London 2023 festive family activities to book NOW

Ice Rink Canary Wharf returns to Canada Square from 21st October to 24th February. Skate beneath Canary Wharf’s twinkling skyline with no chance of rain cancelling play thanks to the rink’s magnificent roof. There’ll even be themed sessions throughout the season. Paid.
Head to the Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival from 28th October to 7th January. Come together this winter for spellbinding shows, glorious music and choirs, luminous art, festive family fun and the southbank’s annual Winter Market and pop-ups. Free/paid.
Christmas at The Postal Museum runs from 1st November to 2nd January. Immerse yourself in a collection of letters to Father Christmas, see the first-ever Christmas card, enjoy interactive storytelling sessions and ride Mail Rail with a festive twist. Included in admission.
Skate West End is on from 4th November to 1st January. Glide around the uniquely designed elliptical rink taking in the historic surrounds of Hanover Square, or warm up at the beautiful seasonal bar in the centre of the square, all while supporting Great Ormond Street Hospital. Paid.
Club Curling returns to Coal Drops Yard from 9th November to 26th February. Teams of up to six people per lane can play at Club Curling from 12pm to 8pm every day, with sessions lasting 45 minutes and under-12s playing for free when accompanied by an adult. Paid.
The Ice Rink at Westfield London will be popping up between 10th November and 7th January. The rink is open to everyone from ages 3+ and first hour of every day is dedicated to sensory awareness, with static lighting, lowered music and reduced capacity. Paid.
Glide at Battersea Power Station is back from 10th November to 7th January. Enjoy unrivalled views of the Thames across three interconnecting rinks, and keep the fun going off the ice with vintage-style fairground rides, live entertainment and photo booths. Paid.
Anya’s Grotto returns to Anya’s Village from 13th November to 24th December. Meet Father Christmas and let him guide you through a wonderland of candy canes, crunchy snow, twinkling baubles and icicle caves, ending with a festive story by the fire. Paid.
Wishmas: A Fantastical Christmas Adventure will be in Waterloo from 14th November-7th January. Enter an enchanted realm and meet Wishkeepers, Robins and Father Christmas himself as you explore magical rooms and help ensure that no wish is ever forgotten. Paid.
Christmas at Kew is back from 15th November to 7th January. Discover glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colour. Wander beneath larger-than-life illuminations and glimpse Father Christmas along the way. Paid.
Skate at Somerset House returns from 15th November to 14th January. The spectacular courtyard will be transformed into a glorious festive destination with a Swiss winter vibe, plus contemporary music, tasty food and drink, and skating lessons with Skate School. Paid.
St. Pancras International’s Father Christmas’ Grotto with Sharky & George runs from 17th November to 24th December. The grotto is described as a festive haven where the spirit of Christmas comes alive, and promises memories for the entire family. Paid.
Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is back from 17th November to 1st January. Attractions will include a variety of exciting rides and games, bars and street-food stalls, a Santa’s grotto, an ice rink, a real ice slide, Zippo’s Circus and lots more. Paid.
Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink reopens for the season from 17th November to 7th January. Wrap up warm, gather your family and delight in the magnificent views of the beautiful Tudor palace while gracefully gliding around the stunning outdoor rink. Paid.
Fleet Street Quarter’s Walking with the Snowman art trail will run from 21st November for 10 weeks. The trail will feature a dozen 1.6m-tall, individually painted sculptures inspired by the 12 Days Of Christmas, designed by various artists. Free.
Santa’s Grotto will be popping up at John Lewis Oxford Street from 22nd November to 24th December and at Peter Jones from 24th November to 24th December. Work your way through an interactive grotto, have your photo taken with Santa and receive a gift. Paid.
Hamley’s Santa’s Grotto opens from 22nd November to 24th December. Meet the man himself and his magical elves, chat with them about your kids’ favourite things (you can let them know what they are beforehand) and receive a special gift to take home. Paid.
