Looking for something fun to do today? Something eye-opening to watch tonight? Something delicious to eat tomorrow? Our guide to things to do this week in London is personally curated, ensuring there's always a diverse range of events for you to choose from. Get stuck in!
All week
THE RSC'S TWELFTH NIGHT: Following a five-star, sold-out run in Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company's Twelfth Night opens at the Barbican this Monday for just six weeks. Directed by UK Theatre Award-winning director Prasanna Puwanarajah, with original music by singer-songwriter Matt Maltese, this vibrant production brings to life Shakespeare's comedy masterpiece featuring Freema Agyeman, Michael Grady-Hall, Gwyneth Keyworth, Daniel Monks and Samuel West. Expect a show packed with farce, longing, love and life. 8 December-17 January (sponsor)
EVER AFTER GARDEN: Time's running out to see this year's Ever After Garden, a display of more than 30,000 glowing roses at Chelsea's Duke of York Square. Anyone can visit, and though there's no admission fee, the installation raises money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, so consider donating if you can. Alternatively, dedicate a rose to a loved one (minimum suggested donation £15). FREE, until 16 December
FUTURISTIC CARTOONS: Bloomsbury's Cartoon Museum has an utterly absorbing new exhibition, The Future Was Then, delving into what people in the past thought the future would look like. Now-ageing cartoon strips including Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and Dan Dare feature, some elements of which came to fruition, but many of which have not... yet. Until 21 March
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: The Oxford Street and Regent Street Christmas lights are world-famous — and with good reason. Glowing stars dangle elegantly over the former this festive season, with those twinkling angels back over the latter. And with Christmas light displays in Covent Garden, Carnaby, Bond Street and elsewhere in the capital to see as well, you'll be needing our guide to London's Christmas light displays 2025. You can also see them by bus, if that's more your speed.
SANTA'S GROTTOS: The man in red makes multiple appearances in London at this time of year, at grottos and meet-and-greets all over town. You'll need to book way in advance for most — here's the lowdown on Santa's grottos in London this year.
LIGHT FESTIVALS: London gets LIT at this time of year, and not just with Christmas lights (above). Illumination festivals take over botanical gardens, parks and the like, with light tunnels, illuminated animal sculptures, fire gardens and other installations to ogle. Get booking for London's best light festivals this year — and a few beyond the capital too.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS: Stock up on Christmas gifts (or treat yourself) at London's best Christmas markets, which feature independent makers, wooden chalets, twinkling lights and plenty of food and drink to enjoy as you shop.
ICE SKATING: A festive staple, skating rinks pop up all over town for the Christmas season, so you can take to the ice outside palaces, skyscrapers and all manner of other backdrops. These are London's best ice rinks for Christmas 2025, including Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace and a brand new one in central London.
PANTO AND CHRISTMAS THEATRE: As if there's not enough drama in an average December, the London theatre scene comes into its own with ample pantomimes (some which are family-friendly, and others which are strictly for adults), as well as festive theatre, dance and comedy shows, and family-friendly Christmas productions. London's also blessed with multiple renditions of A Christmas Carol.
CAROL CONCERTS: We are knee-deep in carol concert season, and while we've highlighted a few festive music events below, here's our complete guide to carol services in London this year.
