Looking for the best things to do in London in December? Have a look at this
You’re in plenty of time to book tickets to the best events in London, from theatre shows to art exhibitions, and there are always pop-ups opening across the city, but our handy guide features the best of what’s on in London in December so you won’t miss a thing. By December silly season is in full swing and festive cheer has completely taken over the capital – the ice rinks are here, the Christmas lights are on, the markets are open, the trees are decorated, the igloos and all the other seasonal pop-ups have popped up, the light trails are illuminated and there’s festive food galore. And if you wanna see 2024 out with a bang, the NYE fireworks will be returning to the river this year.

1. Get Your Skates on at Battersea Power Station’s Ice Rink
Hit the ice right by the river at Glide at Battersea Power Station. Set against the backdrop of the iconic power station and featuring three interconnecting rinks with a 30ft Christmas tree in the centre, it’s one of the most spectacular places to skate in the capital. And once you’ve spun your way round, you can continue the fun on with some festive tipples at The Glass House bar or the rink-side igloos.
Sat 1st – Tues 31st December 2024
Circus Road West, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD
glidebatterseapowerstation.co.uk

2. See Mars Hanging in the Painted Hall
He’s already hung the Moon (with Museum of the Moon) and the Earth (with Gaia) inside the stunning Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College, and soon Luke Jerram will be completing his astronomical trilogy by displaying Mars inside the space. The seven-metre model of the Red Planet features incredibly detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface, including every crater, valley and mountain, at a scale of 1: 1 million. The model will be accompanied by a soundtrack, including clips from NASA missions to Mars, created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones. Speaking about the installation, Jerram said, “Mars follows on from my other astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon and Gaia presented in the awe-inspiring Painted Hall and allows a close encounter with the Martian planet. I hope that visitors will feel transported to its inhospitable desert wasteland and in comparison, really value our life on Earth.”
Sat 1st – Tues 31st December 2024
Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9NN
ornc.org

3. Explore the Festive Light Trail at Kew Gardens
Christmas at Kew is back for its annual takeover of the gardens and, as always, the botanical gardens will be filled with stunning light installations. This year will see the return of plenty of familiar favourites that have formed part of the light trail for the past few years, including the Christmas Cathedral, Fire Garden and Palm House projections. But there’ll also be some new additions, including world premieres of two works – Ombre by Tilt, which is a series of giant plants in bloom, and Threshold by Studio Vertigo, an illuminated helix shape bathed in golden light. These will be joined by Fish are Jumping by TOER and Mist Arches by Culture Creatives at Lake Crossing, and Kew’s Camellia Walk will be transformed into a snowy winter wonderland.
Sat 1st – Tues 31st December 2024
Kew Gardens, Richmond, TW9 3AE
kew.org

4. Get a Dose of Christmas Nostalgia at This Pop-Up Bar
The US’s renowned Miracle bar is coming back to London just in time for Christmas. Popping up on the Henrietta Hotel’s mezzanine, the Christmas-themed pop-up will be serving up their famous festive cocktails with a side of kitsch. You can also enjoy a selection of snacks whilst taking in the extravagant retro Christmas decorations and being transported back to Christmas past.
Sat 1st – Mon 23rd December 2024
Henrietta Hotel, 14–15 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8QH
miracleathenrietta.com

5. Try Super Cheesy Pizzas from Little Earthquakes
Neil Rankin and From The Ashes BBQ founders Martin Anderson and Curtis Bell have teamed up to create Little Earthquakes, a new deep pan pizza concept. Taking inspo from the Chicago Town and Pizza Hut pizzas of Neil’s youth, Little Earthquakes is doing super cheesy (seriously, there’s cheese on the bottom, top and sides of these pizzas) gourmet 6″ pies, using Wildfarmed flour, Cobble Lane Cured salami and Natoora veg. Combos include mortadella & jalapeno pesto, taleggio & guanciale, salami ragu & rosemary, and spring onion, chilli crunch marinara & toasted rice, with sides of chopped salad and caponata, and jalapeno pesto and chilli crunch marinara for dipping. Little Earthquakes is in residency at Walthamstow’s Burnt Faith Brandy House, serving from 7pm – 9pm, Thursday – Sunday.
Thurs 5th – Sun 29th December 2024
57 Sutherland Rd, London E17 6BH
@littleearthpizza

6. Pay a Visit to the Ever After Garden
The Ever After Garden, an installation of over 25,000 illuminated roses, is returning to Grosvenor Square in aid of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Set up in 2019 by Camilla Morton and Anya Hindmarch after the loss of their friend, production designer and art director Michael Howells, the garden is a space where you can remember people that you’ve lost and make a dedication in tribute to them. Since the garden first opened in 2019, it’s raised over £450,000 for the charity. It’s free to visit the installation and you can dedicate a rose to someone from £10, with all donations going to support the Royal Marsden’s work.
Sat 1st – Sat 18th December 2024
Grosvenor Square, London W1K 6LD
royalmarsden.org

7. Watch Daisy Edgar-Jones and Kingsley Ben-Adir in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Following Paul Mescal’s turn in a Tennessee Williams classic (Stanley in a A Streetcar Named Desire) at the Almeida, his Normal People co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones is doing the same at the end of this year (playing Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). Kingsley Ben-Adir is co-starring as Brick and Rebecca Frecknall (who also directed the theatre’s production of Streetcar) is directing the play, which Brick and Maggie, whose marriage is strained, visit Brick’s family home with the death of his father looming.
Tues 10th – Tues 31st December 2024
Almeida Street, London N1 1TA
almeida.co.uk

8. Head to the Southbank for Winter Light
Following the return of the Christmas market to the Southbank Centre, the free open-air Winter Light exhibition is also back this year. There’ll be a host of LED light installations from acclaimed contemporary artists around the Southbank Centre and Riverside Walk, including a sculpture inspired by Italian illuminated decorations from Marinella Senatore, the Hayward Gallery roof being turned into a giant clock, a geodesic dome lit by a single energy efficient bulb from Jakob Kvist, a pair of 6.5 metre tall spinning glowing rings by Fred Tschida, and geometric forms designed by Nathaniel Rackowe intersecting the trees. Your walk down the river just got LIT.
Sat 1st – Tues 31st December 2024
South Bank, London, SE1
southbankcentre.co.uk

9. Feast on All-You-Can-Eat Raclette
Jimmy Garcia is taking over the South Bank this winter with Fire & Fromage. The alpine-inspired pop-up will feature weather-proof cabanas where you can indulge in all-you-can-eat raclette, served with new potatoes, freshly baked bread, salad and cornichons, with mini chocolate doughnuts for pud. Or you can gather round one of the fire pits and tuck into raclette burgers, pigs-in-blankets hot dogs, chicken schnitzel burgers, toasted marshmallows and mulled wine.
Sat 1st – Tues 31st December 2024
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX
jimmyspopup.com

10. Challenge Your Mates to a Curling Competition
Club Curling is back at Coal Drops Yard for some winter sports action for 2024 and this year, it’s nineties-themed. You can curl the night away on one of the six lanes in teams of up to six, and children under 12 play for free when accompanied by an adult. There’ll be a pop-up cocktail bar on site decked out in neon God’s Own Junkyard so you can have a festive tipple while you curl.
Sat 1st – Tues 31st December 2024
Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, London N1C 4DQ
kingscross.co.uk