20 top UK music concerts for kids in 2023

Bach to Baby is a classical music concert series for families with children under 5. It was founded in London, in 2011 by Miaomiao Yu, a classical concert pianist, and now runs concerts across England. Concerts feature a whole range of musicians; you might hear a harp, saxophone, piano or accordion depending on the programme. Bach to Baby concerts provide wonderful musical treats for parents: forget the stresses of early parenthood for an hour and dream away in the company of other music lovers. There are no behavioural expectations from the kids. Children might dance, gurgle, cry or sleep(!) through the show, and that's OK.

bachtobaby.com

Baby Broadway concerts are just so much fun. We defy you to come away without a smile on your face! Listening to wonderful performers belt out classic showtunes from Mary Poppins, Frozen, Singin' in the Rain and Oklahoma is the best uplifting remedy to those early sleep-deprived days. And now the Baby Broadway gang offers Baby Gospel and Baby Knees Up concerts too! Kids can join in, move around the space and generally enjoy the music, while parents and carers can join in with the brilliant songs or just sit back and enjoy the show.

babybroadway.co.uk

You may already be familiar with the brilliant Nick Cope from his Popcast on CBeebies. But you can also catch him playing live at many venues and festivals around the UK. These shows are very popular, and sell-out fast; if you're a fan, we recommend joining his mailing list to get early updates about when tickets go on sale.

nickcope.co.uk/events

If you and your little ones love jazz, you'll love Groove Baby concerts. Featuring top-flight musicians from the UK jazz and contemporary circuit, Groove Baby shows are a firm family favourite of the London Jazz Festival as well as entertaining families around the UK. Look out for a unique mix of music, animation, storytelling and a little bit of magic at these quirky, unforgettable concerts, perfect for kids aged between 3 and 8.

groovebaby.co.uk

• Read more about the autumn 23 Groove Baby concert series

Concerteenies presents high-quality live music events for children up to the age of 7, and their families in and around Sheffield. Audiences enjoy an eclectic mix of classical, contemporary, world, pop, folk and jazz as well as informal introductions by top-quality, inspirational musicians. Concerts often include tailored sensory activities that complement the music (think: bubbles, puppets and percussion). There are soft mats, blankets and toys, mums are welcome to breastfeed and nappy-changing facilities are provided. Look out for the Relaxation Concerts for babies (pre-crawlers) and new parents, and Story Concerts and Family Concerts for 0-7 year-olds.

concerteenies.com

See the Christmas classic, The Muppet Christmas Carol live in concert this Christmas, screened alongside a live orchestra.
The film sees The Muppets perform the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim. Scrooge receives visits from spirits of 3 Christmases – is the miserable old Scrooge past any hope of redemption?
When: 26 Nov-20 Dec 23
Where: UK Tour

Inspired by the childhood favourite book by Michael Bond, Paddington Bear's First Concert comes to St Michael and All Angels Church performed by the South East London Orchestra. Follow in Paddington Bear's footsteps, recreating the journey he made when he arrived in London for the first time and attended his first concert – with some mishaps on the way! Don't miss this wonderfully whimsical show full of un-bear-lievable family fun! Ideal for kids aged 5 and up. 
When: 10 Dec 23
Where: Paddington Bear's First Concert, St Michael and All Angels Church, London, BR3 4TN

My Christmas Orchestral Adventure returns to the Royal Albert Hall this December with a brand-new story. Father Christmas is due at the biggest Christmas concert in the whole world but conductor Tim has lost his Christmas spirit! Join his brother Tom, Albert's Orchestra and a cast of special guests as they take Tim through Christmases past, present and future to try and bring his Christmas cheer back in time to meet Father Christmas!
When: 10 Dec 23, 12.30pm and 4.30pm
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, South Kensington, London SW7 2AP

Aurora Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra, co-founded in 2004. They're the team behind Peppa Pig: My First Concert and the amazing Debussy and the Snow Elephant. Find their occasional, family-friendly concerts at the Southbank Centre or at Kings Place in North London. This summer they'll perform an immersive storytelling concert called Mozart in the Garden, featuring new arrangements of Mozart’s music and an original story from Kate Wakeling, poet and Aurora Writer-in-Residence. Audiences are invited to listen, sing, dance, and enter a magical world of music, discovery, and play.

auroraorchestra.com

Keep your young music lovers captivated with OAE TOTS, classical music concerts from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. OAE TOTS concerts are for kids aged between 2 and 5 years old. These fantastic, interactive performances last around 45 minutes and feature plenty of actions, singing along and other activities for both kids and grown-ups to enjoy. You can sometimes meet the players and the instruments after the concert too.

