The best Christmas nights out in London for when you want a festive party

We wouldn’t expect anything less than a huge festive fiesta from Walthamstow’s Big Penny Social. Its Christmas Socials are happening every Friday in the lead up to the big day, with guests getting a glass of bubbly on arrival, a generous Christmas meal, live music performances and a show from a close-up magician. If that’s not enough, you can add a curling competition to the mix in the Walthamstow Curling Lounge (aka, Big Penny’s studio). You’ll need to gather at least five of your friends to book onto the event. 

Roving brass band Old Dirty Brasstards will be unleashing their infectious horn-based hip hop mischief on The Garage for this special festive gig. Expect their usual ‘drum and brass’ party jams as well as some Christmas classics, such as Mariah Carey, East 17, George Michael and The Pogues. The audience is invited to sing and dance along, so get practising those All I Want For Christmas high notes. 

DJs will be stationed rinkside at Somerset House for a series of Skate Lates that’ll get you pumped on and off the ice. The line-up for 2025 includes NTS Radio resident DJ babyschon (December 4), Foundation FM’s Miss Knox (December 11) ELLADHC (December 12) and Tia Cousins (December 17).

Sack off wholesome festive fun and head to the Divine for a night of unadulterated Christmas debauchery instead. Spread out across the venue’s two floors, drag queens Coco Couture, Lucinda B. Hind and Femmi will front the Chrimbo sesh, alongside DJs Princess Julia, Jane Norman and Jonjo Jury. Stay lubricated with the Divine’s special festive cocktails, like its winter cherry negroni, white chocolate Bumbo espresso martini and prolapse fairy shot (made with Bumbu creme rum and raspberry liquor). 

The Cause is putting on a three-day mad one for the final weekend before Christmas. Its three east London satellite venues will be taking turns to host. Friday night’s do is a rager at The Greyhound, helmed by Wiggle co-conductor Terry Francis, Saturday’s is a big blowout at the Marquee Moon and Sunday’s is a day-long affair at All My Friends. Saturday and Sunday’s parties are completely free and if you RSVP in advance you’ll get a shot on the house. The Greyhound’s get down will be free for anyone who arrives before 9.30pm.

Swap church pews and carols for festive pop songs and a table at the UK’s largest beer hall. A live pianist will be conducting a great big raucous singalong at Big Penny Social as part of its packed Christmas programme. Once everyone’s vocal chords get tired, the venue will keep things going with a soundtrack of seasonal bangers and classic crowd-pleasers until 1am. 

Seth Troxler has summoned a troupe of house and techno elves for his Christmas rager at Fabric. He’ll be joined by Skream in Room 1, Krystal Klear, Hiroko Yamamura and Dukwa will take over Room 2, and Room 3 will fill with tunes from Jonny Rock and Acid Ted. More names are still to be announced.

Kurtis Lincoln and Ms Sharon le Grand – who, together, are Smashing Time – are going back to back at Dalston Superstore’s for its last hurrah before Christmas. The DJ duo will crash, bang and wallop into the nightclub armed with tunes spanning all genres and decades. Christmas jumpers encouraged.