This is a sponsored article on behalf of the Royal Albert Hall.

Where better to get into the festive spirit than the Royal Albert Hall?!

It's basically the home of Christmas here in London, with over 150 years of experience delivering yuletide cheer; it's got 30+ festive performances — more than an advent calendar's worth — on the line up this year; and it even looks a bit like a beautiful bauble, with its domed roof, jolly red colour scheme, and High Victorian flourishes.

Here are just a few reasons to step inside this December...

Festive films in concert

Take the whole family along to experience a seasonal favourite on the big screen, as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performs iconic scores, live-to-picture. On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December, the Royal Albert Hall screens Home Alone. Then, on 12 December the nostalgia continues, with Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.

After Christmas itself, the Royal Albert Hall works its magic on classic Twixtmas fare, with In Concert screenings of films like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Casino Royale. Now there's an excellent reason to tear yourself away from the dregs of that selection box!

Big Band celebrations

Step into party season in style with Rick Astley's Swinging Christmas (9 December), or Jamie Cullum's The Pianoman at Christmas (10-11 December). Both events are absolutely stuffed with seasonal joy and big band flair, with Astley showcasing the golden age of swing and Cullum taking audiences on a jazzy journey through his hit Christmas album's standout moments.

A star-studded selection box

Heart Breakfast's Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston bring together some of the biggest names in music and entertainment on 14 December. Heart Christmas Live with NatWest sees the likes of Take That, Leona Lewis, Olly Murs and James Arthur take to the stage for a feel-good evening of live performance and seasonal surprises.

Soul with a festive twist

Get ready to party... Trevor Nelson's Soul Christmas is back. On 17 and 18 December, the award-winning DJ hosts an evening of re-imagined and re-scored Soul and RnB tracks, performed by a range of special guests and supported by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The evening ends with an after-party, with Nelson himself behind the decks.

A choral Christmas

Let the Royal Choral Society treat you to festive tunes and carols old and new at the Royal Albert Hall on 7 December. Or join London Community Gospel Choir for their annual festive party on 16 December, featuring soulful harmonies, special guests and plenty of gospel classics.

Fancy singing along yourself? Carols at the Royal Albert Hall — which features the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, National Youth Choir, Royal Choral Society and British Imperial Military Band — is an absolute must. The event runs 19-24 December, gearing you up for the big day in spectacular style.

Live orchestras and a (very) grand organ

Looking for even more incredible live music? Sir John Rutter's Christmas Celebration — featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra — is back by popular demand on 4 December. Then, on 8 December, the Organist of the Royal Albert Hall fires up the Voice of Jupiter (the UK's second largest pipe organ!) for Anna Lapwood's Christmas, featuring new arrangements of festive classics. A Christmas Songbook on 15 December is yet another highlight, with John Wilson and the Sinfonia of London working their magic on seasonal favourites.

Festive family fun

Even your littlest ones can get into the festive spirit at the Royal Albert Hall this Christmas. Baby Gospel Christmas on 8 December and Baby Broadway Christmas on 9 December are concerts designed with young children and their carers in mind. Then there's A Christmas Story in Concert on 13 December: a charming, carol-filled retelling of the nativity, based on a beloved Michael Morpurgo children's book. Family theatre trips don't get more magical than this.

Explore Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall now.

Keep up to date with festive happenings in the capital on our Christmas 2026 in London page.

Christmas at Kew is back for 2026! Image: RG Live by Luke Dyson

The nights are drawing in, but look on the bright side — with winter comes a plethora of London light trails, lantern festivals and Christmas illuminations to immerse yourself in.

From blockbuster displays in sprawling botanical gardens to themed lantern trails, the capital radiates with seasonal light festivals. A couple of these events are free, too!

Looking specifically for Christmas lights in London? Here's a guide to which area is switching on the Christmas lights when for 2026 — they start early November. Once they're illuminated, we'll bring you our top tips for when, where and how to see them at their best. In the meantime, make do with this lovely lot:

The Ever After Garden 2026 in Duke of York Square, Chelsea

A glowing garden flowers in Chelsea. Image: Sam Mellish

A festive favourite for a good few years now, the Ever After Garden is more than just a photogenic spot to tick off on your Christmas tour around the capital (though it is that too). The garden of 30,000 glowing white 'roses' is for a wonderful cause: each flower can be sponsored (minimum donation £15) in memory of a loved one, raising money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

The Ever After Garden is back in Duke of York Square, Chelsea for Christmas 2026. It's free to visit, though donations are of course welcome.

The Ever After Garden 2026. Free (donations encouraged), 5 November-21 December 2026.

Lost Worlds by Luxmuralis at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

A touch of Luxmuralis magic comes to Greenwich (image shows a different show at another venue). Image: Luxmuralis

Following a time-themed show at the Old Royal Naval College last autumn, light art wizards Luxmuralis return to the historic venue in November 2026 with a new production, Lost Worlds. Light and sound combine to take you on a journey through the great civilisations, myths and forgotten histories of humanity. Wander through the ORNC's historic spaces, viewing luminous recreations of lost worlds, from the Garden of Eden and the mythical cities of Atlantis and Troy to the age of dinosaurs.

Luxmuralis roam all over the country offering light and sound installations in unique locations. Previously in London, they've held events at the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and St Martin in the Fields. In short: they know what they're doing when it comes to putting on a cracker of a show.

Lost Worlds at the Old Royal Naval College, 6-8 and 11-15 November 2026.

Christmas at Kew 2026 light trail

Christmas at Kew is a magnificent winter light trail. Photo: Londonist

Needs no introduction really, does it? Christmas at Kew is the pinnacle of London's festive light trails, and one of our favourite annual events in the capital. After dark, a 3km-long illuminated trail wends its way through the famous botanical gardens, beginning at a festive gateway of oversized gifts and illuminated arches.

Follow the path — flanked by candy canes, a gingerbread walk and life-sized Nutcrackers — through glowing attractions including the ever-popular 'Cathedral of Light' tunnel (pictured above). New additions for 2026 include sound and light installation Infinite Choir by Squidsoup; an animated willow tree; and a floral meadow with larger-than-life blooms programmed to music.

Also fresh for 2026 are adults-only nights on 3 and 9 December.

Note, Christmas at Kew tends to get booked up, many dates selling out months in advance. If you miss out this year, get on the mailing list for 2027. You won't have long to wait — the earliest tickets for this year went on sale in January, when the bulbs from last year had barely cooled down 😱

Christmas at Kew, 13 November 2026-3 January 2027.

Epping Ongar Lights Party Express 2026

Take the disco train to funky town! Image: Epping Ongar Railway

Choo choo! What if we told you that it's possible to take a festive ride on a steam train covered in twinkling fairy lights this Christmas? The Epping Ongar Lights Party Express returns to the London-Essex border, taking festive sightseers on an illuminated train ride through woodland.

The carriages themselves are illuminated on the outside, making for an impressive sight as they pull into the station, but beyond that, line-side displays are visible only from the train. You'll also be given an LED wristband as you board so you too can light up, and be part of the fun.

New for 2026, you've got three shows to choose from, depending on your musical preference: Christmas Gold offers a soundtrack of festive tunes; Party Anthems focuses on pop bangers; and the Groove Train whisks you back to the 1970s/80s via disco hits and floor fillers.

The Epping Ongar Lights Party Express, 14 November 2026-2 January 2027.

Chelsea Winter Village Illuminations 2026

The Royal Hospital Chelsea lights up for a second year. Image: Chelsea Winter Village

The grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea host Chelsea Winter Village again, an abundance of festive entertainment, including Chelsea Winter Illuminations. The light trail has plenty of Instagrammable installations: last year it featured a shooting star archway, a sea of light pulsating to music, glowing reindeer, a stargazers' path and a bauble booth. Keep the kids entertained with lights you can control by touch and play — think interactive orbs and neon trees.

Live music and food and drink stalls are available at the Winter Village nearby, and the Curling Club pops up here too, offering you a chance to try the winter sport. The Winter Village itself is free to enter and open to everyone, regardless of whether you have a ticket for the illuminations.

Chelsea Winter Illuminations, 25 November-28 December 2026.

Canary Wharf Winter Lights: January 2027

The lights keep going through January 2027. Image: Canary Wharf

London's illuminated fun doesn't end at Christmas; the annual (free!) Canary Wharf Winter Lights takes place at the end of January as usual. Full details of participating artists and installations are due to be announced soon, but we already know that it will have a theme of 'RE(IMAGINE)', with a promise to help visitors to see the area differently, "through the lens of colour, movement, projection and sound, turning familiar streets, parks and waterways into otherworldly spaces full of light and wonder."

As it's free and unticketed, it tends to get VERY busy, especially at weekends (though from our experience last year, the weekdays were pretty busy too).

Canary Wharf Winter Lights. Free, 19-30 January 2027.

Origins by Luxmuralis at St Paul's Cathedral

Image: Luxmuralis

Following a sesh in Greenwich in November (above), Luxmuralis returns to London in February 2027 for Origins at St Paul's Cathedral. The brand new, site-specific show turns Wren's majestic building into a living work of art, taking visitors from the Crypt to the Dome, revealing treasures from its collections, including ancient maps, historic texts, secret libraries and musical scores along the way — as well as highlighting the Cathedral's architecture.

Origins by Luxmuralis at St Paul's Cathedral, 19-27 February 2027.

Agatha Christie's legacy is still going strong in London. Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

2026 marks half a century since the death of celebrated crime writer Agatha Christie, something the British Library is commemorating with a new exhibition dedicated to her life and work.

As the top-selling fiction writer of all time, more than a few people enjoy curling up with one of her novels. Lots of Christie's works have been adapted for the stage, too — here's what you can catch in London's theatres right now.

The Mousetrap at St Martin's Theatre

74 years of the Mousetrap and running. Image: Londonist

Famously the longest-running play in the world, drawing room murder mystery The Mousetrap first opened in London in 1952, having been shown in Nottingham, Oxford, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds and Birmingham in the months prior. Safe to say it found its home in London: it ran at the Ambassadors Theatre from 1952-1974 then moved to St Martin's Theatre, where it remains today, about to his its 74th year. The running tally is mounted on the sign out front of the theatre (pictured above).

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A quirk in the rights to the material means that no film adaptation can be made until the West End production has been closed for at least six months (that hasn't happened yet — though we highly recommend watching See How They Run (2022), which finds a semi-loophole), and only one production of the play in addition to the West End production can be performed annually. At the end of each performance, the audience is asked not to share the plot finale (contrary to a popular urban myth, the ending remains the same each time). We'll say no more.