oae.co.uk/season/tots

FUNharmonics family concerts at the Southbank Centre are the perfect way to introduce the joy of classical music to the whole family. Concerts start at 12 noon and are around 1 hour long. Each concert is presented in a fun and engaging way, with plenty of audience participation guaranteed to get everyone joining in! Most FUNharmonics concerts are designed for children aged 6 and over, but check the details as sometimes this varies. The best thing about FUNharmonics concerts are the brilliant free workshops and musical activities that take place in other spaces around the Southbank Centre from 10am to 12noon before the concert itself starts. Get there early for even more inspiring musical fun.

lpo.org.uk/project/funharmonics

Introducing little ears to the world of classical music, Classical for Kids at the Royal Albert Hall offers the opportunity for families to attend a chamber concert performed by the professional musicians from the Hall's very own Albert's Band. Each concert features carefully selected classical repertoire, presented in a relaxed environment for children to express themselves, with no expectation to stay still or be quiet. These events take place in the smaller Elgar Room, rather than in the main auditorium which might be overwhelming for some younger visitors.

royalalberthall.com/children-and-families/

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra present two types of concerts for kids. Both Notelets and Family Concerts are specifically designed for families, and are approximately an hour long. They are created with younger listeners in mind, and offer the perfect introduction to orchestral music – no matter how old you are! If you are able to arrive ahead of these concerts, there are free craft activities before the performance.

cbso.co.uk/whats-on/families

Take in a family concert at the wonderful Wigmore Hall in London. These fun and informative concerts for families take place in the beautiful Wigmore Hall, the international home of chamber music. Each concert has a different theme and a presenter to guide you through the music, with interactive elements and some audience participation! Wigmore Hall runs six concerts each year with three concerts recommended for families with children aged 5-7 and three for families with children aged 7-11. Some concerts include free arts activities in the Bechstein Room before the concert.

wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning/family-concerts

The London Symphony Orchestra's interactive concerts for mini music-makers aged 5 and under are a brilliant way to introduce your little ones to classical music. Once a term, storytellers invite you to LSO St Luke's to take you on a magical musical journey with LSO musicians. Who knows what you'll meet along the way – dancing giraffes, singing bears, angry trolls or greedy crocodiles? Dance and sing your way along as the instruments bring the story to life. Kids aged 7 to 11 will enjoy the LSO's Family Concerts, which feature music based on a theme and offer the chance for everyone to get involved by playing or singing along. These concerts also include hugely enjoyable pre-concert activities.

lso.co.uk/lso-discovery/discovery-families

Head to the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester for regular concerts for kids under the Music Makers banner. These monthly music and sensory play sessions are for babies and toddlers, giving little ones the chance to have fun, sing songs, and take part in lots of musical activities!

bridgewater-hall.co.uk

The Philharmonia's family concerts take place in Bedford, Canterbury, Leicester and London. These concerts give families in these communities access to a fantastic, relaxed hour-long introduction to the world of the symphony orchestra. Programmes are varied and include moments of family-friendly audience participation. There are opportunities to meet our musicians after the concert. In advance of each family concert, there are free workshops for community and family groups in Leicester, Bedford and Canterbury.

philharmonia.co.uk/family-concerts/

Held in partnership with Oxford City Council, each concert season the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra presents three FUNomusica Family Concerts at Oxford Town Hall. These concerts are fantastic days out for young families, with each concert presenting a different theme from creepy crawlies to pirates, to dance extravaganzas.

oxfordphil.com/events

Children’s Classic Concerts (CCC) has a serious commitment to making music fun. The hour-long concerts are full of popular classics as well as music that might be less familiar.  They incorporate genres such as jazz and folk music, dance, theatre and storytelling into their performances and use costumes, props and imaginative presentation to keep young audiences captivated in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.  The CCC are designed to appeal to children aged between 4 and 12, but aim is be fun for all the family.

childrensclassicconcerts.co.uk

Travel through the depths of space on a musical voyage that is out of this world with the Welsh National Opera. Experience extra-terrestrial activity, learn fun facts, and orbit the incredible world of opera and classical music with Welsh National Opera's space-themed interactive and educational family show that's suitable for all ages. Navigating the expedition is the stellar Tom Redmond, who will have you singing, dancing, and clapping along to some of our favourite pieces from stage and screen. This WNO family experience wouldn’t be complete without free foyer activities. Transform into an alien at a face painting station, enjoy an intergalactic treasure hunt, and more from 1.30pm.
When: Until 25 Nov 23
Where: Cardiff, Llandudno, Bristol, Plymouth, Birmingham, Southampton

wno.org.uk/wno-family-concerts