Visiting London with children is undoubtedly a wise decision, since London is a city that lends us many pleasures and different options to fully enjoy a family getaway. An experience that is undoubtedly unforgettable is to take the youngest members of the family to see one of the best musicals in London for children.
If you are going to visit London with your family, you will see in our section on visiting London with children that in addition to the long list of London attractions that are perfect to go with children, there are many options to enjoy London. Some of the things that we usually recommend is to go to one of the best museums in London, since many are ideal to take the youngest members of the family, or go to a themed restaurant for children, stroll through the parks of London or simply stroll along the South Bank of the Thames… But, if you really want your family getaway to London to be spectacular, then you cannot miss the opportunity to go see one of the best musicals in London for children.
Best Musicals in London for Kids
The Lion King
The Lion King Musical in London is undoubtedly one of the favorites to go with the family, since both adults and children know the fabulous Disney story that tells how Simba, a lion cub, reaches the throne to become the King Lion. A musical in which the famous songs of the film are not lacking that will make true Disney fans move.
One of the details that I have to mention is that the animals go through the aisles in the stalls as soon as the show begins, so in my opinion a good option is to choose the seats that are next to the aisle to be able to see the animals up close. . The Lion King is definitely the first of the musicals in London for children that I would recommend.
Information of interest:
- Theatre: Lyceum Theater
- Nearest tube station: Covent Garden or Temple.
- Duration: The Lion King show lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including the interval.
- Cloakrooms: You can leave your child’s pushchair in the cloakroom for £1.
- Child boosters: They do not have child boosters for the seats, but they accept that you bring your own.
- Minimum age: Not recommended for children under 3 years old. Tickets are required for children of any age.
Wicked
The Wicked in London musical is another one of the best musicals in London for children as it tells us the untold story about the true friendship of two very different witches, the Wicked Witch of the East and the Good Witch of Oz. A story full of magic and spectacular dresses and costumes that will make our imagination fly, a fabulous musical to take the little ones but that in my opinion is especially recommended to go with girls.
Information of interest:
- Theatre: Apollo Victoria Theater
- Nearest metro station: Victoria.
- Duration: The Wicked muscial has an approximate duration of 2 hours and 45 minutes, including the interval.
- Cloakrooms: You can leave your child’s pushchair in the cloakroom for £2, and there is also a left-luggage office at Victoria train station.
- Children’s boosters: They have boosters available.
- Minimum age: Children over 3 years old are allowed, but it is recommended for children over 7 years old. Tickets are required for children of any age.
Aladdin
Aladdin is the fantastic family musical that is based on the well-known animated Disney movie. With amazing special effects and outrageous costumes, Aladdin The Musical is one of the most recommended London musicals for families in London, with well-known songs such as Friend Like Me, A Whole New World and Arabian Nights.
Information of interest:
- Theatre: Prince Edward Theater
- Nearest tube station: Charing Cross.
- Duration: The Aladdin musical in London has an approximate duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes, including the interval.
- Cloakroom: You cannot leave your stroller in the cloakroom at the Prince Edward Theatre, but there is a luggage office where you can leave your stroller at Charing Cross railway station.
- Child booster seats: Not available.
- Minimum age: Children over 3 years old are allowed to enter, but it is recommended for children over 6 years old. Tickets are required for children of any age.
Matilda
Matilda is another of the most famous musicals in London for children, a musical in which none of the characters from the well-known novel by Roald Dahl is missing, and of course a theatrical performance full of special effects and choreography that will leave the whole family with an open mouth. One of the things I like most about this musical is that many children participate, making it an inspiring experience for the youngest members of the family.
Information of interest:
- Theatre: Cambridge Theater
- Nearest tube station: Covent Garden
- Duration: The Matilda musical in London lasts approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including the interval.
- Cloakrooms: You can leave the stroller in the cloakroom of the theater for £1.
- Child booster seats: Available for seats located in the stalls.
- Minimum age: Children over 5 years old are allowed to enter. Tickets are required for children of any age.
See trailer for the musical Matilda in London
Other musicals and children’s theater in London
In addition to London’s famous musicals, London hosts numerous plays and musicals throughout the year especially aimed at a family audience, with the little ones in mind. They are usually plays based on children’s stories or movies, and some of these plays are interactive, and more adapted to go with children under 3 years of age.
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
The Tiger who came to tea is a stage adaptation of one of the best-selling children’s books written by Judith Kerr. The performance is full of colorful and comical characters and is a fun and lively mix of song, dance and drama.
