Trying to find things to do with your kids – when you’re on a tight budget – is really tough.
Over the summer, not only do you have to balance using the precious annual leave you get from work to cover childcare, but you actually want to do something as a family and have a bit of fun.
Going to the park down the road every day is free, but can be a bit boring. So what can you do instead?
With a bit of forward planning, there is a fair bit you can do to have fun each summer, without breaking the bank.
Theatre tickets in London
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We love the theatre – all of us really enjoy going.
There is something really special about seeing a live performance and the kids get captivated by it all.
We’ve been lucky enough to see Les Mis (obvs got cheap theatre tickets) and we’ve taken the kids to see Wicked and The Play That Goes Wrong – they LOVED it!
When we used to live in Kent, our local theatres charged an arm and a leg for tickets, so it could sometimes work out cheaper to head to London (even with travel, as we can blag some amazingly good priced – or even free – tickets).
Kids Week free theatre tickets
This summer, you’re able to get free theatre tickets in London for your children.
If your child is aged 17 and under, and there is a full paying adult, you can get a free child’s theatre ticket to a huge range of different shows. Plus, two additional children can attend half price.
There are also no booking or postage fees to pay, which is usually quite rare when booking theatre tickets.
You can use the tickets during August, but they go on sale from 10 am on Tuesday 11 June 2024.
This means you’ll need to plan in advance to get your savings. As this is such an awesome deal, the tickets don’t stay around for long. They are obviously subject to availability.
In addition to the one freebie ticket, you can buy two extra kids’ tickets for half price.
In London this summer? Check out these free events in London.
What shows can we see during Kids Week?
There are over 50 different shows to pick from, including Matilda The Musical, Sister Act, Shrek The Musical and The Wizard Of Oz. (For a full list of shows, scroll down to the bottom).
Kids Week is all about getting young people interested in the theatre, and if you can take them for free, it really helps.
However, it’s not just a weekly event anymore. As it’s such a popular thing, they’ve now expanded it, and you can pick selected performances taking place between Wednesday, 24 July, to Friday, 6 September 2024.
You won’t be able to get a free child ticket for every single performance. They are available on selected shows and you can only book them through the Kids Week booking line.
It’s usually best to have a few different dates and times, just in case your preferred choice has already sold out.
Full list of free child tickets for London shows
Here is a full list of the free child ticket London shows on this summer.
There is a real mix. Some will be suitable for under 5s, 5 years+, 8 years+, while some need parental guidance, which may be more suitable for teens:
- The 13-Storey Treehouse
- The 39 Steps
- Back To The Future The Musical
- Beauty And The Beast
- Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour
- Brainiac Live
- Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
- The Choir Of Man
- A Chorus Line
- Disney’s The Lion King
- Errol’s Garden
- Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World
- Fireman Sam – The Great Camping Adventure
- Frankie Goes To Bollywood
- Fuerza Bruta: Aven
- The Gruffalo
- Guys & Dolls – Seated Tickets
- Guys & Dolls – Standing Tickets
- Hadestown
- Hamilton
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Hello, Dolly!
- Horrible Histories – Terrible Tudors
- An Inspector Calls
- Kathy And Stella Solve A Murder!
- Kiss Me, Kate
- The Lion Inside
- Mamma Mia!
- Marie Curie
- Mario The Maker Magician
- Matilda The Musical
- Milkshake! Live On Holiday
- Ministry Of Science Live, Alexandra Palace
- Ministry Of Science Live, Rose Theatre
- Les Misérables
- MJ The Musical
- The Mousetrap
- Mrs. Doubtfire
- Next To Normal
- Peanut Butter & Blueberries
- The Phantom Of The Opera
- The Play That Goes Wrong
- Queenz
- Rough Magic
- Sam Wu Is NOT Afraid Of Ghosts
- Shrek The Musical
- Sister Act
- Six
- There’s A Monster In Your Show
- The Tiger Who Came To Tea
- Tina – The Tina Turner Musical
- Tweedy’s Massive Circus
- Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)
- Why Am I So Single?
- Wicked
- Witness For The Prosecution
- The Wizard Of Oz
- Your Lie In April
- Zog And The Flying Doctors
If you’re heading up to London midweek, you can take advantage of cheap meals too using Meerkat Meals (we got it for just £1). Or, why not get Kids Pass and have some mega cheap days out.
There are also a number of places that run kids eat free offers.
Read next: Save £100s on Days Out with a Free Blue Peter Badge
thara says
We love going to different parks with the dog and a picnic. Yesterday afternoon we drove to Nonsuch Park in order to have a nice picnic dinner there. Last week we were at a local park having lunch. Next week we will head to a park elsewhere to eat. We either play sports, or explore the entire place on foot.
Thara says
Heya.
Tomorrow I am taking the little piglet to a chocolate making class. Next week we are learning how to make some nice bunny macaroons on a tray. We will also prepare a free chocolate cake again all at home. We will also decorate a few different cookies in order to eat as well. At some point we will also be making white wine and other stuff too like a baked potato and so on.