As we jingle into December, it’s time for some Christmassy recommendations from yours truly. And you know my Christmas in London tends to be on the quirky side, so without further ho ho ho, here is Londoness’s alternative guide to Christmas in London. I wish you a very merry December!
Contents
- You can look, but you can’t eat
- The Christmas Hope
- An Ally Pally Christmas
- It’s going to be a sloey Christmas at Fortnum and Mason
- A Christmas Carol
- A Royal Christmas
- Sniff and Snap at the Soane
- A Gothic Christmas with Walpole
- A Baroque Christmas with Handel
- Greedy Queens at Leighton House
- I’m dreaming of a Gin Christmas
- A truffled view of London
- Columbia Road Christmas
- Maureen’s Up for It
- Tea out to Barnes
- Oom-Pah-Pah with the London Gay Men’s Chorus
- Help preserve our written treasures
You can look, but you can’t eat
The Gingerbread City is an annual exhibition where architects, designers and engineers create an entire city made of gingerbread. The aim of the exhibition is to connect the public with architecture through an innovative display designed for the holiday season. Now in its third year, this edition of the Gingerbread City is created by the Museum of Architecture and hosted by the V&A museum. Opens 8 December.
The Christmas Hope
Join my favourite comedy cabaret chanteuse, Miss Hope Springs, as she unwraps a glittering array of original seasonal songs, all sprinkled with a fine frosting of vintage-Vegas glitz. Expect fabulously festive numbers performed live at the piano and, if she gets enough eggnog down her, Hope might spill the beans on her ‘Ritz-to the-pits’ life and loves in this hysterical trip down her somewhat potholed, memory lane. 8 December.
An Ally Pally Christmas
Drum roll please as Alexandra Palace’s East Court and Victorian Theatre re-open this December, following a £27m restoration. The theatre has been dark for 80 years, and Alexandra Palace is marking the grand occasion with the Ally Pally Christmas Carnival. There’s ice-skating, a Santa’s Grotto and a funfair on the menu. The Christmas Market is staying local, with vendors from across North London. You’ll be able to take a sneak peak inside the shining new theatre and listen to music from the BBC Orchestra and Chorus Workshop. Free entry during opening weekend 1st and 2nd December.
It’s going to be a sloey Christmas at Fortnum and Mason
Learn how to make delicious festive cocktails in the elegant 3’6 bar and pick up a few tricks of the trade from master mixer Mustafa. Guests will receive a Sloe Negroni and canapé on arrival, along with a farewell drink at the end of the event. 4 December.
A Christmas Carol
Simon Callow and director-designer Tom Cairns have created a one-man theatrical extravaganza of the Charles Dickens classic, now playing in its fourth year. A Christmas must-see!
A Royal Christmas
Tour the most famous home in the world this December in the company of an expert guide, and marvel at the Christmas trimming on the Grand Staircase. For 2-2.5 hours, you will wander around the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace where you can pretend all those famous masterpieces are yours. The tour includes a glass of champagne, an official souvenir guide and 20% off in Buckingham Palace shop. Various dates in December and January.
Sniff and Snap at the Soane
You can time-travel at the Soane Museum and experience a candlelit Georgian Christmas with readings and carols. Enjoy cocktails and mince pies and sniff away at the AVM Curiosities scent jars in the Soane Kitchen. Photography is not normally allowed in the Soane, but you get free reign to snap away on the 14 December!
A Gothic Christmas with Walpole
It’s going to be a gothic evening of chamber choir, carolling, mince pies and mulled wine at Strawberry Hill House on the 14 December. And when you’re done falalalalaing, you can wander around Horace Walpole’s gothic pile and see his Lost Treasures exhibition. Look out for Cardinal Wolesley’s hat and a very special gift that Henry VIII gave his bride, Anne Boleyn, on the morning of their wedding.
A Baroque Christmas with Handel
Musicians from the Handel House Talent are performing their favourite Baroque pieces both as soloists and ensembles on the 18 December at St George’s Hanover Square. The evening will include a world-premiere of a new piece composed by Handel House’s Composer-in-Residence, Alex Groves, who was inspired by his year working inside the house at 25 Brook Street. And of course, there will be some carolling in-between.
