The 14 best Christmas shows for families to celebrate the festive season together

This fun filled pantomime is sure to cause a lot of laughs. Staring Jane MacDonald as Maid Marion and Julian Clary as Robin Hood, there are some big celebrity names too! Suitable for children age 4 and over, tickets start from £35 with both evening and matinee performances. So get ready for all the usual jokes plus a little bit of superstar magic right in the heart of London.

One of the most magical Christmas stories comes to life on the stage! The Snowman promises to enchant and captivate little ones and is suitable from age 2. With a running time of 1 hour and 50 mins, including an interval, it is not overly long for wriggly toddlers, plus there are morning, matinee and evening shows available, starting from £23.

We all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, and now you can watch it unfold on stage at The Old Vic. Running all through the festive season, this show is perfect for ages 8+ and runs for 2 hours including the interval. The play is directed by John Thorne, who directed Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and it stars John Simm as Scrooge.

Suitable for 5 years olds plus, this will be a delightfully disgusting festive show for all the family to enjoy. For any little ones who enjoy the Horrible Histories books, this will be the perfect theatre show for them. With a running time of 1hr 45 including an interval, it's not too long for younger children. It includes Victorian villains, Medieval monks, Puritan parties and Tudor treats plus some historical characters too such as Charles Dickens, Oliver Cromwell, Henry VIII and of course St. Nicholas.

This musical adaptation of Nicholas Allan's much loved book will get everyone chuckling. When Father Christmas visits lots of houses, eating and drinking along the way, he suddenly realises he needs a wee and so hilarity ensues. This show has a running time of 90 minutes including the interval and is suitable from 18 months up.

Who doesn't love Julia Donaldson's warm, funny, rhyming stories? They are always popular with little ones and that is why we think they will love seeing their favourite story come to life on stage this Christmas with this adaptation of Stick Man. With puppets, music and dance, this is a fun and captivating show. Plus there are morning, matinee and evening performances available to suit all ages.

For a real spectacle, this sell-out show is back for the 4th year in a row. It features 16 top international ice skaters, plus some special guest circus stars too. Prepare to be wowed with this festive extravaganza. With a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes it is perfect for all the family. Combining ice skating and circus skills this show also promises you a white Christmas.

This is a perfect first musical for children 3 years and older. The Jingleclaw is a mischievous monster who can't stand music and cheer but with the Shnootnoot Winter Festival approaching and Astrid and her school band practicing hard, what will happen? This is fun for all the family and is filled with music, songs and festive magic. It has a running time of 60 minutes with no interval.

With a running time of just 40 minutes this is an ideal introduction to theatre for young children and toddlers. With music and storytelling as well as puppets, this is designed specifically for little ones and during its run there are also relaxed performances you can attend, as well as a variety of times to choose from to suit everyone. This sweet Christmas tale is one for all to enjoy.

Embrace the chaos with another pantomime full of audience participation, jokes, booing, and singing. It's not Christmas without a pantomime and Beauty and the Beast is the perfect choice. A tale as old as time, this adaptation is modern and fun, and little ones will love getting involved (oh yes they will!) Pantomimes can be overwhelming and the Waterfront Hall provides a sensory cool down space for children under 6 if it all gets a bit much.

A story about finding the heart of Christmas, this is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, The Little Match Girl and The Red Shoes. Plus we love that on selected Fridays at 6pm you can attend for a pre-bedtime performance in your pyjamas, and you can even get a hot chocolate to get even more snuggly and festive.

Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's frosty adventure, this musical is ideal for all the family. A beautiful story about the warmth of friendship, in this performance flowers can sing and animals can talk and friendship will triumph. The Snow Queen has a running time of 75 minutes with no interval. Plus there is even an appearance from Father Christmas himself.

For a truly magical family adventure, The Nutcracker has to be a Christmas tradition. Follow Clara in her dreams on Christmas Eve through the Land of Snow and Ice as well as the Land of Sweets where she meets the Nutcracker Prince, the Rat King and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Perfect for any little ballerinas, this is a great introduction to live ballet and young and old will be amazed watching this festive journey unfold. The show has a running time of 2 hours with a 20 minute interval.

A great introduction to live, classical music for little ones, Bach to Baby has concerts throughout the UK all year round. However at Christmas, they offer special Christmas concerts that include music from different periods, sleigh bells, singalong carols, and festive tales. Even better, for every paying adult two children can attend for free.