Christmas pantomime near me in 2025/2026
The sound of Santa’s sleigh bells are just around the corner and for many of us, it simply isn’t Christmas without a panto. With so many fabulous pantomimes across the UK, many of us are asking ourselves “which pantomime near me should I book?” To help find the panto for you, we’ve compared dames, slapstick moments and happily ever afters up and down the country to recommend the very biggest and best pantomimes in each region.
- Pantomimes in London
- Pantomimes in the South West
- Pantomimes in the South East
- Pantomimes in the East of England
- Pantomimes in the West Midlands
- Pantomimes in the East Midlands
- Pantomimes in Yorkshire & Humber
- Pantomimes in the North West
- Pantomimes in the North East
- Pantomimes in Scotland
- Pantomimes in Wales
- Pantomimes in Northern Ireland
Pantomimes in London
London hosts more pantomimes than any other city in the UK, and they range wildly from elaborate West End productions to modern takes on classic tales. Every borough has its own unique history of panto, so if you think it isn’t for you, London is here to prove you wrong. There are also a wide range of other Christmas shows in London to nurture your budding festive spirit including world-class ballet, snow-sprinkled musicals and shows made especially for children.
Palladium Panto – Sleeping Beauty
From 6 December – 11 January, London’s wonderful palace of entertainment presents the pantomime of dreams! Now in its 10th year, the UK’s biggest panto has bucket loads of spectacle, magic and thrilling effects that will have you rushing to book for next Christmas as soon as the curtain falls! This year’s starry cast includes naughty master of ceremonies Julian Clary alongside Catherine Tate and Jon Culshaw.
Lyric Hammersmith Panto – Jack and the Beanstalk
From 15 November – 4 January, a fresh, modern and thoroughly entertaining take on classic fairy stories makes pantomime at the Lyric Hammersmith one of the coolest ways to celebrate Christmas. Jack and the Beanstalk gets a West London makeover – a great alternative to the bombastic Palladium panto if you fancy something a little more offbeat.
Hackney Empire Panto – Cinderella
From 22 November – 31 December, make sure you attend the party of the year with tickets to the Hackney panto! Directed by Clive Rowe, who also stars as the dame, this classic tale includes all the best pantomime ingredients: a fairy godmother, sprinkles of magic, audience participation and lots of jokes. Get your glass slippers on and head down to the Empire before you turn into a pumpkin!
Richmond Theatre Panto – Cinderella
From 6 December – 4 January, London’s leafy suburb of Richmond is transformed into a spectacular ball for this year’s pantomime. Join poor Cinders as she escapes her bullying family and transforms into a beautiful princess, with a little help from her Fairy Godmother. But after the clock strikes midnight, will she ever be reunited with her true love?
Wimbledon Theatre Panto – Robin Hood
From 6 December – 4 January, the Wimbledon panto promises an exciting, star-studded affair. Ashley Banjo and Diversity star in this action-packed show. Join beloved outlaw Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men as they steal from the rich, give to the poor, and try to defeat the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. Forget Wimbledon Green, this winter you’re invited to Sherwood Forest!
Pantomimes in the South West
Pantomime in Bath – The Further Adventures of Peter Pan
From 11 December – 11 January, the Theatre Royal Bath panto 2025 is a swashbuckling affair: pirates, mermaids, slapstick comedy and heaps of audience participation! Written by and starring Bath’s own Jon Monie, this fantastic sequel to Peter Pan promises excitement and adventure for the whole family. This year’s pantomime also features comedy acrobatics crew The Nitwits.
Pantomime in Bournemouth – Cinderella
From 6 December – 4 January, enchantments, magical transformations and stunning family fun make Cinderella an unmissable panto at Bournemouth Pavilion! Noel Brodie returns for his 11th year, this time as the hilarious Buttons. Don’t be a pumpkin – make sure you go to the ball with tickets to this wonderful show.
Pantomime in Bristol – Jack and the Beanstalk
From 6 December – 4 January, Bristol panto is a gigantic adventure, as Jack and the Beanstalk climbs into town. Starring Will Young as the Spirit of the Beans, the Bristol Hippodrome pantomime is set to be a spectacular bonanza of music, laughter, audience participation and slapstick moments. You’ll be full of beans by the time it’s finished!
