Visiting London to see Shrek the Musical

Dejected shuffling around crowded shops, constant demands for food and drink and fractious tempers…we all know what family days out can be like if they’re not well-planned, especially if you’re travelling with young children who can get bored or tired easily. Therefore if you are considering taking a trip to London to see Shrek the Musical, why not have a look at some of our recommendations for the hours leading up to the show to ensure a stress-free and fun outing for everyone involved? We’ve scoured the web to find some cheap deals and special offers so that costs don’t escalate too far and so you can have a memorable day without breaking the bank!

Madame Tussauds

For young Shrek fans, you can warm up for the musical by visiting the famous London branch of Madame Tussauds. This is the only Madame Tussauds that has a huge waxwork figure of Shrek that you can give a hug and have your photo taken with! There are also other favourites from childrens’ films, including Captain Jack Sparrow and Spiderman, as well as pop stars and Hollywood A-listers like Robert Pattinson and Zac Efron to marvel at.

Additionally, the waxwork museum has a fantastic ride called the Spirit of London where you can hop aboard a London black taxi and take a spin through the decades to witness the changes time has wrought on the city, from the trials of plague and fire in the Elizabethan era through to the swinging sixties on Carnaby Road and back to the present day! If you are travelling with slightly older children, the SCREAM exhibition transports you inside a maximum security prison whose mad inmates are roaming free for a spine-tingling experience in the dark…obviously, we wouldn’t suggest you risk this attraction with children under 12 years of age, who might be better served with the Marvel Super Heroes 4D film that is also on offer!

There are lots of special offers that you can take advantage of, including a Family Ticket or package deals for other activities such as the London Eye when you book online through the Madame Tussauds official website, or a 2 for 1 deal when you travel by National Rail and present a valid train ticket at the ticket office. Tesco are also currently giving out 2 for 1 vouchers to Clubcard holders for various London attractions, so be sure to ask next time you do your shopping. Normal adult admission is £28.20 per person.

London Zoo

Arguably one of the best zoos in the world, London Zoo has a range of animals, birds and sealife from all around the planet and is great entertainment and education for the whole family. You can walk through the monkey sanctuary and see many different species swinging through the trees just inches from your nose, visit the creepy underground nightlife area populated with bats and other nocturnal creatures, feel like you’re roaming through Africa in the selection of the continent’s most famous animals including lions and giraffes, or conjure Shrek’s spiritual home of the swamp by seeing snakes and creepy crawlies in the reptile and insect houses. There is also a play area and special shows throughout the day where visitors can get up close and personal with tropical birds and mammals or feed the penguins.

Normal prices for the zoo are from £19.50 per adult and £16.50 per child over 3 years of age including an optional donation, but again there are plenty of 2 for 1 offers available. If you visit DaysOutGuide.co.uk you can claim their 2 for 1 offer, valid with a National Rail train ticket on the same day, or look out for Tesco Clubcard vouchers that provide the same discount.

Eating Out

There are tons of brilliant restaurants around the theatre, but if you want a truly Shrektacular dining experience you could do worse than taking a trip to giraffe, who have created some special Shrek-themed dishes to celebrate the musical’s opening and are running a competition for fans of the musical as well. Their childrens’ Shrek meals include Good To Be Green Pasta and Gingy’s Gingerbread Man dessert, and they are also giving out Shrek activity sheets to keep younger children occupied, whereas parents and older children can enjoy a global menu with delicious dishes from all around the world.

giraffe are also offering the chance for you to win a trip to Orlando in Florida for four including tickets for Universal Studios, where amongst all the other incredible rides and attractions you can pretend to rescue Princess Fiona for yourself in the 4D film Shrek 4D! There is also a prize for the runner-up of a trip to London to see Shrek the Musical, including a pre-theatre meal. For more details and to enter, just visit giraffe.net/shrek.

Getting Around

For 2 for 1 access to both Madame Tussauds and London Zoo, remember that you can claim the DaysOutGuide special offer with a valid ticket to London from anywhere in the country on National Rail trains, who have a Family and Friends Railcard that can save you up to a third on adult ticket prices and 60% off childrens’ tickets for as little as £26 a year!

Once you’re in London, day travelcards are probably your best bet for all-day cheap and convenient travel. Under-11s can travel for free with an adult with a full-price ticket, and under-5s can travel on the tube for free at any time. The nearest station for Madame Tussauds is Baker Steet, which can be accessed from the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith and City, Bakerloo and Jubilee lines. The nearest station for London Zoo is Regent’s Park, also on the Bakerloo line, and the nearest giraffe to the theatre is at the Brunswick centre near Russell Square tube station. This can be found on the Piccadilly line, and is two stops along from Covent Garden where you can get off for the show.

Your Tips

Do you have any other Shrek-themed ideas for a big family day out in London? Let us know using the comments box below!