Away in a manger? No, for our Christmas break in London we want a luxury hotel where the decorations are turned up to 11, the scent of mulled-wine spices linger longer than Dickensian ghosts, and there’s goodwill all around, with a calendar full of festivities to explore in the neighbourhood.
Nice, naughty and everything in between: we’ve rounded up London’s best Christmas events for 2025 and the London hotels to visit to soak up the Christmas cheer.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN KING’S CROSS
Crafts, curling and pamper parties
The Botanical Boys
Its name might sound like the filling of a sad Christmas stocking, but Coal Drops Yard is actually a very merry spot this year, with its sparkling 50-foot tree and an array of festive markets. Find unique etchings at the Illustrators’ Fair (6 December); pick up pan-Asian homewares at Shōtengai market (18–21 December); admire the impressive edible edifices of The Museum of Architecture’s gingerbread city (until 4 January 2026) and design your own; and be enchanted by the 50-foot Alpine tree.
Enjoy some convivial competition at Club Curling, where this year’s aprés bar’s decor is inspired by vintage Italian ski culture; or explore the area’s large-scale artworks — download a self-guided tour on your phone. Groups should book a pamper party at Blomma Beauty to perfect their gua sha massage technique, make bespoke potions or get an ice-queen shimmer.
Count down the sleeps at… The Standard, London, which this year might seem as giving as original Scrooge, with their minimalist ‘Imagine’ decorations asking guests to conjure up their own ideas of garlands and Mariah (although we do enjoy the bold wit of the visual prompts), but they’re more generous than they seem, as they’ll be raising funds over the season for Global Generation, Trussell Trust and Choose Love. Guests too are on the receiving side of the hotel’s largesse: there’ll be daily music hours with complimentary mince pies and cookies, plus festive crafting, storytime for adults and choral performances.
CHRISTMAS TOYS AND TREATS IN COVENT GARDEN
Lego selfies, little Ladurée treats and go-big decorations
You might hear Covent Garden’s 2026 decorations before you see them: the market halls will be hung with dozens of gigantic golden bells, plus oversized baubles and mirror-balls, because, frankly, the bells alone weren’t enough. The West Piazza will also be presided over by a 55-foot tree, Sir Paul Smith has used his design nous for the Royal Opera House‘s decor, and while Santa is in residence at the London Transport Museum, perhaps he can sprinkle some of his sleigh stardust on the Tube system.
Lego looms large in the neighbourhood’s festivities — by which we mean the giant Lego Santa and Rudolf you can take selfies with (and perhaps after, pick up a Home Alone playset or themed Lego advent calendar in the Leicester Square store). While adults can indulge in dainty macarons and warm Viennoiseries at the Ladurée pop-up or swig vodka-laced cocktails on Sushisamba‘s heater-warmed terrace.
Seven Dials Market has put on a ‘picky bits’ spread, where you can mix and match turkey al pastor empanadas from Los Gordos, Raclette-slathered hash-brown bites from Hash Hut, pigs in blankets from Oh My Dog!, Stakehaus‘s deep-fried brie and more — polished off with a Christmas-tree-shaped baked Alaska from Chin Chin x Mello. Every Thursday, till 18 December, there’ll be live performances (some from big-deal musicals), late-night shopping with prizes to be won, and more festive fun, all in support of the Acting for Others charity. A short walk away there’s classic ice-skating at Somerset House (until 11 January 2026).
Count down the sleeps at… Henrietta Experimental, where Christmas is delivered with the subtlety of a sherry-sloshed, tap-dancing Santa. At the hotel’s Miracle pop-up bar (till 23 December), decorations of the OTT Seventies kind are hung with gusto, and equally fun festive cocktails are served in kitsch-y glassware. Or enjoy edible presents and baubles at L’oscar’s afternoon tea (till 30 December).
CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN THE CITY OF LONDON
Sky-high DJs, atmospheric walks and an Eastern twist on turkey
The rooftop at Vintry & Mercer
When it comes to Christmas carol services in London, the acoustics of Sir Christopher Wren’s iconic St Paul’s Cathedral dome are the most rousing. Events run throughout December: most are free to attend, but you’ll need to enter a ballot for tickets to A Celebration of Christmas on the 9th and the family service on the 20th.
Get a similar lifted-to–the-heavens feel at Searcys at the Gherkin and the Sky Garden, where cross-capital views are enhanced with decadent feasting and Moët & Chandon flutes with musical accompaniment. The Barbican Centre brings the joy with kids’ theatre and film, ballet, classical oratorios, a recital of Handel’s Messiah, carol singalongs and more. Come evening, raise the ghosts of London’s Christmas past on a guided walk through Leadenhall Market (until 10 December), and tuck into Brigadiers’ tandoori turkey tikka and mince-pie kulfi.
Count down the sleeps at… Vintry & Mercer and dine alfresco in the cosiest cabin or igloo; or The Ned City of London for yet more seasonal warbling and Christmas dinner in afternoon tea form.
