This is a sponsored article on behalf of Wembley Park.
Celestial artworks, barbershop quartets, thousands of rainbow-hued LED lights... Wembley Park's looking (and sounding!) exceedingly cheerful right now!
There's so much more to this vibrant northwest London neighbourhood than its famous stadium, and there's never been a better time to visit than this winter — whether you want to shop, dine, drink, explore, or just soak up the festive vibes.
Fancy a free culture fix? Head down to the stunning Wembley Park Sound Shell on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 December for an eclectic array of live performances.
This new Flanagan Lawrence-designed outdoor bandstand has been given a festive makeover courtesy of Brent resident Yoni Alter, with thousands of LEDs added to create a kaleidoscopic light sculpture. It's playing host to talented soloists, musical groups, and community choirs every weekend until Christmas.
Throughout December, there are also free festive film screenings suitable for the whole family, a Christmassy jazz club at BOXPARK Wembley, and free comedy.
Plus, Broadway smash hit Disney's Newsies is now playing at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, with dates extended till April (so no sweat if you can't make it this side of Christmas).
Still got some Christmas shopping to do? Visit Wembley Park on Saturday 17 December, 10am-5pm, for the last of its Festive Markets. Here, you'll find all sorts of unique treasures across 25 stalls, including handmade jewellery, pre-loved goods courtesy of Portobello Vintage Market pop-up, Jesmonite homeware, and premium skincare, clothing and candles.
If you can't make that date, don't fret: more glorious gifts are waiting to be discovered at London Designer Outlet. This shoppers' paradise, which has been all decked out for Christmas, is chock-full of iconic brands like adidas, Nike, Superdry, and Levi's — all available for up to 85% off the RRP.
London Designer Outlet is also home to several casual dining favourites, so you can easily refuel in between all that bargain-hunting.
Speaking of food, it's well worth checking out Wembley Park's collection of independent restaurants, which are currently offering some mouthwatering seasonal specials.
Masalchi, a gem of an Indian restaurant by twice Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, boasts a particularly appetising festive lunch menu, culminating in an indulgent date pudding with salted caramel sauce. Don't mind if we do.
Why not follow up your festive feast with a digestion-aiding wander around the neighbourhood? The glorious Wembley Park Art Trail features some wintry new additions, including A Guiding Light, which flanks Olympic Way with banners representing phases of the sun and moon, and showcases recent images of outer space from the James Webb Space Telescope.
You'll also find festive new illustrations by Running for Crayons on the Spanish Steps and unusual phoneboxes by Molly McGrath, alongside older favourites like Jason Bruges' stunning Shadow Wall.
Just in case the art trail doesn't generate enough premium social media content for you (trust us, you'll want to bring a fully-charged phone), there are also four winter-themed selfie spots. Round off your visit by striking a pose at the winter walkway, Christmas gift box, red star seat, or ski lift bench.
Whether you're an Instagram addict, a foodie, a discerning shopper, or a frazzled parent looking for something to keep the kids occupied (we didn't even mention the all-weather play park onsite!), Wembley Park has it covered. Off you go, then!
