Looking for family-friendly things to do in London in the Christmas holidays? Check out our guide to Christmas fun in the capital, including child-friendly theatre shows and exhibitions, and London's winter ice rinks. Note: Venue opening hours tend to vary over Christmas, as does public transport, so check before you travel.
ICE SKATING: London's festive ice rinks are back for Christmas 2025. Take to the ice at impressive settings including Somerset House, Queen's House Greenwich and Hampton Court Palace. Some of the rinks have skate aids to help kids get their balance, or offer classes for budding Torvills/Deans, and most have cafes where you can warm up with hot chocolate (or mulled wine for the grown-ups) after your sesh.
PANTOMIMES: Panto season is back (oh no it isn't, etc, etc...), and London's full of the classics including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and Peter Pan. Here's our guide on where to see pantomime in London this Christmas - choose carefully though, as some of them are strictly adults-only.
CHRISTMAS THEATRE SHOWS: Peppa Pig, The Snowman and Buddy the Elf are among the recognisable characters treading the boards this Christmas. Our pick of family-friendly festive theatre shows in London also includes traditional fairytales, circus and, our own perennial favourite, Disney On Ice. If you've got older kids or teenagers, these fantastically festive theatre and dance shows, including A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker, make for a great Christmas day out.
FESTIVE FILMS: Elf, Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol are among the family-friendly films being shown at these festive film screenings across the capital. Kick back with the family with hot chocolate and popcorn and, in some cases, sing along. Check with individual venues for age restrictions, beyond those denoted by the film.
CHRISTMAS IN KINGSTON: Light installations, Santas galore – there’s sled-loads of family-friendly festive fun to get stuck into in Kingston-upon-Thames. Plan your visit here, or download the InKingston app for easy access to all the latest news, events and offers. Christmas Together in Kingston runs until 28 December (sponsor)
LIGHT FESTIVALS: Plenty of London's winter light festivals run through Christmas and into the new year. Christmas at Kew is a favourite of ours, with enchanting lights choreographed to music, and a laser show finale, but the Neverland light trail at Kenwood sounds like a fantastic child-friendly option, and we're huge fans of the Epping-Ongar Lights Express too. Here's the full list of light festivals this winter.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Sometimes it's the smaller (parents, read: less expensive) things which makes the biggest impression, and many adults talk of their memories of seeing the London Christmas lights as a child. If that sounds like something your family would enjoy, here's our guide to when, where and how to see London's Christmas light displays this year. Plus, if little legs are getting tired, we've put together some information on how to see the lights by bus — just remember to avert their eyes as you pass Hamleys, or that list for Santa will get even longer. Speaking of which...
SANTA'S GROTTOS: There are ample chances to meet Santa Claus/Father Christmas/however he's known in your household around London this year. Our pick of grottos spans department stores and museums, but many sell out waaay in advance, particularly for dates closest to Christmas, so see what's still available.
WUNDRFUL WORLD OF CHRISTMAS: Take the family along to new attraction Wundrful World of Christmas, where they can meet Santa and his elves via a mixed reality experience, including riding a special lift to the North Pole and visiting the North Pole Post Office. 8 November-24 December
WINTER WONDERLAND 2025: The huge festive funfair has taken over Hyde Park once again, with fairground rides, circus shows, an ice kingdom, skating rink, Christmas market and Santa Land. If that all sounds a bit overwhelming, our handy guide to visiting Winter Wonderland 2025 breaks everything down. The most important thing to know is that you must book an entry ticket in advance again this year, even if you're just browsing. 14 November 2025-1 January 2026
THE WINTER GARDENS: New for Christmas 2025, the Winter Gardens in Beckenham Place Park has several seasonal attractions, including an indoor ice rink, fairground rides, a circus show, mini golf, and a Christmas market. Entry is free, with payment for individual attractions. Food and drink area The Winter Lodge is adults only, but has a separate 'Rascals' area which is family-friendly with board games, Christmas film screenings, and mocktails available for under-18s who want to feel like grown-ups. 15 November 2025-4 January 2026
SNOOPY TRAIL: Burn off any mince pie binges with the Snoopy sculpture trail, which has popped up in the Fleet Street area. A dozen sculptures in the shape of the anthropomorphic beagle on top of his kennel are dotted around the area, each individually decorated. FREE, 19 November 2025-16 January 2026
TWELFTH NIGHT: New for Christmas 2025, Chiswick House gets a Georgian makeover for interactive experience The Twelfth Night of Christmas. See the rooms transformed as they would have been for the festive period during Georgian times, inspired by the 1780 Twelve Days of Christmas carol. Perhaps most exciting for youngsters is the 18th-century grotto, where Santa awaits, ready to share a Christmas story and send you on your way with a pressie. 21 November 2025-4 January 2026
STORYBOOK CHRISTMAS: A Storybook Christmas is the theme of the festivities at the Tower of London, where sparkling decorations add a touch of glamour to the historic site. Special displays tell stories of the legends of kings and queens, and the beasts from the Tower's historic menagerie. 28 November 2025-4 January 2026
THE POLAR EXPRESS: All aboard the Polar Express! For an enchanting-sounding family day out, head to Euston (don't worry, that's not the enchanting bit) and board the Polar Express for an immersive theatrical event based on the much-loved Christmas film. Characters including the chefs, Conductor, and possibly even the ghost come to life, singing songs from the film. 29 November-23 December 2025
GINGERBREAD CITY 2025: Gingerbread? Lovely. Model towns? Cute. A combination of the two? Absolutely charming (and delicious-smelling) festive fun. Gingerbread City is exactly that — a scale city made from gingerbread and other sweet treats, designed and built by architects and engineers. This year's build can be seen in a new home in King's Cross, with gingerbread house workshops available to book (though they aren't cheap!). 29 November 2025-4 January 2026
For more festive inspiration, take a look at our guide to spending Christmas 2025 in London, as well as our pick of things to do in London in December.
