Best London Christmas Events 2024: Festive What's On Guide

If you're after free Christmas events in London for 2024, many of these festive lights and trails fit the bill. Expect Covent Garden's finest alongside Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, Leadenhall Market and even whole projections on the side of the Shard - plus some paid-for options at Kew Gardens or Kenwood House.

Whether lit-up Battersea Power Station or a Christmas lights pub covered in over 90 conifer trees is more your thing, these displays deliver.

The festive season wouldn't be complete without a trip to a London Christmas market and luckily for you, we've compiled a guide to help you find the best of the best. From Christmas shopping to grabbing seasonal food and, of course, drinking plenty of mulled wine, these must-visit locations have loads in store across their stalls.

Whether you fancy visiting Southbank Christmas Market and indulging in all things fondue, or hitting up the iconic Spitalfields Christmas Market for fun games while sipping hot chocolate, we've got options all across the city.

After the coolest places to skate in our capital? From Skate At Somerset House to GLIDE Battersea, Hampton Court ice rink, Alexandra Palace ice rink and more, these are the very best skating spots that are making waves across London just in time for Christmas.

Complete with Instagrammable 40ft Christmas trees, Swiss fondue pop-ups and gut-busting burgers, these picks will get you in the festive spirit.

On the hunt for Christmas events in London for kids? We're here to help with our handy guide. Plenty is going on throughout the city to keep the little ones entertained - all of which you'll find thoroughly enjoyable too. 

Get involved with carols and have a very Dickensian Christmas, or sing your heart out in theatreland with tickets to West End Musical Christmas. There are even some themed afternoon teas to indulge in too.

There's no better time to visit the West End (or off-West End) than at Christmas, and there are so many great shows to watch this winter. Whether you're more into musicals or immersive performances complete with a delicious meal, there's something for everyone here.

We've rounded up the very best shows to catch during the season - from classics like The Snowman or A Christmas Carol to fantastic cabaret acts and interactive murder mysteries.

Whether you're looking to adorn your front door in fir or simply learn something new, these top Christmas activities London has to offer see you crack on with some of the best wreath-making workshops. Think bubbles, mulled wine and festive decorating going hand-in-hand.

Take home your very own to hang up at home, with materials provided and florists on-hand to guide you through the process.

The day before Christmas is just as important, which is why we've gathered a list of cool and exciting things to do on the 24th of December (so you don't have to). 

Fancy having a go at a round of darts? There's the fairground-themed activity bar Flight Club for that. Elsewhere across the city, check out immersive festive speakeasies, dinner clubs, afternoon teas and more.

To top off Christmas in London 2024? Book into Rivoli Pop-Up Cinema, where you can enjoy a whole host of festive films on the big screen while basking in the vintage surrounds of London's only intact 1950s ballroom.

Think everything from Elf to Die Hard and Love Actually for your Christmas movie screening, with tickets starting at just £6.

After a run of successful pop-ups, The Chocolate Cocktail Club has found a permanent home in Farringdon. This Christmas, it's serving some seriously delicious chocolate cocktails.

On the menu are edible reindeers filled with liquor, plus drinks like The Giggling Gingerbread Man. What's more, each drink includes a drink on the house. Chocotini, anyone?

Celebrate the season with a trip to Sky Garden and join them for their Festive Nights event. From complimentary spiced winter drinks to glasses of Moët & Chandon on arrival to celebrate, it's the perfect way to sip drinks at London's highest garden.

Step into a winter wonderland at Sky Garden's Winter Bar and enjoy views of the city skyline alongside a themed selection of cocktails. For a ticket price starting at £15, you'll be treated to an evening of twinkling lights, expertly crafted drinks and live music.

Escape to the Alpine Twinkle Terrace at Tequila Mockingbird in Wimbledon. With sparkling fairy lights, cosy blankets, and alpine-inspired décor, it's the perfect spot for festive drinks, winter dates, or catching up with friends under the stars.

Grab your tickets from £25 per person, and delight in three cocktails each, mulled wine or some decadent hot chocolate. For an extra £15, you can enjoy some cheese fondue too. 

Just in time for Christmas, London Bridge Rooftop, which already has close-up views of the Shard, has undergone a full makeover to become a fun Après Bar. Expect a whole ski lift gondola, covered and heated pergolas decked out in lights and firs, and vintage ski memorabilia for decor.

Their Après Brunch is the perfect excuse to use the space, made up of a breakfast-style burger, chips, and 90 minutes of unlimited drinks like Aperol, beer or prosecco.

The Egerton House Hotel is drawing inspiration from one of the most famous ballets and tales, The Nutcracker, for its festive afternoon tea this year. 

Secure tickets from £48 per person and look forward to a quaint, themed feast filled with miniature sandwiches and sweet treats like Land Of The Snowflakes (a choux bun with a vanilla creme centre) and a vanilla panna cotta-based Sugar Plum Fairy. 

One of the most fun things to do at Christmas in London? Head back to a Bad Santa Bottomless Brunch at The Cocktail Club, of course.

