The Shaftesbury Theatre
BEST FOR
Ages 3-99
ENTRY
from £25
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
London
What it’s like
A big West End stage for a proper musical, plus daytime tours round a Grade II* listed theatre.
This one's really two different days out under the same roof. There's the current show, Avenue Q, which is billed for 13 and up rather than younger kids, so this isn't a toddler treat. And there are public tours of the building itself, which is where the under-teens get a look in, wandering round a proper old West End theatre and hearing how it all works backstage.
Tickets for Avenue Q start at £25, and if you book ahead you get £20 off, though that discount doesn't apply on Saturdays, which feels like the day most families would actually want it. Groups get their own pricing: £52.50 a head for six to ten people, dropping to £45 for ten or more, and £42.50 once you've got twenty or more booking together. The tours are £15 a ticket and a much gentler way to introduce a child to theatre without committing to a two-and-a-half-hour show about puppets with grown-up jokes.
Worth knowing before you book: under-3s aren't allowed in at all, and anyone under 16 has to sit with someone over 18. No outside food or alcohol gets past the door, and bags bigger than a standard rucksack can't be stored, so leave the shopping and the suitcase at home. Once you've bought tickets they're non-refundable, which stings if plans change.
The building itself is step-free with an accessible toilet and a hearing loop, and staff will look after a wheelchair during the interval if you need wheel-in access to the Stalls or Royal Circle. It's a walk from Charing Cross station, or there are bus stops close by, and parking on Southampton Row or at the Q-Park gets you a discount if you book that in advance too.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 13+ for the show; younger kids suit the building tours instead
- Booking
- Advance bookings (Saturdays excluded) get £20 off
- Parking
- Spaces on Southampton Row and Russell Square
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair non-transfer spaces in Stalls
- Getting there by bus or train
- Charing Cross Station 13 min walk (Northern/Bakerloo Line)
- Worth knowing
- Advance bookings (Saturdays excluded) £20 off
- Tickets are non-refundable once bought, so be sure of your date before paying
- The public tours involve up to seven flights of stairs and a fair bit of standing
- Saturday bookings miss out on the £20 advance discount
- Lost something? Stage Door holds items for a month
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
Avenue Q starts at £25. Book in advance (not on Saturdays) and you get £20 off.
Is it suitable for young children?
Avenue Q is aimed at 13 and up, not younger kids. Under-3s aren't allowed in at all, and under-16s must sit with an adult.
What if we've got a big group?
£52.50 a head for six to ten people, £45 for ten or more, and £42.50 once you're twenty or more.
Is there anything for younger kids to do here?
The public tours, at £15 a ticket, take you round the historic building rather than into a show, which suits a curious younger child better than the musical does.
Can we bring food or drinks in?
Nothing bought outside the theatre, food or alcohol, is allowed in.
What about bags and buggies?
Anything bigger than a standard rucksack can't be stored, so sort out shopping bags or luggage before you arrive.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, there's step-free access, non-transfer wheelchair spaces in the Stalls, and transfer options in the Stalls aisle and select Royal Circle seats. Staff will take the wheelchair away during the interval and bring it back at the end.
Can we get booster seats for a child?
They're free and available first-come, first-served, but they get snapped up fast on weekends and school holidays.
How do we get there and park?
Charing Cross station is about a 13 minute walk, or there are bus stops within four minutes. There's parking on Southampton Row and Russell Square, and the Q-Park does a discount for theatregoers if you book ahead.
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