Greedy Queens at Leighton House
From turkey and crackers to figgy pudding and Father Christmas, the festive season as we know it today has its roots in the Victorian era. Join Leighton House and Dr Annie Gray, presenter of BBC2’s ‘Victorian Bakers and The Confectioners,’ for a special evening of greedy queens, jolly canapés and festive music. 18 December. For those of you who love Queen Vic, I highly recommend you read Dr Gray’s ‘The Greedy Queen: Eating with Victoria.’
I’m dreaming of a Gin Christmas
Skating isn’t just for the kids, and John Lewis is serving a gintastic rooftop rink this winter. It’s small, so the hard work will be over and done in a dash, and you can practice some après-skate with a hot gin.
A truffled view of London
The London Eye has never really appealed, but this does: chocolate-tasting with a Hotel Chocolat ambassador, 2 glasses of Prosecco (one is never enough!) a goodie bag and priority boarding into a private capsule for up to 20 people at the London Eye.
Columbia Road Christmas
The independent shops and artisan makers of East London’s Columbia Road will open their doors for the Christmas Wednesday Shopping Evenings on the four Wednesday evenings preceding Christmas Day. Choose from artisan jewellers and booksellers, to gift shops and galleries, antiques and homewares, children’s shops, perfumery and fashion boutiques, all in a Dickensian, Christmassy atmosphere.
Maureen’s Up for It
Have a laugh and spend the evening with one of our most loved-comedians, Maureen Lipman. The show was a sell-out at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, and features sketches, monologues, song and jokes. There might even be some dancing…..17 December
Tea out to Barnes
Head out to Barnes in south west London and walk along the River Thames to the quaint, and very popular local tea room, the Orange Pekoe. The Christmas Afternoon Tea includes roast turkey, cranberry and port sandwiches, hot mince pies and of course, scones and tea. The tea is £21.95 and is served until 23 December.
Oom-Pah-Pah with the London Gay Men’s Chorus
Here’s a recipe for a big cup of Christmas cheer: head down to the iconic Victorian Clapham Grand, throw in some cabaret, vaudeville, burlesque, circus, classic carols and the London Gay Men’s Chorus, and what you get is a fun-filled very, very jolly evening. 20-22 December.
Help preserve our written treasures
Why not treat yourself or a bookworm you know to a British Library Membership? It helps fund the Library’s amazing collections which includes literary, historical, scientific and musical works from all over the globe and every age of written civilisation. Treasures from their collections include the Magna Carta, Beatles manuscripts, Leonardo da Vinci’s Notebook and the recording of Nelson Mandela’s Rivonia trial speech. A membership package includes free entry to exhibitions for you and a guest and exclusive access to the daytime Members’ Room, overlooking the King’s Library.
For more gift ideas, check my Pinterest Page. Season’s Greetings to you all. Love, Londoness.
34 Comments
Zenbabytravel
December 18, 2018 at 10:36 pmLoving this collection, so many quirky gems Scarlett! So difficult to decide between the Royal state apartments over bubbly, Alexandra Palace and Leighton House next door! Oh and F&M and V&A are classic treats this time of the year! X #CulturedKids
DiaryofaLondoness
December 20, 2018 at 6:06 amI know, we need two Decembers a year just to get it all in!
Nicky @Go Live Young
December 7, 2018 at 11:50 amLove all these suggestions…so different from the norm.Hopefully get to tick off a few of them this Christmas #CulturedKids
DiaryofaLondoness
December 7, 2018 at 1:19 pmThanks so much Nicky. There are so many wonderful things to do in London at this time of year, I always have trouble whittling it down to the few.
Sharon
December 6, 2018 at 5:20 pmLooks like I need to come to London for the holidays! I would love the elegant tea at Barnes especially. So much history and fun all over London during Christmasstime!
DiaryofaLondoness
December 7, 2018 at 1:21 pmYou do Sharon! It’s the ultimate Christmassy destination.
