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 themed cocktails, festive grub from Bang Bang Burgers, 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.
Ah Christmas, it really does creep on us every year. One day you're necking tinned cocktails on a picnic blanket in a packed summer park, the next you're looking up mulled wine recipes and wondering why you don't seem to have a night off til January. But why not get ahead of the game in 2025? Start planning now, and you'll be able to shop in quaint Christmas markets instead of online panic buying, arrange family pantomime outing, drag your friends to a jolly carol service, check out seasonal pop-ups and get stellar pics of London's OTT light displays.
Time Out’s editorial team start thinking about Christmas long before the first autumn leaves flutter to the ground. We've beaten the crowds for a spot at Somerset House ice rink and strolled around the Southbank Centre’s Winter Market, year after year, and we're ready to show you some more leftfield, imaginative ways to celebrate the season.
Keep checking this list and you'll see it fill up with magical Christmas events for 2025; hopefully it provides you with everything you need to make the absolute most of the holiday season, London style.
London’s best Christmas events at a glance:
- Best for families: The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo
- Best for buying gifts: DIY Christmas Art Market
- Best for a party: Humbug: The Immersive Christmas Dive Bar
- Best for music: Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival
- Best for festive feels: Christmas at Kew
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🎅Check out our full guide to Christmas in London
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