Serpentine Swimming Club Peter Pan Cup
© Serpentine Swimming Club

Alternative Christmas events in London

Looking for something different to the festive classics? Here’s some weird and wonderful events happening in London this Christmas

Advertising

Many of us love a good old-fashioned Christmas complete with trips to festive markets, ice skating, carol services and all the trimmings. But it’s not everyone’s glass of eggnog. Thankfully, London is abuzz with unusual Christmas events come winter. Whether you fancy switching up your usual gift-shopping with a trip to the Satanic Flea Market’s Antichristmas Fayre, making the Yuletide gayer than ever at a camp as Christmas drag show, or watching hardy swimmers go for an icy plunge on December 25 in the Serpentine’s famous Peter Pan Cup race, have yourself a quirky little Christmas with our round-up of the ultimate alt festive events in London.

We’ll be updating this page with alternative events for Christmas 2023 as they are announced.

RECOMMENDED: Find more festive fun with our guide to Christmas in London.

Alternative Christmas events in London

  • Things to do

Forget ice skating: roller skating lets you whizz round the rink without risking a chilly bum when you inevitably topple over. Croydon's totally free roller rink is a chance to get your skates on, while saving your pennies for a Christmas shopping trip afterwards.

Paid content

A festive theatre trip doesn't have to involve fake snow, jolly sing-songs, and overwhelming Christmassy sentimentality. Here's our theatre editor's pick of the funniest, rudest, and weirdest adult-only shows in town this December.

Find more Christmas fun in London

GYG London Widget

Recommended
    More on Christmas
      You may also like
      You may also like
      London for less
        Advertising