20 awesome things to see and do with your little Londoners in December 2019

Head to Eccleston Yards throughout December to experience Wave, an interactive light/voice installation based on the concept of chromotherapy. Wave will be made up of 500 individually suspended orbs and be accompanied by a festive pop-up bar.
Deck the Halls is back at Sutton House until the 20th. Meet Santa in his Tudor grotto and receive a gift before experiencing the festive period through the eyes of the Tudors, Georgians, Victorians and 80s Londoners in the multi-room installation.
Head to Grosvenor Square until the 22nd to check out the Ever After Garden. This illuminated installation features 27,000 glowing roses and was conceived by Anya Hindmarch and Camilla Morton, and created by the team behind Christmas at Kew.
MoL’s Victorian Santa’s Grotto is back at both sites until the 23rd, with MoL‘s Victorian Walk and MoLD‘s Sailortown both transformed into winter walkthroughs. 1-7s are invited to tell Santa their Christmas wishes and receive a special gift.
ActionSpace will run workshops around around two of its artists’ art installations on the 3rd. City of Heroes and Clever The Way It’s Moving will appear at British Museum as part of Purple Light Up for International Day for Disabled Persons.
Joo Yeon Park’s Library of the Unword will appear at Southbank Centre on the 5th. The exhibition will feature O (22800), an installation made as a response to Samuel Beckett’s Echo’s Bones and Other Precipitates that comprises 126 framed mirrors.
Mowalola’s immersive Silent Madness exhibition opens at NOW Gallery on the 6th. From its ‘band’ of black tar-coated mannequins brandishing instruments to its visitor-curated soundtrack and punk aesthetic, this exhibition promises to be great.
Sample Christmas pops up at Greenwich Peninsula on the 7th-8th. Finish your festive shopping, ride the traditional helter-skelter, try on the Tatty Devine ‘rainbow halo’, sample a Yorkshire burrito, experience a choir with a twist and loads more.
Museum of Architecture’s Gingerbread City will be at Somerset House from the 7th. This year’s transport-themed city has been created by more than 100 designers, and will be accompanied by gingerbread house-making workshops and a shop.
Whitechapel Gallery is running a Family Day inspired by its Anna Maria Maiolino retrospective on the 7th. Experience live performances and participate in creative activities based around around the themes of life, matter and the body.
Want to hug some dogs? Head to Connaught Village on the 8th and you can do just that, as the Cuddle Club brings some Christmas cheer in the form of dog therapy courtesy of its cuddly canine crew. Dog lovers of all ages are welcome.
Head to artsdepot for All Wrapped Up , a wintry tale featuring magical characters, hilarious creatures and hidden lands, from the 10th-31st. Under-5s can uncover the sensory stories hidden in scrunched-up paper then create their own after the show.
Polka and Little Angel’s hit production of The Paper Dolls is showing at New Wimbledon Studio Theatre from the 11th. Suitable for 3-6s, this magical retelling of Julia Donaldson’s classic combines stunning puppetry with an original score.
British Museum’s Little Feet: Exhibition Explorer is back on the 12th. Discover the world of the ancient Greeks and their gods, plus a monster or two, as you and your under-5s check out the museum’s new Troy exhibition totally free of charge.
Head the Barbican from the 13th-21st for To the Moon and Back, an immersive experience inspired by the moon landing where under-4s and their carers will be invited to create imaginary props and scenes, from feather rain to velvet stars.
Dulwich Picture Gallery’s Sparklefest Family Festival will take place on the 15th, drawing inspiration from the gallery’s Rembrandt’s Light exhibition. Expect light drawing workshops, candlelit storytelling, festive decoration making and more.
Miracle on Leake Street is popping up in the famous Waterloo tunnel on the 17th. This year’s festivities will include a screening of Elf!, Christmas cabaret, fake snow, street food, wreath making and even a guest appearance from the Grinch.
Little Angel is hosting a Christmas Carol Concert for all ages on the 19th. Sing along to classic and contemporary carols with the casts of the theatre’s Christmas shows, plus some very special guests. Adult tickets include mulled wine and a mince pie.
Design Museum’s Design Workshops with Hey Duggee are back from the 28th, with kids aged 0-6 invited to create Hey Duggee storyboards and puppets, check out the themed soft-play area and earn their design badges. This event is almost sold out.
HDIF’s Family Disco: Pretend New Year’s Eve takes place at The Phoenix in Cavendish Square on the 29th. Relive the happy NYE memories of your youth with a daytime NYE indie disco, with the bells rung at 2pm to see in the new year.