ICONIC CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS IN MAYFAIR
Exclusive shopping, lavish ornamentation and seasonal sippers
For some Londoners, the coming of Mayfair hotel Claridge’s Christmas tree is a clarion call to celebrating akin to the opening warbles of All I Want for Christmas. This year Daniel Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Burberry has used hues from the Scottish Highlands in his design, and has playfully scattered chess pieces across the lobby’s checkerboard floor. There’s friendly one-upmanship from the area’s esteemed establishments: Annabel’s façade is always fabulously festooned — this year they’re honouring a children’s classic, dressed as a wardrobe opening into Narnia (fitting as they’re supporting the work of the The Caring Family Foundation). And Sketch pays homage to the après, with dinky chalets, ski-lift seats and plenty of Alpine greenery.
Dine under the to-the-max embellishments at 34 Mayfair and fill logoed hampers at Fortnum & Mason, admiring its animal-themed window displays. Up your Xmas-party game by taking Danceworks‘ ‘salsa under the mistletoe’ class; then take a quieter moment to reflect, paying your respects by the Ever After garden memorial’s ethereal glowing flowers. Feast Grecian God-style at Bacchanalia, supping from The Golden Tree of Hesperides (AKA their festive cocktail edit), or find Alpine cosiness and hunks of stollen at Fischer’s nearby. On Sundays, solve a seasonal murder mystery at eccentric bar Mr Fogg’s Residence.
Count down the sleeps at… Como Metropolitan, which surveys Hyde Park’s dazzle, close to the Serpentine lido for watching the Peter Pan Cup swimming race at 9am on Xmas morning. If you have room after the truffle-stuffed turkey and chocolate-enriched Christmas pudding, follow former chef to Stanley Kubrick, Celia Brooks on a tour to gorge on nuggets of London’s culinary past.
CHRISTMAS THEATRE IN SOHO
Cabaret, panto and festive flicks
The Fire Garden at Ham Yard Hotel
Soho loves a spectacle, whether the Carnaby Street illuminations (this year featuring the next evolution of their sustainable, All is Bright installations) or kids’ illustrations drawn in lights dotted across the ‘hood; or the All I want for Christmas is Cabaret! variety show at the Phoenix Arts Club (until 30 December) and West End showmanship at Crazy Coqs (from 14 December). All theatres deck their halls with punters: enjoy comedian Adam Riches’ Sean Bean-themed Xmas buffoonery at Soho Theatre (15 and 16 December), expect risqué puns from Julian Clary et al at the Palladium’s Sleeping Beauty pantomime (until 11 January 2026), and watch Charles Dickens’ classic go awry at The Apollo’s Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (until 25 January 2026).
On 13 December, audio-visual duo, Mermaid Chunky, are hosting a Yule Tide (sic) party at The Social — the dress code: bauble. The Prince Charles Cinema brings back its crowd-pleasing favourite, the singalong A Muppets Christmas Carol (yes, with the lost When Love is Gone song) and cinephile favourites (hey, In the Mood for Love is someone’s idea of a Christmas must-watch). Hamleys’ grotto might be sold out, but little ones can still get excited for festive fashion shows, holly-jolly parades, elves juggling mince pies and more, before dropping off their wishlists to the big guy at the North Pole. And Liberty steps into the fur-trimmed suit for adults, with their programme of bespoke gifting options: calligraphers, embroiderers and engravers are on hand throughout the season to add personal touches to luxury gifts.
Count down the sleeps at… Ham Yard Hotel, who — with Sapling Spirits — are quite literally spreading warmth with the Fire Garden pop up. On the guests-only rooftop, there’ll be s’mores, smokey cocktails (such as a Vesper with gin, chimichurri vodka and vermouth) and flame-cooked eats (scallops with chicken butter; baked Saint-Marcellin cheese with cider apples). Or rock’n’roll Chateau Denmark dials up the decadence to 11, with the option to add a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and St John’s iconic mince pies to your room.
CHRISTMAS PARTIES IN SHOREDITCH
Carousing Caribbean style, (jingle) ballsy cabaret and romantic rooftop drinks
East London doesn’t just hang a stocking and go to bed — expect late nights and the less traditional. The Truman Brewery’s Humbug pop-up dive bar (until 31 December) has cabaret, dancing with gusto and games. Brick Lane Music Hall puts on a seasonal song and dance every lunchtime till the 18th, and at Noir Kringle (17–22 December), Christmas has an Afro-Caribbean flavour: wash rum cake down with nog-style ponche de crème, attend elf school and take cookery classes with Mrs Kringle.
House of Hackney sells legend-themed ornaments to keep good company on your tree, with the likes of Yayoi Kusama and Diana Ross in felt. Bingo gets a ‘Crimbo’ makeover at Boxpark (5 December); at Old Street Records, mulled wine flows and classic carols get the Riverside Brass Quintet’s smooth treatment (10 December); and Sinners‘ cabaret Feast of the Fallen welcomes those less angelic at this time of year. Make sure your outfit ‘sleighs’ at Juju’s Silly Bitchmas disco for the ‘gals, gays and theys’ (and whoever can stomach an All I Want for Christmas sing-off); or enjoy an uncannily good Polar Espresso Martini in a fairylit yurt atop the Queen of Hoxton.
Count down the sleeps at… Redchurch Townhouse, where Italian restaurant Cecconi’s serves Christmas in Continental style.
Find more Christmas miracles on a Continental getaway and discover the most magical festive markets
Header image courtesy of The Standard, London