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 13 December), 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 — including daily showings of A Muppet Christmas Carol — in the cinema lobby, but once you're ensconced in your seat, you should be safe from the festivities.
Additionally, it shows all five Twilight films back-to-back through the night, between Christmas and New Year (Monday 29 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 (14 December 2025), 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.
- Cockfosters: A surrealist comedy set on the Piccadilly line.
- Stranger Things: The First Shadow: A prequel to the events of the TV show, set in 1959.
- Othello: Shakespeare's tragedy of power, rage and desire, starring David Harewood and Toby Jones.
- All My Sons: Arthur Miller's play about the dishonest promise of the American Dream.
- The Producers: The sold-out Menier Chocolate Factory production transfers to the West End.
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
- Back To The Future
- Six
- The Choir of Man
- MJ The Musical (ends 28 February!)
- Hamilton
- Oliver!
- Disney's Hercules
... 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:
- Pirates at the National Maritime Museum (until 3 January)
- Secret Maps at the British Library (until 18 January)
- Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? at the Natural History Museum (until 22 February)
- Design and Disability at the V&A (until 15 February)
- Marie Antoinette Style at the V&A (until 22 March)
- Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the National History Museum (until July 2026)
