As Christmas waves its enchanting wand over London, the city pirouettes into a bewitching winter canvas for kids. Is there any place as magical as London during Christmas? I promise you some merry, a large spoonful of nostalgia and not a mince of boring. Here are my top 18 Family Christmas things to do in London 2018. Get your sparkle on, and let’s get this holiday season in London unwrapped!
Contents
My Top 5
Christmas at London Zoo
London Zoo has a new one-mile after-dark light trail which I reckon will give Kew Gardens a good run for its money. There’s an old-fashioned carousel, singing trees, dancing fountains in our favourite Lubetkin penguin pool, 100,000 lights, a Christmas Grotto and as always, the elves won’t be very far away. Tip toe past the sleeping animals to marvel at glittering flying flamingos and towering giraffe sculptures before peering from behind the paws of a giant glowing lion into the twinkling night sky. If you have deep pockets, you can rent yourself a cabin and stay the night. 22 November to 1 January 2019.
Sleepover at the Horniman Museum
You won’t be getting much sleep during the Horniman’s very first sleepover. Once Mr Walrus is tucked up in bed explore the Horniman by night. Roll out your sleeping bag and camp out in the galleries, next to a dodo, or even a tiger. The evening will be full of fun activities and exciting exploration such as storytelling, crafts and trails. 8 December only.
Visit Santa at Hamleys
Forget Harrods and Selfridges. I’ve done them all, and this one wins hands down.
Dennis Severs
It’s near impossible to get tickets for this but try. Step back in time to the house that time forgot and experience Christmas as it was in the early 18th century. Book here.
Christmas at the Charles Dickens Museum
Head over to the Dickens Museum and follow in the author’s footsteps as you savour the sights, sounds and smells of the rooms where he lived and worked. The Victorian house is fully decked and prepped for Christmas, and it’s a joy to walk around. It can get very busy though, and I don’t recommend this for kids under the age of ten (they might be a tad bored).
Museums for Kids this Christmas in London
National Trust
Visit one of the capital’s National Trust properties and experience festive cheer across the ages. Tour a candlelit Ham House and visit the Christmas Grotto, or meet Father Christmas at Sutton House and Breaker’s Yard, experiencing the festive period through the eyes of the Tudors, the Georgians, the Victorians, and even 1980s Londoners.
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Space cowboys will love this after dark experience at the Royal Observatory Greenwich with a show in London’s only public planetarium. Look through the gigantic Great Equatorial Telescope and spend time on the Greenwich Meridian with a hot drink, an amazing view and astronomers on hand to answer all your space-related questions. Various dates throughout December and January.
Victorian Christmas and Skate at the Tower of London
Discover how our modern impressions of Christmas and the Tower were shaped in the era of Dickens and Queen Victoria in the Tower of London. Follow with a skate around one of London’s most dramatic ice rinks. Book here.
Theatre, Ballet and Panto for Kids this Christmas in London
Circus 1903 at Southbank
The show includes sensational life-sized elephants stunningly created by puppeteers from War Horse, putting elephants back in the ring as never before. The circus boasts a huge cast of jaw-dropping and dangerous acts from all corners of the globe. Featuring acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, trapeze and high wire performers, this show transports audiences of all ages to the mesmerising Golden Age of circus. 19 December to 5 January 2019.
Brothers Grimm at Unicorn Theatre
A selection of Philip Pullman’s favourite tales by the Brothers Grimm, re-told and re-worked for Christmas. Enter a world of powerful witches, enchanted forest creatures, careless parents and fearless children as they embark on adventures full of magic, gore, friendship, and bravery. To 6 Jan 2019.
The Box of Delights at Wilton’s Music Hall
The Box of Delights is back at London’s oldest music hall. Based on the much–loved and critically acclaimed festive children’s classic, you can now experience the enthralling wonder of this magical world for yourself, from flying cars to fiery phoenixes.
Princess and the Pantomime at Windsor Castle (and see Meghan’s wedding dress)
This Christmas treat your family to an exceptionally special after hours event inside the glittering State Apartments. Beneath the breathtaking Christmas tree in St George’s Hall, travel with a storyteller on a captivating journey through Christmas past at Windsor Castle. You are then invited to step onto Aladdin’s magic carpet for an exhilarating pop-up pantomime in the Waterloo Chamber, exactly where The Queen performed wartime pantomimes when a princess. Wander over and check out Meghan and Harry’s wedding frocks, on display at Windsor Castle throughout the Christmas season.
Snow White at the London Palladium
Dawn French makes her panto debut in this much-loved production, also starring Julian Clary and Nigel Havers. Tickets will sell out fast, so be quick!
Royal Opera House Live Screenings
I’m a huge fan of the ROH live screenings. They’re perfect for introducing the kids to ballet and opera without all the expense of a hefty ticket price. Plus, they get to munch popcorn and dash to the loo when required! You can catch The Nutcracker on several dates throughout December.
And if you want to introduce the young ones to the Royal Opera House, you could take them to Christmas Carols on the 9 December, performed in the stunning Paul Hamlyn Hall. It will be a fa-la-la afternoon with mince pies and mulled wine for mums and dads.
