As the capital lights up for the festive season, London’s theatres are bursting with options – from glittering pantomimes to long-running West End favourites. Sam Rogg reveals how, among the many highlights, these new family musicals and pantos are set to spread holiday cheer.
Now playing at the Savoy Theatre, Paddington the Musical brings one of Britain’s best-loved characters to life on stage. When a small, lost bear from Peru arrives in London in search of a new home, a chance encounter with the Brown family leads him to the wonderful world of Windsor Gardens.
But London isn’t all cream teas and friendly faces – and even the happiest families have their cracks beneath the surface. So when Paddington’s life is suddenly in peril, the Browns must decide just how far they’re willing to go — and what they’re willing to risk — to give this special bear a home.
Watch as his awkward charm sparks a series of comic adventures, though not everyone in the neighbourhood welcomes Paddington’s chaos. When a sneaky villain threatens the bear’s new home, the family must band together to save the day.
With original music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher of McFly (also a best-selling children’s author), this charming show delivers more than a jar full of marmalade-flavoured mischief. Booking to October 2026.
Following a record-breaking run on Broadway last year, Elf the Musical has arrived at the Aldwych Theatre for a joyful 10-week run (to 3 Jan).
Based on the beloved film, Elf is the funny and charming tale of Buddy, who mistakenly crawled into Santa’s bag as a baby and was raised as an elf! Way too tall and not so great at his job, Buddy is the North Pole’s biggest misfit… and knows he’ll never belong. When Santa tells him the truth, Buddy heads to New York to find his birth father (who turns out to be quite high on the naughty list).
After causing some merry mayhem in Manhattan, Buddy finally discovers the gift of family and falls in love. And when Santa’s sleigh crashes in Central Park, it’s Buddy who finds a way to save Christmas forever!
Packed with catchy songs, inventive staging and enough festive spirit to lift even the coldest winter day, this heart-warming show will leave you smiling long after the curtain falls.
Reinventing the classic children’s novel, Pinocchio the Musical is spellbinding new production bringing wooden wonders to the world-famous Globe Theatre (to 4 Jan).
In a traditional town yearning for change, restless carver Geppetto creates a wooden puppet who dreams of something more. Together, they set off on a wild adventure filled with strange creatures, big questions and the search for belonging.
This playful and poignant musical is staged in an historic open-air theatre, itself lovingly constructed from a thousand oak trees – the perfect setting for a story about carving out your place in the world.
Families can dive even deeper into the story at a special Pinocchio Puppetry and Drama Workshop (to 20 Dec), where children and their grown-ups can explore the show’s themes through hands-on play and performance.
This Christmas, Sleeping Beauty returns to The London Palladium for a magical celebration, marking ten years since pantomime burst back onto its iconic stage.
Led by Catherine Tate, Julian Clary and Jon Culshaw, the star-studded cast also features returning favourites Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge, alongside West End talents Emily Lane and Amonik Melaco.
Having delighted more than one million theatregoers, one of the West End’s biggest Christmas shows promises spectacular sets, dazzling costumes and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for all ages.
A London Palladium panto is a must-see festive tradition – and this year’s Sleeping Beauty is set to be its most enchanting yet.