There's plenty of chaos on the cards as you'll be treated to Christmas party hits and pop favourites that'll get you up and dancing, not to mention wild games, delicious food and bottomless cocktails, prosecco or beer.

Fire and Fromage is popping up on London's Southbank from the 2nd of November to the 31st of December, offering snug snow globes with Thames-side views where you and your friends can cosy around a fire pit and dine on alpine food.

Check out its £55 set menu and begin with the likes of Cashel blue cheese mousse with roast walnuts, before tucking into a traditional fondue served with charcuterie, or share a British flat iron steak with bearnaise sauce, mustard emulsion and chimichurri.

While prison might not be the ideal destination this festive season, Alcotraz is an immersive experience you won't forget in a hurry. Smuggle your booze into this jail, past the eagle-eyed warden, and you'll be rewarded with bespoke cocktails with a Christmas twist from your inmate bar tenders.

But that's not all, since live actors make this a full interactive show filled with deception, deceit and plenty of your participation. 

Taking family Christmas activities in London for 2024 up a notch? With cute cafes in both Notting Hill and Belgravia, you can find several fun and arty happenings at Biscuiteers.

They've got kids holidays-timed classes to keep them entertained, otherwise head here as a couple or with friends for the adults-only cookie decorating sessions.

Who said pantomimes has to be for kids? This December, Karen's Diner in Angel are hosting an adults-only edition of the popular musical Cinderella, complete with plenty of slapstick comedy, raucous jokes and audience participation. 

Before the show, you'll get to enjoy a two-course meal at the viral sensation restaurant, where the staff are deliberately rude to you. Tuck into burgers followed by chocolate fudge cake, all as part of your £40 ticket.

In the mood to do something a little different this Christmas? Join Fabulous Brunch Events for their jam-packed schedule of festive happenings, from a yuletide take on drag brunch to a Christmas Britney concert tribute brunch and a boy toy brunch complete with male dancers.

At all events, you can also enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless drinks while tucking into your choice of street food dish from the hosting venue.

All The Jingle Ladies Bottomless Brunch is Tonight Josephine's answer to getting festive in our city, bringing us an all-drinking, all-dancing festive bonanza to Clapham, Shoreditch and Waterloo. Head to your choice of girl gang grotto, with tickets starting at just £29.

Expect 90 minutes of unlimited cocktails, prosecco and beers alongside one festive brunch dish each, all while you take in the drag performances and get stuck into risqué games guaranteed to get you on Santa's naughty list.

All I Want For Christmas Is Cabaret is a show packed with some of the best performers around, taking place at The Phoenix Arts Club for a limited period of time over the festive season. Grab tickets starting from £20 per person to catch all things drag, burlesque, musical theatre, comedy and so much more. 

But that's not all, since the stunning West End space is also decked out in magical Christmas lights and you'll be able to grab everything from mulled wine to themed cocktails from the bar.

Taking over venues across the city this season, including in Angel, Brixton, West End, Soho, Clapham and more, Sounds Familiar Music Quiz is sorting you out with song trivia and hilarious antics, packing over 100 tunes into one night. Head over to your nearest event for some of the best London Christmas activities.

Topping it off? Themed bottomless brunch sessions with the same entertainment too.

When it comes to Christmas events on the water, this London Festive Boat Party has your back. You'll set sail along the Thames for four whole hours of cruising, taking in the sights and illuminations along the river as you go.

Santa's ship will also be serving a light buffet, as well as having a great DJ covering party anthems and Christmas chart toppers from past to present, all for £35 per person.

Located in Kings Cross' Coal Drops Yard, Club Curling is a fun winter activity that's open all afternoon. Perfect for family or groups of friends, there are six sustainable lanes that can fit up to six players at a time.

Sip hot chocolate or beers while you play, with tickets starting from just £9 per person - though under 12s can attend for free.

Archer Street's bars in Notting Hill, Soho and SW11 have Christmas brunches in store for your festivities this year, promising everything from 90 minutes of bottomless booze to pros serenading you for entertainment.

But that's not all, as they're also hosting Christmas carol evenings, where you'll get to enjoy live music and festive cheer by the bucketload, complete with a welcome Christmas cocktail and complimentary mince pies. They're sure to jingle your bells. 

This festive season, climb aboard a vintage 1960s Routemaster bus. Whizz around the city, soaking up its sights and, most importantly, all its festive decorations with tickets starting from £17 to the Top Deck London Christmas Lights Tour. 

The bus itself will be decked out in all things tinsel and you'll be taken around iconic locations like Oxford Street, Harrods and Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park, seeing them lit-up in all their glory at this time of year. 

Offering some of the best festivities, Electric Shuffle's venues in London Bridge and Canary Wharf are sure to hit the spot when it comes to fun Christmas activities. Their festive brunch takes their mini game-led, automatic-scoring shuffleboard to a whole new level.

Think one hour of gaming for your group, unlimited pizza, a bottle of prosecco each, and an extra festive cocktail per person on arrival too. And for £35 to £40 each? It's a steal.