Today's events: Monday 8 December
MAGIC LANTERN SHOW: Experience the enchantment of a Victorian-style magic lantern show at the Florence Nightingale Museum. Lanternists Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker present a bespoke show combining original glass slides from the 19th and 20th century paired alongside modern slides showing a Victorian Christmas. 4pm/6pm/8pm
BLACK OPS: BFI Southbank hosts a preview screening of the second series of TV show Black Ops. The comedy show is about two east London police community support officers who join the Greater London Police and find themselves working undercover. Actors Akemnji Ndifornyen, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Hammed Animashaun and writers Joe Tucker and Lloyd Woolf take part in a Q&A after the screening. 6.15pm
MYRA DUBOIS: Drag queen Myra DuBois brings her seasonal cabaret to The Clapham Grand for a night of carols, crackers and comic patter. The self-styled ‘Siren of South Yorkshire’ is joined by special guests (TBA at time of writing). 6.30pm-10pm
PUB QUIZ: Hop aboard The Golden Hinde for a festive pub quiz, in which teams of up to six compete for prizes including a round of drinks for the winning team, a bottle of wine for second place and free entry to a future quiz for third. Entry is just £3 per person. 7pm
CHRISTMAS BRASS SPECTACULAR: The London Mozart Players, led by trumpet/director Alan Thomas, are joined by Croydon SDA Gospel Choir, Tiffin Choirs and treble soloist Leo Ogungbemi for a festive mix of carols, gospel and seasonal pop at Smith Square Hall in Pimlico. 7.30pm
FILM QUIZ: Put your movie knowledge to the test at the Christmas edition of the Prince Charles Cinema's film quiz. Expect rounds covering cult classics and mainstream cinema, live performances, audience games and prizes including free cinema tickets and limited-edition PCC merch. 8.30pm
Today's events: Tuesday 9 December
WOMAN IN MIND: Alan Ayckbourn's darkly comic psychological drama Woman in Mind opens at Duke of York's Theatre, with Sheridan Smith in the lead role of Susan, whose world splits in two when she gets a bump on the head. Comedian Romesh Ranganathan makes his West End debut too. 9 December-28 February
CATHEDRAL PIAZZA: The piazza outside Westminster Cathedral celebrates its 50th anniversary today, with "market stalls featuring food and crafts, plus wreath-making workshops and live performances". The Lord Mayor of Westminster will be in attendance between 4pm and 6pm with a celebratory toast at some point. 11am-7pm
CHRISTMAS WITH SOUL: Devonshire Square near Liverpool Street hosts a programme of free festive events this month, including a lunchtime concert today. Award-winning female vocal group Sleeke offer a repertoire that includes Christmas songs, soul, Motown and pop classics, as well as gospel tunes — all performed with an R&B twist. FREE, 1pm-2pm
SWING AT CHRISTMAS: The Five Star Swing Band — who have appeared on the BBC's Children in Need — pop up at the Dugdale Centre in Enfield for a concert of swing Christmas songs by the likes of Glenn Miller, Sinatra, Basie and Nat King Cole. 2.30pm
COMEDY FUNDRAISER: Midlands comedy twosome Bab invite some seriously funny pals to join them for a comedy fundraiser they're ho-ho-hosting at Aces and Eights in Tufnell Park. They include Stepdads, Pravanya Pillay and Jordan Brookes. 7.30pm
LAUGH TILL IT HURTS: Meanwhile, regular funny fundraiser Laugh Till It Hurts returns to the Comedy Store in Leicester Square. Alistair Barrie MCs as Iain Stirling, Angelos Epithemiou, Scott Bennett, Tony Law, Lily Philips and Olga Koch all perform in aid of homelessness charity Crisis. 7.30pm
CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT: West End stars Rachel John, Oliver Tompsett and Rachael Wooding are accompanied by an epic live band for Christmas by Candlelight, a festive sing-along spectacular at the Adelphi Theatre. Join in with tunes such as White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and Holly Jolly Christmas. 7.30pm
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Welcome Guinness to The Yards with a free Christmas Céilí
A rather exciting new venue opens its doors in The Yards Covent Garden this week — with quite the event to welcome the new neighbours in style!
The highly-anticipated Guinness Open Gate Brewery London officially opens its doors to the public this Thursday (11 December), located in the buzzing shopping, dining and lifestyle destination. That very evening, head to The Yards for a free authentic Irish-themed music and dance experience in the area around the brewery to celebrate. Hear lively Celtic tunes from the Blag Band, and harpist-fiddler Maggie Mae Henegan. Irish step dancers from nearby Pineapple Dance Studios show off their skills on the outdoor stage, against the twinkling backdrop of The Yards' huge festive lantern lights installation.
Don't forget to take a snap of the Guinness-inspired Christmas tree right outside the new brewery, and view the glittering Christmas decorations right across The Yards, from Slingsby Place to Mercer Walk. In short, combine a lively performance, beautiful lights and festive shopping and dining all in one central London neighbourhood — an ideal Christmas night out.
It's the final Lantern Light Nights event of the year, and is free to attend, with everyone welcome. Just head to The Yards Covent Garden between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday to join in the fun.
