A Horribly Brilliant Day Out in the West End - Barmy Britain

If you're looking for something fun (and secretly educational) to do with the kids this summer, Simon from the LBB team might just have the perfect answer—and no, it doesn’t involve screens or slime.

We’re big Horrible Histories fans here at LBB HQ. The books, the telly, the facts that make you squirm a bit but can’t help repeating—there’s something about the way it all sticks. So when word came through that Barmy Britain: The Best Bits! was heading back to the West End, Simon had one reaction: “Yes, please.”

What could possibly go wrong!

This version is something special—it’s a kind of celebration of all the most bonkers bits from the Barmy Britain shows over the years. Think of it as a time-travelling comedy tour through everything weird, wonderful, and downright disgusting in British history. There’s Boudicca causing chaos, plague doctors, Dick Turpin being a rotter, and the sort of toilet humour that small people absolutely live for.

It’s 70 minutes of fast-paced, fact-packed fun with no interval—so ideal for families who don’t fancy navigating snacks and loo breaks mid-show. And the best bit? Grown-ups will enjoy it just as much as the kids. Maybe more. (There’s something very cathartic about history when it’s this silly.)

The essentials🗓️ Horrible Histories: Barmy Britain – The Best Bits! runs from 31 July to 31 August at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.

🎟️ Tickets start at £19.50 and are already on sale.

📍 Shaftesbury Avenue is a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus, so it’s a great excuse to make a proper London day of it.

📞 Box Office: 0330 333 4809 | barmybritain.com

It’s been 20 years since Horrible Histories Live on Stage first started causing mischief, and 14 years since the first Barmy Britain show arrived in London—so this new “best of” version feels like a brilliant entry point for first-timers, or a treat for those who've seen it before and want one last go before the summer holidays are over.

Simon’s got his eye on the press performance in early August—but if you’re planning a family day out and want something that’s clever, chaotic, and full of charm, this should definitely be on your list.

Just maybe don’t go straight to lunch afterwards. Some of those plague stories really stay with you.