The Mousetrap at St Martin's Theatre, ongoing.

Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution

Experience jury life in a real courtroom. Image: Pamela Raith Photography

You've been summoned for jury service. Witness for the Prosecution at County Hall is an adaptation of Christie's 1953 play of the same name, itself adapted from a short story written by Christie in 1925.

Leonard Vole is accused of murdering a woman with the intention of inheriting her wealth. Now standing trial, he attempts to convince the jury — and you, the audience — of his innocence. Masterfully, the action unfolds in an authentic former courtroom within County Hall, the audience seated within the court (and VIP tickets giving you a spot in the jury seats).

It's now in its ninth year, which, while no rival for The Mousetrap's longevity, is fairly impressive nonetheless. Our reviewer gave it five stars when it opened in 2017.

Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, County Hall, ongoing.

Murder, She Didn't Write at Duchess Theatre

Though not directly from the pen of Agatha Christie, Murder, She Didn't Write is heavily inspired by her style... and your suggestions.

The improv comedy show sees theatre troupe Degrees of Error come up with a classic, Christie-esque murder mystery on the spot, using audience suggestions for title, characters, setting, murder weapon, etc. Like a classic whodunnit, it's up to you to guess the killer before the big reveal — though thanks to the nature of improv, no two shows are remotely similar.

Murder, She Didn't Write at Duchess Theatre, ongoing (monthly: 16 November, 7 December, 11 January, 8 February).

Agatha Christie's The Hollow at Richmond Theatre

Christie's The Hollow, alternatively known as Murder After Hours, stars her famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot. Set in a country house, it's got all the classic elements: glamorous guests, smoking revolver, dead body... you know the drill.

Oh, and if you saw the TV version as part of the long-running Poirot TV series: the ending on TV was different to Christie's original one. You'll have to swing by the Richmond Theatre to see how this one concludes.

Agatha Christie's The Hollow at Richmond Theatre, 27-31 October 2026.

And Then There Were None, New Wimbledon Theatre

Image: New Stagers

One of the top selling books of all time with over 100 million copies sold — though originally published with a title which wouldn't be considered acceptable today — And Then There Were None is set on a remote island off the Devon coast, with 10 characters killed off one by one as their past crimes come to light via a gramophone record.

And Then There Were None, New Wimbledon Theatre, 27-31 October 2026. Appropriately, given its name, tickets are currently sold out, but check for returns.

Image: Riding House Cafe

Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday 26 November. While it's an American holiday, there are plenty of opportunities for American expats, former US residents and general food/party lovers to celebrate Thanksgiving here in London.

Thanksgiving 2026 events in London

ROTHERHITHE AND THE USA: Ahead of the big day, gen up on your UK-USA history with a Footprints of London walking tour around Rotherhithe. Guide Trevor points out the area's links with the Pilgrims voyage to modern day USA more than 400 years ago, as well as touching on other pieces of local history including Brunel's Thames Tunnel. 20 November 2026

FRIENDSGIVING WINE TASTING: Board the Golden Hinde on Thanksgiving evening for a Friendsgiving wine tasting, with experts from nearby Lant Street Wine talking you through four carefully selected wines from around the world. Grazing food is included, as is a chance to explore the dry-docked ship (it will not be sailing you to the States on this occasion). 26 November 2026

Thanksgiving 2026 meals and special menus in London

Have Thanksgiving dinner at Benjamin Franklin House. Image: willnoble13, All Rights Reserved

All available on 26 November only, unless otherwise stated. Most require advance booking — check with individual venues for details.

Thanksgiving dinner 2026 at Benjamin Franklin House

For the first time in its lengthy history, Benjamin Franklin House — the only surviving former home of the Founding Father — serves up a Thanksgiving feast. In the rooms where Franklin himself once lived and worked, you can dine on a multi-course traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the classic trimmings.

Thanksgiving dinner 2026 at Benjamin Franklin House.

Thanksgiving 2026 at JW Steakhouse

Image: JW Steakhouse

Inspired by the steakhouses of New York and Chicago, JW Steakhouse on Park Lane embraces the American celebrations with a three-course Thanksgiving set menu.

Begin with a selection of seasonal starters, including a butternut squash & sage velouté, or a burrata with cranberry and orange. The centrepiece of the feast is a traditional turkey, served with spiced brioche and apricot stuffing, crispy duck-fat potatoes, maple-glazed heritage carrots, cauliflower gratin, creamed spinach and charred brussels sprouts. Or opt for a dry-aged sirloin steak (10oz) with black garlic butter and thyme jus, or a truffle and mushroom risotto.

Desserts offer a further taste of autumn, from spiced pumpkin meringue tart topped with roasted pecans and cinnamon mascarpone, to apple and pear toffee crumble served with Calvados anglaise and vanilla ice cream. There's also a dark chocolate and hazelnut bar with Frangelico ganache and salted caramel ice cream.

Thanksgiving 2026 at JW Steakhouse, £95 per person.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Riding House Cafes

Image: Riding House Cafe

For the 15th year, Riding House Cafe serves a family-style Thanksgiving feast at its three London venues: available for both lunch and dinner at all three restaurants on Thanksgiving itself, and additionally for dinner at the Fitzrovia branch the following day.

It's comfort food all the way: think cornbread dinner rolls served with whipped pumpkin butter, followed by roast turkey with allclassic Thanksgiving trimmings (cornbread and sausage stuffing, maple-buttered sweet potatoes, truffled mac and cheese, creamed corn, glazed sprouts...). Pumpkin pie rounds it all off.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Riding House Cafes in Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Victoria. £65 per person.

Thanksgiving 2026 at 108Brasserie, Marylebone

Anywhere with its own dedicated pie room has got to be near the top of the list for an all-American Thanksgiving feast. Filled with all manner of sweet pies (pecan, pumpkin, Mississippi mud, key lime, banoffee), this is the finale to the three-course feast, which also includes spiced Maine lobster rolls, Baltimore-style crab cakes with chicory & avocado salad, or roasted pumpkin and charred corn salad with homemade cornbread.

The main course is — that's right — roast turkey plus trimmings galore: stuffing, sweet potato mash, creamed corn, roast potatoes, green bean and mushroom cassoulet, and that all-important cranberry relish.

(Really though, it's all about the pie room.)

Thanksgiving at 108Brasserie, £85 per person.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Booking Office 1869, St Pancras

Image: Booking Office 1869

Spend Thanksgiving in the elegant surroundings of Booking Office 1869, located within the original ticket hall at St Pancras station. The special Thanksgiving menu spans four courses, as well as an 1869 Punch cocktail on arrival. Dishes including butter-roasted bronze turkey with all the trimmings alongside seasonal vegetarian and seafood options.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Booking Office 1869, £75 per person.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Outsider Tart, Hammersmith

Meringue-baked pecans, beanie wafers, pickled sprouts, and pickled peaches are among the unusual items on the Thanksgiving menu at Outsider Tart in Hammersmith — and that's just for starters. Continue onto roast turkey (or a gourd stuffed with pumpkin and black beans for veggies), with sides including cherry cornbread stuffing and pimento cheese mashed potatoes.

Dessert is a PIE PIE PIE extravaganza, with slices including apple, pumpkin, pecan, buttermilk, sweet potato, coconut custard, hillbilly pie, and pumpkin cheesecake available to finish your meal on a sweet high.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Outside Tart, from £75 per person.

Thanksgiving 2026 at the Hound, the Cadogan Arms and the George

Pub trio the Hound (Chiswick), the Cadogan Arms (Chelsea) and the George (Fitzrovia) all serve the same special Thanksgiving menu, kicking things off with a whiskey cocktail on arrival. Then tuck into snacks including smoked ham scotch egg — plus roast turkey crown or slow-cooked short ribs accompanied by green bean casserole, sweet potato with marshmallows, mac and cheese, and corn pudding. Dessert takes the form of pecan pie, or Oreo cheesecake.

Thanksgiving 2026 at the Hound, the George, and the Cadogan Arms. £100 per person.

Thanksgiving 2026 supper club at Honey & Co

Bridget Fojcik, the American manager of Honey & Co in Bloomsbury, hosts a Thanksgiving Supper Club. Tuck into buttermilk mash, turkey with Bridget's special herby stuffing, and buttermilk mash with crispy onions. For dessert: apple pie and ice cream.

Thanksgiving supper club 2026 at Honey & Co, £75 per person.

Thanksgiving Feast 2026 at Duck & Waffle

Image: Duck & Waffle

Duck may be its signature dish, but it's turkey all the way at sky-high City restaurant Duck & Waffle for Thanksgiving.

Choose between the lunch and dinner sittings for the special Thanksgiving feast, served family-style and including bacon-wrapped dates and cheesy polenta croquetas, followed by roasted bronze turkey with all the trimmings (sweet potatoes with marshmallows and candied peanuts. collard greens, truffle mac and cheese).

Round things off with bourbon pecan pie and ice cream. Probably a Rennie's too.

Thanksgiving 2026 at Duck & Waffle. Lunch (12pm-3pm) £65 per person/dinner (5pm-10pm) £95 per person. Wine pairings £45 extra.

Thanksgiving 2026 menu at One Aldwych, Covent Garden

Swing by One Aldwych for either lunch or dinner on Thanksgiving this year. Whichever sitting you choose, tuck into maple sourdough, pumpkin velouté, turkey with all the trimmings, and pecan pie with cinnamon ice cream.

Thanksgiving 2026 at One Aldwych, lunch £90 per person/dinner £125 per person.

Mariah's in town this Christmas... and so are her cardboard cutouts. Image: Bucket Listers

If you're a massive Mariah fan, you'll already have tickets to her Christmas show at the O2 this November.

But now, an extra treat has been announced for fans of Carey/Christmas: from November 19 2026, the south-east London venue will also host the first international incarnation of Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar, a Mariah-motifed winter wonderland slathered in festive décor/cardboard cutouts of the Queen of Christmas.

Dare you to ask for a pint of bitter. Image: Bucket Listers

Serving creamy-looking cocktails with names like the Make My Wish Come True and MC Toasted Tini (made with the songstresses' own Black Irish cream liqueur, no less) Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar will also offer weekend brunches, festive photo ops, the chance to write a letter to Mariah, and a sack-load of Carey's Christmas choons (hopefully they'll break these up with some Slade/Wombles).

Mariah merch will also be on sale. I hear those till bells ringing...

Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar, O2, from 19 November-late December 2026.

The new Bowie dance epic won't land in London till autumn 2028. Image: Kazuyoshi Shimomura.

"Let's dance!" exclaimed David Bowie back in 1983. Now, the Spanish choreographer Marcos Morau is taking him up on the offer.

