The 24 best festive things to do in London this December

Winter at Kew Gardens
The Canopy of Light at Kew Gardens Credit: Getty

In case you hadn't noticed, Christmas season has officially begun. And there's no better place to get that fuzzy festive feeling than in London.

There is so much going on in the capital this winter it can feel dizzying to know where to start. So here is an essential run-down of some of the best things to do in London, from Christmas markets to ice rinks, boozey Gatsby balls to indulgent supper clubs. 

Christmas Markets

1. Christmas by the River, London Bridge

There is a programme of festive workshops, events and storytelling sessions taking place at Christmas by the River (between The Pier and Tower Bridge) throughout December. The Thameside market includes boutique stalls and pop-up food and drink vendors, with splendid views of Tower Bridge and the City of London. Consider wandering west along the river and combining this with the Southbank Wintertime Market (see below).

Christmas by the River, London Bridge
Christmas by the River, London Bridge Credit: London Bridge City

Dates Until January 2

Price Free entry

More info londonbridgecity.co.uk/events

2. Winterville, Clapham Common

Billed as London's 'alternative festive experience', Winterville was masterminded by the co-founders of Field Day music festival. What to expect? A Nineties DJ set from Mel C (of Spice Girls fame), festive screenings from Backyard Cinema, plus neon-lit putting at Plonk Golf and the Twisted Wheels Roller Disco. The reliably excellent Street Feast supply the food.

Winterville
Winterville Credit: Winterville

Dates Until December 23 (closed Mon)

Price Free on Tues; £2 Wed–Sun but £5 after 6pm on Fri and Sat. Ticketed extras.

More info winterville.co.uk

3. Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park

Anyone who isn't a fan of the brash, neon side of Christmas should probably skip this one. For everyone else: London’s veritable yuletide utopia has opened its doors once again. Expect big Ferris wheels, a comedy tent, Zippos circus, and an abundance of bratwurst and mulled wine. New to 2018, there is a 45m ‘ice slide’, a performance of Peter Pan on Ice and an immersive experience of The Snowman in what is being billed as a ‘multi-sensory, cinematic adventure’. A good option for families.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Credit: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Dates Until January 6 (closed Christmas Day)

Price Free entry; charges apply for rides, ice skating and other attractions

More info hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

4. Winterland, Fulham

Fulham’s waterside has had a retro ski chalet makeover. Taking inspiration from the slopes of the Alps in the Eighties and Nineties, Winterland is a micro-resort of 'hunting lodges', feasting tables, igloos, gondolas and chairlifts. Expect burgers, cheese fondues served with charcuterie and moreish scnitzels, washed down with a cocktail from the Moose Bar. Apres-food activities include karaoke, curling, beer pong and table tennis. A festive hoot.

Winterland, Fulham
Winterland, Fulham Credit: Winterland

Dates Until December 22

Price Entry from £10

More info winterlandlondon.com

5. Southbank Centre Wintertime Market

A mooch along the South Bank is pleasant any month of the year, but over Christmas the riverside promenade transforms with festive stalls and twinkling lights. International street food, craft beers and cocktails are served up – plus artisan gifts. For families, consider combining a visit to the market with one of the shows inside the Southbank centre, such as Rumpelstiltskin or Circus 1903, featuring animal puppetry (book ahead).

Southbank Centre Wintertime Market
Southbank Centre Wintertime Market Credit: South Bank Centre

Dates Until January 6

Price Free entry

More info southbankcentre.co.uk

6. Tootsmas, Tooting

Now in its third year, Tootsmas festival runs for one weekend only. At the Street Food Takeover wintry fare is served up by Da Ja Streetfood, Cheeky Burger, Crust Issues and Simmons Crepery, while Nik's Kitchen sells mac n' cheese with meatballs. At Unwined there are 'speed wine tasting sessions' for £5, sampling the best of seasonal tipples.

Tootsmas
Tootsmas Credit: Tootsmas

Dates December 8–9

Price Free entry

More info tootopia.co.uk

Supper clubs

7. South East Christmas Feast, Copeland Gallery in Peckham

Billed as 'a night of delicious festive fare, entertainment and exceptionally good cheer', South London’s hippest foodsmiths Mike and Ollie are putting on a three-course sharing feast with sustainably-sourced meats as well as veggie and vegan options. Book before it sells out.