Pantomime in Plymouth – Dick Whittington
From 12 December – 10 January, the streets are paved with gold at the Theatre Royal Plymouth panto! Join cheery Dick Whittington as he seeks fame and fortune on a journey away from home. But the big city is plagued by the dastardly King Rat… can Dick and his cat save the day, find true love, and work in plenty of slapstick fun as well?
Pantomime in Torquay – Sleeping Beauty
From 12 December – 3 January, don’t sleep on this dream of a pantomime. From the team behind last year’s brilliant Jack and the Beanstalk, this is a fairytale bonanza for the whole family. As evil Carabosse plots against beautiful Aurora, expect magic, mayhem, audience participation… and true love’s kiss to save the day!
Pantomimes in the South East
Pantomime in Aylesbury – Jack and the Beanstalk
From 5 December – 4 January, swap your family cow (or just some money) for tickets to the Aylesbury panto , because Jack and the Beanstalk is sure to be gigantic festive fun! Starring local legend Andy Collins as Silly Simon, this magical story is about a young lad who battles a giant, a princess who can pack a punch, and a cow who’s got beef with their kidnappers…
Pantomime in Brighton – Jack and the Beanstalk
From 23 – 30 December, this short but sweet Brighton panto is fee-fi-fo-fun! Featuring a lovable hero, magic beans, catchy singalongs and eye-popping effects, Jack and the Beanstalk is the perfect show for your whole family to enjoy together over the Christmas holidays.
Pantomime in Canterbury – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
From 28 November – 11 January, Marlowe Theatre panto promises magic, laughter and adventure with the fairest pantomime of them all, Snow White. This fantastic family show is written and directed by Paul Hendy, who’s assembled a fantastic cast too. It includes legendary pantomime dame Ben Roddy, who won Best Dame at the Pantomime Awards last year – oh yes he did!
Pantomime in Milton Keynes – Goldilocks and the Three Bears
From 6 December – 11 January, Milton Keynes is transformed into a spectacular circus for this year’s pantomime. Entertainer, actor, comedian and all-round legend Brian Conley appears in this dazzler of a show, which follows Goldilocks and her circus as it comes under threat from a rival. Luckily, the three bears are here to save the day!
Pantomime in Oxford – Dick Whittington
From 21 November – 4 January, the Oxford Playhouse panto invites you to join happy-go-lucky DW on a swashbuckling journey alongside their trusty cat companion. Will they find fame and fortune, or will the villain spoil it all?! This action-packed, cheerful panto is purr-fect family fun featuring music, jokes and audience participation.
Pantomime in Reading – Beauty and the Beast
From 6 December – 4 January, a truly spellbinding panto is in Reading! Join Belle as she explores an enchanted castle filled with eccentric inhabitants. They’re led by a fearsome Beast who might not be all that he seems… can she help lift the curse? Featuring an amazing digital set and animated scenery, this really is the belle of the ball!
Pantomime in Woking – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
From 5 December – 4 January, don’t miss the fairest festive show of them all! Lesley Joseph stars as the villainous Wicked Queen in this year’s Woking panto, joined by Rob Rinder as her legal right-hand… mirror?! As the Queen schemes against beautiful Snow White, get ready to boo, jeer, gasp and laugh at this classic story of good versus evil.
Pantomimes in the East of England
Pantomime in Norwich – Cinderella
From 6 December – 4 January, get your glass slippers ready and hop into your pumpkins (or on the bus): the Norwich panto shall go to the ball! Poor Cinders’ miserable life of cleaning up after her stepsisters is about to get shaken up by a very special invitation. Joe Tracini is back for his sixth panto season, starring as lovable BFF Buttons.
Pantomime in Peterborough – Beauty and the Beast
From 13 – 31 December, get swept up by a timeless tale of love that looks beyond the surface at the Cresset Theatre. An arrogant young man transformed into a beast, a quirky collection of household objects, and a strong-willed heroine make this the perfect show for all ages. Hilarious jokes, slapstick chaos, audience participation and a happy ending… perfect Christmas fun!
Pantomimes in the West Midlands
Pantomime in Birmingham – Robin Hood
From 17 December – 29 January, the UK’s biggest regional panto is inviting you to a merry old time in Sherwood Forest! Cheeky chappy Matt Slack returns to the Hippodrome for a 12th year as working-class hero Robin Hood, in this big, bombastic and plain good fun family show. It even borrows costumes and sets from the legendary Palladium Panto in London!