In the latest cultural doff of the cap to the pop visionary who died just over a decade ago, a major new dance work dedicated to David Bowie — as devised by Morau in cahoots with London's Sadler's Wells dance organisation, Bunkamura (Japan) and La Veronal (Spain) — is coming to London.

Taking its cue from Ziggy/Aladdin/the Thin White Duke's chameleon-like versatility, Subject to Change - A Dance for David Bowie will sweep audiences through the rock star's various incarnations, by way of a spectacular show featuring Bowie-style costumes, and soundtracked by reimagined Bowie music.

An archive dedicated to David Bowie opened in east London last year. Image: willnoble13, All Rights Reserved

Says Marcos Morau: "Subject to Change is a work about that cycle of reincarnation. About the phenomenon itself: the act of dying and being reborn, again and again, as a way of remaining alive. I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to, in my own way, bring to life a new work that responds to Bowie's creation, and re-creation, through dance. The cycle that Bowie enacted across his artistic life is re-enacted here, in sound and movement, in real time, on stage."

If we've got you excited for this, know that Subject to Change is subject to a wait, debuting at Luxembourg's Les Théâtres de la Ville in spring 2028, and not enjoying its UK premiere, at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, until autumn 2028. It then heads to Tokyo in spring 2029.

Though it appears to have 'hit' written all over it, whether Subject to Change can match the genius of this Bowie-Jagger dance sans music remains to be seen:

For more info, and to be first in line for tickets, visit Sadler's Wells' website.

With the future of the Beckenham Odeon hanging in the balance, Owen Oakeshott — Chair of Friends of Beckenham Cinema — explains why it's an essential community asset, to be saved at all costs.

Beckenham's cinema has been operating for almost 100 years but is now under threat. Image: Londonist

The Odeon on Beckenham High Street is the town's only cinema, and the one place in Beckenham where the whole town turns up — from toddlers at family screenings to older residents at the daytime Silver screenings.

Teenagers walk there with friends for their first film without an adult, and plenty of sixth formers have had their first job behind its counter. Residents have sent us dozens of stories. One woman came to the cinema from Crystal Palace in the late 1980s, liked Beckenham so much she moved here, and now, retired, walks to daytime films. A retired NHS couple told us it's the only cinema they can walk to, and the evening isn't complete without dinner nearby afterwards.

Its loss would be felt well beyond the building.

Opened in 1930 as the Regal, the Odeon is an art deco picture palace from the great age of cinema building, designed by the architect Robert Cromie and listed Grade II. The facade is still one of the High Street's landmarks, and almost a century on the building is doing the job it was built for. It needs to stay that way.

"We want a working cinema in the building, open to everyone"

"I just want to watch Shaun the Sheep and eat popcorn." — a quote from Owen's daughter. Image: superiphi, Creative Commons

Citygate Church bought the freehold in March 2025, and Odeon has announced that it will close at the end of November. Citygate has said it will apply to Bromley Council to change the building's use to a place of worship, returning it to a single auditorium. Odeon's lease ran until 2038; it says the closure follows a mutual agreement with the landlord, though how the lease came to end early hasn't been made public.

We aren't asking anyone to sell. Our case rests on planning: a cinema is a community facility, and Bromley's planning policies set a high bar before a town can lose one. Our campaign is about having a working cinema in the building, open to everyone. Who runs it matters less to us than that it stays a cinema. An independent operator could do it well, and so could a cinema sitting alongside other arts uses.

My favourite personal memory of the cinema is a recent one. On Saturday 10 October, straight after our gathering on the cinema steps, I took my five-year-old daughter to see Shaun the Sheep. It was her second viewing in two days, and the only bribe that had got her there at all. She'd made her position clear: "I don't want a boring photograph taken to help the cinema. I just want to watch Shaun the Sheep and eat popcorn." So while 150 people outside chanted "Save our screen!" to a chorus of honking traffic, we walked in, bought two tickets and a bucket of popcorn, and settled down. It felt gloriously appropriate, and entirely in the service of the campaign. The film's fab, too.

You can sign up for updates on the Save Our Screen website, where you'll also find the petition (so far signed by more than 11,000 people) and fundraiser, which covers the campaign's costs. The moment that will count most is when Citygate's planning application is published: at that point, Friends of Beckenham Cinema will tell you how to comment to Bromley Council.

You can't Stay Another Day, because the party winds up at 8pm. Image: Fox & Firkin

With Stay Another Day, fur-trimmed boy band East 17 had one of THE Christmas hits of the 90s (even if it wasn't originally supposed to be a festive song).

Now, over three decades later, founding member/songwriter Tony Mortimer is inviting us all to a festive 90s-themed party, where he'll be spinning the choons all night afternoon long.

Taking place on Saturday 12 December 2026 at Lewisham's Fox & Firkin pub, Tony Mortimer's 90s Christmas Party promises "massive singalongs, festive fun, 90s anthems and a few surprises along the way". Is one of the surprises a fully-fledged reunion performance, replete with ski wear, fake snow and tubular bells? Christmas miracles can happen.

As is now custom for those who were living it up back in the 1990s, doors for Tony' party open at 2pm, with the whole thing winding up at 8pm, allowing you to get home, mix a Horlicks and put on re-runs of the Vicar of Dibley Christmas specials.

The Fox & Firkin is going all out for Christmas this year, other events including a Cutashine Christmas Ceilidh and A Buena Vista Christmas.

Tony Mortimer's 90s Christmas Party, Fox & Firkin, Lewisham, 12 December 2026

Keep up to date with all things festive on our Christmas 2026 in London page.

Help out at a homeless shelter this Christmas. Image: Shelter From The Storm

Christmas is a magical time of year, where you kick back and relax with the family. At least it should be. Not everyone can enjoy that luxury, but you can help. Here are some of the places you can volunteer for charities in London for Christmas 2026.

Crisis at Christmas volunteering: Christmas 2026

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The biggest volunteering operation across the nation every Christmas takes place in Crisis's day centres and rough sleeper centres, and it's been running for more than 50 years. Crisis at Christmas has an abundance of ways you can help make someone else's yuletide that extra bit special across hotels (this year in east London), day centres (Paddington, Elephant & Castle and Stratford — all open 24-28 December 2026) and call centres. Following a successful trial last year, the women-led hotel returns to east London during Christmas 2026 (open 21 December-12 January), to help women experiencing homelessness.

Crisis has many volunteer roles — from drivers to hairdressers — but the key roles involve:

🙂 Welcoming and supporting guests — greetings, conversations, puzzles and games
🙂 Serving food and drinks
🙂 Helping with activities and services — arts, sports, salon or healthcare appointments
🙂 Keeping spaces safe and tidy

Have a look at the impact of Crisis at Christmas:

Most Crisis at Christmas volunteers will need to commit to a minimum of two shifts

Applications are now open. See also Crisis's ideas for fundraising, ahead of Christmas, as well as the charity's Wishlist, where you can donate items needed to help it provide its services.

Volunteer with The London Basket Brigade: Christmas 2026

Image: Basket Brigade

The Basket Brigade puts food on the tables of families in need on Christmas Day. Up to 1,500 baskets are delivered on 23 December, and this requires hundreds of volunteers — both to put the baskets together, and to drive and deliver them. The base for this year remains Woodside High School near Wood Green. They also need help raising the funds to provide the baskets. Registration is now open for 2026 volunteering.

Rotary Club Christmas Day 2026 volunteering

Image: Rotary Christmas Day

Rotary Club holds a massive Christmas Day lunch and tea party for over-65s living in Wandsworth. The shindig takes place in Battersea Park, with around 400 elderly people who would otherwise be alone taking part each year.

Volunteers are usually needed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. You can do one, two, or all three days. Jobs include preparing the venue, helping with transport for the guests, serving food and clearing up afterwards. Applications to volunteer for Christmas 2026 are now open.

Volunteer at Jacksons Lane on Christmas Day 2026

Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

Highgate-based arts centre Jacksons Lane has opened its doors on Christmas Day for more than 50 years, offering older adults in Haringey and north London somewhere to spend the big day, combating loneliness and isolation. Attendees are provided with a three-course Christmas dinner, enjoyed alongside a programme of live music, carols and choir performances.

Of course, volunteers are needed to make this happen, undertaking tasks from cooking and serving meals to wrapping presents, and collecting attendees from their homes and getting them to the event safely. Find out more and apply for Christmas 2026.

Christmas Eve 2026 volunteering with Sant'Egidio London

Every year, the London branch of the Sant'Egidio church serves a Christmas Eve lunch at St Cuthbert's Church in Earl's Court, inviting the homeless, the elderly and anyone else who would otherwise be alone to partake in a community dinner. Volunteers are needed both before and on Christmas Eve to help organise and serve the meal. Applications for 2026 will open soon.

Salvation Army volunteering: Christmas 2026

Image: Tim Mossholder, Unsplash License

Salvation Army churches are busy at Christmas, running the annual Christmas Present Appeal as well as hosting night shelters. You may be needed to sort through donated toys and gifts, serve festive meals or help out in other ways at night shelters. The website lays out the various roles available for volunteering at Christmas 2026.

WrapUp London coat collection: Christmas 2026

Image: WrapUp London

Got an old spare winter coat kicking around? WrapUp London would love to have it to reassign to someone who needs it, including homeless people, refugees and families in emergency accommodation. Drop off points are open across London from 2-22 November 2026, and you can find volunteering opportunities linked to WrapUp London on the HandsOn London page.

Volunteer for the Felix Project's Winter Food Collection: Christmas 2026

Throughout the UK, food waste prevention organisation Felix holds a winter food collection at Tesco stores. It's searching for volunteers to take on shifts between 26-28 November 2026, to help collect donations of food in your local Tesco supermarket. Food collected is distributed among individuals and families in the UK who most need it. Find out more and sign up.

Volunteer at London winter night shelters: Christmas 2026

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Plenty of homeless shelters operate in London and are very worthy of help. Sleeping rough on the streets of London in winter is a horrible experience, and shelters try to alleviate these issues, and give people a warm place to sleep for the night. Some open just for the winter, whereas others open all year. Here are a few currently looking for volunteers:

🛏️ Shelter From The Storm: This homeless shelter in Islington is open all year round, but demand is higher in the winter, and people are needed for shifts. Tasks include cleaning, cooking, serving food and talking to guests on evening, overnight and breakfast shifts. Find out more here.

🛏️ Hackney Winter Night Shelter: Open from November to March each year, Hackney Winter Night Shelter provides a bed for the night and a hot meal for people who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets, and it needs volunteers throughout the season. Tasks include cooking and serving meals, doing laundry, getting to know the people staying here, and staying overnight to make sure everything runs smoothly. Find out more and volunteer.