Father Christmas will be at Fulham Palace from 23rd-25th November. Children can share their Christmas lists, take a photo and take home a special present. While they wait, his elves will teach them how to create a special Christmas craft to take home. Paid.
Meet Santa and friends at Selfridge’s London from 24th November to 24th December. Catch Santa and his trusty elf as they make their annual appearance at Selfridge’s, spreading Christmas cheer as they move around the store. Free.
Willows Activity Farm’s Santa Spectacular runs from 24th November to 24th December. Take a trip through a magical winter wonderland to find Santa, who’ll give you a key to his Toy Shop where you can choose any gift from the hundreds stacked from floor to ceiling. Paid.
Christmas at the Museum is at LTM from 24th November to 23rd December. Children will love climbing aboard the museum’s Routemaster-inspired sleigh to flash the headlights, ring the bell, set the Christmas cheer-o-meter and – of course – meet the man himself. Free with admission.
Rollerscape, a unique festive alpine wonderland roller rink experience, will be at Wembley Park from 24th November-10th March. Rollerscape promises roller-skating lovers a seriously fun and immersive dose of ‘Rollerscapism’ with something for all ages. Paid.
The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo returns from 25th November to 7th January. Learn what it takes to become one of Santa’s helpers before meeting Santa in his magical grotto and receiving a gift. There will also be a Christmas sleigh trail and giant advent calendar. Paid.
Solstice, a new immersive trail through the seasons, will be at Battersea Arts Centre from 1st-24th December. Journey through the maze of Battersea Arts Centre’s corridors and hidden spaces, and discover magical creatures at every turn in this enchanting light trail. Paid.
The Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice is once again hosting Greenwich Market Grotto from 1st-23rd December. Your child will experience a magical meeting with Santa where they can tell him their Christmas wishes and receive a special gift. Paid.
Christmas at Kenwood is back from 1st December to 1st January, when the 18th-century villa will be brought to life by awe-inspiring illuminations and installations. You can also head down on weekends in December for An Audience with Father Christmas. Paid.
Arctic Lumina: Winter in Motion – An Immersive Experience will be at ME London from 1st December-7th January, with digital artist MAOTIK transforming the hotel’s iconic atrium into a nine-storey-tall immersive winter utopia. Paid.
Head to the Old Royal Naval College from 2nd-23rd December for Father Christmas Storytelling Session, and from 9th-21st December for The Elves and the Magic Bear – a heartwarming Christmas performance inside Admiral’s House. Paid.
The Victorian Santa’s Grotto will be popping up at the Museum of London Docklands from 3rd-23rd December. Experience the museum’s Sailortown gallery, transformed with festive decorations. Find Santa in his grotto and receive a festive gift. Paid.
The Luminaze will be at Wembley Park from 2nd December-2nd January. This brand-new light-based interactive maze will take revellers on a magical festive journey with cutting-edge neon installations and a specially curated soundscape. Free.
Baby Broadway is hosting a series of its popular Christmas Family Concerts from 3rd-18th December. Enjoy numbers from Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman, Frozen and many more. Festive fancy dress is encouraged and you can expect bubbles, bells and puppetry. Paid.
Westfield London’s Wish Upon A Star Santa Experience is on from 8th-24th December. In partnership with Disney’s Wish, this experience gives children the chance to make a wish and send it on a star to Santa before meeting the man himself in his sleigh. Free.
Royal Albert Hall will host My Christmas Orchestral Adventure on 10th December. Conductor Tim has lost his Christmas spirit. Join his brother Tom and a cast of special guests as they take Tim through Christmas’s past, present and future to restore his Christmas cheer. Paid.
Finding Father Christmas is at the Charles Dickens Museum on 10th December. Follow the Family Trail to discover Santa’s Grotto. On the way you’ll learn about how the Victorians celebrated Christmas, and what inspired Dickens to write A Christmas Carol. Paid.