Pantomime in Stoke-on-Trent – Cinderella
From 12 December – 4 January, you shall go to the Stoke pantomime! Glass slippers, slapstick comedy, audience participation, a naughty dame and a magical transformation – this panto is pumpkin-full of everything you could wish for. The star-studded cast includes local fave Jonathan Wilkes as lovably hopeless Buttons, so get your gladrags on and enjoy the magic of panto at Regent Theatre this winter.
Pantomime in Wolverhampton – Sleeping Beauty
From 29 November – 4 January, don’t snooze on the Wolverhampton Grand’s panto! This spellbinding show tells the story of beautiful Princess Aurora, who pricks her finger on a spinning wheel and falls into an endless sleep. Can true love’s kiss break the curse, or will wicked Carabosse reign over the kingdom forever? Good news: Wolves panto favourites Tam Ryan and Ian Adams are back to provide the laughs for another year!
Pantomimes in the East Midlands
Pantomime in Lincoln – Robin Hood
From 5 December – 4 January, grab your merry gang and enjoy the longest-running traditional panto in Lincoln! Robin Hood’s tale of an outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor is cheery stuff, but will the Sheriff catch him and lock him up? We won’t spoil the ending, but along the way you can definitely expect lots of magical music, audience participation and silly jokes.
Pantomime in Northampton – The Further Adventures of Peter Pan
From 5 – 31 December, hook tickets to a swashbuckling panto adventure at Royal & Derngate! The Further Adventures of Peter Pan brings together all the characters you love, including cheeky Tink and evil Captain Hook… but what happens next? Lots of laughs, lots of comedy, lots of music and most importantly – a spectacular show for the whole family to enjoy together.
Pantomime in Nottingham – Sleeping Beauty
From 28 November – 17 January, watch out for evil Maleficent – you don’t want to be sleeping while the Nottingham Playhouse panto’s in town! Furious at being barred from the Princess’ party, Maleficent curses the whole kingdom to endless slumber… but what will happen when the Prince arrives to break the spell? Lavish costumes, sparkling humour and an engrossing story make this the perfect family show.
Pantomimes in Yorkshire & Humber
Pantomime in Leeds
Rock and Roll Aladdin at City Varieties Music Hall
From 28 November – 11 January, enjoy the panto magic of Aladdin remixed with a jukebox-full of rock anthems and chart-topping hits. This delightfully unique show is performed by a talented cast of actor-musicians who’ll make the sparkling wonders of Aladdin and Jasmine’s kingdom rock with the sounds of guitars!
Sleeping Beauty at Carriageworks Theatre
From 21 November – 4 January, take a journey through the tangled forest and discover this spellbinding panto. Dragons, fairies, a cursed princess and true love’s kiss are all waiting, plus the usual pantomime ingredients: audience participation, cheeky jokes, catchy songs and amazing special effects.
Pantomime in Sheffield – Aladdin
From 5 December – 4 January, Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre is inviting you on a magic carpet ride to the spectacular world of panto! Written especially for Sheff audiences by Paul Hendy, and with legendary dame Damian Williams back for his 18th year, this is the perfect mix of old favourites and new fun. Expect tip-top entertainment, laugh-out-loud comedy and much more.
Pantomime in York – Cinderella
From 6 December – 4 January, grab your family and book tickets for Cinderella before the clock strikes midnight. This classic festive show about a girl who swaps a mop and bucket for a beautiful ball gown is brought to York with a script by local favourite Jon Monie, and he’s packed in more jokes, magic and amazing characters than you can shake a pumpkin at.
Pantomimes in the North West
Pantomime in Blackpool – Beauty and the Beast
From 5 December – 4 January, find out what happens when you combine gorgeous costumes, laugh-out-loud comedy, charming storytelling and a jaw-dropping transformation scene in Beauty and the Beast. Blackpool’s biggest panto welcomes Belle, the Beast, Fairy Bon Bon and co. and they’re ready to make your Christmas holidays unforgettable – led, of course, by local legend Steve Royle and his cheeky one-liners.
Pantomime in Liverpool – Rock ‘n’ Roll Jack and the Beanstalk
From 15 November – 17 January, Liverpool’s panto is taken to new heights thanks to the Rock ‘n’ Roll team. This quirky version of Jack’s adventures up the beanstalk mixes panto tradition with a playlist of rock anthems. Lots of plot twists, dazzling costumes and live music by talented actor-musicians make the Everyman panto completely unique. If your family fancies something less traditional, this is a must-see!