🛏️ The Whitechapel Mission: Homeless shelter The Whitechapel Mission receives as many as 300 visitors a day during December, and it needs a willing group of volunteers to provide for all these guests. You'll be giving not only warm food, but a touch of warmth to the lives of those less fortunate — truly in the spirit of the Christmas holiday. They need extra help to sort the donations received, but note that volunteering opportunities here are strictly for teams rather than individuals.

There are plenty of other winter night shelters across London: why not contact your nearest one and see if it needs volunteers this year.

Christmas volunteering with St Mungo's: Christmas 2026

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Homelessness charity St Mungo's recruits volunteers to shake a collection bucket at train stations at Christmas — and spread festive cheer as you do so. Keep an eye on the volunteering page for 2026 opportunities.

Various shifts are usually available at different London stations (Waterloo, Paddington, Euston, King's Cross, Victoria, London Bridge, Charing Cross) on set days in mid-December.

Simply Volunteer Christmas volunteering

Simply Volunteer is the ultimate search tool for volunteering opportunities. These aren't necessarily Christmas related — the service runs all year-round — but type the keyword 'Christmas' into the search engine if you want your volunteering to be festive flavoured. You can also search by other interests, for example, if you want to volunteer with the elderly, or help the homeless.

Festive volunteering roles in previous years have included Christmas bucket collections, and volunteering at charity Christmas concerts and fundraising fairs.

Festive fundraising events in London: Christmas 2026

Image: Santa in the City

Want to do a good deed this Christmas, but don't have the time or resources to volunteer? How about taking part in a festive fundraising event instead? Here are a few that've caught our eye for Christmas 2026:

🚲 The 14th annual Santa Charity Cycle takes place in Richmond; don a Santa suit and ride 15.5km to raise money for Shooting Star Children's Hospice in Hampton. 5 December 2026

🧑‍🎄 Alternatively, put your Santa suit to use to walk or run 3km or 5km through central London at night. The Santa in the City route begins in Paternoster Square and crosses the Thames four times, raising money for a selection of charity partners. 8-10 December 2026

🌹 The Ever After Garden opens in Duke of York Square in Chelsea in the lead-up to Christmas, a glowing field of white roses where anyone can sponsor a flower (suggested donation £15) in memory of a loved one. 5 November-21 December 2026

🎵 And of course, London is packed full of Christmas carol concerts at this time of year, many raising crucial funds for charities. Macmillan, WaterAid, Save The Children, and Action Syria are just a selection of the charities you can support in 2026.

All weekend

MCM Comic Con takes over Excel. Image: ASV Photography

OCTOBER HALF TERM: The school break falls around the end of October, meaning there will be plenty of family-friendly events taking place around London this weekend and into next week. Browse our half term events guide for theatre shows, exhibitions and other events and activities for all ages.

HALLOWEEN: Spooky season is most definitely here, and although Halloween itself isn't until next week, there are plenty of Halloween events already happening here in London. Swing by a terrifying pop-up bar for a themed cocktail, or hunt down a Halloween market this weekend.

PUMPKIN PICKING: Hand-in-hand with Halloween comes an abundance of orange gourds. Embrace all things autumnal with a trip to one of these farms or pumpkin patches near London where you can pick your own.

MCM COMIC CON: Halloween isn't the only reason to dig out your fancy dress costume at this time of year. MCM Comic Con returns to Excel for three days of celeb guests, panel discussions, cosplay, tabletop/video games and more. 23-25 October 2026

BECOMING AMERICA: The Science Museum marks 250 years of America's independence with free display Becoming America, which showcases maps, paintings, instruments and artefacts relating to scientific breakthroughs from the 1760s-90s. FREE, 23 October 2026-25 April 2027

The Rio screens family films for Hackney Children's Film Fest. Image: Rio Cinema

FAMILY FILM FESTIVALS: Two child-friendly film festivals launch on Saturday, just in time for October half term. Barbican's annual Family Film Week promises "a celebration of cinematic discovery for young ones and their grown-ups" through the likes of Star Wars, Matilda and Singin' in the Rain. Meanwhile, out east, Rio Cinema hosts Hackney Children's Film Fest, showing a mixture of family classics, age-appropriate shorts, and lesser-known films throughout the week. Both 24-31 October 2026

FREDDIE MERCURY: Following Freddie Mercury's 80th birthday, the V&A South Kensington opens a new, free trail showcasing some of the Queen frontman's legendary stage costumes and outfits. Wander through the museum via six stops, each showcasing a different high of Mercury's career within a dramatic setting. FREE, 24 October 2026-17 January 2027

WIMBLEDON BOOKFEST: Ian Botham, Elif Shafak, Meera Syal, Clare Balding and Simon Sebag Montefiore are among the speakers on the programme for the second and final weekend of this year's Wimbledon BookFest, which takes place at venues around central Wimbledon. Until 25 October 2026

SURINDERELLA: Stratford East offers a Bollywood take on traditional panto in the form of Surinderella. The family-friendly show features Surinder, a sweet young woman stuck in a never-ending chore list thanks to her two selfie-obsessed, Insta-vlogging stepsisters, Lovely and Bubbly. 20-31 October 2026

Catch a lively circus show in the West End. Image: Cirque Berserk

HOKUSAI: Experience Mount Fuji as Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai saw it 200 years ago. Dulwich Picture Gallery brings together the complete set of Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, Hokusai's depictions of the mountain in different lights and seasons. 20 October 2026-17 January 2027

CIRQUE BERSERK: Large-scale theatre circus Cirque Berserk! barrels into the Garrick Theatre. An international troupe of more than 30 acrobats, aerialists and stunt performers mixes contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, including the motorcycle Globe of Death. It's suitable for all ages, so ideal for a half term treat. 21-31 October 2026

LONDON LITERATURE FESTIVAL: Dua Lipa curates this year's London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre, which this weekend includes a celebration of 40 years of Poems on the Underground, as well as British Somali poetry, and a conversation between Dua Lipa and author Zadie Smith. 21 October-1 November 2026

Saturday 24 October

Explore Deptford on a guided walk. Image: N Chadwick, Creative Commons

VINTAGE FAIR: Browse mid-century modern furniture, homewares, art, vintage fashion and jewellery at Judy's Vintage Fair at Sands End Arts & Community Centre in Fulham. Stalls are indoors and out, with a café on site and dogs welcome. 10.30am-3.30pm

HOME MOVIE DAY: Take films on 9.5mm, Super 8, 8mm or 16mm to Home Movie Day at the Cinema Museum for a free examination by a professional film archivist, followed by a big-screen projection. The family-friendly celebration of amateur film also includes tea and cake. FREE, 10.30am-4pm

UP THE CREEK: Explore Greenwich and Deptford on a walking tour with Pete Smith, beginning beneath the figurehead of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. The route passes the church where Christopher Marlowe was buried, follows the path of London's first railway and finishes at Deptford’s multicultural market. 11am-1pm

PURE POISON: Explore the use of poisons in medicine, culture and fashion at this display at the Wellcome Collection. Printed reproductions from the collection and evocative fragrances accompany examples ranging from mandrake folklore to hexensalbe, the ointment alleged to enable witches to fly. FREE, 12pm-4pm

RECLAIMING THE ARCHIVES: History, poetry and zine-making come together at Fulham Palace, exploring two contrasting documents from Lambeth Palace Library: a 1709 pamphlet by the Royal African Company and a 1723 letter written by an enslaved person known as Secrett. The afternoon includes a walk and talk tour, creative workshops and spoken word, with no archive or writing experience required. FREE, 12pm-6pm

Head up to the Dartford Crossing on a Thames architecture tour. Image: Donnchadh H, Creative Commons

THAMES ARCHITECTURE: Open City's Architecture on the Thames Boat Tour travels from Greenwich Pier towards the Dartford Crossing and back, taking in Richard Rogers' Dome, the Tate & Lyle Sugar Refinery, the Thames Barrier and Crossness Sewage Treatment Works. The three-hour tour is led by architect and architecture teacher Benedict O'Looney. 1pm-4pm

RADIOHEAD TRIBUTE: French Radiohead tribute band Paranohead take over the Half Moon in Putney for an afternoon show, covering the group's biggest hits from the early days of Creep and The Bends to the atmospheric worlds of Kid A, In Rainbows and beyond. 1pm

COWGIRLS & COCKTAILS: Saddle up for a cowboy-themed bottomless brunch at the Star in Shoreditch, with 90 minutes of unlimited drinks, Neapolitan pizza and live entertainment. Expect musical bingo, line dancing and hosted karaoke. 2pm-4pm

JANE EYRE: The UK premiere run of the Tony‑nominated musical adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's novel Jane Eyre plays at Southwark Playhouse Elephant until today, offering a story of ambition and independence, gothic mystery and passionate love. 2.30pm/7pm

GOTH AFTERNOON: Spend four hours with Feeling Gloomy DJs at Simmons Bar in Leicester Square, where classic goth, darkwave and dark indie soundtrack an over-30s-only afternoon. The basement venue was formerly Subway, home to the Batcave goth nightclub in the 1980s. 3pm-7pm

FAMILY CONCERT: The Audentior Symphony Orchestra brings Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and Stravinsky's The Firebird to Harrow Arts Centre. Live narration and paintings created before your eyes by children's illustrator James Mayhew add a visual storytelling element to the 60-minute concert. 4pm

MON ÂME: A free community screening at Oxford House Theatre in Bethnal Green brings together Mon Âme and other films exploring Black life, identity and representation in Britain and the wider diaspora. A panel discussion follows, considering Black British identity, community and the future of Black communities in the East End. FREE, 6pm-9.30pm

The Ivy House pays tribute to Amy Winehouse. Image: Ewan-M, Creative Commons

SPOKEN NERD: Festival of the Spoken Nerd and friends gather at the Royal Institution for An Evening of Unnecessary Detail. The science and comedy variety night has a line-up including pyrotechnician Fran Scott, stand-up mathematician Matt Parker and science presenter Helen Arney, who combine their areas of expertise with comedy and songs. 7pm-10pm

MOTOWN MEMOIRS: Soul Mama Islington welcomes Motown Memoirs, a live celebration of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and the Temptations, with London vocalists and a live band. Performers include the Elements, the Seasons, the Soul Sisters and the Rhythms, each bringing a different take on Motown classics. Doors 6.30pm, show 8.30pm

BACK TO BLACK: Rob Howat's Big Band performs Amy Winehouse's seminal album Back to Black at the Ivy House, London's first community-owned pub in Nunhead. This one-night celebration marks the album's 20th anniversary. 7pm-11.45pm

BACH ORCHESTRAL SUITES: Concerto Copenhagen performs all four of Bach's Orchestral Suites at Smith Square Hall as part of the London Festival of Baroque Music. Led by harpsichordist and musical director Lars Ulrik Mortensen, the ensemble uses one string player per part for a clear, historically informed performance. 7.30pm

NEVER SUCH INNOCENCE: OSO Arts Centre marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme with a performance of this First World War music drama. Christopher Kent and pianist Gamal Khamis tell the story of 19-year-old Private Percy O'Key through his letters and diaries, alongside words by Wilfred Owen, Edward Thomas, Siegfried Sassoon and Vera Brittain, and music by Elgar, Ravel, Debussy and Ivor Gurney. 7.30pm

Sunday 25 October

Jacqueline Wilson takes part in the inaugural Big Story Festival. Image: © David Spearing

CLOCKS CHANGE: A reminder that the clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday. That means winter is on the horizon, but fear not, we've put together some ideas for brightening up the dark nights here in London.

