London sparkles over the festive season with the world-famous West End lights, seasonal shows at some of the capital’s top theaters, ice rinks in iconic locations and a host of exciting winter events.
Oxford Street will celebrate an enchanted Christmas this year, with a dazzling overhead canopy of lights in celebration of Disney’s Christmas movie, “Enchanted.” The big switch-on will be on November 7, when thousands will gather to see X-Factor winner Leona Lewis turn on the lights. The Regent Street lights will be switched on November 20 closely followed by the Bond Street lights on November 22.
Each year ice rinks appear in some of the capital’s most iconic locations. This year you can get your skates on at venues as diverse as Hampton Court Palace, the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, the Tower of London, Kew Gardens, Somerset House and the Natural History Museum. The O2 will host an Ice Disco from November 10 featuring music, 40 mirror balls, disco lights and a purpose-built bar.
Special events will be taking place all over London to celebrate the festive season. Hyde Park will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland from December 1 to January 6. The 24,000 square-meter Winter Wonderland site will host London’s largest outdoor ice rink, an authentic German Christmas market, a toboggan slide, an incredible 50-meter observation wheel and lots more.
The Bankside Frost Fair (December 14 to 16) dates back to a time hundreds of years ago when the River Thames froze over and Londoners took to the ice. Today the fair is held along the riverwalk outside the Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. It will feature husky dog sledding, a winter market, street theater, ice sculptures, and festive food and drink.
Chelsea Physic Garden's traditional Christmas Fair (December 2) will have stalls selling gifts, toys, handmade winter clothing and foodstuffs. Visitors can take winter-themed tours of the garden and enjoy delicious seasonal refreshments from the café. Chelsea Physic Garden is England's second oldest botanical garden, with a unique collection of more than 5,000 plants.
The Spitalfields Winter Festival unfolds from December 12 to 21 with ten days of celebrations in the vibrant heart of East London. The festival offers an eclectic mix of concerts, tours and events showcasing the area's history and diversity, many of which are free.
London’s theaters are bursting with seasonal productions this winter. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol comes to the Greenwich Playhouse from December 4 to January 6. Ross Kemp stars as the villainous Henchman in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at New Wimbledon Theatre from December 7 to January 20. Stephen Fry has written a new version of the nation’s all time favorite pantomime, Cinderella, which is on at the Old Vic from December 4 to January 20.
Raymond Briggs' The Snowman returns to London's Peacock Theatre from December 5 to January 6. A glittering cast of snowmen and snowwomen are joined by colorful characters including dancing penguins, magical reindeer, Jack Frost and Father Christmas. The Barbican presents Jack and the Beanstalk from December 1 to January 12. Find out what happens when Jack swaps his family’s last possession, Daisy the cow, for a handful of magic beans.
London’s hotels will be celebrating Christmas with a host of festive packages. Brown’s Hotel is offering guests a gift during the Christmas season - book two consecutive nights between December 21 and January 7 and stay a third night for free. Brown’s English Tea Room will be serving Festive Afternoon Tea throughout December.
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