South East Christmas Feast, Peckham
South East Christmas Feast, Peckham Credit: Mike and Ollie

Dates December 13th, 14th & 15th

Price £39

More info mikeandollie.co.uk

8. Supper for StreetSmart, Aldgate

Hosted at Benk & Bo in Aldgate, homelessness charity StreetSmart has joined forces with chefs Eyal Jagermann (of The Barbary), Billy & Jack (from Masterchef 2016, remember?) and chef and food writer Alexandra Dudley for a one-off supper-club event, with all proceeds going to the homeless.

StreetSmart
StreetSmart Credit: StreetSmart

Date December 7

Price £40

More info Book here

9. The Greatest Snowman, Bethnal Green

Immersive theatre and culinary gurus Funicular are inviting Londoners to board a luxury train carriage at the uber-cool Pedley Street Station in Bethnal Green. Guests will be treated along the way to a delicious four-course meal curated by Masterchef finalist Louisa Ellis.

The Greatest Snowman
The Greatest Snowman Credit: Funicular Productions

Date Until December 23

Price £60+

More info funicularproductions.com

Drinking and nightlife

10. Peckham Levels 1st Birthday Party

Peckham Levels is turning one, and like all respectable birthday celebrations they are stretching the party over two weekends. Over the Winter Open Studios (December 1–2) visitors can explore the levels and take a look inside London's biggest open access screen printing studio, 3rd Rail Print Screen. The following weekend (December 7–9), it will be food, drink and boogying at Ghostnotes, plus workshops and a fashion market from Wasted Chic.

Peckham Levels
Peckham Levels Credit: Peckham Levels

Dates December 1–2 & 7–9 

Price Free entry

More info peckhamlevels.org

11. Ballie Ballerson, Shoreditch

As good-an-option for grown up children as anything else going on in the capital this December. Ballie Ballerson (essentially, a massive ball-pit) is filling one of its ponds with 'snow' dry foam. If that doesn't sound like your thing, perhaps one of the retro cocktails will help to seal the deal.

Ballie Ballerson
Ballie Ballerson Credit: Ballie Ballerson

Dates Until December 30

Price From £20 per person up to £70 for the 'VIP Christmas Ballers' package

More info ballieballerson.com

12. Pirates of the Hidden Spirit, Bankside

Just what London was missing! A bar on a pirate ship. Visitors are encouraged to channel their inner pirate on this brand new immersive cocktail experience on the Golden Hinde at St Mary Overie Dock, near London Bridge. Stuffed with pirates and booze, it operates three nights a week and we at Telegraph Travel were the very first to clamber on board.

Pirates of the Hidden Spirit
Pirates of the Hidden Spirit Credit: MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY/MATT MARTIN

Dates Ongoing

Price From £34.99

More info thehiddenspirit.co.uk

13. The Great Gatsby Christmas Cocktail Party, Jin Bo Law

A night of Twenties-style glitz and glamour on the 14th floor of the Dorsett City Hotel. Expect classic cocktails, live music and an abundance of fantastically dressed guests. In fact, the very best man and woman will each win a bottle of champagne.

Jin Bo Law
Jin Bo Law Credit: Jin Bo Law

Dates December 22

Price From £15

More info Book here

The great outdoors

14. The Dickens Christmas Carol Walk, Bank

Beginning at Bank, this Christmas Carol walk explores the very cobbled alleyways that Victorian Londoners once stomped. Tour guide Richard Dickens, dressed in suitable Victorian garb, will lead you to markets, pubs and the place where Dickens placed Scrooge’s Counting House at the beginning of A Christmas Carol. For Dickens fanatics, a showing of A Christmas Carol is coming to the Old Vic theatre this year (see below).

Charles Dickens Tour
Charles Dickens Tour Credit: Charles Dickens Tour

Dates Selected dates between December 15–31

Price £10

More info london-walking-tours.co.uk

15. Christmas at Kew

An after-dark explosion of festive art, light and sound in London’s most glorious gardens. The highlight is the Cathedral of Light, featuring 300 glowing origami boats on Kew’s lake, and a finale at Palm House where the pond and glasshouse are brought to life with laser beams, jets of light and kaleidoscopic projections.

Light show at Kew Gardens
Light show at Kew Gardens Credit: Kew Gardens

Dates Until January 5

Price From £16.50

More info kew.org

16. Peter Pan Cup, the Serpentine 

Anyone going for an early-morning Christmas Day stroll through Hyde Park should swing by the Serpentine at 9am to watch the annual Peter Pan Cup, open to members of the Serpentine Swimming Club. If you're spectating, be sure to wrap up warm to properly enjoy this age-old tradition – swimmers have met here for over 150 years to compete in a festive swim.