Today's events: Wednesday 10 December
THE SIGNALMAN: The Drayton Arms Theare on Old Brompton Road presents an eerie new full-length dramatisation of Charles Dickens’ The Signalman. Surround sound is used to intensify the story of a railway signalman who receives phantom warnings of danger and witnesses the appearance of a spectre preceding a terrible accident. 10 December-2 January
HARLAND MILLER: Kensington's Design Museum opens a display showcasing paintings by artist Harland Miller, including brand-new works specially created for the exhibition. Miller's work combine bright, saturated colour palettes and a wide range of typefaces designed by the artist himself. FREE, 10 December-25 January
AN EVENING OF CHEESE: Borough Market's annual Evening of Cheese is a fromage-themed shopping event where the market's cheesemongers are on hand to talk you through their products — just in time to fill your festive cheeseboard. Sample cheeses from across the UK and Europe beneath the market's twinkling festive lights. FREE, 6pm
GAMERA THE BRAVE: Barbican Cinema brings its Japanese monster films series to an end with a screening of 2006 film Gamera the Brave, a follow-up to the Heisei Trilogy about a gigantic turtle creature. Yuriko Hamaguchi, an MA student in film curation at the National Film and Television School, introduces the screening. 6.20pm
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS: The W Hotel in Leicester Square opens its private cinema room for a screening of Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands. Johnny Depp plays an unfinished scientific creation of a man with blades for hands. 6.30pm
JANE AUSTEN CHRISTMAS: The National Archives hosts historian Annie Gray to celebrate a Regency-style Christmas, ahead of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth next week. In an online talk, Gray talks about what Christmas looked like during Austen's lifetime, using evidence from the author's own novels and letters.7.30pm-8.30pm
Today's events: Thursday 11 December
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY: Dig out your most festive knitwear for Save The Children's Christmas Jumper Day 2025 — it's on a Thursday this year, though you can do it on another day if that works better. The idea is that you get your whole workplace/school involved, with everyone donning a Christmas sweater, and making a donation to Save the Children. 11 December
MARKET PLACE LEICESTER SQUARE: Market Place Leicester Square — a new five-storey food hall in the former Chiquito building — opens today, with stalls from 16 food traders (including Bread Ahead, Cheeky Burger, Duck Shed, Mister Lasagna and Yorkshire Burritos) plus three bars. Opens 11 December
SCI-FI THEATRE: Science fiction theatre festival Talos celebrates its 10th anniversary with three days of shows at the Bread & Roses Theatre in Clapham. Productions include Odysseus, Not Your Hero, about Poseidon, the God of the Sea challenging Greek warrior-king Odysseus to a series of games. 11-13 December
CAROLS AND ICES: London has plenty of carol concerts at this time of year, but London Canal Museum can probably claim the most unusual venue, with Camden Town Community Choir performing inside its historic ice well, which is specially illuminated for the occasion. There's also the chance to take a short boat trip on the canal at night, plus free mince pies, ice cream-making demos and other entertainment. 6pm-9pm
CHARITY SUPPER CLUB: LEON Grocery teams up with chef Suzie Bakos for a one-night-only supper club at Regent Studios (Cambridge Heath), raising money for food distribution charity The Felix Project. Tuck into Middle Eastern-inspired dishes, served family-style, including sticky Tamarind chicken with sesame and spring onion, and fattoush salad with fried flatbread and pomegranate molasses. 6.30pm-9.30pm
FUTURE WORLD MAP: Tim Marshall, author of Prisoners of Geography, is at the British Library to talk about how the world's borders may change in the coming years, in conversation with journalist and broadcaster Myra Anubi. The event ties in with the current Secret Maps exhibition, and you can watch in person or online via livestream. 7pm
AUNTY GINGER: Manchester-based drag agony aunt act Aunty Ginger brings her late-night show to the Museum of Comedy. The performance mixes stand-up, audience problem‑solving, singalongs and sketches — expect adult themes and plenty of audience participation. 8.30pm
Today's events: Friday 12 December
MUSEUM CHRISTMAS LATE: The Science Museum stays open for a Christmas Late, giving you the chance to explore the galleries and exhibitions after hours, watch spectacular experiments at The Space Show, and do a spot of Christmas shopping in the museum's shop. FREE, 5.15pm-9pm
ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER: The Brothers Grimm story The Elves and the Shoemaker is told in a family-friendly performance inside the Brixton Windmill Centre. Watch the story of a failing shoemaker who one morning awakes to discover a perfect pair of shoes, already made, sitting at his work table. 6pm
COMEDY CONVERSATION: Australian comedian Rebecca Maree, aka ‘shoey girl’, interviews fellow comedians Shazia Mirza, Rosie Holt and Nick Helm live on stage at Top Secret Comedy Club (Drury Lane). Expect an hour of merciless probing, rib-tickling anecdotes and heartfelt revelations, along with a spot of crowd participation. 6pm
