Christmas in London 2025: the ultimate guide to festive fun
London at Christmas feels especially alive, with the city’s historic landmarks, neighbourhood streets and cultural institutions all embracing the festive season in their own distinctive ways. Ice rinks take over iconic courtyards, royal palaces are dressed with candlelight and seasonal décor, and independent shops across the capital open late with mulled wine and music. From the joys of Christmas at Kew to the lively Smithfield meat auction, and from major concerts and ballets to intimate workshops and family-friendly trails, the city offers an extraordinary mix of experiences. This guide brings together the very best of Christmas in London…
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House returns (12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026). Image credit Owen Harvey. Courtesy of Somerset House.
#FLODown: Skate at Somerset House with Virgin Atlantic Holidays is London’s ultimate festive experience, transforming the iconic courtyard into a sparkling winter wonderland. Glide beneath the stars, savour delicious treats at The Chalet by Jimmy Garcia, and unwind in the stylish Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse. On select evenings, Skate Lates bring live DJ sets, while Harold Offeh’s stunning ice installation turns every skate into a dazzling performance. Don’t forget the Shelter Boutique, where exclusive brand donations help support the housing charity Shelter.
Date: 12 November 2025 – 11 January 2026. Location: Somerset House, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Strand, London WC2R 1LA. Price: Adults £15 - £28.50, Children from £10 + one off transaction fee of £2.95. Book now
London’s historic homes at Christmas
Ham House. Image credit MTotoe
#FLODown: London’s historic homes go all out for Christmas, turning historic houses into festive wonderlands. From the Georgian splendour of Chiswick House, where the “Twelfth Night of Christmas” experience lets you wander through beautifully themed rooms, sculptures and florals inspired by the classic carol, to Ham House, which glows with candlelight, stars and garlands while families explore historical rooms, follow a spotter trail, write to Father Christmas and discover a sugar banquet below stairs. Over at Hampton Court Palace, the magnificent courtyards host a Festive Fayre with artisan stalls, live music, Tudor cookery and an ice rink against the backdrop of the palace’s iconic brick façade. In Dennis Severs’ House, the candlelit rooms create a theatrical time capsule, scented with oranges and gingerbread. Meanwhile, Kenwood House lights up with magical trails, seasonal décor and installations, offering a rich and atmospheric way to celebrate Christmas in style.
Click here to discover more historic homes to visit in London this festive period.
Columbia Road’s Christmas Wednesdays
Columbia Road’s Christmas Wednesdays. Image courtesy of Aaarven
#FLODown: Columbia Road, legendary for its weekly flower market, is also home to a long line of independent shops selling everything from homeware to chic clothing and much more. Its Christmas Wednesdays are returning, offering late-night shopping, mulled wine, mince pies, and the perfect opportunity to explore the UK’s longest stretch of independent stores. The historic Shoreditch street, celebrated for its charm since the 1860s, provides an ideal setting for finding unique gifts and enjoying a lively local atmosphere, with shopkeepers continuing the long-standing tradition of keeping their doors open into the evening.
Dates & Time: 5pm to 9pm on 26 November 2025, 3 December 2025, 10 December 2025 and 17 December 2025. Location: Columbia Road, London, E2 7RG. columbiaroad.info
Click here to discover our top picks of locations to find unique Christmas gifts in London.
Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall
Christmas Carols at the Royal Albert Hall. December 2022. Igor Sporynin
#FLODown: The Royal Albert Hall’s 2025 Christmas season offers a festive combination of concerts, films and family events, including Tony Hadley’s Christmas Big Band Tour, Christmas with the Salvation Army, Glyndebourne’s Handel’s Messiah, and Home Alone in Concert. Families can enjoy My Christmas Orchestral Adventure, while music fans are treated to Jazz at the Movies, Trevor Nelson’s Soul Christmas, Jamie Cullum’s The Pianoman at Christmas, the London Community Gospel Choir at Christmas, and Guy Barker’s big band celebration. Traditional highlights include the Hall’s much-loved Carols at the Royal Albert Hall, Christmas with the Royal Choral Society, Anna Lapwood’s festive concert and the Gettys’ Home for Christmas, with the season concluding in magical style with Birmingham Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
Click here for the full programme of events.
Christmas at Kew 2025
Palm House light show at the 10th Christmas at Kew © Raymond Gubbay Ltd, Richard Haughton
#FLODown: Christmas at Kew returns to London’s Royal Botanic Gardens, transforming the iconic site into a magical after-dark experience of light, art, and nature. This year introduces eight world-premiere installations, including 100 illuminated lilies on the Palm House Pond, the Christmas Orchestra, and In Bloom by Dutch artist Wilhelmusvlug. The Great Pagoda is lit for the first time. Visitors can explore interactive dancing floors, the glowing Mycelium Network, the Fire Garden, the Christmas Cathedral, and a spectacular finale in the Temperate House. The redesigned 2025 route emphasises sustainability through LED lighting and renewable biofuel, while festive food stalls offer seasonal treats throughout the trail. Christmas at Kew delivers a memorable festive experience that also supports Kew’s mission to protect plants and fungi for future generations.
