Everything you need to know for Kids' Week 2022

Despite what the name suggests, Kids' Week lasts for the whole month of August. When accompanied by an adult paying full price, anyone age 17 and under can revel in the magic of the West End for nothing - you can take a sibling or a friend along, too, as families pick up two additional children's tickets for half price with every transaction.

Be warned that not every show is available during Kids Week (you can scratch Hamilton off your list) and participating shows have limited allocations, so the most popular often sellout. But the allocations are increased throughout August so it is worth checking back here regularly.

The best shows to see during Kids' Week: the Culture Whisper Edit

Under 5s
Start them young with a show that's specially designed with toddlers in mind. These shows are shorter (an hour or under) and scheduled during the day with nap time in mind. For ages 1 and up, The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Lyric Hammersmith brings Eric Carle's classic picture book to life with a menagerie of 75 different puppets. Fans of Julia Donaldson will love seeing their favourite stories brought to life, as theatrical performance enhances their understanding of narrative and rhyme. This year there are stage adaptations of Room on the Broom (Lyric Theatre) and Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales (Cadogan Hall), which are recommended for ages 3+. Toddlers will also love to see a larger than life Tiger turn up and ransack the larder in a charming take on Judith Kerr's The Tiger who Came to Tea (Theatre Royal.

Ages 5 - 12
Once children are old enough to sit through a full show, the West End is their oyster. Even smaller kids will cope well with a matinee. Lean in to infantile slapstick sense of humour with The Play that goes Wrong (Duchess Theatre), or introduce them to belting ballads and the other side to the Wizard of Oz story with Wicked (Apollo Victoria). Feed their imagination with a trip to Narnia in an enchanting musical take on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Gillian Lynne Theatre), and spark a love for the natural world with the madcap hit David Attenborough and his Animals (Wilton's Music Hall). And of course you can't go wrong with a Disney musical: this year there's Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Mary Poppins to choose from.

Teens
Whether supporting school curriculum or just providing an alternative to an iPhone screen, a well-chosen theatre show will always be a hit with teenagers. We love & Juliet (Shaftesbury Theatre) for soaring pop songs and sassy Shakespearean feminism, or Dear Evan Hansen (Noel Coward Theatre) for a vital message about fitting in and making connections in an online world, or Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre) for a fascinating and reliably uplifting insight into recent history. For something a bit different, immersive productions of The Great Gatsby (Immersive LDN) and Witness for the Prosecution (London County Hall) will bring teens out of their shells and provide memorable, interactive entertainment.

What else is on besides shows during Kids' Week?

Ticket holders get added perks during Kids' Week: they're also able to attend cool workshops on everything from choreography to magic, as well as getting VIP backstage tours and cast Q&As. Those who have booked tickets and are eligible to attend activities or Curtain Calls will be notified

When can I start booking for Kids' Week August 2021?

Booking is now open! Click here for more information on the line-up.