WASSAIL: Long before carolling, festive revellers would go house-to-house, exchanging songs for money, food and ale. Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden resurrect this tradition in a nationwide wassail, which makes a stop at Union Chapel in Islington tonight. See the folk musicians performing seasonal tunes, including some of the oldest songs in the English canon, against a backdrop of illuminated Christmas trees. 6.30pm
YULE ROCK: The Sunday Assembly London's annual large-scale singalong of Christmas pop, Yule Rock is at Rich Mix in Shoreditch. Comedian and presenter Helen Arney hosts as the in-house band leads around 20 singalongs with projected lyrics. Belting out Christmas tunes is thirsty work, so there's a bar at the venue to keep you going. 7.30pm-10.30pm
SWIFTOGEDDON: Taylor Swift-themed club night Swiftogeddon is back at the Clapham Grand, with a DJ spinning non-stop tunes from all of the singer's eras — including her newest album, The Life Of A Showgirl — until the early hours. Expect to hear her biggest hits as well as lesser-known tracks. 11pm-3am
Today's events: Saturday 13 December
MICHAEL ROSEN: Poet and author Michael Rosen is at Bloomsbury's Foundling Museum for family-friendly festive rhymes. Settle down in the Picture Gallery, surrounded by twinkling decorations, as Rosen gives a special festive performance of seasonal children's poems Christmas Tree Lights, Chocolate Cake and Hot Food. 11am-1pm
SANTA'S SLEIGH BOAT: Sacha and Matt, the couple behind the @londonislandliving Instagram account which chronicles their life living on an island in the Thames, are taking their Santa's sleigh boat out for a spin today. In aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, they've designed a boat to look like Santa's sleigh, complete with reindeer and lights, and are taking up and down the Thames between Hampton Court Bridge and Hampton Wick this afternoon (weather dependent), departing Hampton Court Bridge at 3.05pm and reaching Canbury Gardens at 4pm before heading back. Keep an eye on the Instagram account throughout the week for exact timings and updates. 3.05pm
THE SNOWMAN: The Kew Wind Orchestra performs the live orchestral score to classic animated film The Snowman while the film is screened, at St Paul’s Juniors in Barnes. The family-friendly concert aims to introduce younger audiences to live orchestral music. 4pm
BIG CHRISTMAS SING: The BIG Christmas Sing comes to London for the first time, popping up at Islington's Union Chapel tonight. The BIG Sing Choir, an ensemble of around 150 voices, is joined by three special guest singers, Claudina Edwards, Charlotte Traynor and Eban Brown, to perform a mix of traditional Christmas standards and non-festive songs from the choir's wide ranging repertoire. 6.30pm
COCOA BUTTER CLUB: A cabaret company celebrating performers of colour, the Cocoa Butter Club takes over Brixton House for Christmas show A Festive Feast. Expect burlesque stars, drag performers, live music, spoken word and circus from the collective’s multidisciplinary cast, followed by afterparty club night Slicc n Thicc in the venue's bar. 8pm
CARNABY ARMY: Mod, rock, rhythm & blues and soul from the 1960s is the soundtrack at The Exchange in Twickenham tonight. Six-piece sixties cover band Carnaby Army perform music by the The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces and The Kinks, all with a festive twist. 8pm
Today's events: Sunday 14 December
ANTIQUES FAIR: The final Adams Antiques Fair of 2025 pitches up at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Westminster, with 130+ antiques dealers from across the UK selling antique jewellery, silver, decorative pieces and collectables. Though doors open at 10am, a queue usually forms a while before this, so arrive early if you want to be among the first inside. 10am-4.30pm
TIM PEAKE: This one really, ahem, Peaked our interest. Real-life astronaut Tim Peake is at the Science Museum today, celebrating 10 years since his mission to the International Space Station. You might get a chance to meet him, among activities including dressing up in replica spacesuits, space-themed coding sessions, and a journey through the solar system in the museum's new Space gallery. FREE, 11am/2pm
FROST FAYRE: The beautiful Crossness Pumping Station in Abbey Wood hosts its own take on a traditional frost fayre, with carols, crafts and history. Petts Wood Operatic Society lead carol singing in the Beam Engine House; Prof James presents his Punch & Judy show, Mr Punch’s Christmas Carol; and Bexley Brewery serves mulled cider and wine, along with other entertainment. Ticket includes a ride on a vintage bus to shuttle you between Abbey Wood station and the event. 11am/12.30pm
CERAMICS MARKET: Get your Christmas shopping done (or treat yourself) at the festive edition of the Independent Ceramics Market, at Peckham's Copeland Park. Over 150 established, and early-career ceramic artists from across the UK and Europe offer a diverse and affordable range of ceramic pieces including cups, vases and sculptures. 11am-6pm
INCEPT DOES NATIVITY: It's the story of the Nativity, but not as you know it. INCEPT Does Nativity, at the Rosemary Branch Theatre (Islington) is an improvised version, accompanied by a live band with Mary and Joseph as a lesbian couple, and adult themes and audience participation throughout. Definitely not one for kids. 7pm
