The cosiest winter pop-ups and Christmas bars in London

Somerset House’s iconic ice rink has become a Christmas tradition for Londoners and visitors heading to the capital for some festive cheer. There’s good reason – gliding (or, at least, attempting to) around the rink, gazing upon the Georgian architecture and 40ft Christmas tree feels like you’ve skated onto a movie set, ready to be watched by families settling in for their post-turkey food coma. There’s more to this rink than just skating, though. Skate Lates let you glide around to a chill DJ soundtrack, while rink-side pop-ups serve warming seasonal food and bevvies. 

Find more places to go ice skating in London

Dreaming of a kitsch Christmas? New York’s famous Miracle on Ninth Street bar is popping up in London for its seventh year, ‘50s Christmas decorations, nostalgic accessories and creative new spins on beloved cocktail favourites in tow. Past years have seen the bar slinging the likes of a Snowball Old Fashioned or a Christmapoliton, which includes cranberry sauce and absinthe mist – a take on Christmas trimmings that’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re failing to get into the Christmas spirit, this is one great place to find it.

What’s more Christmassy than visiting Santa’s grotto? Going for a pint or two with the man in red in his favourite boozer, of course. Humbug, an immersive Christmas dive bar, allows you to do just that – and join Mr Claus in rounds of games, sing-a-longs, live performances, storytelling and more. Humbug’s 2025 return will include a shrine to the queen of Christmas Mariah Carey, a beer can bowling alley, a grotto and cabaret from the venue’s regular cast. Saving the festive season never sounded so fun.

Curling has been growing in popularity in recent years, nudged on by its compelling showings at various Winter Olympics. Try your hand at Curling Club's two pop-ups at London Bridge's Vinegar Yard and Waterloo, which boast six synthetic curling lanes, on which you can curl your heart out for 45 minutes before rewarding yourself with a tasty cocktail.

The Lost Estate’s long-running seasonal show The Great Christmas Feast plunges visitors into Victorian London on Christmas Eve 1843, into the heart of Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. For the hefty ticket prices (starting at over a hundred quid) you’ll be treated to a performance of the tale, which combines theatre and music, and served up a three-course Victorian feasting menu (think confit duck, terrine and Twelfth Night cake). There’s also a Victorian-themed cocktail menu featuring such concoctions as the ‘Smoking Bishop’ and a shareable ‘Party House Punch’. 

Got a thirst for adventure and winter-themed alcoholic drinks? Up at The O2 – the entertainment centre’s dare-devil tour that lets you climb up the outside of the famous white dome (strapped into a harness, of course) – has been given a festive makeover. All climbers will get to retreat into an immersive snow globe after reaching the 52m-high summit. Inside your promised falling snow, the sweet smell of cookies and a ‘whimsical winter set-up’ to enjoy looking out at the stonking views of the city from. There’ll also be gingerbread cookies to snack on and glasses of bubbly. 

The Coppa Club Tower Bridge’s ever-popular igloos are up all year round, but they come into their own in the winter season, offering groups of four to eight the opportunity to dine on a specially-created menu with spectacular views over the Thames. Perfect for enjoying while snuggled up among sheepskin blankets and twinkling Christmas lights. 

This massive indoor festive family extravaganza is packed with funfair rides, a special circus show, and a massive ice rink to enjoy without becoming so chilly you could double as a winter snowman. Winter Funland has already run shows in Manchester and Birmingham, and it's got a welcome focus on affordability: instead of making families pay for each ride or show ticket, there's a flat entry fee that includes all entertainments. As well as circus acts, a rollercoaster, dodgems, waltzers, and the ice rink, there are special late night sessions with DJs aimed at a more grown-up crowd. You can pick up nosh and mulled wine at a Christmassy food court, so you can fuel up for a full day of festive fun.