The Best West End Shows to See This Easter

Easter 2026 falls on Sunday 5 April, giving you a four-day bank holiday weekend from Good Friday through Easter Monday. That's four days in London with no work and no school. If you're thinking about a West End show, this is one of the best weekends of the year to do it.

The trick is knowing what's on, what suits your group, and how to actually get tickets for one of the busiest theatre weekends in the calendar. Here's the honest rundown.

The Big Family Musicals

These are the shows that families come to the West End for, and they're all running over Easter 2026.

The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre has been running for over 25 years and still makes people cry during Circle of Life. Julie Taymor's puppetry is extraordinary even by today's standards, and the show has a timeless quality that works whether you're 6 or 60. It runs 2 hours 30 minutes including interval. Under 3s aren't admitted, and ages 6 and up will get the most from it. Be warned: Easter weekend tickets sell early, and The Lion King is always one of the first to go.

Disney's Hercules at Theatre Royal Drury Lane is the newest Disney spectacle in town. Alan Menken's score includes the film favourites alongside new songs, and the Five Muses practically steal the show. At 2 hours 10 minutes, it's one of the shorter family musicals, which makes it particularly good for younger children or anyone who finds longer shows a stretch. Under 4s aren't admitted. Drury Lane itself is worth the visit, having been beautifully restored with a grand lobby and bars that feel special before you've even taken your seat.

Oliver! at the Gielgud Theatre is Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production, directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne. If your children know the songs, this is a chance to see them performed on a completely different scale. Simon Lipkin's Fagin is a highlight. Running time is 2 hours 40 minutes, under 3s not admitted, and ages 7 and up will appreciate it most.

Paddington the Musical at the Savoy Theatre has been a sensation since opening. Tom Fletcher's songs are catchy and Jessica Swale's story captures the warmth of the books and films. At 2 hours 45 minutes it's on the longer side for families, but the staging keeps children engaged throughout. Recommended for ages 6 and up, and under 4s aren't admitted. One important note: Paddington is nearly sold out through June 2026, so if you want Easter tickets you'll need to book immediately, or check back for returns closer to the date.

Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre is Roald Dahl and Tim Minchin at their best. The score is clever and funny, the staging is inventive, and Matilda herself is a character children genuinely root for. Running time is 2 hours 35 minutes. Under 4s aren't admitted, and it's ideal for ages 6-12.

Easter Shows for Older Children and Teens

Teenagers can be hard to please at the theatre. These shows tend to win them over.

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria is still riding a wave of interest from the recent film, and demand for Easter tickets will be fierce. The stage production is a richer, more complex version of the story than any screen adaptation, and teenagers who loved the film tend to appreciate the differences. Under 5s aren't admitted, and it suits ages 8 and up. This is one where booking early genuinely matters.

Starlight Express at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre is Andrew Lloyd Webber's rollerskating musical, fully reimagined with modern staging that makes the original look tame. The skaters perform inches from the audience, and the speed is genuinely breathtaking. Under 3s aren't permitted, but it works from about age 5 upward. Teens who think musicals aren't for them often change their minds after this one.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre continues the Potter story 19 years after the books. Now condensed into a single performance of around 3 hours 30 minutes, it features stage magic that genuinely baffles audiences. Under 5s aren't permitted, and the length and complexity suit ages 10 and up. The Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue is one of the most beautiful in the West End.

Back to the Future at the Adelphi Theatre brings the 1985 film to the stage with a DeLorean that appears to fly. It's a crowd-pleasing, high-energy production that works particularly well for families where the parents grew up with the film. Running time is 2 hours 20 minutes, under 4s aren't admitted, and it's best from age 8 up.

For Adults Over the Bank Holiday

If the Easter weekend is your chance for a date night, these are worth your time.

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club is not a standard theatre experience. The Playhouse Theatre has been transformed into a 1930s Berlin nightclub, and the show begins the moment you walk through the door. Drinks are served, the atmosphere is electric, and the production is sensational. It's recommended for ages 13 and up, but this is really an adults' show.

Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre remains the West End's smartest, most rewarding musical. Easter midweek performances can offer better availability than you'd expect. It runs 2 hours 45 minutes and repays every minute of your attention.

Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre retells the Orpheus and Eurydice myth through a jazz and folk-infused score that's unlike anything else in the West End. It's intimate, beautifully performed, and the kind of show you find yourself thinking about for days afterwards.

Moulin Rouge! at the Piccadilly Theatre is pure spectacle. The Piccadilly Theatre has been decked out in red velvet and glitter, and the jukebox score mixes pop hits with showstopping production numbers. It's loud, lavish, and enormously entertaining. Under 5s aren't admitted.

The Phantom of the Opera at His Majesty's Theatre is the longest-running show in West End history, and watching it in the ornate surroundings of His Majesty's Theatre is a properly grand night out. The chandelier crash alone is worth the price of admission. Running time is 2 hours 30 minutes, and it suits ages 10 and up. Under 4s aren't admitted.

How to Get Easter Tickets Without the Stress

Easter is one of the three busiest weekends in the West End alongside Christmas and August bank holiday. Here's how to handle it.

Book now, not later. By mid-March, the best seats for Easter weekend performances will be gone for the major shows. If you already know your dates, there's no advantage to waiting. The earlier you book, the better your seat options. Shows like Wicked, The Lion King, and Paddington have the tightest availability over peak holiday periods.

Go midweek for better choices. The bank holiday weekend itself (Friday to Monday) carries the highest demand. If your Easter holiday extends beyond the weekend, Tuesday through Thursday performances during the first or second week of the holidays offer noticeably better availability and sometimes lower prices.

Matinees are your friend for families. Most West End shows run matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and sometimes Thursdays. For Easter week specifically, some shows add extra matinees. A 2:30pm start means you're out by 5pm, leaving time for dinner without an exhausted, over-tired child.

Check running times before booking. A show starting at 7:30pm with a 2 hour 45 minute runtime means you won't leave the theatre until after 10pm. For younger children, that's a late night. Match the show length and start time to your family's tolerance. Hercules at 2 hours 10 minutes and Starlight Express at 2 hours 20 minutes are the shorter options among the big musicals.

Look for accessible and relaxed performances. Several West End shows schedule relaxed performances during school holidays, designed for audiences who benefit from adjusted lighting and sound levels, including children with autism or sensory sensitivities. These performances keep house lights at a low level and reduce sudden loud effects. Check individual show listings for Easter dates.

Consider your seats carefully. For families with young children, Stalls seats towards the centre offer a direct, immersive view. For shows with big choreography or spectacle (Starlight Express, The Lion King, Hercules), elevated seats in the Dress Circle or Royal Circle often give you a better sense of the full stage picture. If budget is a factor, Grand Circle and Upper Circle seats still offer good sightlines at most West End theatres, and you'll see the same show.

Making an Evening of It

The West End doesn't exist in a vacuum. Most theatres sit within walking distance of excellent restaurants, and pre-theatre dining is a well-oiled machine in central London.

Pre-theatre menus typically run from 4:30pm to 6:30pm, offering two or three courses at a fixed price. They're designed to get you fed and out the door in time for curtain up, and they represent genuinely good value compared to a la carte pricing. Covent Garden, Soho, and the streets around Leicester Square all have dozens of options.

If you're travelling with children, consider eating after a matinee instead of before an evening show. A 2:30pm show finishes around 5pm, and you can have an early dinner while the excitement is still fresh. Chinatown (just behind Leicester Square) is particularly good for family-friendly, reasonably priced meals.

For pre-show drinks, most theatres have their own bars, and you can usually pre-order interval drinks to skip the queue. The Theatre Royal Drury Lane and the Kit Kat Club have particularly impressive bar areas worth arriving early for.

Book Your Easter Show

Easter in the West End is brilliant, but it needs planning. Browse all West End shows on tickadoo and join the free tickadoo+ membership to earn rewards on every booking. Whether you're seeing one show or planning a full theatre marathon across the long weekend, those rewards add up.