BIG STORY FESTIVAL: The Imperial War Museum in Lambeth holds its inaugural Big Story Festival, a free-to-attend, family-focused weekend of storytelling, featuring talks with bestselling children's authors Dame Jacqueline Wilson and Tom Palmer, illustration workshops with Will Hughes, free Play and Sing sessions for younger visitors, and guided tours of the museum's galleries. Some workshops and author events require paid tickets. FREE, 25-26 October 2026

HIDDEN GARDENS: Discover some of the City's unexpected green spaces on the Hidden Gardens of London walking tour, beginning near St Paul's. The route visits churchyards, livery company gardens and other oases shaped by the Great Fire of London and the Blitz, with commentary from guide Bridget Chandler. 11am-1pm

HARLEM IN MAYFAIR: Explore the hidden African and Caribbean history of Mayfair on this Black History Walk. The two-hour tour covers Black-owned businesses, African spirituality, jazz, fashion, aristocratic interracial relationships and the area's links to African and Caribbean figures. 11am-1pm

BOOK BUZZ: Book Buzz returns to Artsdepot in North Finchley for a free family festival celebrating books, stories and reading, with a special focus on comics, manga and graphic novels. Meet comic creators, try drawing techniques, invent heroes and villains — and explore book swaps, creative activities and workshops. FREE, 11am-4pm

CHILDREN'S DISCO: Dance to indie pop, soul and Motown at How Does It Feel To Be Loved? Children's Disco at the Phoenix on Cavendish Square. The family-friendly party welcomes children, parents and family friends, with music played at a reasonable level. 12pm-4pm

THE RESTLESS CLOCK: Pints of Knowledge hosts a talk about how humans measure and experience time at the Dial in Greenwich. Explore everything from sundials and church bells to atomic seconds and the idea of time as a fourth dimension, with playful experiments, a Q&A and a free pint of Dial lager included — all led by cultural ecologist Regina Atienza. 12pm

DIWALI IN LONDON: London gets the Diwali celebrations started early with the free Diwali on the Square festival in Trafalgar Square. Open to everyone, it celebrates the upcoming Festival of Light with live music and dance performances/workshops, South Asian food stalls and children's activities. Find other ways to celebrate Diwali 2026 in London, over the coming weeks. FREE, 1pm-7pm

Immerse yourself in tales of vampires. Image: London Dreamtime

VAMPIRES: Climb through the bookcase at Love Shack in Cambridge Heath for Storytelling Sunday: VAMPIRES!, a live storytelling and music performance inspired by Gogol's short story Viy. Vanessa Woolf and musician George Hoyle explore Ukrainian folklore, horror, wonder and magic, with guest stories from the floor and costumes welcome. 2pm-4pm

FREE COMEDY: Hosted by Joe Bains, the Lyceum Tavern Comedy Show in central London has a nice and early start/end time for a Sunday — plus there's no cover charge, although as the old gag goes, donations on the door mean it might cost ya to get out. FREE, 4pm-6pm

HENNING WEHN: German comedian Henning Wehn takes an "unbiased" look at climate change in Acid Wehn at Hackney Empire. Expect observations on the weather from the self-styled German Comedy Ambassador, in a show running for approximately two hours. 4.30pm

MOZART REQUIEM: Crouch End Festival Chorus returns to Alexandra Palace Theatre with Mozart's Requiem. The programme also includes works by Christopher Tin, Orlando Gibbons and Jessica Curry, including the theme from the video game Civilization. 5pm-6.45pm

LAMPLIT HAMPSTEAD: Explore Hampstead after dark on an atmospheric walking tour from JW3, winding through narrow back streets lit by old-fashioned lamps and glimpsing the area's history. It's led by museum curator and educator Marilyn Greene. 5pm-7pm

Arena of Fire lights up Wembley. Image: Rock Orchestra

FAIRPORT CONVENTION: British folk-rock band Fairport Convention brings their tour to the Exchange in Twickenham. Expect long-established favourites alongside surprises from albums old and new. 5pm

FAUST: Murnau's 1926 Expressionist film Faust is reimagined as an immersive live cinema performance at the Horniman Museum and Gardens. The Enchanted Cinema accompanies the film with trumpet, violin, electric viola, organ, guitar, vocal effects and live foley sound. 5pm-7pm

NARA SMITH: Social media cook Nara Smith brings A Homemade Evening to Union Chapel in Islington for a conversation about family, motherhood, internet fame and self-care through food. Known for calmly making bread, cereal and butter from scratch, Smith also takes questions from the audience. 7.30pm

ROCK ORCHESTRA: Things get lively at Wembley Arena, as the Rock Orchestra headlines Arena of Fire. The 90-minute live concert features 14 classical musicians performing rock and metal covers alongside pyrotechnics, fire performers and circus acts. 8pm

Keep up date with festive happenings in the capital on our Christmas 2026 in London page.

Image: Artsdepot

London is hit with a flurry of festive theatre shows at Christmas. These are our picks of the best family-friendly productions, both traditional and more modern — all ideal for a day out with the family.

Looking for panto? We've got that covered over here.

Children's Christmas shows at Unicorn Theatre

It's Santa's turn to enjoy Christmas! Image: Unicorn Theatre

Southwark's Unicorn Theatre specialises in children's theatre shows, offering two productions for different age groups this festive season.

Huddle (for ages one-four) is a 50-minute slide through Mr Penguin's Antarctic adventure as he navigates life as a new father, raising his chick from an egg upwards.

The world premiere of Santa's First Christmas (for ages four+) combines music, storytelling and dance as the elves realise that Santa's never experienced Christmas for himself (it is his busy season, after all), so they decide to give him a taste of the magic of the festivities.

Santa's First Christmas, 14 November 2026-3 January 2027. Sensory performance 4, 16 and 19 December, BSL interpreted performance 15 December. Huddle, 27 November 2026-3 January 2027.

12 Days at Chickenshed Theatre

An incredible 800-strong cast is split into five different rota groups, with one group performing in each show of 12 Days. It centres around five children who take a festive journey to discover the true meaning of love.

12 Days at Chickenshed Theatre, 18 November 2026-9 January 2027. Age five+. All performances feature integrated BSL. Captioned performances on 15, 18, 20 and 21 December. Audio described performances on 13, 19, 21, 28 and 29 December.

Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026

Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus is part of the wider Hyde Park Winter Wonderland festival. Image: Justine Trickett

After several years of Zippo's, there's a new circus in town at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland 2026. Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus makes its London debut, combining the vibrant energy of K-Pop with the wonder of world-class circus artistry to bring a young dragon's story to life.

Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, 19 November 2026-3 January 2027. Suitable for all ages. Note: you'll need a Winter Wonderland admission ticket in addition to your circus ticket.

The Snowman at Peacock Theatre

The Snowman returns to the Peacock Theatre. Image: Tristram Kenton

You think you've seen this show before... but you haven't. After an incredible 32 years of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre's take on The Snowman, the Peacock Theatre shakes things up for Christmas 2026 with a new staging. The BRT is still at the helm as puppets and a soaring score combine to bring Raymond Briggs' charming story of a Christmas Eve friendship between a boy and a snowman to life.

The Snowman at Peacock Theatre, 21 November 2026-3 January 2027. Suitable for all ages. Relaxed performance 2 December, audio described performance 12 December.

Children's Christmas shows at Little Angel Theatre

Image: Little Angel Theatre

Little Angel Theatre offer two festive productions, both making skilled use of puppets to bring the stories to life in front of little eyes.

The Snowflake (age five+) is based on Benji Davies' children's book of the same name, with songs telling the story of a snowflake, a little girl and her Pappie, all looking for their own place in the world. Scruff's Christmas Adventure (ages three-six) features more audience interaction, as the cute puppy spends Christmas Eve wondering what gift to get his owner.

The Snowflake, 21 November 2026-23 January 2027, and Scruff's Christmas Adventure, 28 November 2026-3 January 2027.

Dear Santa at Battersea Arts Centre

Image: Norwell Lapley Productions

Designed as an ideal introduction to theatre for younger viewers, Dear Santa — based on the book by Rod Campbell, author of Dear Zoo — sees the big man finding the ideal Christmas present for a special little girl... with help from the elves, of course.

Little ones can meet Santa himself after the show, and receive a gift to take home.

Dear Santa at Battersea Arts Centre, 28 November-24 December 2026. Age two-six.

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Starchitects Save Santa! at The Place

Image: Starchitects Save Santa!

Enjoy a gravity-defying festive family theatre experience, with intergalactic Christmas story Starchitects Save Santa! Catastrophe strikes when Santa goes missing on Christmas Eve — join the Starchitects on their daring mission into space to save him... and Christmas itself.

World-renowned dance-circus company Motionhouse is behind the show's out-of-this-world choreography, so expect a highly physical and extremely energetic performance. It'll be fast-paced and mesmerising enough to keep the attention of even the fidgetiest little elves in the audience. There's plenty of imagination (and humour!) in Starchitects Save Santa! too, with empty boxes from Christmas gifts becoming a rocket to whisk you off on a journey that's full of festive surprises.

Taking the whole crew? A Family Ticket covers two adults and two children for just £55. Access performances are available too, including BSL, Audio Description and Relaxed Performances and a pre-show Touch Tour, on selected dates.

Starchitects Save Santa! at The Place, Euston, 16-23 December 2026. Suitable for all ages, and perfect for 5-11 year olds. Touch Tour, Audio Described and BSL performance on 19 December, Relaxed Performances on 21 December.

