Every year it rolls around and every single year we ask ourselves the same question: how the hell did that happen? There are plenty of things to do in the silliest month of the year but we’re here to cut through the noise and tell you the things you absolutely can’t miss this December; like a new celebrity taco restaurant, a never-seen-before fairground experience to rival Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, a festive bar that will see you talking and interacting with the main man himself (Santa Claus in case you were wondering), and where drink and fall in love with the most chocolatey Ferrero Rocher cocktails.
Chocolate Cocktail Club: Drink Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Cocktails
Bookable Until: 30th December
Is Christmas even Christmas without chocolate? Obviously not. So get your festive kicks this year by ditching that red tub of Celebrations and making your way to The Chocolate Cocktail Club. We don't have the full menu just yet but this snug spot will have a sleigh-full of new concoctions for you to try. Last year they had cocktails that tasted like Jaffa cakes, Ferrero Rocher, and Toblerone alongside chocolate fondue and boozy hot chocolates.
Cocktails don't get much more Christmassy than The Chocolate Cocktail Club.
Vinegar Yard: Dine In An Igloo With Christmas Burgers Beneath The Shard
Bookable From: 1st November
Looking for an outdoor experience that doesn’t require you to wear several layers of clothes like that episode of Joey in Friends? Then Vinegar Yard is the place for you and the rest of your friends with poor circulation. You’ll find heated igloos that come equipped with comfy sofas for you to sink into and chit-chat over some festive sips and bites. These tend to sell out quicker than bottles of prosecco on Christmas Eve, so act sharpish if you like what you see (or read).
Don't have an igloo on where to go? Vinegar Yard is where it's at this December.
Kingdom Of Winter: Forget Your Family And Join The Circus
Opens: 8th December
Between juggling gift buying and managing all your family personalities, Christmas can be a circus in itself, so why not swap it for an actual circus? Kingdom of Winter is a brand new family-friendly experience coming to London this December and it’s promising circus shows, ice skating, an ice expedition trail, fairground rides, a two-story alpine chalet bar and plenty of places to refuel for food and Christmas treats. The best bit? You can get through the doors with a £5.50 ticket.
Experience something new this Christmas and head to London's Kingdom of Winter.
Duck & Waffle: Try A Nutcracker Brunch At This Restaurant In The Sky
Bookable Until: 3rd January
Everyone and their grandmother knows about Duck & Waffle. It’s one of those places where - if you live in London - you need to go at least once. It’s open 24 hours a day and this December you can even dine with them for brunch on Christmas Eve, Boxing and New Year’s Day where you can gorge on limited edition dishes and their signature duck and waffle. This year their theme is all things Nutcracker so you can expect a classic experience with displays, trees, and lots of fairlights.
Duck & Waffle is Christmas wish list material.
The Orchid Lounge: Catch-Up Over This Kaleidoscope Afternoon Tea
Bookable Until: 6th January
The Pan Pacific London is one of the world’s most luxurious hotels and it’s got an impressive list of bars and restaurants. We’re big fans of Silverleaf (their cocktails are some of the best in London) but The Orchid Lounge is where it's at for afternoon tea, especially this December. They’re running an £85 limited edition menu that’s themed around kaleidoscopes where they serve limited edition pastries, finger sandwiches, siu bao buns and dumplings in a gorgeous mirrored bird cage.
Spice up your afternoon tea excursions this December.
Humbug: Drink Beer With Santa Claus’ In This Christmas Dive Bar
Bookable Until: 6th January
The last-minute gift buying, the impromptu visits down the pub, battling for any chocolate that isn’t a Bounty. Christmas can get a bit...much. In 2023 Santa seems to agree because he’s holing himself up in Humbug: a dive bar hidden underneath the streets of Waterloo. If you want to save Christmas, we suggest booking tickets to this new immersive pop-up where your mission is to get Santa to stop drinking his favorite local beer in time to drive his sleigh. Tickets are £24.50 and worth every penny.
A new Christmas bar? Ho-ho-ho could you miss it.
Pergola Paddington: Visit This London Rooftop That's A Winter Wonderland
Bookings Until: 31st December
Make your way down to Pergola Paddington this December and make with all things merry and bright at their Deck the Halls pop-up. There will be Christmas classics on repeat, and you can expect a sleigh-full of activities, from gospel nights to singalongs and candlelit evenings to movie screenings and, of course, winter-ready bottomless brunches. If you’re planning a bigger do, they have bookable winter chalets and five pop-up restaurants to keep hanger at bay.
Not in the Christmas spirit? Pergola Paddington will sort you out with their winter wonderland.
Ham Yard Hotel: Discover This Secret Winter Rooftop Near Piccadilly Circus
Opens: 15th November
There’s a secret rooftop near Piccadilly Circus and it’s usually reserved for hotel guests but this oasis in the sky, however, is opening its doors to the masses for the Christmas period. Tickets to Ham Yard Hotel's rooftop are £22 and they include a Paloma-tini and when you’re empty, you get to pick a martini from the menu. You’ll also get a hot water bottle and tartan blankets to keep you warm while you escape the hustle and bustle of the Christmas-swarmed streets below.
There's no way we could gatekeep this festive rooftop from you.
Trejo's Tacos: Go To This New Two-Storey Taco Palace In Notting Hill
Opens: TBC
Celebs are continuing to open restaurants and bars in London (Idris Elba’s Potre Noir is a must-visit) and there’s another big A-list opening coming to London that we think you should know about. Hollywood actor Danny Trejo is opening Trejo’s Tacos in Notting Hill and it’s going to be spread across two storeys with a hidden underground cocktail bar. The menu is one for taco and margarita fans with frozen tequila options and bites packed with baja-style battered fish, jackfruit and beef brisket.
Taco'bout Christmas come early.
Willows On The Roof: Finish Christmas Shopping Via This Twinkling Rooftop
Opens: 15th November
If your Christmas shopping doesn't involve racking up a large online basket on Amazon and you're all for the buzz of Oxford Street, make a plan to end your day's shenanigans at Willows on the Roof. This somewhat hidden rooftop is the perfect end to a day of high step counts and busy crowds. There's igloos, cosy couches with buttons where you can buzz for food and drinks (the dark chocolate martini and their cinnamon apple pie are very popular).
Post-shopping food or drinks will never be the same after you go here.
Looking for more inspiration on how to spend December in London? Check out 100s of December events here and sign up to our newsletter.
