London comes alive with seasonal magic in winter, so wrap up warm and let Kathryn Conway and Kohinoor Sahota be your guides to all the festive fun.
Snow Globe Climb Up at The O2
The O2 has made a name for itself welcoming A-listers from Paul McCartney to Prince, but not many people know that you can climb its iconic roof. The experience gets a festive makeover with Snow Globe Climb at Up at The O2. From 6 November to 3 January, the 52-metre-high roof is transformed into a winter wonderland with swirling snow and twinkling trees. At the summit, enjoy mulled wine or hot chocolate and 360-degree views of London. Don’t worry, it’s a gradual incline – and you’ll feel like you’ve conquered Christmas.
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Get your skates. Running from 6 November to 3 January, Glide at Battersea Power Station boasts romantic, old-school vibes. With the backdrop of the River Thames, power station and towering tree, there’s a 200-metre rink and scenic skate path along the river to enjoy. Hop on the vintage carousel, drink and dine at The Glass House, or visit fun food stalls – churros, anyone? You can also make a day of it and pick up a few festive gifts from the power station’s numerous shops or the Christmas market.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey plays an important role in the capital’s Christmas calendar. The Princess of Wales hosts the royal event, Together at Christmas, and while the public cannot attend the service, there are ways to get into the season’s spirit at the abbey. On 5 December, Family Day: Christmas Crafts and Carols includes songs, stories and a spectacular setting. Create decorations, follow the festive trail through the cloisters and listen to winter tales, all with the backdrop of choristers singing carols. The event is free, but tickets must be booked in advance.
ABBA Voyage
Housed in the purpose-built ABBA Arena in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, ABBA Voyage gives you the chance to see digital avatars of the Swedish superstars – Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Frida – perform alongside a live 10-piece band in a concert experience like no other. With a festive menu and a schedule of Christmas performances, watch it all from the comfortable tiered seating or opt for the lively dance floor, where you can get your groove on to hits such as Dancing Queen and Waterloo. Keep an eye out for details of the Olympic Park’s Winter Adventure 2026, a series of fun evenings from 1-24 December.
The Chimney Lift
Before we get ahead of ourselves with excitement festive fun, let’s not forget the magic of Bonfire Night. It commemorates the foiling of a plot by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5 November, 1605, and is a night of pyrotechnics, sparklers and, of course, huge bonfires. The Chimney Lift at Battersea Power Station, which rises up 109 metres through the north-west chimney of this famous landmark, provides the perfect vantage point from which to view the Battersea Park fireworks on 7 and 8 November, Places on this exclusive experience are limited, so book early to secure your spot.
A Magical Winter Wonderland at The Official Paddington Bear Experience
The festive season is a time for kindness, and the story of Paddington Bear being welcomed into the Brown family captures that beautifully. From 10 November to 4 January, A Magical Winter Wonderland at The Official Paddington Bear Experience at County Hall brings the beloved story to life. Meet Paddington himself, admire a 5.5-metre-tall Christmas tree, wander through the light installation in Windsor Gardens and tuck into festive treats including gingerbread paws, mince pies and orange hot chocolate. Oh, and marmalade sandwiches, of course!
City Cruises
All aboard! A cruise on the River Thames is one of the best places to see the capital’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks – and City Cruises knows how to make a night of it. A four-course dinner is served on its New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise, New Year’s Eve Dinner Plus Cruise and New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner. Bringing the kids? Join the New Year’s Eve Celestial Cruise. Prefer an adults-only experience? The New Year’s Eve Galaxy Plus Cruise is for you. Christmas Lunch Party cruises are also available.
London Canal Museum
We all love the magic of Christmas lights. But what better way to view the seasonal color lighting up King’s Cross than from a narrow boat? On Tuesdays in December, the London Canal Museum hosts its 25-minute King’s Cross Lights by Water cruise, offering a hot drink as guests gently glide along the canal to St Pancras and back. Also on selected dates in December, the Mince Pie Cruise offers a round trip through the Islington Tunnel, as guests enjoy a hot drink, a locally baked mince pie with cream and a guide sharing the history of the route, which opened in 1820.
London Eye
Want a view of the capital with extra sparkle? The London Eye might be the star of the city’s spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display, but from 14 November to 3 January you can savour a twinkling cityscape. from 135 metres up in one of its capsules. Enjoy Festive Flights in pods that are decorated for the season, tuck into a Festive Afternoon Tea (14 Nov-3 Jan) or meet the man in red at Santa in the Sky (21 Nov-24 Dec). Expect sweet treats, games and crafts in a decorated space before Father Christmas beckons you aboard for a 30-minute rotation of this iconic observation wheel.
