Events & activities

Things to do in London this Christmas:

events & activities

Queens London

Queens first opened in 1930 in Notting Hill to feature ten-pin bowling and skating. Rebuilt again in 2017, London’s only allyear-round ice rink is no longer just about ice skating and bowling, as they have just announced the exciting 2021 launch of their brand-new curling-on-real-ice offering. Known for being bowling’s wonderfully weird winter cousin, curling is officially here just in time for Christmas. Perfect for groups large and small, this spot is the coolest on the block, with late-night opening hours on Thursday and Friday evenings.

17 Queensway, London W2 4QP queens.london

Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, commonly referred to as just Winter Wonderland, is ‘the World’s best destination for festive fun in the heart of London’ and it’s open until early January, meaning you can prolong the festive fun for as long as possible! There are rides, games, spectacular shows, food and drink and, especially for the little ones, there’s Santa Land, where you’ll find plenty of kids’ rides, festive eateries and the chance to meet Santa himself. This year, there’s the amazing Elf Dance Off, the opportunity for the kids to dance with one of Santa’s elves and show off their moves! Santa Land is the ultimate enchanting day out for all the family. Book your tickets in advance to avoid missing out!

Hyde Park, London W2 2UH hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Ice skating at the Natural History Museum

Enjoy a lap around the rink, which is centred around a whopping 30ft Christmas tree and boasts beautiful views of the iconic museum building. Nearby cafes serve hot chocolate, cream teas, Prosecco and cake for post-skate refreshment and cheer. If you’d prefer to watch, there’s a viewing platform that provides a glimpse of all the sparkling action below.

Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD nhm.ac.uk

Christmas at Kew Gardens

Christmas at Kew, a much-loved highlight of London’s festive calendar, has returned for its ninth glittering year. The trail features a host of seasonal favourites alongside pioneering new light installations, illuminating Kew Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage landscape with vibrant bursts of colour and over a million twinkling lights. The 12 Days of Christmas will be brought to life with a vibrant rainbow tree illumination, whilst a spectacular Neon Night Garden will burst into vivid life as visitors explore the magical seasonal surroundings of Kew during the festive season. The ever-popular Fire Garden also returns for 2021 alongside On the Wings of Freedom, a technicolour LED installation inspired by the unique transformative ability of butterflies. The final stop of the trail, the panoramic Palm House finale, will welcome guests with a series of stunning projections across the historic glasshouse and adjacent lake, all set to a memorable soundtrack of much-loved Christmas classics. To add an extra flourish to the Christmas at Kew experience, visitors can book a delicious traditional Christmas dinner at the Botanical Brasserie.

Kew Gardens, Richmond, London TW9 3AE kew.org/Christmas