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Christmas things to do in London with kids (2026): lights, rinks, pantos and more

By The London Scoop team✓ Last updated ⏱ 14 min read

London does Christmas the way it does most things: brilliantly, expensively and with a queue. This guide is the edit: 13 festive days out that are worth the Tube journey, from free lights and markets to ice rinks, light trails and two very different pantos, with something for every age from toddlers to tweens. Every date and price comes from the organiser's own website, checked on 24 October 2026. Prices for Christmas events tend to rise as dates fill up, so book the paid ones early.

🦊 Quick answer

October 2026: new guide. Want to meet the man himself? See our best Santa's grottos in London. And if you're reading this before 8 November, there's still time for a fireworks display.

How we chose: a spread of free and paid, indoor and outdoor, toddler-friendly and tween-proof, across every part of London. We only included events with 2026 dates published on the organiser's own website. Where a detail wasn't published yet, we've said so.
In this guide (13 ideas)
  1. At a glance
  2. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
  3. Skate at Somerset House
  4. Regent Street lights switch-on
  5. Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
  6. Southbank Centre Winter Market
  7. Festive Skate at Alexandra Palace
  8. Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire
  9. Glide at Battersea Power Station
  10. Huddle at the Unicorn Theatre
  11. Christmas Lights at Polka Theatre
  12. Christmas at Kew
  13. Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith
  14. Winter Palace and ice rink at Hampton Court
  15. FAQs

At a glance

All 13 ideas, grouped by area. Dates and prices checked against each organiser's own site on 24 October 2026.
NameDatesAreaPriceAgesBooking
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland19 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027 (closed 25 Dec)Hyde Park, W2Entry £1 off-peak, £5.50 standard, £8.25 peakAll agesPre-book a timed entry slot
Skate at Somerset House11 Nov 2026–10 Jan 2027 (closed 25 Dec)Strand, WC2Adult from £13, child (12 and under) from £11, +£1.50From about age 2 (smallest boot: child size 6)Book online; limited walk-ups
Regent Street lights switch-onThu 5 Nov, 5–9pmRegent Street, W1FreeAll agesNo booking
Trafalgar Square Christmas treeLighting date TBC, check the official siteTrafalgar Square, WC2FreeAll agesNo booking
Southbank Centre Winter Market2 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027South Bank, SE1Free entryAll agesNo booking
Festive Skate at Alexandra Palace9 Dec 2026–4 Jan 2027Wood Green, N22Check official site3+Book online
Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire21 Nov–31 DecHackney, E8£10–£48 + £1.50 per ticketAll ages (under-3s on a lap)Book online
Glide at Battersea Power Station6 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027Battersea, SW11Varies by session, see siteAdults 13+, child and family ticketsBook online
Huddle at the Unicorn Theatre27 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027London Bridge, SE1Check official site1–4Book online
Christmas Lights at Polka Theatre11–22 NovWimbledon, SW19£16 (concessions £14), +£2.50 per order1–4Book online; many shows sold out
Christmas at Kew13 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027 (not 16, 23, 28 Nov or 25 Dec)Kew, TW9Adult £29.50–£37; child 4–15 £20–£24; family £89–£108All ages (under-4s free, need a ticket)Timed entry, book ahead
Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith14 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027Hammersmith, W6£10–£50; family tickets £80–£906+ (under-18 months free)Book online
Winter Palace and ice rink at Hampton CourtWinter Palace 28 Nov–3 Jan; ice rink 20 Nov–3 JanHampton Court, KT8Included with palace admission; rink separateAll agesPre-book

Central London

1

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

  • 📍 Hyde Park, W2
  • 🕘 Usually 10am–10pm; some weekdays open later (up to 2pm)
  • 🎟 Entry: off-peak £1, standard £5.50, peak £8.25; rides extra

The heavyweight: more than 150 rides, shows and attractions, a free Santa's grotto, and enough mulled wine to float a pedalo. It opens on Thursday 19 November and runs every day until 3 January, apart from Christmas Day.

Scoop tip: Spend £25 or more on rides, attractions or food deals in one advance order and your entry is free. Go early on a weekday: you can stay as long as you like once you're in.
Honest parent details

Everyone needs a timed entry ticket. The cheap ones are off-peak (Monday to Thursday in November, and green slots on the booking calendar), and booking fees are now included in the price. Rides and attractions cost extra, and they add up quickly.

