5 FAMILY FRIENDLY Theatre Trips to Take This Summer
From an immersive first experience for babies to a spectacular production created with teenagers in mind, these five London shows offer something for every stage of childhood.
A family theatre trip is one of the lovelier ways to punctuate the long summer holidays — especially when the production feels properly chosen for the child you are taking. This year’s programme spans imaginative play, picture-book magic, gruesome history, a major new musical and a rare show older children will be genuinely excited to see.
1. Whatever the Weather
Best for: Babies, toddlers and children up to seven
Where: Unicorn Theatre, Tower Bridge
When: 21 July–16 August 2026
Tickets: £5.50–£9.50
For the very youngest audience members, Whatever the Weather offers a gentler alternative to a traditional sit-down show. This new 45-minute immersive play experience takes the weather as its theme, inviting children to explore the elements through movement, play and imagination.
It comes from the creative team behind the Southbank Centre’s REPLAY pop-up playground, so expect an inventive, child-led experience rather than a conventional narrative. Dedicated under-three sessions are clearly marked when booking, while performances usually run throughout the morning and early afternoon which is helpful when naps still dictate the family diary.
2. There’s a Tiger in the Garden
Best for: Ages three to seven
Where: Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
When: Until 9 August 2026
Nora is bored. Her grandmother suggests that she might find a tiger in the garden, but Nora knows there couldn’t possibly be anything so exciting out there until her imagination begins to take over.
Soon there are dragonflies as large as her head, plants capable of eating her whole, a polar bear who likes fishing and, yes, a tiger. Adapted from Lizzy Stewart’s award-winning picture book in collaboration with the author, this is a warm, visually playful celebration of childhood imagination. A lovely choice for preschoolers and younger primary-school children ready to become absorbed in a story.
3. Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits
Best for: Ages five-plus and curious primary-school children
Where: Apollo Theatre
When: 30 July–31 August 2026
Twenty years of Barmy Britain have been distilled into one gloriously gruesome summer show. The production revisits some of the funniest and most revolting moments from its previous outings, with historical characters ranging from Boudica to Burke and Hare.
Fast-paced, irreverent and filled with the sort of facts children cannot wait to repeat, it is an excellent choice for school-aged audiences — including those who maintain that history is boring. They may learn something, but the show is far too entertaining to feel remotely educational.
4. Paddington the Musical
Best for: A big family theatre trip
Where: Savoy Theatre
When: Booking throughout summer 2026
Paddington’s journey from darkest Peru has finally brought him to the West End in one of the year’s biggest new musicals.
Award-winning playwright Jessica Swale has written the book, with songs by Tom Fletcher and direction from Luke Sheppard, whose credits include the hit revival of Starlight Express. The much-loved story of Paddington and the Brown family gives younger children an immediate connection to the show, while the scale of the production makes it feel like a genuine summer occasion. If you are choosing one major musical to see as a family, make it this.
5. The Hunger Games: On Stage
Best for: Ages 12-plus and teenagers
Where: Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre
When: Until 25 October 2026
Family theatre recommendations often end at primary-school age, making this ambitious adaptation of Suzanne Collins’s bestselling novel a particularly welcome addition.
The production brings Katniss Everdeen’s journey from District 12 to the arena to life on an epic scale, retaining the tension, political themes and darker edge that made the original story so compelling. Its violent subject matter means the suggested age of 12-plus should be taken seriously, but for older children already invested in the books or films, this is the rare family theatre trip that won’t require any persuading.