Pantomime in Manchester – Robin Hood
From 6 December – 4 January, homegrown comedian turned musical theatre star Jason Manford gets the gang back together for an adventure in Sherwood Forest. He’s joined by Manchester panto favourite Ben Nickless in a show packed with action, drama, comedy and a dastardly villain to heckle. Will the Sheriff catch Robin? Find out at this merry-marvellous show!
Pantomimes in the North East
Pantomime in Darlington – Goldilocks and the Three Bears
From 5 – 31 December, the Hippodrome transforms into a big top for this dazzling panto extravaganza. Join Goldilocks and her friends as they fight to save her family circus from the Evil Ringmaster (played by former Strictly professional Brendan Cole). Things aren’t looking good, until help arrives in the form of three furry bears… Hair-raising stunts, spectacular circus acts and all the usual panto ingredients make this a fantastic day out.
Pantomime in Newcastle – Aladdin
From 25 November – 18 January, take a trip to the Royal Kingdom of Pantomania in a brand new version of Aladdin. This incredible show features a whole host of fairytale characters, including witches, dancing geese, and – of course – a flying carpet. Starring Chris Hayward as Aladdin’s mum, Joe McElderry as Spirit of the Ring, and Mick Potts as Genie, make sure you wish extra hard for tickets to this festive treat.
Pantomime in Sunderland – Sleeping Beauty
From 12 December – 4 January, North East Queen of Comedy Miss Rory and panto fave Tom Whalley are back at the Empire for another season of classic entertainment. This canny duo promise to make you laugh as Rorina the Cleaner and Vesta the Jester… but will they be able to wake up the kingdom, save the Princess, and defeat the villain?
Pantomimes in Scotland
Pantomime in Aberdeen – Cinderella
From 29 November – 4 January, dust off your frocks and polish your glass slippers, because you’re invited to a party. This classic pantomime is a rags to riches adventure as Cinderella outwits her stepsisters and meets her Prince Charming. Beautiful scenery, stunning costumes, comedy galore and lots of chances to boo and hiss the villain: tick tock, what are you waiting for? Book now!
Pantomime in Edinburgh – Jack and the Beanstalk
From 13 December – 11 January, don’t miss the panto you’ve bean waiting for… Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young star in this slapstick, musical and brilliantly fun show, which follows poor Jack’s adventures after selling the family cow and being lumbered with a handful of beans. But as we all know, they’re not just any beans, and a gigantic adventure is just around the corner!
Pantomime in Glasgow – The Little Mermaid
From 22 November – 4 January, dive under the sea for a bubbly new panto. Elaine C Smith and Johnny Mac are both back in this fin-tastic family show about young Ariel, who trades her voice for a day amongst humans. But the Sea Witch isn’t very honest, and might decide to keep the voice and leave Ariel stuck on land… The Little Mermaid is another hit for the King’s panto team, so book now before tickets are all splashed away.
Pantomimes in Wales
Pantomime in Cardiff – Sleeping Beauty
From 6 December – 4 January, one of the most popular pantomimes of them all is at the New Theatre, and it’s definitely not a snooze-fest! The classic tale of a Princess who’s tricked and cursed into a thousand year sleep is a real crowd-pleaser, with magic, music, comedy and fantastic special effects. Don’t drift off – take the family to see Sleeping Beauty for a dreamy day out.
Pantomime in Swansea – Aladdin
From 6 December – 4 January, hop on your magic carpet and take a seat at the Grand Theatre for this year’s showstopper panto. Starring Joe Pasquale and local favourite dame, Kevin Johns, this has all the bells and whistles – and laughs – you’d expect, along with an incredible digital set and animated scenes. Sounds good? Oh yes it does!
Pantomimes in Northern Ireland
Pantomime in Belfast – The Adventures of Pinocchio
From 29 November – 11 January, enjoy a brand new panto at the Grand Opera House. That’s right… brand new! The tale of a wooden toy who wants to be a real boy has everything you could wish for in a festive show: great songs, dancing galore, lots of jokes and audience participation. Even better: panto dame May McFettridge is back for her 35th year, starring as Mrs Geppetto. We’re not lying when we say this is a must-see.
More UK Panto Near Me
If you’re looking for something even more local, including amateur theatre company productions, visit Big Panto Guide for a full rundown of pantomimes in 2025.
Who is your favourite panto star?
Some of the biggest names in panto are performing all over the country in 2025. Do you have a favourite pantomime star? Are they in a pantomime near you this year? Let us know in the comments.