The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mum sit down to tea. Who could she be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a large striped tiger! Join the tea-eating tiger in this enchanting family show; Filled with loads of magic, sing-along songs, and goofy mayhem! A stunning theatrical adaptation of the classic tale of teatime mayhem…expect to be amazed!
Information of interest:
- Dates: Until September 5, 2021
- Theatre: Theater Royal Haymarket
- Nearest tube station: Piccadilly Circus, Charing Cross
- Duration: 55 minutes, without interval.
- Cloakrooms: You can leave the stroller in the cloakroom of the theater for £1.
- Child booster seats: Available for seats located in the stalls.
- Minimum age: Recommended for children over 3 years old, but children of all ages are allowed and children under 18 months are free as long as they sit with an adult without occupying another seat. A pass must be requested for children under 18 months upon arrival at the theater.
What The Ladybird Heard
Two cunning thieves, a little ladybug and a whole barnyard of fun! Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have a cunning plan to steal the farmer’s prize cow. But they count without the smallest and quietest creature of all: the ladybug has a plan of her own! Book early to enjoy this perfect family treat, live on stage in the West End! Join the Shaggy Sheep, the Shaggy Pig, the Fat Red Hen and the Dainty Dog in this brilliant stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ colorful barnyard adventure. With live music, puppets, lots of audience participation and lots of laughs!
Information of interest:
- Dates: July 15 – August 29, 2021
- Theatre: Palace Theater
- Nearest tube station: Piccadilly Circus
- Duration: 55 minutes (no interval)
- Child booster seats: Available.
- Minimum age: Recommended for children over 3 years old, but children of all ages are allowed to enter. Children under 18 months enter free (as long as they do not occupy their own seat)
The Snowman
This musical is based on the story The Snowman by Raymond Briggs and its film, which are a classic during the Christmas season throughout the United Kingdom. It is a tale known to all English children, in which a snowman comes to life and leads a child to discover a magical world. This musical takes place during Christmas in London , and is one of the most famous to go with the family during these important dates.
Information of interest:
- Dates: Christmas 2021
- Theatre: Peacock Theater
- Nearest tube station: Covent Garden / Temple
- Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes (including interval)
- Cloakrooms: You can leave the stroller in the cloakroom of the theater.
- Child booster seats: Available for seats located in the stalls.
- Minimum age: Recommended for children over 3 years old.
Information to see one of the best musicals in London for children
How to choose the Musical
Deciding which of the best musicals in London for children to choose is not always going to be easy, probably because of the wide range of different musicals and plays that are available. One of the best ways to choose one of the musicals in London for children is to look for productions based on movies, books or television programs that your children know and like. Seeing familiar characters come to life on stage can be a magical experience and one of the best ways for them to fully immerse themselves in the story. Many of the musicals are based on books and movies, such as The Lion King or Matilda, and a good idea is to watch the movie or read the book at home a few days before traveling.
As you may have seen, most of the London musicals that are among the best musicals in the city are recommended for children over 3 years old, that’s why we have included some plays that are recommended to go with younger children.
English level
When it comes to attending one of the best musicals in London for children, I always say that you should not worry about your level of English, because even if your level of English is not very high, I can assure you that you will enjoy a lot if you go to see one of London’s best musicals . Just knowing the story and the music goes a long way, so you don’t need to understand every word!
The plays for children that I mentioned above, being for children, usually include many gestures and songs, so it is something that I would also recommend even if children do not understand much English really!
Schedule
Most of the theaters where the best children’s musicals are performed in London offer two shows, one at 2.30 pm and another at approximately 7.30 pm, although this can vary depending on the theater and the day. If it’s one of the best musicals in London for children like The Lion King or Wicked there are usually children in both sessions, so don’t worry if you think the 7.30pm session is better for you.
I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the show starts.
Minimum age
Many of the theaters will not admit children under the age of 3, although some plays or musicals geared towards children of all ages will even allow access to babies in arms. For this reason, I always recommend paying attention to the information on each musical in particular.
Strollers
Hardly any theater will allow pushchairs access to the stands or seating areas, but there is usually a storage area or cloakroom where pushchairs can be left, although some will charge approximately £1-£3 to store them.
Child boosters
Many of the theaters in London that play musicals that are frequented by families with children offer child booster seats, but I have to say that if they do they are usually limited. To order it you simply have to order a booster cushion.
Baby changer
Most theaters do not have baby changing facilities in the restrooms.