BEST CHRISTMAS THEATRE SHOWS

The top pantomimes, musicals & festive theatre of 2025 in or near London

Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, we are presenting our annual guide to the best Christmas theatre shows in or near London… OH YES WE ARE.

It’s not Christmas until festive drag queens are wheeled out to make jokes about your Aunt Fanny and cockatoos.

And we’ve got all the sequins, tinsel-covered jazz hands and dancing elves to see you through to 2026.

So point your eyes here and then take them there.

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The Great Christmas Feast

Read our review

The Lost Estate’s critically-acclaimed, immersive theatre and dining experience, A Christmas Carol: The Great Christmas Feast is back, following seven sold out years in a row.

Guests will be transported to the home of Charles Dickens on Christmas Eve 1843, for three courses of extravagant Victorian feasts, while watching an immersive retelling of the ultimate festive ghost story, with cinematic live music and 5000sq ft of sets constructed by legendary immersive designers Darling & Edge (Gingerline, Secret Cinema, Crystal Maze).

The Lost Estate, 9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP. 14 November 2025 - 4 January 2026. Tickets £139.50 - £249.50pp

Sleeping Beauty at The London Palladium

This is the ultimate panto, on steroids. Famed for special effects like the giant beanstalk, which caused jaws (including our own) to drop as it grew through the audience to the ceiling. This year, Julian Clary returns for its tenth season to steal the show with smut and sequins as King Julian, alongside comedy legend Catherine Tate as wicked fairy, Carabosse.  This brilliantly camp and extra production sees the return of Palladium panto favourites, including Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge, with insane sets, special effects and costumes.

Robin Hood, London Palladium, 8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF. 6 December - 11 January. Tickets from £25

A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

The Ebeneezer baton has been passed onto Paul Hilton for The Old Vic’s ninth staging of A Christmas Carol - London's longest running adaptation of this Christmas classic.

The latest incarnation of the festive Dickens classic (which has previously starred everybody from John Simm to Christopher Ecclestone) is being touted as one of the best yet, with the The Inheritance star masterfully switching from bah-humbugging old miser to fat goose-sharing Christmas cheer on two legs.

A Christmas Carol, The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB 12 November - 10 January. Tickets from £15 pp

The Snowman at Peacock Theatre

Spend an evening walking in the air in the 28th year of this magical ballet adaptation of the much-loved Christmas story. Hearts (and snowmen) will melt, with the moving choreography, enchanting set, magical falling snow, and famous soundtrack for big and little kids.

Peacock Theatre, Portugal St, London WC2A 2HT. 22 Novembe r-4 January 2025.

Pinocchio at The Globe

Read our review of last year's Christmas show

Journey to a world of endless possibilities this festive season as Pinocchio comes to life in the iconic Globe Theatre for the premiere of a magical, unmissable new musical for the whole family by Charlie Josephine and Jim Fortune.

Dreaming of a life beyond the confines of his traditional town, restless maverick Gepetto carves a wooden puppet and calls him Pinocchio. Together, they embark on a series of adventures with a host of weird and wonderful characters as they teach each other how to love and build a community of their own in this surprising, funny and heartfelt new musical for ages 5+

The Globe, 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. 29 November - 4 January. Tickets £5 - £75

Peter Pan: A Pantomime Adventure

All aboard the Jolly Roger this winter for Greenwich Theatre’s new festive panto, written by and starring award-winning panto legend Anthony Spargo. Packed with comedy, songs, and interaction, audiences of all ages can cheer everybody’s favourite boy who never grows up on a magical adventure in Neverland, with special appearances from Pirates and a crafty, ever-ticking crocodile.

Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES. 28 November - 11 January

Aladdin

Birds of a Feather and Loose Women legend Linda Robson stars in this magical family panto, brimming with laughs, musical numbers, special effects, slapstick and fabulous names.

She’s joined by comedian Rikki Jay, seasoned dame Jason-Marc-Williams as Widow Panky, Britain’s and America’s Got Talent Take magician Mandy Muden as the Spirit of the Ring.

West End stars Cleve September and Anton Stephans are Aladdin and Genie of the Lamp, with Ruby Mann as Princess Jasmine.

Pure genie-us

Orchard West, 20 Hythe St, Dartford DA1 1BX. 13 December 2025 - 4 January 2026. Tickets from £15pp.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Featuring the voice of Stephen Fry as the blustering Giant, the magical and clumsy Fairy ‘Nuff, misguided Goosey, baddun Dame Judy Henchman, the well-clever badger Smart Simone and returning for his 13th year, Watford favourite, Terence Frisch. This is set to be one of this year’s most Fee-Fi-Fo-Fun pantos.

Watford Palace Theatre, 20 Clarendon Rd, Watford WD17 1JZ. 29 November - 4 January

How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney?

Does Santa go down the chimney feet-first? Head-first? On a zip-wire? The world premiere of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s hilarious picture book presents a thrilling fusion of physical comedy, live music and anarchic fun.

It will be the Unicorn’s first co-production with experimental theatre makers Told by an Idiot, and is written and directed by the company’s co-founder and Artistic Director Paul Hunter.

Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley St, London SE1 2HZ. 15 November 2025 - 3 January 2026

Dick Whittington and his Catford Cat at Broadway

Read our review of last year's show

Fur-get everything you thought you knew about Dick Whittington - this ‘tail' begins with the hero and his feline friend setting sail on the Empire Windrush, whisk(er)ing away to seek their fortune on London's streets of gold. But when they arrive in Catford, they discover the neighbourhood has a serious Cat-astrophe – Queen Rat and her rodent army are causing mayhem.

Broadway Theatre, Rushey Green, Catford, London, SE6 4RU. 9-31 December

Robin Hood at New Wimbledon

This winter, Sherwood Forest is welcoming a new gang of stars in this classic panto reimagining of Robin Hood, the tale of Nottingham's famous heroic outlaw. Join Ashley Banjo & Diversity as they dance and march along with the Merry Men.

New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG. 6 December - 4 January. Tickets from £13

Dick Whittington and his Cat

Comedy legend and panto favourite Kat B and one half of musical duo, Bourgeois & Maurice, George Heyworth, star as the Ugly Sisters in Hackney Wick's 26th panto.

Cinderella dreams of a life full of love and adventure, and free from the clutches of her wicked Ugly Sisters and evil Stepmother. When an invitation to the party of the year arrives, it might be just the ticket she needs. Throw in some glass slippers, a fairy godmother, and a little sparkle of magic and you’ve got yourself a pantomime that’s guaranteed to be the perfect fit.

Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, London E8 1EJ. 22 November - 31 December. Tickets from £10

The Gruffalo's Child

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's classic festive children’s book explodes onto the stage at the Lyric Theatre, in this smash hit adventure.

One cold, winter's night, the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. She follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures – but the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he? Expect songs, laughs and adventure from one of our favourite kid's theatre alchemists, Tall Stories for everybody aged 3 to 103.

Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES. 28 November - 11 January. Tickets from £10

Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story

Renowned mischief-makers He’s Behind You return for another adult’s-only, new panto Beauty and the Beast: A Horny Love Story. This fairytwist presents a queer-infused narrative, outrageous humour and original music as they turn the tale as old as time into a fresh, riotous evening out for the adults. Set in the Scottish village of Lickmanochers, He’s Behind You! offers an enemies-to-lovers romcom and unmissable Christmas panto.

Charing Cross Theatre, The Arches, Villiers Street, London, WC2N 6NL. 21 November 2025 - 11 January 2026.

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