The best festive shows to watch this Christmas

The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre

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The heartwarming and beloved picture book by Raymond Briggs comes to life onstage in this enchanting stage adaptation, which tells the story of the friendship between a young boy and the snowman he wishes to come to life. Full of valuable lessons about friendship, imagination, and Christmas miracles, it features unforgettable music by Howard Blake, including the timeless 'Walking in the Air'. This is the perfect festive play for young children.

• Opens 21 November 

The Snowman Tickets

Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas at Alexandra Palace

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If you love Sherlock Holmes, you won't want to miss this Christmas-themed whodunnit starring the world's greatest detective in a brand new original murder mystery. Performers are dropping dead in the West End, and Sherlock discovers a sinister connection between the murders and the famous Christmas jingle, The Twelve Days of Christmas. Bo Paraj and Marc Anton star as Holmes and Sherlock in this charming spoof on the classic detective story featuring music by Tim Rice and Howard Goodall.

• Opens 24 November

Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas Tickets

Nutcracker at the London Coliseum

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If you fancy some ballet, it doesn't get any more festive than Tchaikovsky's beloved and timeless The Nutcracker, performed by the English National Ballet in a production that has been enchanting London audiences since 1950. When her toy nutcracker comes to life, Clara is swept away into a magical wintry realm where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy and fights the evil Rat King. Over 100 dancers and musicians come together to bring this enchanting, whimsical story to life on the grand stage of the London Coliseum.

• Opens 17 December

Nutcracker Tickets

Cinderella at the London Palladium

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You can't have Christmas theatre without a good old-fashioned panto and the London Palladium has a long and cherished history of putting on star-studded and popular pantos. This year, they're bringing us Cinderella: the magical rags to riches fairytale that we all know and love, told with several cheeky, delightful twists. This fabulous, funny, and outrageous retelling stars Julian Clary as the Fairy Godfather, alongside iconic comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders reuniting onstage as the ugly stepsisters. Get ready for spectacular costumes, dazzling special effects, and lots of laughter.

• Opens 5 December

Cinderella Tickets

A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

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Matthew Warchus's smash-hit production of Charles Dickens' classic and timeless Christmas story returns to the Old Vic - the longest-running annual staging of A Christmas Carol! In gloomy Victorian London, the miserly and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts, who take him on a spectral journey through his own past, present, and future. Giles Terera stars as Scrooge in this imaginative, immersive adaptation of a spooky but heartwarming story packed with powerful lessons.

• Opens 10 November

A Christmas Carol Tickets

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley at the Park Theatre

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If you love Pride and Prejudice, you'll adore this funny, smart, and emotional play that takes you back into the world of Jane Austen's most beloved novel, and puts the spotlight on Elizabeth Bennet's overlooked younger sister. The UK premiere of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon's smash hit play is a loving homage to and continuation of Austen's work that explores identity, belonging and the quiet courage it takes to rewrite your own narrative.

• Opens 2 December

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley Tickets

Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire

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If you're looking for another panto, look no further than this year's classic Hackney Empire panto. Panto royalty and Olivier Award winner Clive Rowe returns to direct and star in this cheeky panto retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, full of madcap adventure, larger-than-life characters, and unforgettable song and dance numbers. Don't miss this classic English fairy tale about a boy and a magic beanstalk, now told with a twist, full of fun for the whole family.

• Opens 21 November 2026

Jack and the Beanstalk Tickets

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong at Wyndham’s Theatre

The cast of Christmas Carol Goes Wrong. Image provided by production

If you're in the mood for a Christmas comedy to lift your spirits, Mischief Theatre has you covered. This time the Cornley Amateur Drama Society is back to take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but things quickly spiral into chaos with missing actors and fights over who gets to play the lead. Told with Mischief's trademark blend of physical comedy and farcical storytelling, filled with mishaps and mayhem, this popular festive comedy will have you in stitches from start to finish.

• Opens 18 December

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong Tickets

A Homo Alone 2: Yikes We Did It Again at The Other Palace

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And if you're looking for more adult humour, spice up your Christmas with this filthy-fun musical parody of classic Christmas movie Home Alone 2. In the sequel to the smash-hit Homo Alone, Kevin finds himself lost in New York City, the gayest place on earth, encountering dodgy burglars, a Rocky Horror-esque hotel manager, and a Trump cameo nobody asked for.

• Opens 13 November

A Homo Alone 2 Tickets

Pinocchio at the Globe Theatre

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The beloved story of Pinocchio, a little wooden puppet who comes to life and longs to be a real boy, returns to the beautiful wintry open-air Globe Theatre. In this perfect Christmas theatrical treat for the whole family, children and adults alike will fall in love with this moving story of family and belonging with a powerful message about finding yourself, told through whimsical puppetry and delightful song.

• Opens 28 November

Pinocchio Tickets

Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith

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That's right, you have two Cinderellas to choose from this Christmas! Joel Horwood returns for another classic Lyric Hammersmith panto following his smash-hit Aladdin in 2016. Get ready for a twist on the fairy tale we all know and love, filled with show-stopping songs, hilarious comedy, and some delightful twists. Children and adults alike will delight in the humour, whimsy, and magic as a talented cast of performers bring to life this cheeky, chaotic version of Cinderella.

• Opens 14 November

Cinderella Tickets

A Dickens of a Christmas at the Park Theatre

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A Christmas Carol may be Dickens' best-known festive story, but he also wrote plenty more. Award-winning theatre company Maybe You Like it brings you some of his lesser-known Christmas stories in this spirited production. These previously untold festive tales are packed with Dickens' characteristic wit, imagination, unforgettable characters, and powerful, timeless lessons… not to mention a ghost or two. Get ready for fast-paced twists, haunting chills, and plenty of laughs.

• Opens 15 December

A Dickens of a Christmas Tickets

While you're counting down the days to Christmas, be sure to check out all the new theatre openings in November. You can also plan ahead for 2027 with our list of the best new shows coming to London next year.