London’s Christmas Events and Venues in December

In the whole wide world, nothing beats the Christmas season in London; from the Christmas lights, ice skating and skylight, to fireworks, sightseeing, and Christmas markets. This year, London has various and numerous festive options to offer.

The Alternative London Tour will take place in multiple venues until December the 23^rd. You will witness East London’s ‘alternative’ side and expect to know a lot of information about the history and culture of the Brick Lane and Shoreditch. The Old Spitalfields Market tours start at 11 am or 2 pm and they are for free. The nearest tubes are Liverpool St and Shoreditch High.

Try going to the former carpark Skylight, a rooftop playground in Tobacco Dock. It goes festive in the winter season and even more in the Christmas one. You can have some fun and play ice hockey shooting or try some street food, fondue, tipples with a blanket and an enviable view of the city skyline. The entrance is free and it will be all month long. They usually start at 5 pm but some days at 12 pm.

The most enchanting ice rink is located in the Natural History Museum where you can see a row of trees with fairy lights and a majestic Christmas tree in the middle of the ice. Twirl around with some friends even if your ice skating skills are not that good. The prices are from £12.65 and the nearest tube station is South Kensington.

Give yourself an extra-special Christmas adventure and go for a ride along the Thames with City Cruises. Tours run at 09:45, 10:15, 11:00, 11:30, 12:15, 12:45, 13:30, 14:00, and 14:45. It is only £21 and the nearest tube is Westminster.

West London’s Kew Gardens glow and magical sparkling illuminations for the festive period will be on all month long. This year’s makeover will include lightening up buildings, plants, the twinkling trail leads with singing trees, a flickering Fire Garden, kaleidoscopic projections and giant flora-inspired lights. The prices are £18.50 and £12 concs and the nearest tubes are Kew Gardens and Kew Bridge.

The Ice Music spectacular performance will take place in the Royal Festival Hall on Friday, December the 15^th at 6 pm and it is for free. Terje Isungset, the Norwegian percussion musician and composer, is expected to make music with ice instruments: ice horns, icefon and ice percussion. The vocalist Maria Skranes will join too. The nearest tube is Waterloo.

Further on December, there will also be the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, The Cheesegrater Christmas Market in Leadenhall Building, the Independent Ceramics Market in Rich Mix and the Greenwich Winter Time Festival in the Old Royal Naval College.

Winterville will sprinkle some real fun and festive vibes over London. Its highlights are the Yoga in Ice, Mariah and Friendz, Lucha Britannia Mexican Wrestling, an Annotated Christmas Carol and more! The festive playground features dancing, eating, laughing, drinking and vigorous skating. The nearest tube stations are Clapham Common and Clapham South. Entry is free except for Friday and Saturday nights and tickets are required for the ice rink, roller disco, Plonk Golf, cinema and special events. Winterville is open Mon-Thu 11.30am-10pm, Fri 11.30am-10.30pm, Sat 10.30am-10.30pm and Sun 10.30am-10pm.

The Thames, as usual, will be showered with the magnificent fireworks display on Sunday, December the 31^st; New Year’s Eve. It will be featuring over 12,000 fireworks. People start to gather from 8 pm to get the best view. It was for free before but considering that this is not the case anymore, try digging and get yourself and your friends' tickets before they run out.