A guide to Kids Week 2023: half-price theatre tickets for families

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 free. 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 sell out quickly, so be ready when booking opens. 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-fives
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. Fans of Julia Donaldson will love seeing their favourite stories brought to life as theatrical performance enhances their understanding of rhyme and narrative in The Everywhere Bear at Little Angel puppet theatre, The Smeds and the Smoos at the West End's Lyric Theatre and Tales from Acorn Wood (Lyric Hammersmith). 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 at Theatre Royal (Culture Whisper's smallest critic watched the show last year and was too enraptured to even eat his snacks – a true first!). Plus there's larger-than-life Dinosaurs on stage at the Open Air Theatre, a Fireman Sam adventure, Blippi's big world tour and plenty more to enchant the tiniest of theatre-goers.

Ages five – 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. Introduce them to belting ballads and the other side of the Wizard of Oz story with Wicked (Apollo Victoria). Feed their imaginations with stage adaptations of Horrible Histories (Garrick Theatre) or Michael Morpurgo's I Believe in Unicorns story (Apollo Theatre). Prove the stage is mightier than the screen with all-singing, all-dancing theatrical versions of Back to the Future (Adelphi Theatre) and Spongebob Squarepants (Southbank Centre). Or encourage rebellion and a love of reading with Matilda (Cambridge Theatre). And of course you can't go wrong with a Disney musical: Frozen and The Lion King continue to delight for good reason. With all these, and many, many more, to choose from, it makes sense to book multiple shows (especially when the discount makes theatre trips cheaper than a trip bowling).

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 Six the Musical (Vaudeville Theatre) for rock anthems and a sassy take on the history syllabus, or Matthew Bourne's radical balletic take on Romeo and Juliet (Sadler's Wells) and The National Theatre's searing production of The Crucible (Gielgud Theatre) to freshen up classic GCSE English texts. There's also retro gore and girl gangs with Heathers the Musical (Theatre Royal Haymarket), or an insight into the legendary life of Tina Turner with Tina (Aldwych Theatre) – and plenty more.

What else is on besides shows during Kids Week?

Ticket holders get added perks during Kids Week: they're also able to attend hands-on workshops covering 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 2023?

Booking opens at 10am on Tuesday 13 June. Click here for more information on the line-up.