London Kids Week Theatre | What’s on and How to get Cheap Tickets
I have been gifted press tickets to use this summer for reviews
Have you heard of Kids Week at London theatres? It’s a great initiative running across a wide range of London shows, offering cheap tickets for families over the summer holidays. Despite its name, it’s actually far longer than a week, and for 2026 Kids Week performances run from Monday 20th July all the way through to Monday 31st August, so there’s plenty of time to plan a trip.
So what’s it all about? It’s nice and simple really, for all the shows involved in the scheme (and there are some big productions included this year), families get one child’s ticket completely free when accompanied by a full-paying adult. For 2026, up to two additional children can also attend at half price, which is great if you have more little ones to bring along. Many shows have also applied a reduced rate of VAT on their tickets this summer as part of the government’s Great Summer of Savings campaign, which means the savings can be even more significant than you might expect.
There’s a huge variety of different London musicals, plays, comedies and children’s shows to choose from, from the big name classics such as Wicked, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Horrible Histories, to newer productions like Disney’s Hercules, The Hunger Games: On Stage, and some really lovely options for younger children too.
With so many shows to choose from, here are some of my picks that we’ve been to before (or heard great things about) across different age groups to help you narrow it down…
What are the best shows for primary school aged children at London Kids Week 2026?
My children are a bit older now, but this age group is well catered for in the 2026 Kids Week lineup. Here are the ones that stood out for primary school aged children and tweens…
Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits, Garrick Theatre
We went to see Horrible Histories on stage in London a couple of years ago in Kids week and we all loved it. Having been a favourite show in our house for years, the on stage version was brilliant. The latest edition, Barmy Britain -The Best Bits, brings together the most popular moments from across the series, so even if your children haven’t seen the others, this is a good place to start. The running time is around an hour and ten minutes, which also makes it a solid choice if you’re not sure how long yours will sit still for and the humour works for adults and kids alike. You can read all about it in the review I wrote when we went – Horrible History review
What are the best shows for pre-schoolers at London kids week 2026?
I used to feel far more pressure choosing a show to take my children to when they were very small, than I do now. Finding something that appealed to fidgety pre-schoolers, that kept their attention and in their seats for a long period of time without getting bored, while also appealing to us adults, sometimes felt a tall order.
Looking through the shows available for under 5’s at this years kids week however, I’ve been impressed with the selection on offer. Here’s a few I thought looked great shows to take young children to this summer in London 2026…
Bluey’s Big Play
If you have a toddler or pre-schooler at home, chances are you already know exactly who Bluey is. The Australian cartoon has a huge following with young children, so seeing the characters brought to life on stage is likely to go down very well. This is one I’d book sooner rather than later as I imagine spaces will fill up quickly.
The Gruffalo
You can’t go far wrong with Julia Donaldson, and The Gruffalo is one of those picture books that so many children have grown up with. Seeing it on stage tends to go down really well with little ones, especially those who already know and love the book. The running time is manageable for young children too, which is always worth keeping in mind.
The Enormous Crocodile The Musical
Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile has made its way to the stage this summer and looks like a fun option for young children. If you’re weighing up your choices, The Tiger Who Came To Tea is also included in Kids Week this year and is another lovely option for little ones.
What are the best shows for older children and teenagers at London Kids Week 2026?
As children get older, theatre can become a really enjoyable thing to do together, especially when you find shows that they actually want to go to rather than ones you’re dragging them along to. There are some good options in the 2026 lineup for this age group…
Dark of the Moon
We have been very kindly gifted tickets to go and see Dark of the Moon next week, so I will come back and update this section properly once we’ve been. It’s one that caught my eye in the Kids Week listing for older children and teenagers, so watch this space for my thoughts after we’ve seen it.
Heathers The Musical
I loved Heathers when I was younger and now the musical has developed a strong following, particularly with older teenagers, so sounds a great one to watch together with your teenager. The reviews say it’s darkly funny with a great soundtrack, and is the kind of show that tends to appeal to teens who want something with a bit more edge to it. So I’d say this is one worth looking into for older kids.
Stranger Things The First Shadow, London Show
Talking of edge we also recently went to watch the Stranger Things show in London for my daughters birthday and wow that’s got edge and is pretty dark throughout! I found it quite nerve racking and jumpy, but my 12 year old who is a big Stanger Things fan loved it, so I think I’m probably just a bit sensitive.
What are the best shows for children and adults to enjoy together at London kids week 2026?
Once your children reach a certain age, it becomes less about finding something to hold their attention and more about finding things you can enjoy all together. Those special shows with many layers that resonate with everyone at different points. There’s lots on in the West End at the moment that do just that and my best recomendation would be Matilda…
Matilda The Musical, Cambridge Theatre
We went to see Matilda a couple of years ago and my daughter especially was absolutely mesmerised. The child actors are incredibly talented, the songs are fantastic, and one of the most impressive moments in the whole show is during the song When I Grow Up, where giant swings descend from the ceiling of the theatre and the children swing on them while singing about their dreams for the future. It’s a really beautiful moment and one that seems to stay with you after you leave. Highly recommend this one for families with children of all ages
Mamma Mia! Novello Theatre
Mamma Mia! is feel-good, fun theatre and it’s hard not to have a good time watching it. If you’ve got older children who know the songs from the films, it’s a nice one to do together, and for parents it’s an enjoyable night out in its own right.
Disney’s Hercules
This one is brand new to the West End and has been getting a lot of attention. Disney’s Hercules brings the film to life on stage and looks like a good option for Disney fans of all ages. One to keep an eye on if you have children who love the film.
How to find out Which Shows are Included in the London Kid’s Week Deal 2026
If you go over to the official London Theatre website, they have all the participating shows listed and you can book tickets directly. The dates where you can use kids week tickets are tagged on the booking calendar and the discount is calculated when you put through your booking.
There’s a lot of theatres and shows to choose from, but obviously you can’t use the offer if you can’t find any seats left to buy! So how do you find the available slots for the top West End shows As well as booking as soon as possible, even if a show looks booked up, it’s worth checking back at a later date. They release more tickets as time goes on and a good way to find out when new tickets are released, is to follow London Theatres on social media.
You can find out all about kids week and all the shows involved over on the London Theatre Website
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