Babes About Town’s Ultimate Guide to London with Kids at Christmas

’Tis the season to scope out my Ultimate Guide to London with Kids at Christmas. Read on for the best in festive family theatre, winter wonderlands, ice skating and roller disco, where you can still see Santa, Christmas attractions and more. Don’t forget to bookmark this post, share it with a friend or two, and make the most of the merriest month of the year.

Babes About Town’s Ultimate Guide to London with Kids at Christmas 

BABES CHOICE

Alice in Wonderland at Brixton House, 385 Coldharbour Lane SW9 8GL (Brixton tube/rail)
An 11-year-old girl jumps onto the tube after a big row with her mum, the doors hiss shut and she’s whisked along into Nonsense. It’s a world of colourful passengers and strange things happening, plus a Queen who won’t relinquish the controls. Can Alice turn this train around? Join multi award-winning company Poltergeist on a 100-mile an hour adventure blending rap music with the sights and sounds of Brixton. Ages 7+. 7.30pm (Tue-Fri), 1.30pm & 6pm (Sat-Sun), 1.30pm select weekly matinees; from £12.50-£32 (Dec 1-31)

The Gingerbread City, 6-7 Motcomb Street, Belgravia, SW1X 8JU (Hyde Park Corner tube)
The hugely popular annual exhibition invites designers, architects and makers to create an entire city out of gingerbread. The eco-friendly event includes family friendly workshops every day. The edible city raises funds for the Museum of Architecture. All ages. 9am-9pm Mon-Sat, 9am-6pm (Sun); full price adult from £15 adv.-£16 door/ages 3-12 £10 adv.-£11 door/under 3s go FREE (Dec 3-Jan 2)

Big Fish Little Fish Festive Family Raves, multiple London locations
Tickets are selling FAST for these events, so grab one while you can. London parties include a Jingle Bell Ball with DJ Jerome Hill in Hackney (Dec 10), and early NYE family raves in Crystal Palace (Dec 30) and New Cross (Dec 31). Expect club and rave tunes spun by top DJs with chill out rooms, bubbles, confetti, balloons, foam, parachute dance, licensed bar and food offers. Ages 0-8 and families. Various times (check individual events); average price adult £10-£12/child £7/pre-walkers FREE (Dec 10-31)

Winter Festival at Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Head to one of our favourite spots in London for all the Christmas feels. Enjoy alpine-themed events, pop-ups, street food and family fun. See Ai Weiwei’s new curated exhibition, toast marshmallows at Jimmy’s, try curling at The Curling Club, watch Hey Duggee: Live, hear seasonal music like Handel’s Messiah, see Christmas family theatre (we love the sound of a Dolly Parton’s twist on A Christmas Carol) or party away at the New Year’s Eve Spectacular. Various times, dates and prices, many activities are FREE (until Jan 8)

CHRISTMAS ATTRACTIONS

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, W2 (Hyde Park Corner tube)
The central London park becomes a wonderland of 200 German style chalets and stalls, where you can meet Santa in his grotto, go ice skating, ride on 100 fairground attractions, explore the the Magical Ice Kingdom, scream on the world’s largest transportable rollercoaster, the Munich Looping, or skid along the Real Ice Slide. See Cirque Beserk, Zippos Christmas Circus and live entertainment in the Fire Pit All ages welcome. NB: ALL ENTRY TICKETS MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE. 10am-10pm daily; pre-booking essential for general park entry from £0 (off peak), £5 (standard) or £7.50 (peak); special attractions/Grotto and circus shows priced separately — see price list HERE. Ride tokens cost £1 and rides start at £2 for kids rides, £3 for adults (until Jan 2)

The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo, Regent’s Park, NW1 4RY (Camden Town/Regent’s Park tube)
Head to the zoo for seasonal crafts, Christmas-themed talks, marshmallow toasting, and look out for Santa who will be around to feed zoo residents. Send a letter to Father Christmas in the Polar Post Room and (if tickets are still available) you might meet Santa in his zoo grotto (£15 tickets). All ages welcome. Zoo entry 10am-4pm; adult £26.50-£33/child £17.25-£21.45/under 3s FREE (cheaper tickets available on specific dates) (until Jan 3)

Hogwarts in the Snow at WB Studio Tour, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Hertfordshire, WD25 7GS (Watford Junction rail)
See the Great Hall and the Forbidden Forest get a festive makeover, with Hogwarts Castle model covered in snow, plus a behind-the-scenes look at wizard props and special effects. All ages welcome. 9am-10am first tours, last tour 4-6.30pm (closing time 3 hours after last tour); adult from ££51.50/child from £40/family £160/under 4s FREE but require tickets. Pre-booking essential. (until Jan 15)