Pinocchio at Shakespeare's Globe

Image: Shakespeare's Globe

After last year's inaugural run, Pinocchio is back at Shakespeare's Globe for the festive period. The children's fantasy story, about a carpenter named Geppetto and the wooden puppet he carves which comes to life, takes the form of a musical, with the characters reimagined as life-sized puppets.

Pinocchio at Shakespeare's Globe, 28 November 2026-3 January 2027. Suitable for all ages. Relaxed performance 3 and 23 December, BSL performance 17 and 27 December, audio described performance 19 December and 2 January, captioned performance 20 and 30 December.

Scrooge: Cirque Extravaganza at Excel London

Image: Cirque Scrooge

It's A Christmas Carol, but not as you know it. Scrooge: Cirque Extravaganza takes the classic festive tale and puts a circus twist on thing: think enchanting aerialists, fire tricks and stilt walkers to transport you from a snowy Dickensian London to Fezziwig's all-singing, all-dancing circus.

Scrooge: Cirque Extravaganza, 23-28 December 2026. Age three+.

Aliens Love Panta Claus at Artsdepot

Image: Artsdepot

Given how much kids love anything involving *snicker* underwear, Aliens Love Panta Claus is bound to be a hit. Based on Claire Freedman and Ben Cort's picture book, this brand new production is packed with catchy songs to draw you into the story of aliens giving away underpants to spread festive knicker cheer.

Aliens Love Panta Claus at Artsdepot, 8 December 2026-3 January 2027. Age three+. BSL performance on 15, 19 and 24 December, audio described performance on 20 December, relaxed performance on 16 and 20 December.

There's A Bear On My Chair at Southbank Centre

Image: Dan Tsantilis

Don't you just hate it when you go to sit down, only to find a bear's beaten you to it? So does Mouse, so he takes up residence in Bear's house for a clever dose of rhyming revenge, all told through charming puppetry.

There's A Bear On My Chair at Southbank Centre, 11 December 2026-3 January 2027. Ages two-seven.

Non-festive family theatre shows in London this Christmas

Well-known characters skate into the O2. Image: Disney On Ice

Fed up with the kids talking about Christmas, asking about Christmas and singing about Christmas, all day long? Here are some family theatre shows in London this festive period which aren't themed on the 'C' word:

THE JUNGLE BOOK: Rudyard Kipling's animal adventure takes centre stage in the National Theatre's production of The Jungle Book, with puppetry telling the story of Mowgli, a human boy raised by animals. Age seven+. 13 November 2026-6 February 2027

ROOM ON THE BROOM: If your kids are more into spooky season than sparkly season, a stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's Room on the Broom flies into the Lyric Theatre, as a witch and her cat pick up a few hitchhikers on their broomstick. Age three+. 27 November 2026-3 January 2027

SMARTEST GIANT: Another adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's work, The Smartest Giant In Town stomps into St Martin's Theatre. George the giant goes shopping to smarten himself up, then bumps into some animals who need his help... and his shiny new clothes. All ages. 9 December 2026-3 January 2027

DISNEY ON ICE: Discover The Magic is the theme of this winter's Disney On Ice show, which skates into the O2 between Christmas and New Year (so you could stuff some tickets into the stocking of a young Disney fan for a post-Christmas treat). Characters from Toy Story, Moana, Coco, Frozen and Aladdin appear on skates... and a word of warning: look out for a cheeky appearance from a very mischievous Stitch. All ages. 24 December 2026-3 January 2027

PADDINGTON THE MUSICAL: Not specific to the festive season, but Paddington the Musical has received constant rave reviews and multiple awards for its charming retelling of Michael Bond's story of a Peruvian bear finding his way in London. Age six+. Currently booking until 2028

The Churchill Arms goes ALL out for Christmas. Image: Matt Brown

Many London pubs put up a run of tinsel for the festive period, but nowhere goes all-out like the Churchill Arms.

At any time of year, the famous pub is an attractive corner-house in the Kensington/Notting Hill borders. Its roof and walls are festooned (there really is no other word for it) with pot plants, hanging baskets and aerial shrubbery.

The pub is covered in hundreds of Christmas decorations. Image: Matt Brown

Come Christmas, the exterior becomes a veritable thicket of pine trees and fairy lights, so densely packed that you wonder how the real Santa Claus will ever squeeze in. Look out for the Letters to Santa postbox beside the main entrance.

This year's lights are switched on on Thursday 12 November 2026 from 6pm. Simply show up at the pub in plenty of time (they're not taking bookings), to watch it flicker into festive light.

There's lots to see inside the pub too. Image: Matt Brown

The Churchill Arms, owned by Fuller's, is also a charmer on the inside, packed to the gunwales with hanging bric-a-brac, bunting, Churchillian memorabilia and — that vanishing species in pubs — a carpet. It, too, is richly decorated with festive trimmings.

The Churchill Arms, 119 Kensington Church Street W8 7LN. Nearest station Notting Hill Gate. See the Christmas decorations from 12 November 2026.

Our pick of free things to do in London this week. Get earlier access to this article, delivered straight to your inbox for free every week, via our newsletter.

There's a free Diwali festival in Trafalgar Square. Image: Geoff Henson, creative commons

Spicy lattes on the house

Those in need of a morning pick-me-up — who happen to be in the vicinity of Market Halls Canary Wharf on Tuesday — head to Amma & Atta. The first 100 folks through the doors from 7.30am receive a free latte made with ashwagandha, turmeric, cinnamon, jaggery and oat milk. Just utter the code word 'AMMA'.

20 October.

Free events at London Literature Festival

London Literature Festival opens at Southbank Centre this week, curated this time round by Dua Lipa. While there's a charge for many of the events, it's worth sifting through the programme for free events too; they include a large-scale book swap, where you can take along an old book, write a short note about why you recommend it, and leave with a new (to you) read. Dua Lipa, Anish Kapoor, Elizabeth Day, Holly Blakey, Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen, Nish Kumar and Travis Alabanza have all contributed books to the swap.

20 October-1 November.

A history of poverty in London

University of London and the London School of Economics (LSE) team up for free exhibition A Place To Call Home: Poverty and Housing in London at Senate House Library. Taking Charles Booth's 19th-century 'poverty maps' as a starting point, the exhibition delves into the historical roots of issues around housing and poverty that we still face today. Post-war development, housing policy and squatting are among the issues tackled through photography and imagery.

23 October 2026-5 March 2027.

Tapestries in town

Thanks to a certain embroidered artwork visiting from France at the moment, London is in the midst of a tapestry mania. Case in point: Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now, a free exhibition at Guildhall Art Gallery, featuring a tapestry version of David Hockney’s 1963 painting Play within a Play, plus a new, six-metre-wide tapestry by Turner Prize-nominated artist, Hurvin Anderson — among others.

23 October 2026-21 March 2027.

American history at the Science Museum

A map of the British and French dominions in North America, John Mitchell, 1755. Image: Courtesy of the Library of Congress

In the year when the United States marks 250 years of independence, the Science Museum opens a new, free display Becoming America: How Science Shaped A Nation. A curated collection of maps, artworks, instruments and artefacts tells the story of the four decades from the 1760s-90s, looking at how scientific knowledge was used to navigate, survive and cultivate the American landscape, and effectively create a whole new country.

A particular highlight is a rare surviving 1776 print of the Declaration of Independence.

23 October-25 April.

Screen your own home movies

Got some old family films lying around at home? The Cinema Museum wants to see — and potentially screen — them, particularly if they're on 8mm, Super8, 9.5mm or 16mm.

The Kennington museum's annual Home Movie Day invites the public to bring along homemade films, and get advice on caring for them from expert archivists. They might even give you the chance to screen them to an audience on the day, so you can share your family memories with fellow Londoners.

24 October.

Freddie Mercury at the V&A

Image: Freddie Mercury, Magic Tour 1986. Photograph by Denis O’Regan

It's a kind of magic: The V&A South Kensington opens a new display of some of Freddie Mercury's costumes and stage outfits from the 1970s-80s.

Freddie Mercury | Splendid Things takes the form of a trail, with six stops dotted throughout the museum. Clothing from Mercury's days as Queen frontman, as well as his solo career, is displayed, including the Mercury Wing catsuit made famous in the Bohemian Rhapsody video, and the crown and cloak designed worn on the Magic tour — Mercury's last appearance with Queen.

From 24 October.

Diwali in Trafalgar Square

Diwali isn't officially until November this year, but London gets the celebrations started early with the annual Diwali on the Square festival in Trafalgar Square this Sunday.

It's free entry, open to everyone, and is led by people from across London's Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities. The programme includes an opening ceremony consisting of 200 vibrantly-clothed dancers, performances by Bollywood Dance School and a live garba band, and dance workshops where you can give the Bollywood style a go yourself.

25 October. Find other Diwali events — some free, some paid — in London this year.

Family-friendly story festival

Lambeth's Imperial War Museum holds its first ever Big Story Festival, a family-friendly celebration of books, linked to its current (also free) Childhood in War exhibition.

Entry to the Big Story Festival is free, as are several activities, including doodling on the Big Story Wall, singing along to a Family Knees Up led by Tom Carradine, and illustration workshops from Will Hughes.

Note: there is a charge for a few of the events, including sessions with authors Jacqueline Wilson and Tom Palmer.

25-26 October. If your kids are into reading, Artsdepot in Finchley also holds a free Book Buzz on Sunday, with drop-in activities and a book swap.

Free things to do in October half term

Kids off school for half term? Entertaining them can be exhausting — and expensive! Our October half term events guide has a whole section dedicated to free things to do in half term, spanning forensic science, books, playgrounds... and even a free maze (fingers crossed for decent weather, eh?).

Taken from Sam Robert and Roy Reed's book London's Ghost Signs, we take a closer look at 10 of the capital's most eerily beautiful ghost signs, still lingering in plain sight.

1. Nestlé | Boro, Killyon Road SW8 (corner of Wandsworth Road)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

There are two layers of Nestlé signage on this wall, with the slogan on one dating it to the early 1920s. This is noteworthy for its explicit endorsement of breastfeeding — in the 1970s, the company was widely condemned for aggressively marketing its formula to mothers in the developing world. Two additional signs on the wall, for the billposting company Boro, boasted of their thousands of sites and sought customers to advertise on the wall. They, or a subsequent contractor, later installed billboards on the building, the last of which was removed in about 2015.

2. J.S. Foster & Co., Tisbury Court W1 (corner of Rupert Street)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

J.S. Foster & Co. was a hosier and outfitter, and here from at least 1910 until 1925. This elongated sign pre-dates 1936, when Little Crown Court was renamed Tisbury Court. It was part of a larger composition that wrapped around the corner of the building, but this wall's more northerly orientation and shielded position have helped preserve it. What remains are decadent pictorials in scalloped panels, and a scroll containing copy written in English and French. This was to attract the French catering and hospitality trade that thrived in Soho at the beginning of the 20th century.