The details

  • Opening times: Open from 10am on most days but later on several weekdays (for example 12pm on 19–20 Nov and 2pm on 1 Dec). Last entry 9.30pm.
  • Grotto: Free, 10am–6pm, can't be booked. See our grottos guide.
  • Final day: Sun 3 Jan is a Family Fun Day; details still to be announced.
Official site Map
2

Skate at Somerset House

  • 📍 Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
  • 🕘 45-minute sessions, 11am until late (from 9am on selected dates)
  • 🎟 Adult from £13; child 12 and under from £11; +£1.50 per ticket
  • 🐧 Skate aids for under-8s

The most handsome ice rink in London, in an 18th-century courtyard with a huge Christmas tree. Sessions are 45 minutes, which is about the length of time a seven-year-old can skate before declaring they are "basically a professional now".

Scoop tip: Weekday daytime sessions are the cheapest and calmest. There are 90-minute extended sessions on 11, 17 and 23 November at noon, if you want more ice for your money.
Honest parent details

Under-12s must skate with an adult (one adult for every five children), and there are first-come, first-served skate aids for children aged 8 and under. Spectators watch for free.

The details

  • Families: There's a 10% discount on family bookings.
  • Walk-ups: A limited number of tickets are sold on the day, until noon.
Official site Map
3Free

Regent Street lights switch-on

  • 📍 Regent Street, W1
  • 📅 Thu 5 Nov, 5–9pm, traffic-free
  • 🎟 Free

Regent Street switches its Christmas lights on with a traffic-free evening of entertainment, on Bonfire Night itself. It's the starting gun for Christmas in the West End, and it's free.

Scoop tip: With small children, go on a different night. Walk up Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus around 4.30pm, when it's dark but the after-work crowds haven't arrived.
Honest parent details

The lights stay up for the season, so if the switch-on crowds aren't your thing, any dark weekday evening in November works just as well.

Official site Map
4Free

Trafalgar Square Christmas tree

  • 📍 Trafalgar Square, WC2
  • 📅 Tree lighting: date TBC, check the official site
  • 🎶 Carol singing through December

Norway's annual thank-you to London for its help in the Second World War, and one of the few Christmas traditions in the capital that costs nothing and needs no app. Choirs sing carols around the tree through December.

Scoop tip: Pair it with the free National Gallery next door for a warm-up, then come back out once the lights are on.
Honest parent details

City Hall hadn't published the 2026 lighting date when we checked, so check its page before you go.

The details

  • Unverified: 2026 tree-lighting date not yet on london.gov.uk.
Official site Map
5Free

Southbank Centre Winter Market

  • 📍 Queen's Walk, under Hungerford Bridge, SE1
  • 🕘 Stalls 11am–10pm; bars until 11pm
  • 🎟 Free entry; cashless

Wooden chalets along the river, under the bridge, with views across to the London Eye and Big Ben. It's free to wander, which means you're only paying for whatever the children point at, and they will point.

Scoop tip: Go in daylight with toddlers and walk east along the river towards the Tate Modern for a buggy-friendly afternoon. Stalls are cashless.
Honest parent details

Easy to combine with a walk along the river or a show at the Southbank Centre.

Official site Map

North London

6

Festive Skate at Alexandra Palace

  • 📍 Ice Rink, Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY
  • 📅 9 Dec–4 Jan
  • 👶 Minimum age 3
  • 👀 Non-skating adults supervising under-16s need a spectator ticket

North London's indoor rink goes full Christmas: a towering tree, twinkling lights, festive music and a sprinkle of fake snow. Being indoors, it doesn't care what the weather is doing, which is more than can be said for the rest of December.

Scoop tip: Combine it with Ally Pally's grotto (4–23 Dec). See our grottos guide.
Honest parent details

Skaters must be at least three. If you're supervising and not skating, you need a spectator ticket.

