8 quirky Christmas experiences in London

London is transformed at Christmas into a winter wonderland, with twinkling lights and extravagant storefronts around every corner🎄

With so much to offer, this vibrant city is a fantastic place to experience new and quirky ways to spend the festive season. Check out our top nine picks for unique activities in London that promise to reignite the magic of Christmas.

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1. Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour

Scones, an iconic double-decker bus, and a very good view. B Bakery runs a whole fleet of festive bus tours around the capital, so there’s one for every kind of Christmas person. Fancy a classic? The Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea tour will have you tucking into sandwiches, cakes, and cream teas while London’s lights twinkle past the window.

Prefer a bit of mischief? Try the Grinchmas Afternoon Tea. Or hop on the open-top Sparkling Christmas Lights tour, which comes with a live entertainer and a glass of bubbly! Little ones are covered too, with Peppa Pig, PAW Patrol, and Paddington Christmas Lights buses. Each tour runs on its own dates and times, so check B Bakery’s website to find the one for you.

Prices and tour times

2. Home Alone in Concert

• 
  5th December 2026 – 12th December 2026
• 
  Royal Albert Hall

Keep the change, ya filthy animal! On select dates in December, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus play John Williams’ score live while Kevin McCallister causes chaos on the big screen. It’s the Royal Albert Hall, so you’ll be watching a Christmas classic under that famous domed ceiling! There’s a matinee and an evening show at 7:30pm. This one’s expected to sell out, so get your tickets quickly to avoid missing out!

3. The Great Christmas Feast

• 
  6th November 2026 – 31st December 2026
• 
  The Lost Estate 7-9 Beaumont Avenue, London

Ever fancied pulling up a chair at Charles Dickens’ dinner table? At The Lost Estate, you’ll step into the Victorian household on the very night A Christmas Carol was dreamed up, complete with live music, theatrical performances and a three-course feast!

It’s immersive in the truest sense, so don’t be surprised if you end up part of the story. It’s been running for eight sold-out years now, and is on from 6th November to 31st December 2026. Tickets start from £155, so grab ‘em before they’re gone!

4. The Nightmare Before Christmas at Taste Film

• 
  12th November 2026
• 
  Parlour 5 Regent Street, London, NW10 5LG

Is it a Halloween film or a Christmas one? Whichever side you’re on, you can now eat your way through it. Taste Film serves a six-course menu timed to the scenes on screen, with poisonous potions, festive feasts, and spooky treats along the way. It’s rated PG, tickets are £99.95 each and you can get them here. Fancy a different film? Taste Film’s festive line-up also includes Home Alone, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Love Actually.

5. Christmas by Candlelight

• 
  21st November 2026 – 26th December 2026
• 
  235 Shaftesbury Avenue

Looking for something a bit more laidback? Head to Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church at 235 Shaftesbury Avenue for an hour of live music by the glow of hundreds of candles. Depending on the night, you might hear Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, carols, or readings from A Christmas Carol. Concerts run from 21st November to 26th December, with tickets from £20 to £55. Seating is unreserved apart from the VIP front rows, so get there early to bag a good spot!

7. Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio

• 
  14th November 2026 – 17th January 2027
• 
  Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

This one’s just north of the capital in Leavesden, but it’s worth the journey and will give you a whole day’s worth of magic and entertainment. From 14th November to 17th January, the Studio Tour gets a festive makeover as Hogwarts is dusted in snow, with the Great Hall dressed for Christmas and the snow-covered castle model looking spectacular.

It’s an easy train ride from Euston to Watford Junction, followed by a shuttle bus, so we recommend staying at our London Central Euston Hotel for handiness. Tickets tend to sell out well in advance, so book early to guarantee a magical Christmas!

Warner Bros. Studio Tour prices and opening times

Opening times can vary throughout the year, so be sure to check the main website before booking. Standard Studio Tour ticket prices increase for 2027 bookings.

8. Horse and carriage ride through Richmond Park

• 
  5th December 2026 – 1st January 2027
• 
  Richmond Park

Experience London like never before with a Christmas horse and carriage ride through London’s iconic Richmond Park. Gaze out onto the frosted scenery as you tuck into a mince pie and a glass of sloe gin.

This experience is sure to get you in the festive spirit as you enjoy the sounds of bells and hoofs, with crisp winter air blowing against your face. Don’t worry though, there will be plenty of snuggly blankets provided to keep you warm and toasty during this one-of-a-kind journey.

8. Biscuiteers

• 
  8th November 2026 – 13th December 2026
• 
  194 Kensington Park Rd, London W11 2ES

Calling all budding bakers! Biscuiteers’ School of Icing is the perfect place to indulge in a bit of festive creativity. There’s a whole range of Christmas classes to choose from, with themes like Christmas Market, The Nutcracker, and Merry & Bright, so you can pick your favourite.

Want to make an evening of it? Icing Lates are for over-18s, and there’s a Kids Christmas Icing Class for ages 5 and up too. Whichever you choose, you’ll leave with your own beautifully decorated creations to take home with you (if they last the journey!). Check the Biscuiteers website for upcoming dates and booking.