Carols at the Royal Albert Hall
From 19-24 December, the capital’s most famous concert hall, the Royal Albert Hall, is filled with sounds of the season as both traditional and modern carols are performed by the likes of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Choir, Royal Choral Society and British Imperial Military Band. So don your best Christmas jumper and warm up your vocal cords as audience participation is actively encouraged. Alternatively, give your festive film viewing an upgrade courtesy of the Films in Concert series, which sees an orchestra bring the scores from his movies sush as Home Alone (5-6 Dec) and La La Land (31 Dec) to life.
Victorian Traditions at Christmas at the Tower of London
In 1848, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularised the Christmas tree after an image of the royal family gathered around one appeared in the Illustrated London News. Running from 27 November to 3 January, the stories behind our yuletide traditions are explored inVictorian Traditions at Christmas at the Tower of London. Step into the historic fortress and discover the history of cards, carols, crackers and Christmas trees. For added fun, why not combine your ticket with the informative Tower of London River Tour
Guinness Open Gate Brewery London
If you’ve wanted to master the art of pouring the perfect pint of Guinness, pop along to the brand’s microbrewery in the heart of Covent Garden. During the Tour to Table Experience at Guinness Open Gate Brewery London, you’ll not only have the opportunity to master the famous two-part pour and sample beers brewed by the Guinness team onsite, but you’ll also sit down to a three-course meal and a beer of your choice in The Porter’s Table restaurant. From 16 November to 30 December, however, the feast goes festive, so don’t expect roast turkey with all the trimmings and mince pies to finish.
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House with Virgin Atlantic Holidays feels like something straight out of a Richard Curtis film. Running from 11 November to 10 January, the romantic setting boasts an 18th-century courtyard and a 40-foot Christmas tree. On 23 November, the K-pop Party plays songs by BTS and BLACKPINK, while selected evenings of Skate Lates with Aperol Spritz feature DJs. The Chalet by Jimmy Garcia brings joy to the world – well, London – with delicious Alpine-inspired food and drink including melted cheese, locally sourced charcuterie, mulled wine and cider.
Leadenhall Market
Rewind the clock courtesy of the Victorian-style lights illuminating up the passageways and ornate architecture of this stunning market building this Christmas. Join in the fun as the lights are switched on in a lively event on 19 November, where the obligatory countdown is accompanied by live music and a flurry of snow as a towering 28-foot Christmas tree takes pride of place of beneath the atrium. While at Leadenhall Market, make sure to check out the Wanderkammer installation – a delightful row of tiny shops with a serving window that’s open for business until 22 December (Thu-Sat 2pm-6pm).
Culture Mile Lights Trail
Charles Dickens’ Christmas convert, Ebenezer Scrooge, famously lived in the City of London. But the dim, fog-choked streets Dickens wrote about in A Christmas Carol are thankfully no more. In fact, the north-west corner of the city is feeling a whole lot brighter. It welcomes the return of the Culture Mile Christmas Lights Trail from 26 November to 3 January with a spectacular series of innovative light installations. Spanning the Barbican, Moorgate and Farringdon, simply download the trail map from the website and create your own adventure.
WILD: The Drone Light Show
It’s time to see Lord’s Cricket Ground in a new light – literally. On 21 November, WILD: The Drone Light Show takes place at the home of cricket. Get ready for a wholesome night out, as hundreds of drones bring the animal kingdom to life. This state-of-the-art experience is carefully choreographed to music with colour, character and a whole lot of charm. Watch butterflies dancing, peacocks strutting, crocodiles snapping and dolphins leaping through the night sky. Tickets are expected to sell fast, so be quick if you want to book a seat.
The Polar Express Train Ride
Got your pyjamas on and ticket at the ready? The Polar Express Train Ride returns to London Euston on select dates between 5 and 23 December. Inspired by the 2004 film, this immersive theatrical journey is made for the whole family. Carols play and a festive gift shop awaits before boarding, then guests settle at lantern-lit tables for a one-hour journey full of festive singalongs. Expect a warm welcome from the ticket-punching conductor and dancing chefs serving hot chocolate as the magic builds towards a very special visit from Santa.
Alice Immersive Wonderland
Things are getting curiouser and curiouser in Canada Water as Alice Immersive Wonderland sees visitors come face-to-face with Lewis Carroll’s cast of much-loved characters. Over 120 minutes, visitors take in 10 theatrical spaces where live actors, projection mapping and shifting scales bring to life this classic story of a girl who falls down a rabbit hole. Ponder the Caterpillar’s question, wander the Cheshire Cat’s forest, play Flamingolf in the Queen’s Court before a 360-degree projection provides an epic finale. Suitable for all ages, it opens on13th November.
Santa’s Grotto at The Queen’s House
The Queen’s House is a place of elegance and was once home to Anne of Denmark, wife of King James I, and Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I. This winter, it is welcoming a very important person – Father Christmas. From 14 November to 24 December, Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House draws inspiration from the world of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. Actors bring to life the Hobgoblin, Snow Queen and colourful characters, and the story culminates with a grotto and gift from Santa.
