London's fantastic at Christmas, but Christmas isn't for everyone. Fed up of the relentless festivities? Want to escape the C Word for a few hours (or longer)? Maybe you don't celebrate Christmas, or perhaps you're just not in the mood this year. To avoid Christmas in London, head to these events without a bauble or carol singer in sight.
Do a Twilight all-nighter at the Prince Charles Cinema
Shut yourself in a dark room away from Christmas lights and immerse yourself in approximately 11 hours of mystery films. The legendary Prince Charles Cinema hosts a Mystery Movie Marathon all-nighter (Saturday 5 December 2026), where it screens five completely random and unrelated films back-to-back, and you won't know what they are until you arrive.
Acquaint yourself with the rules and etiquette before signing up. Can't guarantee you won't encounter people going to other Christmas film screenings in the cinema lobby (or that the exterior light box won't be displaying a fun festive message), but once you're ensconced in your seat, you should be safe from the festivities.
Additionally, it shows all three Lord of the Rings films (theatrical editions) through the night, twice this month (Saturday 5 and Saturday 21 December).
Go to the Satanic Flea Market Anti-Christmas Fayre
A market in December that's not full of artificial trees, candy cane candles and Michael Bublé records? That'd be the Satanic Flea Market Anti-Christmas Fayre (Sunday 13 December 2026), the December version of the regular dark arts and crafts event. Intrigued? We went along in October 2022 to find out what it's all about.
Browse 100+ stalls bristling with oddities, including collectibles, underground fashion, original art, cultural relics, vintage clothing, unusual toys, occult trinkets, obscure records, bric-a-brac, human skulls and taxidermy. Safe to say, you won't find a lavender candle and box of fudge for Aunt Doris here.
Kick back and watch a non-festive theatre show
It feels you can barely move in London at the moment without seeing an advert for a panto, Christmas concert or festive kids' show — but there are still plenty of thoroughly unfestive shows out there, if you know where to look:
- The Mousetrap: Famously London's longest running show.
- Witness for the Prosecution: Another one from the prolific pen of Agatha Christie — who is currently the subject of a British Library exhibition.
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow: A prequel to the events of the TV show, set in 1959. It closes in the West End on 27 December 2026.
- Beetlejuice The Musical: More Halloween than Christmas, Tim Burton's film starring odd teenager Lydia Deetz comes to the stage.
- Oh, Mary!: A "rollicking bad taste comedy" about Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln. Lolly Adfope stars in performances until 5 December.
- The Hunger Games on Stage: Kids and teenagers fighting to the death in a dystopian society. Definitely not festive.
- Hamlet Hail To The Thief: Shakespeare's tragedy, set to the music of Radiohead.
Just because you're not feeling festive, it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Perhaps we can tempt you with a musical, such as:
- Wicked
- The Book Of Mormon
- SIX
- Hamilton
- Oliver!
- Paddington
- The Devil Wears Prada (now starring Teri Hatcher from Desperate Housewives)
... or one of these other choices.
Catch one of London's top exhibitions right now
December tends to be a fairly quiet month for new exhibition openings, but there are plenty of top-notch displays running throughout the month (some closing early next year). If you're planning to visit during Christmas week, do check opening hours before you go as they'll likely vary from normal. Choose from:
- Jurassic Oceans: Monsters of the Deep at the Natural History Museum (until 3 January 2027)
- Frida: The Making of an Icon at Tate Modern (until 3 January 2027)
- The Music is Black: A British Story at the V&A East (until 10 January 2027)
- Renoir and Love at the National Gallery (until 31 January 2027)
- Tim Walker's Fairyland at the National Portrait Gallery (until 7 February 2027)
- The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain (until 14 February 2027)
- Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery at the British Library (until June 2027)