3. Peterkin, Corner of St John’s Hill and Sangora Road SW11

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

This well-loved ghost sign advertised Peterkin's products made at the nearby Battersea Mills. For a couple of years from 1919 the business was run by Joseph Arthur Rank, later of Rank Films fame. His milling-magnate father, Joseph Rank, supported him in this endeavour despite being on the record calling his son 'a dunce'. The brand was taken over by the King's Own Cereal Company in about 1921 and was all but gone by 1930. Early 1920s advertising for Peterkin's custard refers to it as 'liquid gold', accompanied by bold claims about its 'real egg' content. This was in contrast to egg-free brands such as Bird's. However, a court case in 1926 revealed that the actual egg content was far from substantial. Ultimately no conviction was made, on the grounds that customers shouldn't expect too much given the product's low price. The sign was locally listed by Wandsworth Council after its nomination by a local historical society in 2016. The Dutch boy pictorial partly explains its popularity, and appears to be based on similar Peterkin (meaning 'little Peter') characters from children's stories. Although unrelated, similar iconography was also used by the Dutch Boy Paint brand in the USA. While it might be reasonable to assume the sign was a privilege for a local grocer or baker, these were in fact the premises of the Cato family, oil and colourmen based here at least from 1891 to 1941. They sold goods including paraffin, ironmongery, and paints and thinners. While these seem unlikely bedfellows with Peterkin's products, wallpaper paste can also contain cornflour, the basis for most custard powders.

4. Boots, Camden High Street NW1 (just south of Parkway)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

Boots had a branch here from 1932 to 1969, and the sign pre-dates 1953, when it was painted over and replaced with an illuminated installation. It's ironic that the painted sign is now back and holding up well, whereas its successor only partially remains. The handwritten logotype, broadly unchanged today, is said to have been designed by Jesse Boot, a long-term owner of the business and son of John Boot, who founded the company in 1849. Soon after opening here on Camden High Street, the Nottingham-based chemist opened its thousandth shop. It was a period of significant expansion driven by providing affordable health products to the nation. At one time this included lending libraries — 'healthy mind, healthy body', we presume. Boots still has a shop on Camden High Street, just a couple of doors down from the building hosting this sign.

5. Gillette, Queensway W2 (by Bayswater station)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

The detailed pictorial shows a man being shaved by his young child to demonstrate just how safe Gillette’s safety razors were. An early 20th century campaign went further, depicting a shaving baby accompanied by the line, 'Begin early, shave yourself'. This sign is also distinctive for featuring the Gillette logotype at a relatively small size, and sitting within a yellow diamond shape at the top of the wall.

6. London & North Eastern Railway (LNER), South End Road NW3 (between Heath Hurst Road and Maryon Mews)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

This sign was positioned to reach those walking back to the station from Hampstead Heath, and sought to encourage longer-distance leisure travel via the railway. It can be dated to between 1923, when the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) was founded, and 1929, when its head of advertising, C.G. Dandridge, rolled out Gill Sans as the corporate typeface. Gill Sans was then adopted by British Railways after nationalisation in 1948. Two thirds of the sign was protected by a billboard, and the right third's longer exposure has resulted in its more faded appearance, and graffiti.

7. Cakebread, Robey & Co., Tyssen Road N16 (corner of Stoke Newington High Street)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

Cakebread, Robey & Co. builders' merchants was founded in 1882 by George Cakebread and Arthur Robey. It remained in Stoke Newington until 1965, but from 1914 its manufacturing took place at the Caroba Works on Wood Green High Road. The business was wound up in 2000, with the assets acquired by Neville Lumb and then Saint-Gobain. The company made a name for itself producing stained and etched windows and mirrors. These survive in pubs and churches around the UK, and as far afield as Barbados. A relatively local example can be found in the well-preserved stained glass at the Salisbury Hotel pub on Green Lanes. There are at least three layers of signage on this wall, creating a palimpsest that represents the development of the business. Each repainting added new products, necessitating smaller letters to fit them in. For each iteration a whitewash or primer was used to cover the older sign, and these are now fading to reveal earlier layers.

8. Bloom's Pianos, Kingsland Road E2 (adjacent to the Museum of the Home)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

Bloom was the adopted name of Russian immigrant and master cabinetmaker Philip Blumhert, who spent most of the 1930s here. This sign has a little bit of everything: scale, illustration, confident language, elastic lettering and the signwriter's signature. It’s also in palimpsest, but the older layer is impossible to make out. The wall regularly catches the eye of passersby and has featured in ghost signs projects from photographers Tom Bland and Martin Thompson. In 2012 the sign was added to the Local List at Hackney Council in recognition of its artistic and aesthetic merit, and historical value. This probably offers less protection than its north-facing orientation, and hasn't prevented the graffiti that is gradually creeping up the wall.

9. Hovis/Warner Bros | Swan Laundry, Inchmery Road SE6 (corner of Sandhurst Road)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

A remarkable trio of signs advertised the Warner brothers, who took over the bakery here in the late
1930s. The main piece on the corner was protected by a billboard until about 2019, while the other two
straddle perpendicular walls on a smaller, connected structure at the back of the premises. This was
probably where the baking took place, with the shop displaying and selling the goods on the main road.
Below the main corner sign is a smaller, incomplete piece, which directed customers to the Swan
Laundry further along Inchmery Road. Records show that in 1934 this was run as a partnership by two men,
George Sydney and William Craddock.

10. Evelyn Gowns, High Street Walthamstow E17 (opposite Westbury Road)

Image: Sam Roberts/Roy Reed

A branch of this women’s outfitter was based in the building next door for more than 50 years from the early 1930s. However, the featured clothing brand logotypes and the signwriter's phone number place the sign in the 1950s. Its good condition is thanks to the protection given by the buildings opposite.

London's Ghost Signs, by Sam Roberts & Roy Reed, published by Metro Publications Ltd

We featured this book because we know it's the kind of thing our readers will enjoy. By buying it via links in this article, Londonist may earn a commission from Bookshop.org — which also helps support independent bookshops.

Your weekly roundup of Londonist news and features.

London New Year's Eve Fireworks 2026 Tickets Go On Sale Next Week

100,000 people will watch the 12-minute show.

Image: Kevin Hackert via Unsplash

You're Invited To A Revolving Dinner Party In This Iconic Richard Seifert High-Rise

Bompas & Parr come to Space House.

Image: Bompas & Parr

When Are London's Christmas Lights Switched On This Year?: Christmas 2026

Sooner than you think, actually.

Image: Oxford Street

The Prince Charles Cinema Has Been Saved

Legendary Leicester Square venue secures its future.

Image: Matt Brown, Creative Commons

Two London Stations Are Finalists In The World Cup Of Stations 2026

And they're very different from one another.

Image: Irid Escent, Creative Commons

London's Oldest Restaurant Is Now Owned By The National Trust

Rules on Maiden Lane gets permanent protection.

Image: Matt From London, Creative Commons

Subterranean London: The Big Quiz

How will you do in London's deepest pub quiz?

Image: Matt Brown

Christmas Music Shows In London - Get Festive With The Rat Pack, Old Dirty Brasstards And Elvis

Carols not your thing? We've got you covered.

Image: Royal Albert Hall

This Pickle-Mad Festival Returns To Deptford's Dog & Bell Pub For The 30th Year

They're not gherkin around.

Image: Леся Терехова, Pexels License

The Victorian DLR: A Riverside Railway That Never Was

Trains above the Thames, from the 1840s.

Lithograph by W. Richardson, 1841. Image: Matt Brown

The Riverside Temple To Shakespeare That's Free To Visit

Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare in Hampton.

Image: Matt Brown

Changes Planned To Make Monument Junction Safer For Cyclists And Pedestrians

Public consultation launched - have your say.

Image: TfL

"Very Intense And Isolating": Michael Crawford Remembers Playing The Phantom Of The Opera 40 Years Ago

Image: Hannah Smith via Unsplash

Looking Ahead: Things To Do In London This Week: 19-25 October 2026

Our pick of events for the coming week.

Image: ASV Photography

Fancy having your mug on a bottle? Image: Renegade

You know when you're looking at a bottle of Renegade wine because it's looking at you.

Walthamstow-based winery Renegade has been crafting bottles of vino for a decade — and while the contents are lip-lickingly delicious, the labels invariably set tongues wagging too.

That's because Renegade casts aside traditional motifs like chateaus/heraldic crests/chickens, in favour of close-up photos of people's faces. The winery explains: "As a UK producer, we wanted to celebrate the best thing about the UK. The weather? No. The people! Each label shows the eyes of a different person who lives in the UK. They may not be born in the UK, they may not have gone to school in the UK, but they're part of this country. They each form a key part of the rich tapestry that makes the UK special."

They are, if you will, putting mugs on bottles.

The eyes have it. Image: Renegade

Every time Renegade makes a new wine from a new grape variety, from a new vineyard or in a new style, they require a new face for the label — and right now, they're recruiting models.

So what's the criteria?

"They are all random people, in the nicest possible way," says Renegade. "They are students, plumbers, researchers, the unemployed, the retired, newspaper editors, receptionists, teachers and HR executives. They are aged between 19 and 70+. They are white, black, Asian, mixed race. They are straight, gay, transgender, queer. They are from all walks of life."

All that's required of you is to fill in this short form, explaining why you want to be on the label (and make sure you're free for a photoshoot on 16 November 2026).

If you're successful, as well as having your close-up on the front of the label, your name/local Tube station will appear on the back (the majority of bottles feature Londoners, though you don't have to live here to qualify).

But the best thing about becoming a bottle? You'll be the face of your given wine for life; they'll even take a fresh picture every year, so you age with it.

Apply to become a bottle of Renegade wine by 1 November 2026.

The latest Bompas & Parr experience is set to put foodies in a spin. Image: Bompas & Parr

While some dinner party invites have you scrabbling for an excuse not to come, here's one that Londoners will be clamouring to attend.

Bompas & Parr — the gastronauts behind such things as a 'breathable' cocktail bar and a journey through The Complete History of Food — have announced their latest venture, and it's set to put foodies in a spin. Hosted at Space House — Richard Seifert's Jetsons-esque confection located just off Kingsway — the Gastrolabe is a revolving dinner party, in which your dinner companions constantly change.

