Best Christmas shows, festive plays and musicals in London for 2023

To help you get in the festive spirit this year (and we don’t mean just humming along to your Christmas playlist spirit, we mean full-on, giddy, can’t sleep on Christmas Eve excitement), we’ve put together this list of the best Christmas shows to see in London.

Featuring plays, musicals and even ballets going on at the West End this winter, this guide is everything you need for the perfect Christmas theatre trip. We’ve got family-friendly shows, like Elf! and The Gruffalo’s Child, as well as more serious performances like Hansel and Gretel at The Globe. Plus, we’ve found a show called Father Christmas Needs a Wee! – now who wouldn’t want to know what that’s about?

So, without further ado, here are the best Christmas shows to see in London.

For even more exciting things to do in the Big Smoke this winter (and ones that mostly involve being indoors!), be sure to read our best London experience gifts, best UK candlelight concerts, and best London art exhibitions.

Best West End Christmas shows at a glance:

• Hansel and Gretel, from £6
• The Gruffalo’s Child, from £12
• Finding Santa, from £16
• A Sherlock Carol, from £16.50
• Peter Pan Goes Wrong, from £17.40
• Peter Pan Musical, from £18
• Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas, from £18.25
• The House with Chicken Legs, from £20
• The Snowman, from £21
• Father Christmas Needs a Wee!, from £22
• Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol A Ghost Story, from £25
• Elf!, from £27.50
• Christmas Sing-along Concert, from £29.43
• Frozen, from £32.50
• La Clique, from £35
• Nutcracker, from £35.40
• A Christmas Carol, from £78

Best West End Christmas shows for 2023

A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic

This Christmas, we have good reason to cry out 'God Bless us everyone!' because Charles Dickens' eternal classic, A Christmas Carol, is coming to the West End. It’s not the Muppet version, or the one where they sing Thank You Very Much, but it is starring the one and only Christopher Eccleston as Scrooge and promises to be chock full of 'mince pies, music and merriment'. The play will be showing at The Old Vic from 11th November 2023 to 6th January 2024, so grab some tickets or you’ll be haunted by three spirits!

Buy A Christmas Carol tickets from £78 at Headout

Frozen at Theatre Royal Drury Lane

It may not technically be a Christmas story, but what's more festive than Elsa the Snow Queen singing her heart out as snowmen and reindeer dance around her? Plus, we couldn't just ignore that Frozen tickets are having a major discount in the Black Friday sale. Right now, Today Tix are selling tickets from £32.50, so shop today for the most magical show of the decade, or we won't be able to let it go!

Buy Frozen tickets from £32.50 at Today Tix

Peter Pan Goes Wrong at Lyric Theatre

A few of our RadioTimes.com writers know people for whom it wouldn’t be safe to see this play, because they’d probably end up laughing themselves into a heart attack, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. From the creators of The Play That Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, comes the hilarious festive spoof: Peter Pan Goes Wrong, which is going on tour this winter.

In the show, a plucky group of theatre actors are trying their best to put on a serious performance and furiously uphold the phrase 'The show must go on', but, as you can expect, nothing goes to plan. Now coming to the Lyric Theatre from 23rd November 2023 to 14th January 2024, you won’t want to miss out.

Buy Peter Pan Goes Wrong tickets from £17.40 at Love Theatre

The Gruffalo’s Child at Garrick Theatre

The Gruffalo’s Child first enchanted families in 2004 when the picture book was released. Then, audiences fell in love with it all over again on Christmas Day 2011, when the animation was shown on BBC One. Now, there’s a chance to see this sweet story live at The Garrick Theatre, from 1st December 2023 to 7th January 2024. Songs, laughter and scary fun are all guaranteed – but will you really find the Big Bad Mouse?

Buy The Gruffalo’s Child tickets from £12 at Headout

Elf! at Dominion Theatre

Everyone knows that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Which is why you need to go see Elf! The musical at Dominion Theatre. Based on the Will Ferrell movie of the same name, Elf! Tells the story of Buddy, a boy raised in Santa’s Workshop who travels to New York to find his father. The play is coming to the West End for just eight weeks this winter, from 15th November 2023 to 6th January 2024, with ticket prices starting at just £27.50 – you’d have to be cotton-headed ninnymuggins to miss that.

Buy Elf! tickets from £27.50 at London Theatre Direct

The Snowman at Peacock Theatre

We defy any British person not to get emotional when they hear the classic opening chimes of Walking in the Air, and to wish that they too could fly around with a friendly snowman on Christmas Eve. But alas, we’ll just have to content ourselves with going to see The Snowman on stage instead.

Returning to the West End for its 26th year, The Snowman will be showing at the Peacock Theatre from 18th November to 30th December. The musical is based on the original picture book by Raymond Briggs and the iconic 1982 TV movie, and you can buy tickets now for just £21.

Buy The Snowman tickets from £21 at Today Tix

To help you do the things you love for less, the Going Out team have put together guides on how to get cheap theatre tickets, how to get cheap cinema tickets, and how to get cheap concert tickets.

Nutcracker at the London Coliseum

We’re pirouetting with joy at the news that The Nutcracker ballet is coming to the London Coliseum this winter. Featuring over 100 dancers and musicians, Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and this magical tale will be brought to life like never before. Last year this ballet, choreographed by Wayne Eagling, pulled in over 70,000 people, so you’ll have to be quick if you want to snap up tickets. Seats cost £35.40 and you can book dates from the 14th December 2023 to 7th January 2024.

