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We don’t want to alarm anyone, but it’s starting to look an awful lot like Christmas round here. Stroll down London’s bougiest streets and you'll see perfectly-lit 7ft firs arranged in their bay windows, complete with piles of immaculately wrapped presents underneath. Fancy hotels are serving up lavish seasonal tasting menus, and this city’s shops are tempting passers by with window displays of luxury goods. But even if you don’t have the budget of a finance bro, there’s no reason to be left out in the cold this Christmas.
London is teeming with free ways to feel festive. Stroll under twinkling Christmas lights, sing along at carol concerts, join in a warming winter solstice gathering, or escape this season's omnipresent kitsch at an immersive art show. Whatever you opt for, you can rest assured it won’t tax your wallet, and that means more cash for treating yourself to a pub mulled wine, doing your bit in the office Secret Santa, or picking up a little pressie from one of London’s fine markets.
The best free things on in London this weekend, December 19-21 2025
1. Caterwaul your way through some classic carols
If you haven’t sung carols since primary school, you might be surprised how many nostalgic memories a concert stirs up. Oxford Circus’s All Souls Langham Place church is welcoming in shoppers this weekend with free hour-long concerts that'll give you a chance to join in lots of familiar faves like ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘Joy to the World’ alongside a choir and live orchestra. Overhead you'll see twinkling lights and mirrorball (not something every church boasts), while the services will wrap up with complimentary mince pies and hot Christmas punch.
Turn up early to secure your spot, but fear not if there’s no room at the inn. This year, a big screen will project the action to standing viewers outside, while Regent Street’s angelic decorations glimmer overhead. Too busy running between shops for a full blown carol service? Stop by Trafalgar Square instead to join in with the carol singers under the towering Norwegian Christmas tree before going on your merry way.
Langham Place, W1B 3DA. Sat Dec 20- Sun Dec 21. Free.
2. Stop in at the Choose Love department store
If you’re fed up with the overwhelming tide of festive consumerism, this Regent Street pop-up is a must-visit. First set up in 2017 by Help Refugees, the clever pop-up doesn’t peddle fancy beauty products or the latest trainers. Instead, its shelves are filled with emergency blankets, children’s shoes, sleeping bags, toiletries, mobile phone credit, nappies, education supplies and other essentials needed by refugees around the world. Once you’ve bought what you can, the products are distributed via more than 80 projects that the humanitarian aid organisation works with across the globe. You’ll find a surprise line-up of celebrity volunteers manning the tills, plus a new coffee shop, with all proceeds going straight to the causes that need it.
245 Regent Street, W1B 2EN. Fri Dec 19-Sun Dec 21. Free.
3. Catch the final days of a kaleidoscopic experimental art show
Step inside a house on an ordinary residential street in Holland Park, and you’ll stumble The Cosmic House, a postmodern architectural icon that's housing an entrancing installation this year. Lithuanian-born musician Lina Lapelytė has collaborated with five other artists to create a playful, immersive sonic journey of discovery. Its final day is this Friday, so rush down before it closes.
19 Lansdowne Walk, W11 3AH. Fri Dec 19. Free.
4. Mark the return of lighter evenings at a Winter Solstice Community Gathering
Northwest London’s Clitterhouse Farm dates back to the 14th century, so where better to mark an older kind of winter celebration than modern upstarts like Christmas: the solstice, or shortest day of the year. This new community-run venue is all about arts, crafts and wellbeing, so expect some nature-inspired creative activities to join in with. All participants are also invited to bring a dish representing their culture for a communal meal (and no, a Greggs sausage roll probably won’t cut it). Book your spot in advance to come along.
60 Claremont Rd, NW2 1AP. Sun Dec 21. Free.
5. Stroll around Time Out’s Winter Square at Westfield
With only one week left until the big day, you can no longer avoid doing your Christmas shopping. So, you might as well turn it into a whole day out. To help you do that, we teamed up with Westfield London (that’s the one in White City) to bring shoppers a twinkling Christmas pop-up full of comedy, music and more. For its final weekend, Winter Square will feature a performance from Jazz Duo (December 19), a panto storytime from Dick Whittington and His Cat and the infectious sounds of The Merry Brassmen (December 20) – all completely free. There’s also the Kitchen Disco Trail, created by artist Amy Isles Freeman, with eight Christmas tree installations inspired by the sights of London for you to discover.
Ariel Way, W12 7GF. Fri Dec 19-Sat Dec 20. Free.
6. Go to a vibey Black Eats Christmas market weekender
Okay, although this one is free to enter, we will admit you’ll be hard pressed not to spend money at Black Eats Christmas market. But at least you’ll feel good about it. This special market at Croydon’s Boxpark offers a curated selection of fashion, homewares, beauty, art, gifts and more, created by 40+ independent Black-owned brands. You’ll find plenty of fun reasons to stick around once you've browsed the stalls, too, with live DJs and free kids activities to get stuck into. Definitely beats a trudge round your local high street as Christmas Day looms.
99 George St, CR0 1LD. Sat Dec 20-Sun Dec 21. Free.
Make the most of the end of the year with our roundup of the best things to do in December and plan for 2026 with our guide to the best things to do in January.
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