At the experiences — running on 3, 6, 7 and 8 November 2026 — guests can admire 360-degree views from the 14th floor of the Grade II-listed high-rise, before joining a three-course dinner at a 51-person table. Said table is made up of three independently revolving sections, meaning that every time you look up from your plate, you could be facing someone new. Presumably the mechanics moves at a speed gentle enough to allow dinner to remain firmly inside your stomach.

The name 'Gastrolabe' is a riff on the an instrument once used to chart the heavens — doubly fitting, given not only Space House's name, but its former life as HQ of the Civil Aviation Authority.  

The revolving table should prove great for meeting/escaping dinner fellow dinner guests. Image: Bompas & Parr

"At its heart," runs the marketing spiel, "the Gastrolabe is an experiment in conviviality. Rather than determining who you spend an evening beside, the table continually reorganises the social landscape, using movement to generate new meetings, conversations and perspectives."

Sounds ideal for meeting new people... and escaping any awkward conversations.

The Gastrolabe revolving dinner at Space House, 3, 6, 7 and 8 November 2026

There's no shortage of fireworks in November — here's our roundup.

The first batch of tickets for London's NYE fireworks goes on sale on 23 October. Image: Kevin Hackert via Unsplash

The first batch of tickets for London's New Year's Eve fireworks goes on sale this Friday.

Since 2014, the festive spectacular of fireworks, music — and latterly, drone displays — has been a ticketed event. Playing out on the South Bank, and centred on the London Eye, 100,000 people will watch the 12-minute show. It's always a sell-out.

Tickets will be available from 12pm on Friday 23 October 2026, exclusively through Ticketmaster.

2026 tickets have been frozen at last year's prices, and will cost up to £55 per person. However, Londoners enjoy a generous discount, meaning they'll pay £20-£35, depending on the viewing area:

🎆 Blue: Victoria Embankment from Westminster Bridge to Golden Jubilee Footbridge (£35 Londoners/£55 others)
🎆 Pink: Waterloo Bridge (£35 Londoners/£55 others)
🎆 White: Westminster Bridge (£35 Londoners/£55 others)
🎆 Red: Victoria Embankment from Golden Jubilee Footbridge to Temple Avenue (£20 Londoners/£40 others)
🎆 Green: the area behind the London Eye (£20 Londoners/£40 others)
🎆 Orange (accessible viewing area): Albert Embankment, river side of St Thomas’s Hospital (£20 Londoners/£40 others)

Says the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan: "Nowhere in the world brings in the new year like London. Every year our unique display of fireworks, lighting and music shows off the very best of London, as around 100,000 Londoners and visitors line the banks of the River Thames and millions watch on around the world."

City Hall has warned that Ticketmaster is the only authorised vendor; in the last few years there's been an uptick in people buying fake tickets, resulting in them being turned away on the night.

A second, smaller batch of tickets will go on sale in November.

Read more on the Mayor of London's website.

Or indeed, changing its address. Image: Matt Brown, Creative Commons

Legendary West End venue the Prince Charles Cinema has been saved from closure.

The Leicester Square-based theatre launched a petition in January 2025, when it became locked in a dispute with its landlords, which it claimed were demanding a rent that "no cinema proprietor would consider reasonable". The petition asked the landlords to withdraw the break clause from the lease, and to negotiate a more reasonable rate of rent.

A few months later, the cinema was declared an "asset of community value", though its future still wasn't guaranteed. Now, almost two years after its future was first in question, the PCC has announced it has signed a new 25-year lease with no break clause.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Prince Charles Cinema (@princecharlescinema)

Effectively, this means the indie venue can continue under its current conditions for at least another 25 years — a major victory at a time when beloved London businesses are closing at quite a rate.

In an Instagram post announcing the good news, the PCC thanked "every one of the 168,645 people (and counting) who signed the petition", as well as "the Soho Society who recommended that Westminster Council officially designate us an Asset of Community Value, and the Council who did so".

To continue supporting the PCC, check its upcoming screenings, and book a ticket. They've certainly got one or two 55 showings of The Muppet Christmas Carol coming up.

December in London: you're never more than six feet away from a Christmas carol. But what about all the other festive choons? From jazz to cabaret to soul to folk, we've rounded up the best Christmas music shows in London for 2026.

Old Dirty Brasstards: the Sally Army but make it a million times funkier.

Jazz Noël, Wilton's Music Hall (27 November): Revel in seasonal numbers by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole — as performed by a tight, groove-driven rhythm section — and what a setting, too! Info and tickets

That'll Be The Day! Christmas Show 2026, Churchill Theatre, Bromley (28 November): If, like Granny, you think the old songs are the best, this nostalgic medley show will be top of your wish list this Christmas. A 'rollercoaster sleigh ride through the golden age of rock and pop' is promised at this toe-tappin' night out. Info and tickets

Old Dirty Brasstards Big Brass Xmas Bash, the Garage (3-19 December): Like a Salvation Army band who've added something seriously funky to the mulled wine, Old Dirty Brasstards bring the party to the Garage in Highbury on a number of dates this Christmas, with their metallic takes on standards like Stay Another Day and All I Want for Christmas. Previous years have sold out, so hop to it. (Otherwise, they have a couple of late November shows elsewhere in London.) Info and tickets

You won't have a Blue Christmas if you get tickets to Ben Thompson's festive Elvis tribute. Image: Londonist

Ben Thompson Elvis Christmas Special, CryerArts (9-13 December): You won't have a Blue Christmas if you get tickets to Ben Thompson's festive Elvis tribute, playing a number of shows at Carshalton's CryerArts theatre this December. He's accompanied live by the Big Boss Band. We went last year and — mercy — are they good! Info and tickets

Massaoke - Christmas Live, various venues (11 and 12 December): Clapham Grand (11 December) and Kentish Town Forum (12 December) will erupt with the collective revelry of hundreds of people belting out Slade, Mariah et al, ably assisted by a live band. Even if karaoke isn't usually your thing, 'tis the season to sing/screech at the top of your lungs. Info and tickets

Northern Soul Xmas Party, 100 Club (17 December): Some of the best Xmas songs ever written fall into the Northern Soul category, and hopefully the DJ will weave plenty of festive foot-stompers into the 100 Club's Xmas Party mix. Info and tickets

Cara Dillon - Upon a Winter's Night, Union Chapel (18 December): The frantic festive season takes a beat with this evening of simple songs routed in Celtic hymns, ancient carols and traditional folk. Aaaand breathe. Info and tickets

Trevor Nelson's Soul Christmas is one of scores of festive shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

Christmas shows at Jazz Cafe (20-26 December): Christmas at Camden's Jazz Cafe is invariably a cool affair, with A Gospel Christmas (20 December) and A Motown Christmas (24 December) — now THAT'S how to celebrate Xmas Eve — followed by a DJ Luck & MC Neat Boxing Day Rave (26 December). Info and tickets

A Christmas Party with the Kimberleys (20 December): Festive faves get a folky makeover with the Kimberleys' much-loved Christmas show, which draws a very tinselly line under Walthamstow Folk Club's 2026 calendar. We're also promised some home baking, which you certainly don't get at the O2... Info and tickets

The Pogue Traders Christmas Shindig, Half Moon (21 December): Now Shane McGowan's gone to that great pub in the sky, the Pogue Traders are possibly the closest you'll get to seeing one of his group's legendary Christmas gigs. Expect the walls of this Putney pub to come down when Fairytale of New York starts up. Info and tickets

Ronnie Scott's isn't shy about getting into the festive spirit. Image: Londonist

Christmas shows at Royal Albert Hall (throughout December): Christmas with the Salvation Army (1 December), Anna Lapwood's Christmas (8 December) Jamie Cullum doing The Pianoman at Christmas (10 and 11 December) and Trevor Nelson's Soul Christmas (17 and 18 December) — just an amuse bouche of the festive hoe-downs happening in South Ken's Christmas pudding bowl-shaped concert hall this December. Hate to use the phrase 'something for everyone', but there really is. Unless you hate Christmas, in which case close this tab immediately. Info and tickets

Christmas shows at Crazy Coqs @ Brasserie Zedel (throughout December): Zedel's pint-sized yet plush cabaret space pulls out all the stops this season, much of the month glittering with festive showcases, including Gary Williams: A Swingin' Christmas! (5-23 December) and Michael Dore's Christmas Celebration (6 and 13 December). There's much more too, although bad news for Mrs Parton fans: Holly Dolly Christmas is already sold out! Info and tickets

Christmas at Ronnie Scott's (throughout December): While some festive shows have already shifted 100% of their tickets, there's still a sleigh-load of holiday-themed shows going down at London's premier jazz club, including Ronnie Scott's Gospel Choir at Christmas (6-22 December) and Ronnie Scott's Classical All Stars present Christmas Classics (14-21 December). Info and tickets

Frank, Deano and Sammy are back in town for Christmas, and haven't they aged well. Image: The Rat Pack

Christmas shows at Cadogan Hall (throughout December): Aside from hosting more traditional carol concerts, this swanky Sloane Square venue is garlanded with festal shows, including Giacomo Smith’s Big Band playing Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite (14 December) and Swing Into Christmas with the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra (28-29 December). Info and tickets

Rat Packs/Sinatras at Christmas (throughout December): For some (us included) Christmas just ain't Christmas without a generous scoop of Rat Pack numbers. Various tribute acts do the rounds during London's festive season; this year listen out for A Sinatra Christmas by Candlelight at Aldwych Theatre (6 December)— featuring a 17-piece big band, and Sinatra the Musical star Joel Harper-Jackson as Ol' Blue Eyes. Aside from that, Stephen Triffitt (Frank), Mark Adams (Dean) and Darren Charles (Sammy) appear in The Definitive Rat Pack Christmas Show at Boisdale Canary Wharf (5-22 December) and in The Rat Pack at Christmas at Cadogan Hall (12 December). It is frankly (or should that be Frankly?) a show we've enjoyed many times over.

Giacomo Smith’s Big Band playing Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite on 14 December. Image: Cadogan Hall

Fox & Firkin (throughout December): Fill your (snow) boots at Lewisham's community-driven music pub this Christmas, with shows including the Cutashine Christmas Ceilidh (15 December) and A Buena Vista Christmas (23 December). Booking is recommended — their Cockney & Caribbean Christmas Takeover has already sold out... Info and tickets

Arab Christmas by Candlelight, Grand Junction (7 January): The stunning Grand Junction venue near Warwick Avenue (its ceiling is a belter) is lit by candles for an atmospheric evening of Arabic, Syriac, Coptic and Byzantine chants — an Arab Christmas by Candlelight. Taking place on 7 January, it's surely one of the last festive events of the season. Info and tickets