Date: 14 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 (closed 25 December). Opening times: 4.20 pm – 10 pm (entry by timed slot). Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, London, TW9 3AE. Price: Adults from £27.50; Children (4–16) from £18; Families from £81; Under 4s and Essential Companions free; Kew Members from £23.50. Book now
Grace & Thorn Deluxe Christmas Wreath Workshop 2025
Image courtesy of Grace & Thorn
#FLODown: Grace & Thorn return with their annual hands-on, two-hour session, where participants create their very own Christmas wreath from scratch! The session starts with a demonstration, followed by the opportunity to craft a wreath with one-on-one guidance from their expert florists. All materials are provided, including premium moss for the base, seasonal foliage, and decorative embellishments, allowing the creation of a festive wreath that is truly unique. The session also includes plenty of festive cheer and a glass of fizz to celebrate the season. For those looking to go further, the All the Trimmings full-day option expands the experience to include a Christmas mantel arrangement, a “Keep it Grinch” tablescape, and a foliage garland, everything needed to deck the halls for the holidays.
Date: 23 November 2025, 2, 7, 9, 14, 16 December 2025. Location: Grace & Thorn, Studio 1, 5 Mentmore Terrace, London, E8 3PN. Duration: 2 hours. Price: £140. Book now
Click here for our guide to festive wreath making workshops in London this Christmas.
Smithfield Market Christmas Eve Meat Auction
Image credit Emerson Vieira
#FLODown: The Smithfield Market Christmas Eve Meat Auction is a cherished tradition dating back to 1327. Each December, buyers flock to the historic market in the City of London to snap up surplus meat in cash-only transactions, a practice that began long before refrigeration made quick sales essential. The event is famed for its raucous, festive atmosphere, with crowds in Santa hats and Christmas jumpers cheering as butchers toss turkeys and cuts of meat into the throng. Greg Lawrence and his family have long overseen the auction, ensuring the produce is sold quickly. Despite its popularity, the market faces an uncertain future following the City authorities’ decision to close the site for redevelopment, with operations continuing only until 2028, after which many traders plan to relocate within London, so there are only a few more years to experience this Christmas London tradition!
Date: 24 December 2025. Location: Smithfield Market, London EC1A 9PQ EC1A 9PS. Price: Free. smithfieldmarket.com
Art exhibitions
Lucy Raven: Rounds, Installation view, The Curve, Thursday 9 October 2025 to Sunday 4 January 2026. Image Credit: © Jo Underhill, Barbican Art Gallery
#FLODown: Christmas is a superb time to enjoy art in London. Whilst several galleries close for the season, many of the city’s main museums and exhibitions remain open, offering a wide selection of shows. Highlights include Turner & Constable at Tate Britain, Cartier at the V&A, Dirty Looks at the Barbican, Lawrence Lek at Goldsmiths, Nigerian Modernism at Tate, and Kerry James Marshall at the Royal Academy.
Click here to discover our top pick of art exhibitions to see in London in December 2025
The Nutcacker
The Ice Realm in Aaron S Watkin and Arielle Smith's Nutcracker © Photography by ASH
#FLODown: A festive favourite returns to London this Christmas, The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum. Follow Clara on a spellbinding adventure after she discovers an enchanted Nutcracker doll in Drosselmeyer’s Sweets & Delights Emporium. From a glittering Christmas party to a fierce battle with the Rat King, and onward through the shimmering ice realm to the Land of Sweets & Delights, this magical production brings the Sugar Plum Fairy to life in a grand celebration. With over 100 dancers and musicians performing Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, it’s a spectacular holiday treat for the whole family.
Date: 11 December 2025 – 11 January 2026. Duration: 2 hours (including one interval). Location: London Coliseum, St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4ES. Price: from £15 plus booking fees. Book now
Christmas lights and displays
Regent Street, Spirit of Christmas
#FLODown: Throughout the festive season, some of London’s most iconic streets sparkle with lights and decorations, from the angels on Regent Street and the twinkling displays on Oxford Street to the festive charm of Marylebone Village and the decorations in Covent Garden. The dazzling installations and window displays on New Bond Street are also not to be missed, offering the perfect way to soak up the seasonal spirit. Click here for our guide to where you can find Christmas lights in London.
For the little ones
Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House
Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House
#FLODown: Santa’s Grotto, a wonderful family-friendly adventure, has opened at the Queen’s House in Greenwich, giving children the opportunity to explore the Land of Sweets and the Land of Ice and Snow, meet Clara and the Nutcracker, enjoy performances from tin soldiers, and conclude the journey in Santa’s Grotto to meet Santa Claus and receive a special gift. With the whole experience lasting around 45 minutes, it’s a delightful way for children and adults alike to share in the magic of the festive season.
Date: 22 November – 24 December 2025. Location: Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF. Price: £27 per person (general), £24.30 per person (members), under 1s free. Book now
The Snowman
The Snowman, 2024 © Joe Higham's Reportage
#FLODown: Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s classic festive production returns to the London stage, this time at Sadler’s Wells’ Peacock Theatre. Based on Raymond Briggs’s beloved book and the animated film, the story follows a boy whose snowman comes to life and takes him on a magical flight to the North Pole, meeting dancing snow-folk, Father Christmas, Jack Frost, and more. Directed by Bill Alexander, with choreography from Robert North, design by Ruari Murchison, lighting by Tim Mitchell, and a live orchestra playing Howard Blake’s iconic score (including Walking in the Air), the show is a wonderful introduction to dance for the whole family.
Date: 22 November 2025 – 4 January 2026 . Location: Peacock Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT. Price: from £18 + £4. Book now