Christmas Past at Museum of the Home, 136 Kingsland Road (Geffrey St), E2 8EA (Hoxton overground)
The Museum of the Home is celebrating a sustainable, multicultural, interfaith winter showcasing how Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Lunar New Year are marked at home. Enjoy talks, creative sessions, supper clubs and live acts. See winter decorations and  light installations. Explore the iconic Rooms Through Time restyled to show how migration has enhanced the city’s homes.  10am-5pm (Tue-Sun); FREE entry (through Jan 2023)

SPECIAL EVENTS

Brixton Village Christmas Gifts Market, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS (Brixton tube)
It’s back, baby. Browse this bustling Brixton market for Christmas gifts, Black authors, hair, fashion and food. Select weekends will showcase some of the finest South London makers, with live music, mulled wine and rum punch. 12pm-5pm; FREE entry (Dec 4, 11 & 18)

The Luna Cinema at Kensington Palace, W8 4PX (High St Kensington/Queensway tube) and Battersea Arts Centre, SW11 5TN (Clapham Junction rail/overground)
Enjoy cracking Christmas movies in a wintry wonderland complete with Christmas trees, snowfall and festive lights. The Luna Cinema is back at Kensington Palace’s Orangery Lawn. Cosy up for movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, The Holiday and Home Alone. Delicious treats on offer include mulled wine, mince pies and popcorn. Various show times; from £19.50 (Dec 10-23)

FUN DMC Xmas Jumper Special & New Year’s Eve at Colours, Hoxton Square, N1 6NU (Old St tube) and Juju’s Bar, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury St, E1 6QR (Aldgate East tube, Liverpool St tube/rail, Shoreditch High St overground)
Put on your finest Xmas jumper and join DJ Batman and MC Prankster for a daytime family block party. The Xmas Jumper Special at Colours, Hoxton (Dec 18) brings a festive twist to the family friendly groove. Then on Dec 31, celebrate New Year’s Eve at Juju’s Bar with your little ones, with a countdown to midday, balloon drop and glitter cannons. FUN DMC is a baby to grandparent friendly affair with hip hop and club tunes, DJs,graffiti train, snow machine, party poppers and licensed bar. Xmas Jumper Special 12pm-3pm; adult £8.50/child £6.50. New Year’s Eve 10.30am-1.30pm; adult £15, child £12 (Dec 18 & 31)

Bring Your Baby Guided London Walks and Pub Quizzes, various London locations
There’s a Christmas theme to the popular BYB walks and pub quizzes for the festive season. Take your bubba for a stroll and meet likeminded parents at one of these special routes: “Dickensian Alleyways of the Old City at Christmas” (Thu Dec 15, 11am-2pm); “A History of Christmas Shopping in London” (Fri December 16, 11am-2pm); “Hampstead at Christmas” (Thu Dec 29, 11am-2pm). And all Bring Your Baby Pub Quizzes are Christmas Specials through December. Cosy up in a baby-friendly setting for fun and games with fellow mums and dads. Various times and prices, guided walks from around 11am/£20; pub quizzes from around 12pm/£10 (through Dec and ongoing)

Christmas at King’s Cross, Granary Square, Coal Drop’s Yard and surrounding areas, N1C (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
King’s Cross is the place to be this winter with Club Curling open again; Canopy Yard Christmas Market, The Drops Christmas Market in Coal Drop’s Yard, Big Christmas Wind Orchestra in Granary Square (Dec 11), Christmas family shows at King’s Place, festive family films at Everyman Cinema, Camley St’s first ever Christmas market, Crafty Fox market, Illustrator’s Fair, light installations, shops and restaurants. Eat, drink and be merry. Various times and prices (until Jan 2)

SPARKLING SCENES

Christmas at Kenwood, Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, NW3 7JR (Hampstead tube/overground)
Step into a glittering scene of Christmas wonder at the iconic grounds. Wander the world-famous Hampstead Heath to see a luminous spectacle, with festive food and drinks on sale too. All ages. 4.30pm-9pm; adult £29.50/child £22.50/under 3s FREE (Dec 2-Jan 1)

Hampton Court Palace of Light, East Molesley KT8 9AU (Hampton Court rail)
Discover Hampton Court Palace anew at this lantern and light experience, with dramatic installations, delicious Streatham food from KERB, and a chance to skate on the famous ice rink (separate tickets required). adult £14.50/child £9.50/family prices available (buy a combi ticket for entry to explore Hampton Court Palace itself) (Dec 7-Jan 2, excluding 12-13, 24, 25, 26)

