23 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

Celebrating Beano's 85th anniversary, Dennis & Gnasher and CBBC unleash the world's first 'comiconcerto' and discover classical music earworms, mixed with animation, actors, and audience interaction! Join their band of Dinmakers at the Southbank Centre to conduct some epic classical music mischief-making with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Come on an adventure where Dennis and Gnasher 'Beonofy' the concert experience – fun for all the family!
When: 3 Jun 23
Where: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX

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

Disney100: The Concert is a multimedia experience featuring legendary film scenes on a giant screen, while the magical musical moments are brought to life by the Hollywood Sound Orchestra. Strictly Come Dancing star and Disney super-fan Janette Manrara hosts the tour, which will feature a cast of star soloists and ensemble performers from recent Disney in Concert tours. Expect to hear song from films such as The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Encanto, and more; as well as highlights from the worlds of Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel.
When: 31 May-8 Jun 23
Where: Various venues

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

Another favourite for CBeebies' fans, Andy and the Odd Socks are a five-piece band consisting of CBeebies superstar and Odd Sock's frontman Andy Day, Rio from Planet Rock on guitar, Moxy on drums, Blu on bass and crazy Cousin Mac on the keys. See their live shows, and you'll be treated to a brilliant madcap mix of songs, slapstick and silliness with a show to entertain families of all ages. You'll be able to sing and dance along, as well as absorb the Odd Socks' positive message about being yourself and feeling proud of who you are.
When: 16 Sep-29 Oct 23
Where: Various venues

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

Take a deep breath and dive underwater in the concert hall submarine with the BBC Concert Orchestra. CBeebies friends JoJo & Gran Gran are on board with a Gran Gran plan, and Andy has his safari sub at the ready. Join the crew to search for endangered creatures, find out fascinating facts, and collect sounds and pictures for your very own musical ocean scrapbook. CBeebies: Ocean Adventure promises to be a magical concert featuring CBeebies theme tunes, orchestral treats, live action film and animation with a few surprises along the way.
When: On tour until 2 Jul
Where: Various venues

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

Kids will love seeing the familiar Encanto film alongside a full live orchestra at these Encanto in Concert events. The award-winning film comes to life in a UK tour for the first time ever, featuring the entire feature-length film with a full orchestra performing the score.
When: 28 Jul-2 Aug
Where: Various venues

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

With a touch of the supernatural, a sprinkle of satire and a load of mayhem, follow the light-hearted story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin as he uses his magical pipe to rid the town of rats. However, a broken promise compromises the town’s happiness as the piper seeks revenge. The illustrative music with wistful jigs, perfectly leads onto The Crab That Played With The Sea , based on Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories . Encounter the two phases of the tide and observe a crab’s transformation from an oversized troublemaker into a small, humble one. This family-friendly show lasts 1hour 15 minutes and is sung in English with surtitles in English and Welsh.
When: 27-28 May 23
Where: Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff CF10 5AL

wno.org.uk/wno-youth-opera-showcase

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: 30 Sep-25 Nov 23
Where: Cardiff, Llandudno, Bristol, Plymouth, Birmingham, Southampton

wno.org.uk/wno-family-concerts