Alternative Christmas events in London
If festive tradition isn't your thing, check out these weird and wonderful Christmas events taking place in London this winter
Listen, we love a good old-fashioned Christmas. Mulled wine, festive markets, carol services and ice skating, winter wonderlands: it’s all good stuff when you’re in the right mood. But there's nothing wrong with trying something a little different once in a while. Thankfully, London is blessed with all the alternative festive events that you could ever want, so get out of your festive comfort zone have yourself a quirky little Christmas in 2019.
We’ll be updating this page with more events for Christmas 2019 as they are announced.
RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London
Alternative Christmas events in London
Hart's of Smithfield Christmas Auction
'Spend your money and take your chance' is the rather mysterious advice given to the 1,500-odd Londoners expected to turn up to Smithfield meat market for what must be London's most boisterous Christmas traditions. Harts of Smithfield run an auction just before Christmas each year, flogging great hunks of every kind of meat at bargain prices.
Winterville
Ok, so its essentially a Christmas wonderland, but Winterville’s festive events are anything but generic: think disco yoga, crazy golf and hidden cinemas.
Peter Pan Cup
Strictly a spectator event, unless you happen to be a regular, not to say hardy, member of the Serpentine Swimming Club, the Peter Pan Cup race takes place each year on Christmas morning.
The Great Christmas Pudding Race
Every year Londoners turn out to watch runners try to navitage through foam slaloms and other inflatable hazards whilst balancing a plate of Christmas pud. All the wackiness is for a good cause for Cancer Research UK. Take part, or just turn up on the day to laugh and point.
Dennis Severs' Annual Christmas Installation
Step into Christmas, circa 1724. This frozen-in-time house, tucked away down a Liverpool St sidestreet is given a festive makeover each Christmas, complete with freshly wrapped presents, the sound of carollers and the aroma of a Christmas dinner – almost as if the Huguenot family never left.
Hogwarts in the Snow
The Harry Potter studio tours get a festive makeover once more this Winter, with Christmas trees and a seasonal feast in the Great Hall, decorations in Gryffindor common room and snow drifts in Diagon Alley.
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