The details

  • Prices: Not shown on the page when we checked. See the booking calendar on alexandrapalace.com.
Official site Map

East London

7

Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire

  • 📍 291 Mare Street, E8 1EJ
  • 📅 21 Nov–31 Dec
  • 🎟 £10–£48, plus £1.50 per ticket
  • 🧩 Relaxed performance Sat 5 Dec, 1.30pm

Hackney Empire's panto is the one theatre people quietly rank above the West End, and Clive Rowe is back as Dame Trot, as well as directing. Expect beans, booing and a dame who could win a staring contest with a giant.

Scoop tip: The cheapest seats go first, so book midweek matinées early in the run for the best prices.
Honest parent details

Children under three can sit on a lap; anyone four or over needs their own ticket. There's a relaxed performance on Saturday 5 December at 1.30pm.

The details

  • Getting there: Hackney Central (Overground) is a short walk away.
Official site Map

South London

8

Glide at Battersea Power Station

  • 📍 Battersea Power Station, SW11
  • 📅 6 Nov–3 Jan
  • ⛸️ Three interconnecting rinks and a skate trail
  • 🎟 Child, family and adult (13+) tickets; prices vary by session

Three linked rinks, London's only skate trail, a big Christmas tree and vintage fairground rides, under the chimneys of the Power Station. It's the most fun rink in London if your children are past the clinging-to-the-side stage.

Scoop tip: Weekday sessions are cheaper. Make it a day: the Power Station's Santa's Workshop is in the same building, and there's a Tube station on the doorstep.
Honest parent details

Prices vary by session, so pick a date on the official calendar to see the cost. Battersea Power Station also has a new Santa's Workshop from 27 November.

The details

Official site Map
9

Huddle at the Unicorn Theatre

  • 📍 147 Tooley Street, SE1 2HZ
  • 📅 27 Nov–3 Jan
  • 👶 Ages 1–4; about 50 minutes

A gentle, highly visual show about penguin parents for one- to four-year-olds, at London's leading children's theatre. Very little dialogue, lots to look at, and just the right length for the age.

Scoop tip: Book a morning performance: toddlers are at their best before lunch, and so are the parents.
Honest parent details

It's a short walk from London Bridge, so you can pair it with a wander along the river.

The details

  • Prices: Not seen on the page when we checked. See unicorntheatre.com.
Official site Map
10Toddlers

Christmas Lights at Polka Theatre

  • 📍 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, SW19 1SB
  • 📅 Wed 11–Sun 22 Nov
  • 🎟 £16; concessions £14; +£2.50 booking fee per order
  • 🤟 Integrated BSL

A 50-minute show for ages 1–4 about two friends trying to light up their house for Christmas, with lights that have ideas of their own. It's highly visual, uses British Sign Language throughout, and children can stay and play in the snow-covered garden afterwards.

Scoop tip: Weekday shows were the only ones with tickets left when we checked, so this is one for a day off nursery rather than a Saturday.
Honest parent details

Most performances had sold out when we checked, with a few weekday slots left.

Official site Map

West London

11

Christmas at Kew

  • 📍 Kew Gardens, TW9
  • 🕘 Entry slots 4.20–7.40pm; closes 10pm (9pm on 24 Dec)
  • 🎟 Off-peak/peak: adult £29.50/£37; child 4–15 £20/£24; family (2+2) £89/£108; under-4s free
  • 🧩 Quiet sessions 21 Nov, 1, 16 and 26 Dec

A 3km illuminated trail through the gardens after dark, which takes two hours or more at child pace. Father Christmas, a fairground and marshmallow toasting are along the way. It's London's best light trail and priced accordingly, but it's the kind of evening children remember.

Scoop tip: Book an off-peak date (17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and 30 Nov, and 1 and 2 Dec) to save around £19 on a family ticket. Take an early slot with younger children: it's a long walk.
Honest parent details

Prams are welcome; scooters and balance bikes aren't. There are no covered areas, so dress for the weather. Fairground tokens are £4 each, or six for £21, if your children spot the fairground before you do.

The details

  • Parking: £15 at Brentford Gate; book ahead.
  • Accessibility: Quiet sessions on 21 Nov, 1, 16 and 26 Dec have reduced sound and lighting effects.
Official site Map
12

Cinderella at the Lyric Hammersmith

  • 📍 Lyric Square, King Street, W6 0QL
  • 📅 14 Nov–3 Jan
  • 🎟 £10–£50; family tickets £80 standard, £90 premium
  • ⏱ 2 hours, including interval

The Lyric's pantos are sharp, modern and properly funny, and Cinderella is this year's. The theatre recommends it for ages 6 and up, which is the honest answer for a two-hour show with an interval.