Buy Nutcracker tickets from £35.40 at Love Theatre

Father Christmas Needs a Wee! at Arts Theatre

Be honest, you’re already sold on this one based on the title alone, aren’t you? Well, just in case you need a bit more convincing, Father Christmas Needs a Wee! is a new family-friendly musical based on the book by Nicholas Allan.

In it, Father Christmas is busy going to all the different houses on Christmas Eve when, suddenly, all that milk makes him desperately need a wee, but what can he do? To find out how this high-stakes situation resolves itself, you’ll see the play for yourself at London’s Arts Theatre. The play is running from the 2nd to 23rd December with tickets starting at £22, down from £27.

Buy Father Christmas Needs a Wee! tickets from £22 at London Theatre Direct

Did you know Player Kings tickets starring Sir Ian McKellen are on sale right now?

Hansel and Gretel at The Globe

From the 8th December to 7th January, you can see the enchanting new production of Hansel and Gretel. Based on the classic Grimm fairy tale, as well as the poem Hansel & Gretel: A Nightmare in Eight Scenes by renowned poet Simon Armitage, this adaptation reframes the story around the life and struggles of war-affected refugees. Coming to Shakespeare’s Globe for just £6, this show promises to be an unforgettable experience.

Buy Hansel and Gretel tickets from £6 at Headout

Christmas Sing-along Concert at New Wimbledon Theatre

Get ready to sing your heart out this December because, for one night only, the New Wimbledon Theatre is hosting the ultimate Christmas sing-along. With a Live Band, a 60 Strong Choir and Special Guest Soloists, this concert will include all your favourite hits, such as Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree, Merry Christmas Everyone, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, The Fairytale of New York, I wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday, and so much more. The Christmas Sing-along will take place on 16th December – so you’ve got plenty of time to get your voice back before Christmas.

Buy Christmas Sing-along Concert tickets from £29.43 at ATG Tickets

Peter Pan Musical at Rose Theatre Kingston

If you want a true version of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, then the Rose Theatre Kingston is putting one on from 1st December to 7th January. Featuring the talented cast members from the Rose Youth Theatre, this production is set to be an adventure for children and adults alike. Following the story of a boy chasing his shadow, you can journey with Peter, Wendy and the Lost Boys to the magical world of Neverland.

Buy Peter Pan Musical tickets from £18 at London Theatre Direct

Speaking of the theatre, did you know A Mirror tickets starring Jonny Lee Miller are on sale now?

A Sherlock Carol at Marylebone Theatre

There’s a truly elementary show going on at the Marylebone Theatre this winter. In a mysterious case of worlds colliding, Sherlock Holmes is strolling through London one day, when a now grown-up Tiny Tim arrives, asking him to help find a missing Ebenezer Scrooge. As Sherlock’s mystery unfolds, he finds a missing diamond, a threatening letter, and a few too many ghosts for his liking. Running from 24th November 2023 to 7th January 2024, this play brings two classics and one marvellous mystery to life.

Buy A Sherlock Carol from £17 at London Theatre Direct

La Clique at Leicester Square Spiegeltent

If you love cabaret and circus, then you're sure to enjoy La Clique, a perfect combination of the two as well as burlesque and comedy.

The show was first premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004, and has achieved worldwide recognition since then, thanks to its edgy and joyful cabaret. You can catch it at Leicester Square Speigeltent from 8th November 2023 until 6th January 2024.

Buy La Clique tickets from £35 at London Theatre Direct

Fancy more circus-based entertainment? Why not grab Cirque du Soleil OVO tickets or Cirque du Soleil Alegria tickets?

Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas at the Barbican

Horrible Histories is a core part of every child in the UK's upbringing, from the Savage Stone Age to the Vile Victorians. Now, you can see history come to life at the Barbican on Friday 29th December.

When Christmas comes under threat, it's up to one young boy to save it, while taking us on a journey through the history of Christmas. Don't miss out.

Buy Horrible Histories: Horrible Christmas tickets from £18.25 at See Tickets

Finding Santa at Bloomsbury Theatre

This play spills the beans on just how Santa's letters make it to the North Pole every year and lets you meet the elves who are in on it. Featuring puppets and quirky characters this is a lovely little story for all the family to enjoy. Best of all, it's choose your own adventure style, so the audience get to play an active part in what happens to our hapless heroes.

Finding Santa will be on at the Bloomsbury Theatre from 7th to 24th of December, and right now you can snap up tickets from just £18.

Buy Finding Santa tickets from £18 at Headout

There's been lots of great ticketing releases this month, just take a look at Tom Jones tickets, Nickelback tickets, Girls Aloud tickets and Avril Lavigne tickets.

Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol A Ghost Story at Alexandra Palace

We all love a Christmas ghost story, don't we? And fortunately for us, so does Mark Gatiss. For his latest poltergeist project, he's adapted A Christmas Carol for the London stage. Taking place at Alexandra Palace from 24th November 2023 to 7th January 2024, this story is sure to send shivers down your spine. Plus, right now London Theatre Direct is waiving the booking fees, so tickets start at just £25.

Buy A Christmas Carol A Ghost Story tickets from £25 at London Theatre Direct

The House with Chicken Legs at the Southbank Centre

Another oddly named tale with a lot of heart, The House with Chicken Legs is based on an award-winning children's story by Sophie Anderson. It stars Marinka, a young girl trying to find her feet when her home is quite literally pulled from under her. Described as thought-provoking and funny, this performance is an incredible sight to behold with puppets, projections, live music and more. It takes place at the Southbank Centre from 13th to 30th of December.

Buy The House with Chicken Legs tickets from £20 at London Theatre Direct

If you're yet to buy an advent calendar for December, take a look at the best LEGO advent calendars.