Lightopia at Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace Park, Canada Gate, Anerley Hill, SE19 2BA (Crystal Palace rail/overground)
Hand-sculpted lanterns, synchronised dancing lights and emotive soundtracks transform the park into an enchanting scene. Food stalls and bars can be found along the route. 5pm-10pm; adult £19.50-£24.50/child 3-15 £13-£16.50/babies 0-2 FREE (until Jan 2)

Illuminature at WWT London Wetlands Centre, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, SW13 9WT (Hammersmith tube)
Immerse yourself in a scene of twinkling lights and sparkling installations. Look out for real animals, birds and plants. Don’t forget to wrap up warm 4.30pm-9pm (Fri-Sun); adult £18.50/child £14.50/under 4s FREE (until Jan 8)

WHERE TO SEE SANTA

Thames Rockets Jingle Bell Blast + Meet Santa, Boarding Gate One, The London Eye Pier, SE1 7PB (Waterloo/Embankment tube/rail)
Hang on to your Santa hats! The Jingle Bell Blast will whizz you along the Thames with one of Santa’s helpers and (on select weekends) you can ride with Father Christmas himself (check availability). The speedboat adventure tours some of London’s best landmarks, blasting Christmas tunes. Snap a pic with Santa and receive a gift. All ages welcome. 1 hr rides from 10am, 11am & 3pm; adult from £49.95, child from £39.95 (Dec 1-23)

Santa’s Special Steam Train on the Epping-Ongar Railway, North Weald, CM16 6BT and Ongar, CM5 9AB (vintage bus via Epping tube to North Weald station)
Ride a vintage steam or diesel train and meet Santa with your crew. Trains leave North Weald 8.45am, 10.20am, 12pm, 1.40pm & 3.20pm (confirm times on booking), heritage buses from Epping Underground and Ongar approx 50 minutes earlier. Fares include a gift for each child/refreshments, steam train and bus ride. Family compartment for up to 6 people £160 — hurry limited tickets still available. Pre-booking essential (Dec 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 &  20-24)

Breakfast with Santa at Jungle Cave (formerly Rainforest Cafe), 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, W1D 7EU (Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square tube)
Tuck in to an early feast with the big guy. Sit for brekkie and meet Santa and the Jungle Cave mascot who will visit each table, with photo ops and a goody bag for all kids. Ticket includes full breakfast (infant tickets do not include food. Please arrive by 9am on the day of your visit. From 9am; adult £30/child £27/infant £17 (Dec 10-17)

Christmas at the Museum: Meet Santa and His Elf, at London Transport Museum, 39 Covent Garden Piazza, WC2E 7BB (Covent Garden tube)
There’s still time to meet Father Christmas and his Elf in the London Transport Museum’s range of Christmas activities. Step into a giant festive transport poster and take a Christmas selfie; then climb aboard the Routemaster-themed interactive sleigh. Share Christmas cheer and check out festive books and toys too. 11am-3pm (weekdays until dec 16), 11am-5pm (weekends Dec 10-11 and 17-18), 11am-5pm (school holidays Dec 19-23); FREE with museum entry – adult £21/free for kids (until Dec 23)

ICE RINKS AND ROLLER DISCO

Glide at Battersea Power Station, at Circus Rd W, Nine Elms SW8 5BN (Battersea Power Station tube, Battersea Park rail/overground)
Visit the transformed Battersea Power Station and discover London’s only riverside skating experience with three interconnecting rinks. Don’t miss out on the vintage funfair rides, mulled wine in a cosy cabin, street food and live entertainment. 10am-10pm (Mon-Fri, site open for skaters 9.20am), 9am-11pm (Sat-Sun, site open to skaters 8.20am); ;adult from £12/child from £8/family from £36/adult and toddler from £11.50 (until Jan 8)

The Queens House Ice Rink, Romney Rd, SE10 9NF (Greenwich rail/Cutty Sark DLR)
Take a spin on the ice at the Queen’s House ice rink for gorgeous open-air skating in the grounds of Royal Museums Greenwich, with some of the best views of London. Christmas in Greenwich offers tons of family friendly action and kids will love riding there and back on the Emirates Cable Car. 11am-9pm daily, closed Christmas Day (last entry 8pm); adult from £16-£19/child from £10-£13 (until Jan 8)

Skate at Somerset House at the Strand, WC2R 1LA (Charing Cross tube)
Enjoy a session on the capital’s coolest ice rink with Skate School for beginners, Polar Cub Club for under 8s, Skate Late nights with live DJs, Christmas arcade, Chalet Suisse by Jimmy Garcia and a 40ft Christmas tree. Ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult, smallest skaters approx ages 3-4. Wheelchair skaters get special slots but can skate in any session. Skate sessions last 45 minutes between 11am-9.45pm (9am to 10.45pmselect dates); adult tickets from £10-£22/child from £7.50-£11 — pre-booking advised (until Jan 15)