Emma Raphael
December 2, 2018 at 8:51 pmI LOVE all of these suggestions, such different things to do! Thanks Scarlett! 🙂 #Culturedkids
DiaryofaLondoness
December 3, 2018 at 12:37 amThanks so much Emma!
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels
December 1, 2018 at 9:01 pmcan’t eat gingerbread?!;) I’d be very very hungry after that exhibition #culturedkids
DiaryofaLondoness
December 1, 2018 at 10:34 pmI know, I will find it hard to control myself!
Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays
December 1, 2018 at 5:58 pmSloe Gin has been my Christmas discovery this year … an acquaintance that will be continued in the New Year! #CulturedKids
DiaryofaLondoness
December 1, 2018 at 7:25 pmThat makes two of us! ?
Jenny
December 1, 2018 at 8:19 amOh I must share this list with my sister, Scarlett. So many fun, festive things to do!
DiaryofaLondoness
December 1, 2018 at 11:22 amOf course, I forgot your sister is a Londoner, Jenny.
Annabel
November 30, 2018 at 10:54 pmI hadn’t realised Alexandra Palace had had a facelift, thats on my train line out of London so I’ll have to see what they have on at the theatre. Great list, thanks! #Culturedkids
DiaryofaLondoness
December 1, 2018 at 7:26 pmThanks Annabel, make sure to check out the newly-restored theatre. It sounds amazing!
USha
November 30, 2018 at 7:51 pmWonderful list, I am so excited about the Allypally theatre. I love decorations at Fortnum and Mason , I love going there for a meal with my friend as a Christmas treat. Thank you so much sharing this. #culturekids
DiaryofaLondoness
November 30, 2018 at 10:33 pmHow wonderful, Usha, a meal at Fortnum’s is always a treat.
Trish
November 30, 2018 at 3:33 pmI absolutely love your suggestions – so varied and something for everyone. I used to work at John Lewis many moons ago and remember the rooftop garden – it looked nothing like this!
#culturedkids
DiaryofaLondoness
November 30, 2018 at 10:34 pmThanks so much, Trish. Isn’t John Lewis just wonderful? And they have private cabins up there as well.
Laura
November 30, 2018 at 1:09 pmOh so many quirky and Christmassy things to do!
DiaryofaLondoness
November 30, 2018 at 1:17 pmIt’s going to be a busy December!
Mostlyfoodandtravel
November 29, 2018 at 8:48 pmSome great stuff here Scarlett. Can I just not go to work and do all of them. Love John Lewis summer garden so the winter one sounds amazing
DiaryofaLondoness
November 29, 2018 at 9:04 pmOh gosh, I hope you have time for a skate and a hot glass of gin!
Karen
November 29, 2018 at 7:26 pmWhat are suggestions for single woman wanting to visit British Museum & staying nearby that area of London.
DiaryofaLondoness
November 30, 2018 at 8:20 amHi Karen, you’re near some other great museums, including the Soane, the Dickens and the Foundling. There’s a wonderful bookshop called The London Review there with a pretty café. Try the British Museum for Afternoon Tea. And walk over to Covent Garden – the Christmas decorations are stunning. I suggest carols at St Martin in the Fields and A Christmas Carol at The Arts Theatre. Have fun!
Colleen fanning
November 29, 2018 at 5:05 pmWonderful article Scarlet! Wish I was there!
DiaryofaLondoness
November 30, 2018 at 8:13 amThanks Colleen!
DiaryofaLondoness
December 1, 2018 at 7:38 pmThanks so much Colleen!
Susanne
November 29, 2018 at 2:50 pmGreat read and lots of fab suggestions.
DiaryofaLondoness
November 29, 2018 at 9:05 pmThanks Susanne!
DiaryofaLondoness
December 1, 2018 at 7:38 pmYou need to come to London soon!
Miriam
November 29, 2018 at 10:09 amSo excited to spend Christmas in London this year – the last few years we always travelled which is just silly as London has so much to offer this time of the year. Wishing you a very merry December too, Scarlett xx
DiaryofaLondoness
November 29, 2018 at 9:05 pmI know the feeling, used to always spend Christmas abroad, and it’s so wonderful to spend it here. London is Christmas, can’t wait. ?