St. Martin's Theatre
BEST FOR
Ages 7+
ENTRY
from £19.50
WHERE
London
What it’s like
Take your seven-plus-year-old to see if they can spot the killer in the world's longest-running play, The Mousetrap.
This is where you bring a kid old enough to actually follow a whodunnit and keep the ending secret afterwards, because that's half the fun of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. It runs about two hours five minutes with a twenty-minute interval, which is a decent length for a first proper theatre trip without tipping into restless territory.
Tickets start at £25 midweek and creep up to £30 on a Sunday, with Friday and Saturday sitting in between at £27.50. If you fancy splashing out there's a VIP Royal Box from £125, and rush tickets go for £29.50 if you're booking last minute. Book twelve weeks ahead and there's a 20% saver on selected performances, which is worth doing if you already know the date you want.
There's no cloakroom here, so you're stuck holding coats and bags on your lap or wedging them under the seat, which is a bit of a faff if you've come straight from somewhere with shopping in tow. There's also no lift, so if anyone in your group needs help getting around, ring the box office ahead rather than turning up and hoping. Under-fives aren't allowed in at all, and any under-16 needs an adult with them, which is fair enough for a murder mystery but worth knowing before you book seats for a group of kids.
Snacks and drinks are sold at the bars on every level, though only in plastic cups once you're in the auditorium, and hot food doesn't get past the door. If your midweek matinee lines up right, there's a backstage tour you can add on, which is the sort of thing that'll make the trip stick in a child's memory a bit more than the play alone.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 7 and up; under-5s aren't admitted at all
- Booking
- Advance saver available: book 12 weeks ahead and save 20% on selected performances
- Parking
- 50% discount at select Q-Park London facilities with valid theatre ticket
- How long to allow
- Approximately 2 hours 5 minutes including a 20-minute interval
- Getting there by bus or train
- Tube: Leicester Square (closest)
- No cloakroom, so keep bags small enough to fit under your seat
- Under-fives aren't admitted at all, no exceptions
- Photography during the performance is strictly forbidden
- Q-Park parking discount needs booking ahead of your visit
- Times change from 9 Nov 2026, with matinees moving to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
From £25 Tuesday to Thursday, £27.50 Friday and Saturday, and £30 on a Sunday. Rush tickets go from £29.50 and the VIP Royal Box starts at £125.
How long is the show?
About two hours five minutes including a twenty-minute interval.
What age is it suitable for?
Under-fives aren't allowed in, and any under-16 has to be with an adult. It suits kids from around seven who can sit still and follow a plot.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can book online, and there's a 20% saver if you book twelve weeks ahead on selected performances. Exchanges are fee-free up to 24 hours before the show.
What time should we arrive?
The house opens 30 minutes before curtain up, and the Dress Circle Bar opens an hour before for pre-show drinks.
Is there food and drink inside?
Bars on every level sell snacks and drinks, but hot food isn't allowed anywhere in the theatre. Drinks from the bar have to go into the auditorium in plastic cups.
Is there a cloakroom?
No, there isn't one. Only small bags that fit under or in front of your seat are allowed in.
Is the theatre accessible?
There's no lift, so anyone with mobility needs should call the box office ahead on the number listed on their site.
Is there parking nearby?
You get 50% off at select Q-Park London car parks with a valid ticket, but you need to book that in advance. Leicester Square tube and Charing Cross station are both close by.
Can kids do a backstage tour?
A backstage tour is available if you book it alongside a midweek matinee.
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