Christmas in London is about more than pantomimes and carol services. For many theatregoers, the festive season is simply the time they have free for a big night out. If you’re looking for a show to see during the festive period, here are our top picks.
Christmas might be on the brain this time of year, but sometimes it’s nice to plan a treat for a friend, or a family evening that doesn’t revolve around tinsel and sing-alongs. Luckily, there are plenty of blockbuster musicals, rock classics and fantasy adaptations on stage in London, so there’s never been a better time to plan a trip to the theatre. From high-energy spectacles, to intimate musicals or emotional dramas, these are the shows to book.
Several run into the new year, so there’s time to plan ahead, but a few close in January, so there’s never been a better time to catch them.
Check before you book: During the Christmas period, most West End productions run an amended schedule, which includes additional performances and altered start times. Make sure you double check dates and times before booking.
What’s on in London over Christmas and New Year?
Jesus Christ Superstar
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Booking to 9 January 2027
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar lights up winter in the West End after a summer run at the London Palladium. The production runs until 9 January 2027, so this is your last chance to see it.
Sam Ryder stars in the critically acclaimed production as Jesus, with a rotating roster of special guest stars appearing as King Herod. Layton Williams takes up the role from 21 December until 2 January, while Hollywood star Glen Close steps in from the 4-9 January 2027.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London
Into the Woods
Noël Coward Theatre
Booking to 9 January 2027
Hit musical Into the Woods is the perfect Betwixtmas theatre trip. This fairy tale musical from Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine follows classic fairy tale characters on a quest in the woods, as they discover what comes after the happy ending.
This production transferred to the West End after a run at the Bridge Theatre, winning the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. Make sure you book soon: the production is only on until 9 January.
Noël Coward Theatre, London
Beetlejuice
Prince Edward Theatre
Booking to 2 January 2027
Tim Burton’s cult film takes to the stage in this London production, with all the zany comedy and sand worms you’d expect. Much like the film, Beetlejuice follows a death obsessed teenager who finds her new home haunted by a recently deceased couple and a mischievous demon.
There are some differences from the film, but mostly it’s an energetic and spirited take on the ghost with the most. Time is of the essence to get your Beetlejuice fix: the spirits take their final bows on 2 January.
Prince Edward Theatre, London
Ceilidh
Shoreditch Town Hall
Booking to 28 February 2027
If you’re looking for something a little different, Ceilidh is an evening with plenty to offer. An immersive Scottish musical, this show, built like a traditional ceilidh, features live music and dancing, as well as a family story about love and legacy.
Don’t worry if you’re not keen on dancing, as audiences can join in on the floor or watch from the balcony. Still, it’s a warm and fun show, perfect for a winter evening.
Shoreditch Town Hall, London
One Day the Musical
Garrick Theatre
Booking from 17 November 2026 until 14 March 2027
Fresh off a sold-out run in Edinburgh, One Day the Musical is poised to be a hot ticket this holiday season. Adapted from David Nicholls’ bestselling 2009 novel, this new musical follows friends Emma and Dexter over the course of a 20-year friendship, revisited each year on St Swithin’s Day.
West End stars Jamie Muscato and Sharon Rose reprise the roles they originated in Edinburgh, directed by Max Webster and featuring songs from Abner and Amanda Ramirez of Johnnyswim. It promises to be a warm and moving evening.
Garrick Theatre, London
High School Musical
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre
Booking to 3 January 2027
Nothing chases the winter nights away more than a heartwarming dose of nostalgia. Twenty years after the Disney Channel film hit screens, High School Musical is back in a new stage production sure to wow.
The auditorium is transformed into a basketball court, with on-stage seating that puts the audience right in the middle of the action. Disney star Kaycee Stroh also makes an appearance as Ms Darbus, while Harry Judd takes on Coach Bolton.
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London
Oliver!
Gielgud Theatre
Booking to 14 March 2027
Is there a more beloved musical than Oliver!, Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on the iconic Dickens novel? If you’re looking for a fun, heartwarming evening, this is one to book.
The cast deliver familiar songs like ‘Consider Yourself’ and ‘Food Glorious Food’ with so much gusto and energy, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne. It’s a great option whether you’re seeing it for the first or fortieth time.
Gielgud Theatre, London
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Palace Theatre
Booking to 9 June 2027
The award-winning story of Harry Potter’s later life and his difficult relationship with son Albus has been reimaginined as a one-part production. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child picks up where the books left off, exploring a brand new story in the saga.
Though it’s a shorter version, there is plenty of stagecraft and magic to see as the show explores time travel, dark magic and the Wizarding World to tell a story about family and legacy.
Palace Theatre, London
My Neighbour Totoro
Gillian Lynne Theatre
Booking until 3 January 2027
Studio Ghibli’s gentle 1988 film My Neighbour Totoro becomes a magical stage show in this production from the Royal Shakespeare Company. The story follows sisters Satsuki and Mei as they move with their father to a house in the countryside, where they discover the secret world of the forest spirits.
Using puppetry to bring these wondrous spirits to life, the production also uses Joe Hisaishi’s famous score from the film. This is your final chance to see one of the most acclaimed family productions in recent years. The show takes its final curtain on 3 January 2027.
Gillian Lynne Theatre, London
RENT
Tom Stoppard Theatre
Booking to 29 May 2027
Jonathan Larson’s rock musical RENT is back in London for its 30th anniversary in a brand new production. Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo made his West End debut as Mark Cohen in this new staging.
Loosely based on Puccini’s La Bohème, the msucial follows a group of artists and friends in New York’s East Village, as they deal with love, money and the AIDS crisis. If you’ve never seen the show, this is your chance: seeing ‘Seasons of Love’ performed live is a different experience entirely.
The Tom Stoppard Theatre (formerly the Duke of York's Theatre), London
The Choir of Man
The Arts at Marble Arch
Booking from 10 December 2026 until 14 February 2027
Set entirely in a fully functioning onstage pub, The Choir of Man is a different kind of jukebox musical. This story about friendship and community uses a soundtrack of chart hits, from Queen and Adele to Sia, Katy Perry and beyond.
Nine performers sing, play instruments and tap dance through the theatre, moving among the audience, and creating an intimate, communal atmosphere. It promises to be an enjoyable evening for first-time theatregoers and longtime enthusiasts alike.
The Arts at Marble Arch, London
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