London comes alive in the run-up to Christmas. Each winter, the capital is alight with magical light displays, sparkling bauble-adorned shop-fronts, tons of festive attractions and enough mulled wine to fill the Thames.
And because we're so excited about it, we've compiled a handy selection of all the festivities London has to offer; from afternoon tea to ice-skating and every festive happening in between.
Despite the cost of living crisis rumbling on, there are plenty of ways to ring in the festive period on a shoestring budget (with lots of free festive activities thrown in too), so you can celebrate Christmas in all its glory – whether you're flying solo, looking for group activities or need something fun to do with the kids, whatever your budget this year.
Here are the best Christmas things to do in London this year:
What to eat in London
Festive Afternoon Tea at Claridge's
Claridge's Festive Afternoon Tea includes delights such as salmon, lemon and dill finger sandwiches, black forest Christmas tree pudding, a gingerbread tart and Claridge's Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.
Christmas Afternoon Tea at Royal Lancaster London
Relax and enjoy an irresistible assortment of delicately crafted sandwiches, warm baked scones and deliciously Christmassy sweet treats that will be served in the hotel’s beautiful Hyde Café, accompanied by a selection of the finest Camellia’s Tea House teas and fizz.
Hotel Café Royal is the magical place to experience Christmas and New Year right in the heart of London by Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and the brilliant light displays. The Grade II-listed Oscar Wilde Lounge will also be serving up a decadent and musical Festive Afternoon Tea, complete with award-winning patisseries and a live pianist. Throughout the festive holiday the hotel will also be hosting an array of family-friendly activities in its Children’s Club to keep the little ones entertained, from cookie decorating to bauble making.
Christmas Afternoon Tea at The Ritz
The Ritz's iconic Christmas Afternoon Tea is making a return, with every adult receiving a glass of Ritz champagne on arrival and every child receiving a Ritz teddy bear. If you book on Christmas Day, you'll be lucky enough to get a visit from Father Christmas himself.
What to drink in London
Rooftop drinks at The Madison
The Madison's rooftop bar is one of the coolest venues in London. With views across the St Paul's Cathedral and the London skyline beyond, each Christmas it turns its rooftop into a festive haven complete with wreaths and baubles - no admission fee required.
What to do in London
Each year, thousands of shoppers flock to Carnaby Street in central London to snap photos of the dazzling display of Christmas lights, in partnership with charity partner Choose Love. On 8th November, presenter and Choose Love ambassador Vick Hope switched on the lights which create a vibrant display of neon colour and light waves. There are over 100 retailers, restaurants and bars to choose from in Carnaby, and thanks to the diverse range of stores, it's the ideal place to get all your Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop. For fashionistas, look to Annie's Ibiza, Ganni and Rixo, and for beauty-lovers, there's Benefit, MAC and Too Faced. After all that hard work shopping, head to the likes of Paradiso, Kaleido Rolls, INO and Dehesa for some well-earned sustenance.
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Take a ride on the Festive Steam Express
A unique festive experience coming this winter, the Steam Dreams Rail Co. has announced three dates for its highly anticipated Christmas Steam Express trips, taking passengers to Christmas markets in Edinburgh, York and Bath. Departing from London King's Cross, tickets range from opulent Premier Dining, which include a delectable four-course seasonal menu and Bucks Fizz on arrival, to First Class with a festive snack box and Bucks Fizz or Standard Class where passengers are welcome to bring their own picnic or order food and drinks on-board…
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Family-friendly things to do in (and near!) London
If you're looking for a dose of Christmas cheer for all the family, few places serve up those festive feels more than Elf The Musical. Having returned to London's Dominion Theatre just off Tottenham Court Road. Telling the well-known story of Buddy, who mistakenly crawled into Santa’s bag as a baby and was raised as an elf, this is a high-vibe take on the much-loved movie with catchy songs that you'll find yourselves humming for days. With a finale (no spoilers here) sure to give you chills, this is a real Christmas cracker of a show that injects the spirit of the season into everyone lucky enough to snag a ticket.
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It's a classic for a reason. This year's Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park will run from 17 November to 1 January and will include all of the beloved rides and food stalls that it's become known for such as the apres-ski party funhouse, the adrenaline-filled blizzard ride, the ice bar and the street food village.
