Best West End Shows for Kids

Mamma Mia!, based on the songs of Abba, has been running on the West End since 1999 and currently plays at the Novello Theatre. The musical follows soon to be married Sophie, who reads her mother’s diary and invites the three men she thinks might be her father to her wedding, setting into motion a heartwarming, comedic, and romantic story that features iconic songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Super Trouper,” “The Winner Takes It All,” and of course, “Mamma Mia.” The Telegraph said “Mamma Mia! is still an irresistible shot of pure Abba sunshine.”

MAMMA MIA! is recommended for ages 5 and up. Children under 3 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

Back to the Future, based on the hit film of the same name, plays on the West End at the Adelphi Theatre, where it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2022. The Evening Standard called it “a near-seamless slice of escapist entertainment…enormous fun.” Come see the astonishing time-traveling DeLorean for yourself when Marty McFly gets himself transported to 1955 in this musical that includes songs from the movie like “The Power of Love,” “Earth Angel,” and “Johnny B. Goode.”

BACK TO THE FUTURE is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under 4 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

Frozen the Musical, based on the hit Disney film of the same name, plays at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, book by Jennifer Lee, direction from Michael Grandage, and choreography by Rob Ashford, Frozen was nominated for four Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards. The musical includes hit songs from the movie like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman,” “Love Is an Open Door,” “Fixer Upper,” and “Let It Go” as well as new songs written for the stage. 

FROZEN THE MUSICAL is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 4 will not be admitted into the theatre.

Matilda the Musical runs at the Cambridge Theatre. Based on the classic book by Roald Dahl about a little girl with an extraordinary mind and extraordinary gifts, Matilda has a book by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, and direction by Matthew Warchus. This hit show has been running on the West End since 2011 and won seven Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and four Tony Awards. The Guardian’s 5-star review called it “anarchically joyous, gleefully nasty and ingenious…it also celebrates the solace of books and the transforming powers of the imagination.”

MATILDA THE MUSICAL is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under 4 will not be admitted into the theatre.

My Neighbor Totoro plays at the Barbican Theatre and won six Olivier Awards. Based on the 1988 animated film, this stage adaptation uses puppetry and music to tell the story of two sisters who move to the country with their father to be close to their sick mother. The Guardian said the production has “huge emotional impact…[it is] dazzling in its magic realism.”

MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 4 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

Mrs. Doubtfire, based on the beloved film of the same name, plays at the Shaftesbury Theatre. After Daniel loses custody of his kids in a divorce, he creates the persona of nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in order to stay in contact with them. With music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, book by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, and direction from Jerry Zaks, Time Out London said, “this winning new musical is a surprisingly clever stage update of the ‘90s Robin Williams hit.”

MRS. DOUBTFIRE is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 3 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

The Lion King, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, and direction from Julie Taymor, began performances on Broadway in 1997 and on the West End at the Lyceum Theatre in 1999. Based on the classic Disney film, this musical includes all your favorite songs from the film as well as songs written exclusively for the stage. The Lion King has gone on to become the highest-grossing production in history in any medium. That means it’s earned more than Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Avatar. Variety said, “the beast that is ‘The Lion King’ has come to London, and a beautiful thing it is, too…Taymor’s vision for the piece remains a great and lasting one that should find Britons fighting for a glimpse of Pride Rock no less avidly than their Broadway brethren.”

THE LION KING is recommended for ages 6 and up. Children under 3 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

The Play That Goes Wrong has played in over 30 countries and is the longest-running comedy on the West End, currently playing at the Duchess Theatre. Come see The Cornley Drama Society perform a classic whodunnit…until everything goes wrong. The cast and crew must battle against set mishaps, dropped lines, and other catastrophes in a hilarious night of slapstick fun. The Telegraph says, “this riotously funny show continues to delight.”

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is recommended for ages 8 and up. Children under 5 will not be admitted into the theatre.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child plays on the West End at the Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue. Written by Jack Thorne and directed by John Tiffany, with an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany, this megahit won nine Olivier Awards including Best New Play and six Tony Awards including Best Play. Come revisit the magical world of Hogwarts in this play set 19 years after the events in the book series. This time a new generation must save the wizarding world. The Guardian called it “a thrilling theatrical spectacle.” The production on Broadway at the Lyric Theatre has since been condensed into one play, but the original production in London remains in two parts. 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD is recommended for ages 10 and up. Babes-in-arms will not be admitted into the theatre. 

Six, with book, music, and lyrics by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, plays at the Vaudeville Theatre and follows the six wives of Henry VIII in a historical remix that has become a global sensation. With the energy of a pop concert, see and hear the stories of these women in a whole new way. The Guardian said “Six is a joyous celebration of sisterhood. It’s the kind of show that makes you want to be a teenager again…no wonder [the music is] getting 60,000 streams per day.” Six was nominated for five Olivier Awards and eight Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical. It won the Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design in the Musical.

SIX is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Wicked recently celebrated its 20^th anniversary on Broadway, and it has been running on the West End at the Apollo Victoria Theatre since 2006. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman, and direction from Joe Mantello, this global sensation retells the story of The Wizard of Oz and will soon be made into a film starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. Time Out London says, “this stylish and bombastic musical still delivers.”

WICKED is recommended for ages 10 and up. Children under 5 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

Stranger Things: The First Shadow, in the same universe as the Netflix tv series created by the Duffer brothers, plays on the West End at the Phoenix Theatre. Written by Jack Thorne and directed by Stephen Daldry, Stranger Things: The First Shadow takes place in 1959, before the events in the tv show and starts right at the beginning of the darkness that affects Hawkins. The Guardian says it “delivers one coup de theatre after another…this is breathtaking theatre with its own arresting imagination.”

STRANGER THINGS is recommended for ages 12 and up. Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted into the theatre. 

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical plays at the Aldwych Theatre and follows the life and career of Tina Turner featuring her iconic music, including songs like “Don’t Turn Around,” “River Deep Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” “I Don’t Wanna Fight,” and “The Best.” With direction from Phyllida Lloyd and a book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, and Kees Prins, The Guardian said this musical “leaves you breathless…[it] is a heady celebration of triumph over adversity.”

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is recommended for ages 14 and up. Children under 5 will not be admitted into the theatre.