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14 quirky things to do in London this Christmas

Discover the best places to go at Christmas in London for some festive fun with a quirky twist.

Get your quirk on at Christmas in London! There are lots of weird and wonderful activities across the city, from one-of-a-kind London events and seasonally dressed rooftop bars to quirky London places to visit over the holiday season.

Quirky Christmas things to in London

Hogwarts Castle dusted in filmmakers' snow.
Hogwarts in the Snow. TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR.
  1. Follow in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione as the Great Hall is decked out for Christmas at Hogwarts in the Snow at The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Dates TBC
  2. Hop on a London bus to marvel at the city's hundreds of sparkling lights on a Christmas Lights open-top bus tour. 26 Nov-2 Jan
  3. Meet Father Christmas at Santa’s grottos across London, from Hamleys to family attractions.
  4. Get competitive with friends or family over the festive period at activity bars in London, from shuffleboard to ping pong and urban golf.
  5. Add some quirkiness to your days out over the holidays with themed attractions and immersive experiences.

Find more activities this Christmas.

Unusual Christmas shows

  1. Experience a special film screening of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas with live singing from Danny Elfman and music from the BBC Concert Orchestra, for two nights only at Wembley Arena. 9-10 Dec
  2. Howl with laughter at slapstick show The Play that Goes Wrong, as a group of amateur actors make a mess of their performances. Dates TBC

Discover more Christmas shows and pantomimes in London.

Cool London Christmas events

Blue laser-style lights spread out from the Palm House at Kew Gardens at night.
Christmas at Kew © RBG Kew. Image courtesy of Kew Gardens.
  1. Get 'gramming at Christmas at Kew – wander through the Tunnel of Light, explore the Fire Garden and be dazzled with the Palm House finale. 16 Nov-8 Jan
  2. Or discover mesmerising light festivals across the capital – check back nearer the time for more confirmed events
  3. Discover what your favourite animals want for Christmas as part of the Magic of Christmas activities at ZSL London Zoo. Dates TBC
  4. Watch the brave members of the Serpentine Swimming Club battle it out in chilly conditions during the Peter Pan Cup swim on Christmas Day. 25 Dec

Discover more events in London.

Unique Christmas film screenings in London

People seated in rows watching The Muppets Christmas Carol on a cinema screen, surrounded by foliage dusted in snow, and with snow on the ground.
Cinema in the Snow. Image courtesy of Strike Media.
  1. Catch cult Christmas classics and family favourites at pop-up cinemas across the capital. In 2021, you could take your pick from three magical Backyard Cinema venues, visit an enchanting snowy world with Cinema in the Snow, and enjoy top Christmas movies at the Luna Winter Cinema. Check back nearer the time for confirmed screenings in 2022.

Find more film experiences in London.

Festive London food and drink 

An aerial view of festive food laid out on a table, including a marshmallow being dipped in chocolate fondue, hazelnuts, cookies, mince pies and dried orange slices.
Festive food as part of Deck the Halls at Pergola Paddington. Image courtesy of Bacchus Agency.
  1. Indulge in creative takes on festive afternoon teas at restaurants and hotels across the capital.
  2. Relax with warming cocktails, food and activities at winter-themed rooftop bars and seasonal pop-ups – the perfect places to celebrate with friends and family.

Find more things to do in London at Christmas, including London Christmas activities such as must-see shows and pantomimes, fun festive tours and family experiences.

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