It's Christmas Eve, 1843, and all is not as it seems... welcome to the home of Charles Dickens where, tonight at The Lost Estate, you're his guest as he tells a ghostly festive story.

Grab tickets to The Great Christmas Feast from £175 per person and enjoy immersive theatre (with appearances from Scrooge, Tiny Tim and more), a delicious three-course meal and refreshing Victorian cocktails whipped up by mixologists. 

The Royal Hospital Chelsea's light trail sets the perfect stage for festive celebrations, whether you're enjoying a cosy date night, a family adventure, or just soaking up the magic of the season. Twinkling trees, glowing arches, and breathtaking Christmas installations create a sparkling wonderland to explore.

Adding to the charm, the air is filled with the sound of carolers, while warming drinks like mulled wine and hot chocolate offer the perfect seasonal pick-me-up. Be sure to stop by the festive market, where you'll find handcrafted treasures and delicious gourmet treats, and indulge in seasonal delights with gourmet street food scattered throughout the grounds.

The hottest immersive Christmas experience in London for 2024, Humbug is the over-the-top festive dive bar where you'll get Santa back in the seasonal spirit of things. You can find this unique pop-up on Brick Lane, tucked away inside The Truman Brewery.

This interactive event features rowdy live performances, shrines to Mariah and tunes galore, all while you're sipping on some naughty cocktails. Expect the debauchery to turn up as the night goes on, with tickets starting from just £35 per person.

Returning after success last year, Silent Disco Walking Tours are coming to the Soho area with a festive edition of their outdoor parties. Put on your headphones and boogie to seasonal tunes, all while admiring London's gorgeous Christmas lights and discovering some hidden gems.

There'll be hilarious commentary throughout the walk too, with tickets starting from just £19 per person.

Barrio Bars across London are steering you right into the festive season from £39 per person with its Bad Santa Bottomless Brunch across Angel and Shoreditch.

At these parties, not only will you get to tuck into the venue's quesadillas and wash them down with 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks, but you'll also be in for some themed fun as the naughty cousin of St Nick is roaming about, making sure this feast is as unholy as hell.

It's the season to be jolly, so get your pals together and down to Flight Club. Venues in Victoria, Islington, Shoreditch and Bloomsbury are celebrating with a brunch social that takes mini game-packed darts to a whole new level for the holidays.

Throw on your finest Christmas jumper and enjoy a festive cocktail each on arrival, with an hour in front of your group's dartboard, bottomless pizza and a bottle of prosecco per person on the cards too. Prices start at £35 per person for this top choice of 2024 Christmas tickets in London.

There's all sorts going on this Christmas at The Clapham Grand, particularly their film showings on a massive 25-foot HD screen. They have a team of live hosts running the events, complete with fun games, dance-offs, singalongs and costume contests.

Choose between The Holiday or Love Actually, paired with tasty dinners and brunches. There'll be mulled wine and cocktails up for grabs, alongside popcorn, pigs in blankets, nachos and more.

If you're looking for Christmas movie screenings, you'll want to check out One Aldwych Covent Garden's offering. At their Film and Fizz with Curzon events, you can enjoy a three-course meal before catching flicks like Elf, Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street. 

Tickets also include popcorn and a glass of bubbles while the film plays, to round off the luxury experience.

This festive season, get ready for Ginger's Big Drag Bottomless Brunch: Christmas Edition, taking over Balls Brothers, Austin Friars every Thursday and Saturday with all the tinsel, sparkle, and sass you could wish for.

Snag tickets for you and your crew, and dive into an event hosted by the one and only Ms. Ginger Phlappage and her drag queens. You're in for holiday-themed performances, outrageous games, cheeky challenges, and plenty of audience participation - all while enjoying free-flowing booze and a delicious two-course feast.

Christmas in London isn't complete without Winter Wonderland - the famous attraction has been setting up camp in Hyde Park since 2007, wowing visitors with its games, rides and delicious food stalls ever since. 

Gather your mates and head on over to explore over 100 vendors whipping up everything from candles to hot chocolates. There'll also be chalet-style bars serving mulled wine and gourmet cheese toasties. Sign us up.

Make your way to Richmond to discover Kew Gardens, the stunning botanic royal gardens that transform into a winter wonderland each year. There are more than 50,000 living plants to see here, as well as over 7 million preserved specimens, and the world's largest Victorian glasshouse is also waiting to be discovered.

This festive season, take a wander down their famous light trail, which spans across more than three kilometres of gorgeous illuminations, glittering tunnels, decorated trees and much more . Feeling peckish? There'll also be independent vendors selling hot food, warming drinks and Christmas treats.

The best Christmas events in London for families? The Snowman is returning to the West End's Peacock Theatre for its 27th year, bringing the iconic story to life on stage. See a different take on the much-loved picture book by Raymond Briggs and the film directed by Dianne Jackson.

Expect storytelling, choreography and costume, as well as music and lyrics by Howard Blake (including famous song Walking in the Air) played by a live orchestra. From woodland creatures to a horde of snowmen, and even a dancing pineapple, there are unexpected surprises in store too.