Immensely popular and for good reason, LaplandUK is a 4-hour immersive experience in Father Christmas's world that people go wild for year after year. It is Glastonbury's answer to Christmas - and tickets for the most-sought after festive experience drop on Friday 27th March at 10am. As always, tickets are expected to sell-out within hours, with a predicted 1m+ hoping to get their hands on the hottest tickets in town. Last year’s ticket release saw such a high-demand that a record-breaking 750,000, more than double the previous year, joined the virtual waiting room with tickets selling out in just hours on the day - and it's little surprise; LaplandUK is a truly immersive experience that transports families into an enchanting, snow covered world filled with hundreds of Elves, a frozen pond for skating, twinkling lights, the warming smells of the Lapland Bakery and the magnificent snowy Lapland Toy Factory, all part of the wonder of the true home of Father Christmas. Guests travel through secret portals in the Whispering Woods of the UK and follow magical pathways to arrive in Lapland.
It all began with parents to four young boys, Mike and Alison Battle, who dreamt of revelling in the joy of their children’s innocent belief in Father Christmas. They saw Christmas as the greatest celebration of childhood yet could find nowhere that reflected how important this moment was to them.
Set in Swinley Forest on the Crown Estate in a Hollywood-style set, LaplandUK has welcomed millions of families, as well as some of the biggest celebrity names, such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, Tom Hardy, the Beckhams, Elton John and more. Over the years, word has spread of the “secret in the forest”, with notable attendees including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Tom Hardy, Elton John and The Beckhams. So is it worth the hype? We flew (read: drove the short hour-long journey from South West London) on opening weekend to find out and can confirm it is a bucket list experience.
From the moment you arrive in the twinkly forest, children (and parents tbh) are captivated. It is such a slick operation that you literally show up and are escorted on your journey through Christmas by a variety of brilliantly festive elves who make children feel so special. The journey begins in a magically immersive theatre and ‘Human Folk’ are invited on an epic journey along the magical pathways of the Elven World via Mrs Christmas's kitchen and the all singing, all dancing toy factory. A real wow moment, the toy factory was inspired by Germany’s historic Oberammagau houses, in an ode to Bavarian design, and makes perfect Instagram fodder. An ice skating rink, festive boutiques, post office for writing letters to Father Christmas and delicious eateries (please try the Christmas crumble!) also await in the forest. The magical experience culminates in reaching the snow-covered, cosy log cabin home of Father Christmas who spends time chatting to children about their Christmas wishes; it was a truly unforgettable experience. Children will talk about their trip to LaplandUK for years to come and beg for a ticket for next year (if you can get your hands on one, that is).
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Want in? Of course you do. LaplandUK opens its official ticket release on Friday 27 March at 10am. From 9am, guests will be able to enter the virtual waiting room via LaplandUK’s own ticketing platform. Each guest will then select which venue they wish to attend. At 10am, each guest will be allocated a random place in the queue for the show they have selected. Once they reach position one, they will have the opportunity to select their preferred date and number of tickets. LaplandUK Ascot and LaplandUK Manchester tickets will go on sale at the same time, and ticket prices are the same. LaplandUK will run from 7th November to 24 December 2026, with tickets ranging from £60 to £195. Once tickets have been successfully purchased, that’s when the magic truly begins and families await their freezable personalised invitations.
Run don't walk.
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Disney On Ice will be returning to the UK again this festive season with Disney On Ice Presents Find Your Hero. Through stories of bravery, self-belief, friendship, and love, it’s designed to inspire both children and adults with a dazzling array of skating artistry, amazing visuals, and emotionally resonant storytelling. It will run from October 29 to January 4 and will tour Birmingham, Nottingham, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Belfast, Manchester, Sheffield, and London. Tickets are on sale now so skate don't walk.
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Home Alone in Concert (PG) with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra
Is it even December without a viewing of iconic Christmas movie, Home Alone? Take your viewing tradition to the next level with the help of John Williams’ enchanting score, performed live at Royal Albert Hall to the classic film by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus. Since its debut in 2013, Home Alone in Concert has become a cherished festive tradition for orchestras and audiences across the globe and this is a bucket list event running between Saturday 6 - Saturday 13 December 2025.
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Set against the backdrop of the newly renovated Battersea Power Station, ice skating fans can take a spin around the trio of interconnected rinks and get a 360-degree view of the 30ft Christmas tree, decorated with an array of the brand's classic cream boxes upon its boughs.
Pop in to a Biscuiteers Icing cafe
Celebrate Christmas with Biscuiteers at one of their Icing Cafés. From DIY icing to learning a brand new skill at the School of Icing classes, these festive events will certainly get you in the Christmas spirit with all the family.
The Christmas Experience at Kew
Kew comes alive with festive splendour in the run-up to Christmas, designing a magical light installation now in its twelth year.
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Explore Borough Market
Borough Market is wonderfully festive at Christmas time. There's also late night shopping on Thursdays and Fridays as well as live music.
