm Suns and some Thu; £20-£65 (Dec 17-Jan 5)
Read our Slava’s Snow Show Review
COMPETITION: WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO SLAVA’S SNOW SHOW!
HOW TO ENTER: Simply email us at info@babesabouttown.com with the correct answer to the following question – What is the name of the clown who created Slava’s Snow Show? (clue: answer’s in the title!). Closing date midnight Dec 10, 2014, terms and conditions apply. Good luck!
Top Christmas Family Shows (Babes Choice)
The Snowman at Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Utterly breathtaking children’s theatre, adapted from Raymond Briggs’ beloved tale, with glorious score and a snowman who actually flies! A true Christmas classic. For all ages (recommended 2+). 11am, 2.30pm & 7pm; £15-£35/family £95 (until Jan 4)
Mother Goose at Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
Panto season is officially open in Hackney with larger than life characters, soaring vocalists, crazy costumes and slap-your-thigh humour. Mother Goose inherits Princess Priscilla, whose golden eggs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be! All ages. 1pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 5.30pm, 7pm; £10-£32 (Nov 22-Jan 4)
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at Rose Theatre Kingston, 24-26 High Street, KT1 1HL (Kingston/Surbiton rail)
Escape to Narnia, where the White Witch rules but four siblings battle evil with the power of Aslan behind them. Thrilling adaptation of CS Lewis’ classic fantasy. No age recommendation, possibly best for 4+. Shows at 11am, 1.30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 5pm, 5.30pm (Tue-Sun, times vary daily, check website); £10-£27/family tickets from £17.50 per person (Nov 30-Jan 4)
The Railway Children at King’s Cross, Goods Way entrance, Kings Boulevard, N1C 4QL (King’s Cross St. Pancras tube/rail)
The Olivier Award winning show returns to King’s Cross, bringing the classic tale by E Nesbitt beautifully to life and starring a real live steam train as its centrepiece. All ages. 7.30pm (Tue-Fri), 2pm & 5.30pm (Sat) and 2.30pm (Thu & Sun); £26-£45/25% off for under 16s (Dec 16-Mar 1, 2015)
Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic at O2 Arena, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX (North Greenwich tube)
Celebrate the best of Disney on Ice with all your favourites from Mickey and the Gang to the stars of Finding Nemo, The Lion King, The Incredibles, Toy Story and more gliding, spinning and thrilling audiences every night. All ages. 11am, 2.45pm, 6.30pm; £22-£46 (Dec 24-Jan 4)
We also like
Stick Man for ages 3+ at Leicester Square Theatre (Leicester Square tube, until Jan 4); Matthew Bourne presents Edward Scissorhands for ages 5+ at Sadler’s Wells (Dec 2-Jan 11); more classic panto in Sleeping Beauty at Millfield Arts Centre, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs starring Jerry Hall at Richmond Theatre and Cinderella at New Wimbledon Theatre (Dec 5-Jan 11); multiple award-winning Matilda the Musical, playing all through the year (ages 5+)
Top Christmas Shows for Babies & Toddlers (ages 0-3)
Polka Theatre: Grandad, Me and Teddy Too, 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon tube)
Bring your own bear to the Polka’s winter garden where Granddad leads a journey to wherever your imagination takes you. For ages 2-5, younger ones welcome. All kids ages 12 months and over require a ticket. 10.35am, 12.35pm & 2.05pm (Thu), 10.35 & 2.05pm (Wed & Fri), 11.05am, 12.30pm & 2.35pm (Sat), 11.05am & 2.35pm (Sun); adult/child £11.50/under 12 months FREE (Oct 8-Feb 6)
Scrunch at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, London, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Ding dong! It’s baby’s first Christmas and of course she’s more interested in the wrapping than what’s inside. A fun, sensory first theatre experience for babies ages 6-18 months. Hurry, as many performances are already sold out! 9.30am & 11am (Mon, Wed & Fri); 9.30, 11.30am, 1.30pm (Thu, Sat & Sun): adult + child £10 (£5 per additional child) (Nov 22-Jan 5)
Peppa Pig’s Big Splash at Criterion Theatre, 2 Jermyn St, SW1Y 4XA (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Peppa, George and friends have to fix a leaky roof to save their school fete, plan a big day out and of course there’s lots of puddle jumping involved. Catchy, song and dance fun for ages 0-3. 11am & 2.30pm (Tue, Thu, Fri & Sun), 11am (Sat); £13.50-£20/babies 0-12 months FREE (if sitting on lap) (Dec 2–Jan 4)
Top Christmas Shows for Preschoolers (ages 3-5)
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith, W6 (Hammersmith tube)
One of the most famous Christmas stories returns to the stage in an enchanting adaptation to warm the cockles for young and old (recommended ages 0-6). Show from 9.30am (times and dates vary, check the website for your day); adult £10/child £8 (until Jan 4)
Little Angel Theatre: Cindermouse, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
A sweet festive show that transposes the fairytale of Cinderella to the rodent world. Cindermouse has to overcome evil stepsisters to win her prince’s heart in a performance filled with colourful rod-puppet acrobats and dancers. For ages 3 to 8. Babies and children under 3 will only be admitted at Baby Friendly performances (10.30am, Suns + Tue 23 Dec 10:30, Wed 24 Dec 10:30 and Tue 30 Dec 10:30). Regular shows at 10.30am, 11am, 1.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, 4pm (times vary daily, check website); adult £14/ child and concs £12 children/family of 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children £48; Friday Fives all performances 5pm for £5 (Fris only) (Nov 20-Feb 1)
