London’s best alternative Christmas events

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. It’s all threaded together with a mission to cheer a weary Santa up and help him rekindle his Christmas spirit. 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.

In scenes only slightly less dramatic and probably far more entertaining than the Grand National, more than 40 pantomime horses (plus a few pretenders in the form of zebras and cows) will gallop through Greenwich on this race, raising money for charity. The theme for this year is 'Rockstars', with competitors including Beatles tribute act The Fab Foals. There is usually entertainment in the form of an opening ceremony, plus other antics throughout the day and an after-party with live music, comedy and DJs.

One of London’s quirkiest Christmas traditions as well as being one of the oldest, the Peter Pan Cup has been contested on Christmas mornings since 1864. Strictly a spectator event – unless you happen to be a regular, not to mention hardy, member of the Serpentine Swimming Club – the name of the 100-yard swimming race in Hyde Park’s lido derives from the 1904 edition, when author and playwright Sir James Barrie presented the trophy to the winner. The race commences at 9am so head down to watch the brave folk go for it before you start opening your presents.

If lounging around on Christmas Day and stuffing your face with treats sounds like something that gets in the way of your running streak rather than a dream way to spend a day, the Christmas Day Cracker Run is for you. Head to the outskirts of the city to a course by the Thames where you’ll be able to run for up to seven – yes, seven – hours. The minimum distance you have to complete to take part is 5km, but you can do as much beyond that as you like – up to a 50km ‘ultramarathon’. If you complete one lap (7km), you’ll get to take home a shiny medal and a goody bag full of yummy snacks.

Festive karaoke is a bit of a tradition for us lot in the Time Out office. If you’re also a fan of necking half a bottle of prosecco and belting out some Michael Bublé, you’ll love this festive edition of the phenomenon that is Massaoke, or ‘mass karaoke’. Popping up at a host of London venues this December, it’s offering you plenty of chances to warble along to Mariah, Wham, Slade and all your other favourite festive bangers soundtracked by a live band, and with lyrics on the screen in case you somehow don’t have every word of ‘Fairytale of New York’ etched into your brain. Christmas jumpers and festive fancy dress are of course encouraged.

Got a thirst for adventure and winter-themed beverages? Up at The O2 – the dare-devil tour that lets you climb up the outside of the Greenwich venue’s famous white dome – has been given a festive makeover. After being strapped into a harness and ascending to the top of the 52 metre-high dome, climbers will get to retreat into an immersive snow globe featuring falling snow, the sweet smell of cookies and a ‘whimsical winter set-up’ from which they’ll be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the city from. There’ll also be gingerbread cookies to snack on and glasses of bubbly, mulled wine and hot chocolates to purchase. 

Think festive sports, and most people's minds will turn to ice skating. How... obvious. Why not try your hand at an incredibly niche Winter Olympics sport at this Kings Cross pop up? You'll get a chance to guide a puck along the ice with brushes, while DJs supply a '90s themed soundtrack.

Mischief Theatre are best known for their Fringe megahit The Play That Goes Wrong. Now, they're resurrecting the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, the inept am dram theatre company who are theoretically responsible for it, for a truly chaotic spin on festive theatrical tradition. It’s written by original Mischief members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, and should feature some very unscary ghosts and some mishaps that would make Dickens turn in his grave.