What Christmas shows would you recommend?

[waterbabyabroad]

I will be organised this year....but I need some help! Can you share what shows / activities / concerts you would recommend attending? DD is 4.5 and DS 2.8. My DH is very into classical music, concerts, etc. We haven't been to any pantos or other Christmas shows before. Would love to hear your thoughts on what is really worth seeing. :)

[LordOfTheFlies]

Mine reckon they are too old for pantomime (nearly 12 yo and 9 yo) .
How can you be too old?

When my DS was 5 I took him to see The Snowman at Sadlers Wells. It is a trip into London and a queue for the loos, not very long for intermission.
But a lovely play (though I looked on-line and it's eye wateringly expensive ).I don't know if a 2.8 yo would sit through it.

DD and I go to ballet now.
And a Christmas film.Check what's at the cinema, we saw Christmas Carol -in 2d- last year for £1-50 each. But DD was freaked out by it.

[LillianGish]

Sadlers Wells, The Snowman (are you in London?) Perfect for little ones and also entertaining for parents. Not too long either - and really Christmassy.

[waterbabyabroad]

Hadn't thought about the Snowman, thanks for that. May just look away from the ticket price this time. We're in Surrey so can do London or surrounding areas. So would you take 4.5 year old to a panto? Any thoughts for a Christmas night out just with DH? Thanks for suggestions so far!

[LillianGish]

I love the Nutcracker myself - Covent Garden if you can afford it, but Coliseum also quite good. Failing that what about Handel's Messiah at the Albert Hall.

[glasshouse]

The Albert Hall do a wonderful concert with all the old Phil Spector type songs, Frosty the Snowman, White Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock etc, they also do several more traditional shows. We went to a matinee one last year and then had a walk through the Winter Wonderland fair at Hyde Park. Was magical.