Ice Rink at Canary Wharf, Canary Wharf Tower, E14 5EW (Canary Wharf tube/DLR & Elizabeth Line)
Dance on ice under the stars with a roof to keep the rain at bay and 1,000 sparkling fairy lights. The entire scene is super festive, with loads of shops and restaurants to refuel before or after skating. 9.30am-10.15pm daily ; adult from £17.95/child from £13.50/family from £53.95 (until Feb 25)

Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace at Exhibition London, Ariel Way, W12 7SL (Shepherd’s Bush overground/tube, White City/Wood Lane tube)
Once known as ‘Studio 54 on wheels’, the legendary LA skater hub has launched in west London, so it’s time to strap up and roller boogie. Rent skates for £5 or bring your own. Enjoy live DJs and nosh from Hot Dogs and Caviar, named after the original Flipper’s LA diner. Ages 5+ (under 4s not admitted). 3pm-9pm (Tue-Wed), 12pm-12am (Thu-Fri), 10am-12am (Sat) & 10am-9pm (Sun); adult from £15.50 (£20.50 with skate hire)/child age 5-17 from £11.50 (£16.50 with skate hire) (ongoing)

FESTIVE FAMILY THEATRE

ENO: It’s a Wonderful Life at London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES (Charing Cross Rd tube)
Banker George Bailey is ready to give it all up until a visit from his Guardian angel who shows him what life might be like if he didn’t exist. The classic Frank Capra movie is reimagined by the English National Opera chorus and orchestra with an all-star cast. Best for ages 5+. Various shows 11am, 3pm & 7.30pm; from £25-£160/under 21s can get a FREE ticket (ages 5-15 get 2 FREE tickets with each paying adult) (until Dec 10)

Hackney Empire Panto: Mother Goose, 291 Mare St, E8 (Hackney Central overground)
The Mother of all pantos celebrates its 120th year with legend Clive Rowe as Mother Goose. This cracking fairytale adaptation features crazy costumes, exhilarating live music and plenty of reasons to boo, hiss and cheer. All ages. Matinee shows at 1pm or 1.30pm, evening performances 5.30pm (select Suns), 6pm or 7pm; £10-£44 (until Dec 31)

The Snowman, Peacock Theatre,Portugal Street, Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)  
Its the 25th outing for one of London’s most popular Christmas shows, this season is dedicated to creator Raymond Briggs CBE (1934-2022). Follow a boy’s adventures with his Snowman pal over a magical winter’s night. Adapted from the picture book and animated film. All ages.Various shows 11am, 2.30pm & 7pm; from £18pp (until Dec 31)

A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 8NB (Waterloo rail/tube)
Every year, the Old Vic knocks it out the park with their Dickens production. Jack Thorne’s joyful adaptation of the timeless tale stars Owen Teale giving a spirited performance as Ebenezer Scrooge, a seasonal grump haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. Ages 8+. Various shows at 1pm, 7pm & 7.30pm (closed Suns); £10-£67.50 (until Jan 7)

Christmas in Leicester Square, Leicester Square WC2H 7NA (Leicester Square tube)
The Spiegeltent is open again for the festive season and there’s a host of family (and grownup) entertainment on offer. Marvel at La Clique (until Jan 9, age 16+) are laughs aplenty with Comedy Club 4 Kids (Dec 3, ages 6+), get on the dance floor with the fabulous Baby Loves Disco (Dec 10-Jan 2, all ages); enjoy a Very Merry Christmas Cabaret (Dec 19); and be transported back to a 1920s ballroom with Dance Like Gatsby (Dec 17). Various times and prices (until Jan 8)

We also like
Babies and carers will love To the Moon and Back at Barbican Centre (Dec 9-17, hurry selling fast!); Backyard Cinema is showing more Christmas family movies (until Dec 31); there’s a host of festive fun at Christmas by the River at London Bridge (until Jan 2); explore Christmas at the Postal Museum with family activities, Mail Rail rides and a showcase of letters to and from Santa (until Jan 5); take a nostalgic tour of the top-selling Christmas toys of the 21st century at Museum of Brands (until Jan 6); hoverboard over to Camden for the Back to the Future memorabilia exhibition (until Jan 21); ice skating at Skylight at Tobacco Docks (kids welcome before 6pm); try curling or skating at Queens Skate Dine & Bowl Ice Rink in west London; and of course there’s year round ice skating at Ally Pally Ice Rink.

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