Puppet Theatre Barge - Little Venice

What a lovely puppet show. My five-year-old absolutely loved it. I have never been to a puppet show before, and I enjoyed it as well. What a lovely day spent with my little boy. The barge is super cute, and it has an original smell which I loved 🥰 The show was super entertaining and fun. Unfortunately, we had this little girl behind us who was crying her lungs out. I’m not sure why her mum didn’t take her out. Some parts of the show might be ‘scary’ for the little ones.(when the thunder comes and lights go off) However, it didn’t ruin our experience. I would highly recommend it to everyone whose child is a little bit older, like 4ish. I think they would enjoy it a lot.

Please do support this little cute theatre. It's amazing to see this kind of art with all sorts of things going on. Super friendly to both kids and adults. It's simple but touching. You can also walk along the canal in the Little Venice.

Stepping into this Pinocchio felt like stepping into a storybook that had learned how to breathe. With nothing more than a wooden puppet, a single storyteller, and a boat that doubled as a warm front room, the production unfolded with quiet magic. The space was intimate and inviting, as though we’d all been welcomed aboard for a secret tale shared by lamplight. The set didn’t shout; it whispered. Wood, rope, and gentle suggestion did the work of entire worlds. The performer moved effortlessly between narrator, puppeteer, and companion. One moment guiding Pinocchio’s wooden limbs with exquisite precision, the next meeting the audience’s eyes, inviting us into the game. This wasn’t a story told at us, but with us. The audience became part of the current, gently pulled along by humour, warmth, and moments of stillness that let the imagination do the heavy lifting. The puppet itself was astonishingly alive. Each tilt of the head, each pause, each deliberate movement carried emotion far beyond wood and string. It reminded us that theatre doesn’t need spectacle to feel grand—sometimes all it needs is care, timing, and trust in the audience’s wonder. This Pinocchio was cozy, handcrafted, and deeply human. It felt less like watching a performance and more like being let in on a cherished story—one that glows softly long after you’ve left the room. A piece of theatre that understands the quiet power of simplicity, and uses it to beautiful, magical effect.

As Americans visiting London with a 6 year old we wanted to give her some fun culture she wouldn't get back in the states and not something every other tourist has done so we booked tickets to the city mouse and the country mouse. So glad we did! The theater on the barge was so charming as was the locale where it is currently docked, little Venice. Better yet there seemed to be many Brits here and it was nice to get away from other tourists for a bit and "be a local". The people there were all so kind and it was obvious that there was a passion for this theater and the children it serves. The show itself was great fun, the puppeteering excellent, and our little one can't stop talking about "the cat" and how "silly" he was. One last thing, I didn't catch the name of the lovely lady running the concession but I recognized her from a picture on the barge and when I asked her she said she's been here for 40 years...... that is truly a labor of love and it really showed in everyone we came across at the barge. Highly recommended. I hope this place never goes away, it's like a wonderful trip back in time.

Fantastic experience overall. Great location for a walk around and there's free parking right by on the road in weekends . Very attentive staff and the little theatre inside the boat is just magic, it feels like traveling back in time. The puppets are real pieces of art and the performances are beautiful. My daughters (3 & 4) absolutely loved it. In my opinion, really worth going even if it's without kids.

Highly recommend. This experience was incredible and showcased many different styles of puppetry proving that anything can be of use if you’re creative enough. The storyteller was engaging and imaginative. Passion for the craft shines through. The story encouraged participation and the kids seemed to really enjoy being brought into the tale. Even though we didn’t have any children to bring we had a wonderful time. Definitely a must see for families but without children it’s worth while too, particularly if you are interested in the art form.

Wonderful, great people and a great show. The rain and moon effects were utterly joyful. Need more of this kind of thing !

Such a clever idea! The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Of course this is a small space due to it being on a barge (which is the beauty and originality), but the seating was amazing in the space, truly theatre style. The show was excellent and my 7 year old was very engaged. Everything had been thought about carefully from the personal touch from the moment you arrive to seating children in the middle so they get a good view, to the fact there is even a toilet. Well done to the hard working staff and making this an amazing place to go to!

We watched "The Red Balloon" at the puppet barge. I didn't realize it was a children's thing, but the screaming babies aside, it was an experience! The puppetry was high quality, and I enjoyed the show.

I really wanted to like it, but I didn't. The idea of puppet theater on a barge is sort of mind blowing, you have puppets and your on water, but the actual experience is somewhat less interesting. The space is a bit claustrophobic and dusty and you can hear other near by barges. The biggest issue, however, is that the puppet show is only okay - the puppets are perfectly fine but the audio at times is slow and awkward. We saw Country Mouse, City Mouse. Little Venice was very nice and it would be great to enjoy a picnic there, but no reason to get on the barge - I must admit that my 4 year old liked the show(or the candy at intermission, I could not tell). On a cool day, the barge was hot. Also, the staff - who were very nice - went to great lengths to insure that everyone could see, failed to recognize that their seating arrangement fell apart as soon as one person moved from their assigned seat.