Antarctica at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN (Clapham Junction rail/overground, Clapham Common/Stockwell tube)
Go on a journey of discovery with glam seals, pesky penguins and all the way to the South Pole, in the company of Little Bulb (CBeebies A Christmas Carol). An enchanting world of snow, puppetry and songs for ages 2-6 (younger ones welcome). 10.30am & 1.30pm (weekdays until Dec 18); all other dates including weekends 11am & 2.30pm; adults £14/children & concs £9/family £40/babes in arms FREE (Dec 2-Jan 4)
Robin Hood at Winterville, Victoria Park (entrance near Crown Gate), E3 5TB (Mile End/Bethnal Green tube)
Grab your bow and arrow and head to Sherwood Forest with Robin, Maid Marian and Friar Tuck, where you can boo the baddies of Nottingham in true panto style. Cheeky fun for ages 4+. Varying dates at 12pm & 2pm (Mon-Tue), 12pm (Wed), 12.30pm (Sat), 11.30am & 1.30pm (Sun); adult £10/child under 14 £8 (Dec 6-31)
Emily Brown and the Thing at Jacksons Lane, 269a Archway Rd, N6 5AA (Highgate tube)
Five star rated show with lots of music and creativity, featuring Emily Brown, her rabbit pal Stanley and a Thing crying outside their window. What could be bothering him and will they ever settle him to sleep? For ages 3+. 10.30am & 1.30pm (Tue-Thu), 11am & 2pm (Sat-Sun); £12.95 (Dec 6-Jan 4)
The Cat in the Hat at Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Rd, N7 9EF (Caledonian Rd tube/Caledonian Rd & Barnsbury overground)
Pad along to the warm and intimate Pleasance Theatre to enjoy mischief and rhyme in the company of that frisky feline in the tall stripy hat. Much loved adaptation of Dr Seuss, first produced by National Theatre. For ages 3+. 10.30am, 11am, 1.30pm (times vary daily, check website); weekdays £7/weekends £11/£12.50 (Dec 8-Jan 4)
The Gruffalo’s Child at Arts Depot, 5 Nether St, Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12 (Finchley Central tube)
There’s a twist in the tale of the Gruffalo as this time it’s his sprog who dares to venture into the woods, to uncover the legend of the big bad Mouse. Delightful adaptation for ages 3+. Shows from 10am, 10.15am, 11am, 1.30pm, 1.45pm & 3pm (times vary daily, check website), £8/£12.50/£14 (Dec 10-Jan 5)
Oily Cart, Spirit Level, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube)
Oily Cart’s latest show for little people is a multi-sensory wonderland laced with laughter, music and lots of shoes! For ages 3-5. 11am & 2pm on all dates apart from 10.30am & 1pm (Dec 16-19); adult £14/child £7 (Dec 13-Jan 4)
We also like
The Tin Soldier at Roundhouse for ages 3+ (Chalk Farm tube, Dec 13-Jan 4); The Snow Dragon at St James’ Theatre for ages 3+ (Victoria tube, Dec 9-Jan 4); Room on the Broom at Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue for ages 3+ (Piccadilly Circus tube, until Jan 11)
Top Christmas Shows for Big Kids & School Babes (ages 5+)
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King at Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, London, SE1 2HZ (London Bridge tube)
Go behind the scenes of the most popular Christmas ballet at this festive retelling following Marie and her Nutcracker pal going up against the Evil Mouse King. For ages 8+. 10.30am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, 7pm (dates and times vary); £15-£22 (Nov 21-Jan 4)
Fri-Sun: Peter Pan at Polka Theatre, 240 The Broadway, SW19 1SB (South Wimbledon)
Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys battle Captain Hook in a show bursting with original songs, puppetry, swashbuckling fun and fairy dust! For ages 6+ but special baby-friendly ‘All Ages Welcome’ performances available. 7pm (Fri Nov 21), general times 11am (Fri), 2pm & 5.30pm (Sat), 11am & 2.30pm (Sun) NB: dates and times vary so confirm via booking; adult £17.50/child £17.50/concs £11.50 (Nov 21-Feb 15)
Dick Whittington and His Cat at Lyric Hammersmith, Lyric Square, King St, London W6 0QL
(Hammersmith tube)
The streets of Hammersmith are paved with gold for the Lyric’s traditional panto performance, featuring Dick Whittington and his clever kitty. For ages 6+. Shows at 10am, 1pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 3pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm (times vary daily, check website): £15-£35 (Nov 22-Jan 3)
The Wind in the Willows at Vaudeville Theatre, Vaudeville Theatre, 404 Strand, London, WC2R 0NH (Covent Garden/Charing Cross tube)
Choreographer/director Will Tuckett brings Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger to the stage in a spectacular production of song, dance and puppetry based on Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved tale. For ages 5+. 7pm (Mon-Tue, Thu & Sun); 2.30pm & 7pm (Wed, Fri & Sat); £15-£57.50 (Nov 26-Jan 17)
Sat-Sun: Little Angel Theatre: Jabberwocky, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
Enter a deliciously dangerous adventure in a strange forest where the Jabberwock patrols. Mischievous musical mayhem for ages 6+, children under 5 will not be admitted (no baby-friendly performances). Performances at 10.30am, 11am, 1.30pm, 2pm, 3.30pm, 4pm (times vary daily, check website); adult £14/ child and concs £12 children/family of 2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children £48; Friday Fives all performances 5pm for £5 (Fris only) (Nov 29-Feb 1)
We also like
The Little Match Girl for ages 5+ at Sadlers Wells Lilian Baylis Studio (Angel tube, Dec 13-Jan 4); Lemony Snicket’s Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming for ages 5+ at JW3 (Finchley Rd & Frognal overground, Dec 16-Jan 4); The Possible Impossible House for ages 7+ at Barbican Theatre (Barbican tube, Dec 17-28)
