All weekend
CRAFTY FOX: Granary Square in King's Cross is the venue for Crafty Fox's Christmas market weekend. Each day has a different line-up of independent artists, makers and designers from across the UK, selling items spanning jewellery, prints, textiles, ceramics and loads more. If you fancy a full festive day out, this year's Gingerbread City exhibition is located nearby in Coal Drops Yard. 13-14 December
WINTER VINTAGE MARKET: More than 40 vintage traders are spread across four rooms and the grounds of Beckenham Place Mansion for the So Last Century winter vintage fair. Expect to find mid-century decor, lighting, furniture, ceramics and glass, homeware, records, prints, posters, antique maps and clothes. The venue's regular farmers' market pops up on Sunday too. 13-14 December
ALL SOULS CAROLS: The ever-popular (and free!) All Souls Carols begin this weekend, continuing into next week. Each hour-long service is packed with nativity readings, solo performances and joyful carol sing-alongs. There's no booking, and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early for your chosen event (though if you don't get in, the full service is projected onto a giant screen outside the church). FREE, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21 December
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
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 works combine bright, saturated colour palettes and a wide range of typefaces designed by the artist himself. FREE, 10 December-25 January
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Glowing stars coalesce over Oxford Street this festive season, with twinkling angels sweeping over nearby Regent Street. 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.
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.
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Escape the Christmas chaos at FRAMELESS
Looking to add some culture into your Christmas shopping itinerary? Step into a world of colour and creativity at FRAMELESS immersive art experience, just off Oxford Street.
The whole experience brings world-renowned works of art to life in breathtaking new ways. Unlike traditional galleries FRAMELESS allows you to step into the masterpieces, with Hollywood-style visual effects and a dazzling score immersing you within them like never before. Each gallery explores a different artistic genre, with technology and creativity coming together to offer a unique, captivating and ever-shifting experience.
The best thing about FRAMELESS is that it's suitable for all ages. For adults, LATES sessions are a chance to experience FRAMELESS with a seasonal cocktail in hand — ideal for a Christmas date night or catching up with friends. Little ones and the young at heart can discover a festive world, with magical storytime sessions set within an immersive snowy wonderland (included with every standard ticket, during weekends and school holidays throughout December). Throw in art activities for children too, and you've got a fun (and weatherproof!) family day out.
After exploring the Galleries, warm up with festive treats in the Café Bar, from rich hot chocolate to mulled drinks and mince pies, and discover creative gifts and decorations in the shop, from art-inspired toys to beautiful seasonal keepsakes.
FRAMELESS is at 6 Marble Arch, W1H 7AP. It's open every day except Christmas Day.
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
CHRISTMAS AT THE TOWER: Here's a rare chance to attend a Christmas service at the Chapel of St Peter Ad Vincula within the Tower of London, as Spitalfields Music holds two events there. Enjoy centuries of Christmas music, sung by The Choir of The Chapels Royal (based at the Tower), with seasonal readings from a guest narrator. 4.30pm/6.30pm
NATIONAL LAMPOON: The W Film Club at W London Leicester Square continues its festive film screenings with National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Head to the hotel's private cinema to watch the 1989 caper about the Griswold family's Christmas. 5pm. Find other festive film screenings in London this month.
ECHOES OF PEACE: Charity Firefly International, which supports children affected by war, celebrates its 30th anniversary with Echoes of Peace, an evening of live music and film at St Columba's Church in Knightsbridge. Performers include the One World Orchestra, and Syrian violinist Bassel Hariri. 6.15pm
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
CHRISTMAS BRASS: The London Mozart Players appear at St John the Evangelist in Upper Norwood for a Christmas brass concert. Listen to your favourite Christmas tunes — from carols to a certain Mariah Carey anthem — with a bold, brassy twist in a show featuring choirs and a brass band. 6.30pm
THE CANDLELIGHT CLUB: 1920s-style speakeasy The Candlelight Club throws a roaring Christmas party at a secret venue in south London. Get glammed up and dance the night away to live music from Benoit Viellefon and his six-piece jazz band, along with burlesque performances, tarot reading and cocktails galore, all presided over by host Champagne Charlie. 7pm-1am
THE SIGNALMAN: The Drayton Arms Theatre 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. 7.30pm (until 2 January)
WOMAN IN MIND: Alan Ayckbourn's darkly comic psychological drama Woman in Mind is 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. 7.30pm (until 28 February)
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 Beatles, Rolling Stones, Small Faces and Kinks, all with a festive twist. 8pm
CHRISTMAS PYJAMA PARTY: Don your best festive PJs and head to the Prince Charles Cinema for a Christmas pyjama party. Throughout the night, five Christmas films (The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf, Home Alone, Gremlins, and Die Hard) are shown back to back in one epic screening. London's best festive film sesh, in our opinion. 11.15pm
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, 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. Tickets 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
CHRISTMAS VARIETY SHOW: The Big Smoke Variety Show Podcast resurrects the eerie Victorian tradition of ghosts stories at Christmas, for an evening of spooky tales, hilarious comedy, and festive mischief at the Phoenix Arts Club. Expect pub quizzes, mini radio plays and stories — all with a festive twist. 4.15pm
GOLDEN HINDE: Step aboard The Golden Hinde for an intimate evening of live music with singer-songwriter Liz Jones and guitarist John Bruce. The rare acoustic performance blends blues, country-rock and modern folk for a lively evening in an unusual setting. 5.30pm
BRIXTON HOUSE COMEDY: Brixton comedy legend Slim — who has appeared on the likes of BBC's Live at the Apollo — hosts a festive comedy evening at Brixton House. Joining him on stage for a night of laughs are Babatunde Aléshé, Michael Odewale and Annette Fagon. 7pm
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