Serpentine swimmer
Serpentine swimmer Credit: Getty

Dates December 25

Price Free

More info serpentineswimmingclub.com

17. London Zoo Light Trail

After the sun sets and the (diurnal) animals go to sleep, visitors to the London Zoo Light Trail will embark on a mile-long walk illuminated by over a million lights. Expect flying flamingos, golden giraffes and an 11-metre tree made of 365 recycled Christmas sledges.

London Zoo Light Trail
London Zoo Light Trail Credit: ZSL

Dates Until January 1

Price From £16.50

More info christmasatlondonzoo.seetickets.com 

18. Light Maze, Wembley Park

The capital of football is embracing Christmas in a big way this year. A brand new Boxpark (the third in London, after Shoreditch and Croydon) with the manifesto of “Eat. Drink. Play” is opening in December. While you're here, take a wander through the Light Maze – a glowing, labyrinthine installation.

Light Maze, Wembley Park
Light Maze, Wembley Park Credit: Light Maze

Dates Until December 21

Price Free entry

More info wembleypark.com

19. After Dark, Chiswick House and Gardens

The opulent Chiswick House and Gardens are being lit up in glorious fashion this Christmas. A 45-minute trail runs through the gardens, while the villa itself is the canvas for a light display where classical architecture meets modern technology. At the end of the trail, visitors can take their pick from a selection of street food vendors.

After Dark at Chiswick House
After Dark at Chiswick House Credit: Chiswick House and Gardens

Dates Thursdays to Sundays, Until December 30

Price From £16.50

More info after-dark.co.uk

Live events

20. Cutty Sark’s Christmas at Sea with Merry Opera, Greenwich

Attendees to this maritime festive do will be greeted with a mug of mulled cider and a mince pie slice, before concert performances of Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, Gilbert & Sullivan plus sea shanties – all under the gleaming copper hull of the Cutty Sark. 

Cutty Sark Christmas at Sea
Cutty Sark Christmas at Sea Credit: National Maritime Museum

Dates December 16

Price £25

More info rmg.co.uk

21. Luna Winter Cinema

The UK’s leading producer of open-air film screenings is running the Luna Winter Cinema in the run-up to Christmas. Venues include the Pavilion of Kensington Palace and the former Art Deco cinema, now reimagined as EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney) in East London, plus Alexandra Palace. All the classics are on show, including It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf and Home Alone. Splash out for a VIP ticket at Kensington Palace to get a luxury sofa, a complimentary drink and butler service.

Luna Winter Cinema, Kensington Palace
Luna Winter Cinema, Kensington Palace Credit: Luna Cinema

Dates Various screenings from December 17–23

Price From £18.50

More info thelunacinema.com

22. A Christmas Carol, the Old Vic

Back by popular demand, the immortal classic A Christmas Carol returns to the Old Vic theatre in Waterloo this December. Adapted for stage by Jack Thorne (of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) the performance is accompanied by mince pies and general merriment. For families, there is a Christmas Storytelling session with Michael Rosen on Saturday December 15.

Scrooge at the Old Vic
Scrooge at the Old Vic Credit: The Old Vic

Dates Until January 19

Price From £12

More info oldvictheatre.com

Ice rinks

As well as those listed below there are ice rinks across the capital, including at the Tower of London, Somerset House, Canary Wharf  and Alexandra Palace.

23. Skyline Skating, John Lewis Oxford Street

John Lewis has opened up a miniature ice skating rink on its rooftop. If you don’t fancy a skate, there are hot gin cocktails from London distillery Sipsmiths and freshly baked pies – venison for carnivores, juniper and chestnut mushroom for veggies – from London pie-makers MYPIE.

Skyline Skating at John Lewis Oxford Street
Skyline Skating at John Lewis Oxford Street Credit: Sipsmith

Dates Until January 6

Price Skating costs £8

More info johnlewis.com

24. Natural History Museum Ice Rink

The Natural History Museum ice rink is open once again for the winter 2018 season, set against the glorious backdrop of one of the capital's great museums.

Natural History Museum
Ice skating at the Natural History Museum Credit: Natural History Museum

Dates Until January 20

Price From £12.65

More info nhm.ac.uk

Have you been to any of these festive attractions? Are there any that we might have missed? Tell us in the comment section below.

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