Rumpelstiltskin at Southbank
See the UK premiere of this retelling of a beloved family fairy tale, reimagined with lashings of magical mayhem, rocking music and supreme silliness.
Outdoor Events for Kids this Christmas in London
Enchanted Eltham
Follow the charming trail, explore the enchanted garden and lose yourself in a captivating maze of light at Eltham Palace. Discover secrets hidden in the woodland, including a talking tree, and gaze upon striking projections on the palace walls. Try your luck at the fairground stalls and rides including children’s swing chairs and rocking boats.
Alice in Winterland
There’s a new lantern festival in town and it’s in Southwark Park. Immerse yourself in the enchanting fantasy world of Alice in Winterland in this fairytale adventure through thousands of lights and a trail with over 160 giant lanterns. There’s a five-metre-tall Alice, a life-sized Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and 29 interactive and immersive scenes. Slide down the Rabbit hole, meet the Red Queen and find Santa Claus.
And Finally
Don’t forget, the Trafalgar Christmas Tree comes to light on Thursday 6 December at 6pm. Naughty or nice, make sure you come and join in the festive fun!
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#christmas2018 #christmasthingstodoinlondon2018 #christmasshowslondon2018
19 Comments
Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays
November 27, 2018 at 1:07 pmI want to do it all but especially Denis Severs House!
DiaryofaLondoness
November 28, 2018 at 10:51 amIt has to be booked a long time in advance, and other than time-travelling back to meet Dickens, has to be one of the best Xmas things to do, ever!
Megan - Truly Madly Kids
November 26, 2018 at 12:31 pmWow, Scarlett, this is a really comprehensive list. You’ve given me some great ideas – I really fancy Dennis Severs and Charles Dickens house for a christmassy visit! #culturedkids
DiaryofaLondoness
November 26, 2018 at 10:14 pmOh yes, both do Christmas to a tee!
Kids of the Wild
November 19, 2018 at 3:14 pmGosh there’s so much going on in London, I had no idea! And fab that you’ve included some outdoor activities too. I’d love to see The Box of Delights at the theatre – have to hope it tours next year. Would also love to do a sleepover at a museum and the Dickens house looks fabulous. How do you find out about all these things? I’d never heard of any of those while I lived in London! #CulturedKids
DiaryofaLondoness
November 26, 2018 at 7:15 amMuseum sleepovers are the best, Lucy. I’m a curious cat (or some would call me a nosy parker) which is why I seem to know so much about London.
Francesca Mumwhatelse
November 17, 2018 at 7:32 pmSo many ideas here! We want to try Dickens Museum and I would like to bring them also to see the Nutcracker but I think for a 4 years old it’s a bit too loong don’t you think? Thank you for the many ideas here!
DiaryofaLondoness
November 18, 2018 at 9:46 amYes, Francesca, 4 might be a tad young, but what’s great is if you go to the cinema and it’s too much, you can leave or take a break. It’s a great way to introduce little ones to the opera and ballet.
Nancy | MapandFamily
November 16, 2018 at 7:57 pmBrilliant Scarlett – I want to do it all (and my kids aren’t kids anymore). I’d love to see Wiltons dressed up for Christmas and who could resist mulled wine and carols at the ROH!
DiaryofaLondoness
November 18, 2018 at 9:46 amI’m with you on both of those. Really looking forward to the ROH carols. We’re never too old for doing kiddie things at Xmas!
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels
November 16, 2018 at 6:42 pmfab ideas!
Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me)
November 16, 2018 at 4:49 pmOoh, you’ve reminded me – I really must get to Eltham Palace’s illuminations this year. We missed them last time. And I want to see the Trafalgar Square tree being switched on! Such fun.
DiaryofaLondoness
November 16, 2018 at 5:41 pmCatherine and I also want to get down to Eltham! Let us know if you head over there, maybe we could skip around together!
Louise
November 16, 2018 at 4:10 pmYou just made me fall in love with London all over again (After a naughty affair with The Cotswolds!)
I can’t WAIT for Clara to become a bit older, so I can take her to all this wonderful, adventurous events! I am HUGE fan of The Nutcracker, so I will definitely take her in a few years (maybe around age 6?, what do you think?)
Louise X
DiaryofaLondoness
November 16, 2018 at 4:33 pmDefinitely, I took Anais around that age and she loved it (not so much now aged 11!) Yes, I don’t want to hear anymore nonsense about a move to the Cotswolds!!
Margie DQ
November 16, 2018 at 1:23 pmHopefully, we can spend a Christmas holiday in London. That sounds like a great trip when my kids are a little older. #CulturedKids
DiaryofaLondoness
November 16, 2018 at 4:34 pmI hope you get to do that soon. It’s so magical at this time of year.
Vyki from Museum Mum
November 16, 2018 at 11:31 amThere are so many magical ideas here, I would need a whole year of Decembers to see them all! My teenager went ice skating at Tower of London a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it, she keeps asking me to rebook. We’ve seen a Panto at Wilton’s which is such a great venue. And having been wowed by the Father Christmas at Harrods, I now need to see the Hamleys one if it’s better! #CulturedKids
DiaryofaLondoness
November 16, 2018 at 4:34 pmI know, London is stuffed full of Christmassy magic. We need nine lives to get through it all!