Scoop tip: A £2 restoration levy is added per basket, so book everything in one go.
Honest parent details

Family tickets help with the maths: £80 standard or £90 premium.

The details

  • Babies: Under-18-month-olds go free.
Official site Map
13New for 2026

Winter Palace and ice rink at Hampton Court

  • 📍 Hampton Court Palace, KT8
  • 📅 Winter Palace 28 Nov–3 Jan; ice rink 20 Nov–3 Jan (not 25 Dec)
  • 🎟 Winter Palace included with palace admission; ice rink is a separate ticket
  • 🎪 Festive Fayre 4–6 and 11–13 Dec

New for 2026: Henry VIII's palace turns into the Winter Palace, with puppets, live actors and mythical beasts gathering for a Christmas Beast Ball, plus a sleeping dragon. It's included in palace admission, which makes it one of the better-value big Christmas days out.

Scoop tip: On selected December dates (9–11, 16–17 and 19–30 Dec) the palace stays open until 7.30pm, so you can skate after dark and then see the Winter Palace lit up.
Honest parent details

Outside, the ice rink in front of the palace runs from 20 November, with quieter reduced-capacity sessions from 10am. The Festive Fayre on two December weekends is also included with palace admission.

The details

  • Prices: Check palace admission and rink prices on hrp.org.uk; members go free to the Winter Palace but must pre-book.
Official site Map

Christmas in London with kids: how to keep it merry

Plan the rest of the season with our Santa's grottos guide, and for rainy December days, our rainy day activities and best museums for kids.

FAQs

When does Winter Wonderland 2026 open?

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland opens on Thursday 19 November 2026 and runs daily until Sunday 3 January 2027, closed on Christmas Day. Everyone needs a timed entry ticket: £1 off-peak, £5.50 standard or £8.25 peak, with rides extra.

What are the best free Christmas things to do in London with kids?

The Regent Street lights switch-on (Thu 5 Nov, 5–9pm), the Southbank Centre Winter Market (from 2 Nov), the Trafalgar Square tree and carol singing in December, and the free grotto inside Winter Wonderland (you still need an entry ticket).

How much is Christmas at Kew 2026?

Off-peak tickets are £29.50 for adults and £20 for children aged 4–15; peak tickets are £37 and £24. Family tickets (2 adults, 2 children) are £89 off-peak or £108 peak. Under-4s are free but need a ticket. It runs 13 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027, with some dates closed.

When do London's Christmas lights get switched on in 2026?

Regent Street switches on on Thursday 5 November 2026 with a free, traffic-free event from 5pm to 9pm. The Trafalgar Square tree lighting date hadn't been published by City Hall when we checked.

What is the best ice rink in London for kids?

Somerset House has skate aids for under-8s and boots from child size 6 (about age 2). Glide at Battersea Power Station has three rinks and a skate trail for more confident skaters. Alexandra Palace's Festive Skate is indoors, from age 3.

Which London panto is best for young children?

Hackney Empire's Jack and the Beanstalk suits all ages (under-3s can sit on a lap) and has a relaxed performance on Sat 5 Dec. The Lyric Hammersmith's Cinderella is recommended for ages 6+. For under-5s, try Polka Theatre's Christmas Lights or the Unicorn's Huddle, both for ages 1–4.

What Christmas things can toddlers do in London?

Polka Theatre's Christmas Lights (ages 1–4, 11–22 Nov), Huddle at the Unicorn (ages 1–4, from 27 Nov), the Southbank Winter Market by day and a toddler-friendly Santa visit. See our grottos guide for those.

Is Winter Wonderland worth it with kids?

For a one-off treat, yes, especially on a weekday off-peak slot. The grotto is free once you're in. Rides and food add up fast, so set a budget, or spend £25 in advance and get your entry free.

School holidays 2027Family calendar 2027February half term 2027Easter holidays 2027Fireworks displays 2026Santa's grottos 2026Best museums for kidsFree things to doRainy day ideasSoft play by areaBest parks and playgrounds

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