🦊 Brace Yourself, December

Morning, London! Happy Thursday! December. We made it. The days are getting shorter, and somehow the kids’ new leggings already look ankle-length. Either the kids are growing or the leggings are plotting against us.

London is deep in Christmas mode now. The good news is most festive shows run for weeks, so there’s still time to sort plans, dodge crowds and brace for the school holidays.

A big welcome to the hundreds of new subscribers who joined in November. No pressure, but every new signup raises the bar on me trying to be useful. Appreciate you being here. Also, if you’re feeling brave, there are still tickets for London’s famous New Year fireworks by the river. Bring layers and optimism.

Let’s dive in.

. LONDON SNIPPETS .
Bits that caught our eye

🌳 Central London Set for £55 Million Green Glow Up. Big changes are coming to the capital’s centre, with new parks, trees and cycle lanes on the way. The aim is to give Londoners more fresh air, less traffic stress and maybe even a reason to enjoy walking through Holborn. Full story

🌕 A Giant Shiny Moon Lands in London. A two metre wide mirrored model of the Moon is going on display in London, complete with NASA-accurate craters, valleys and lava fields.. The closest you will get to space without needing a billionaire. Full story

🎬 UK’s Favourite Christmas Film? Keep the Change. A new poll has crowned Home Alone as the nation’s favourite festive film, according to the British Board of Film Classification. It beat out all the usual suspects, proving once again that nothing says Christmas like forgotten children and booby traps. Full story

. BRAIN BITES.
Wow your kid, and outsmart the other parents

Fun Fact: Some frogs survive winter by freezing solid. ❄️🐸 No heartbeat, no breathing, fully frozen. Then they thaw out in spring and hop off like nothing happened. Nature’s unofficial test run for cryogenics.

London Fact: There’s a lost river flowing under Brixton, and it’s still moving. 🌊🚇 The River Effra once carried boats through South London. Today it runs underground in old culverts and pipes, quietly flooding the occasional basement. You’ve probably walked over it a hundred times without realising.

. EVENTS SCOOP .
What’s on this week?

📮 Last call! Letters to Santa @ Royal Mail
Date & Loc: Until Dec 10, UK-wide
Letters need to be in by the 10th. A festive tradition where children can write to Santa and get a personalised reply. Just include their full name and address so the elves know where to send it.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎄 Trafalgar Tree Lights Switch-On @ Trafalgar Square
Date & Loc: Dec 4 (Thu), Trafalgar Square WC2N
The annual lighting of London’s iconic Norwegian Christmas tree, with choirs, live music, readings and plenty of festive atmosphere as the lights switch on at 6pm.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎅 Storytelling with Santa @ Natural History Museum
Date & Loc: Dec 4–21, South Ken SW7
A cosy festive storytime with Santa inside the museum, plus a photo op and a little T. rex-themed treat to take home.
Age: Everyone | Price: £18 | Info

⛸️ Sleeping Beauty on Ice @ Alexandra Palace
Date & Loc: Dec 4–8, Alexandra Palace N22
A sparkling, family-friendly retelling of the classic fairy tale performed on ice, featuring glittering costumes, graceful choreography and talented local skaters.
Age: 3+ | Price: from £11 | Info

🌌 Univers @ The Pit, Barbican
Date & Loc: Dec 4–13, Barbican EC2Y
A gentle sensory show with live music and movement, giving babies and toddlers space to explore a magical, ever-changing universe.
Age: 0–2yrs | Price: from £11 | Info

🎇 Christmas Light Trail @ Headstone Manor & Museum
Date & Loc: Dec 4–30, Harrow HA2
Headstone Manor’s historic grounds glow with twinkling light installations, festive displays, food trucks and winter warmers; a brand-new Christmas light trail for the area.
Age: Everyone | Price: £12 | Info

🎄 Festive Fayre @ Hampton Court Palace
Date & Loc: Dec 5–7 & 12–14, Hampton Court KT8
A huge Christmas market in Henry VIII’s palace gardens with 100+ artisan stalls, food, gifts and winter activities. Palace entry includes access to the maze and more.
Age: Everyone | Price: free w/ adm | Info

🐷 Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show @ Theatre Royal Haymarket
Date & Loc: Dec 5–Jan 4, Haymarket SW1Y
Peppa Pig’s brand new festive theatre show, packed with songs, fun and muddy-puddle joy for little ones and their grown-ups.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £10 | Info

🎅 Victorian Santa’s Grotto @ London Museum Docklands
Date & Loc: Dec 5–23, Canary Wharf E14
Meet Santa in a Dickensian-style grotto set inside the museum’s Sailortown gallery, complete with festive decorations and a Victorian-inspired gift to take home.
Age: Families | Price: from £14.50 | Info

🎄 Christmas Carols @ Coin Street
Date & Loc: Dec 6 (Sat), South Bank SE1
Join a joyful evening of carol singing on the South Bank with live music, mince pies and festive lights by the river.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎸 Saturday Guitar Day @ Handel & Hendrix House
Date & Loc: Dec 6 (Sat), Mayfair W1
For those with teenage guitarists (or budding rockstars of any age). How cool is this? A Christmas guitar talk diving into Hendrix, blues, chords and lead playing, followed by a jam session right in the studio on Brook Street.
Age: 10+ | Price: £20 | Info

🎅 Storytelling with Mrs Claus @ Charlton House
Date & Loc: Dec 6 (Sat), Charlton SE7
A festive visit with Mrs Claus and her elves, featuring cosy storytelling, crafts, biscuit icing and a Christmas tree decoration to take home.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £6 | Info

🎼 Carols for All @ St James’s Church
Date & Loc: Dec 6 (Sat), Piccadilly W1
A warm, family-friendly carol concert featuring Rutter’s Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, festive favourites and sing-along classics.
Age: Everyone | Price: £10 | Info

🏺 Festive Weekend @ Chiltern Open Air Museum
Date & Loc: Dec 6–7, Chalfont St Giles HP8
Step into a Dickensian Christmas with Victorian re-enactors, hot chestnuts, swing boats, Father Christmas, choir performances, heavy horses offering festive carriage rides, historic buildings decorated for the season and artisan craft stalls.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎎 Japanese Christmas Market @ The Factory
Date & Loc: Dec 6–7, Dalston E8
A vibrant Japan-themed festive market with food stalls, kimono, mochi, music, workshops, dance and more.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🎭 Showstopper! @ Soho Theatre
Date & Loc: Dec 6–14, Walthamstow E17
A fast, funny improvised musical where kids decide the characters, setting and chaos. Think Peppa Pig, Spiderman or PAW Patrol dropped into totally random Christmas adventures.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £12 | Info

🎼 My Christmas Orchestral Adventure @ Royal Albert Hall
Date & Loc: Dec 7 (Sun), South Ken SW7
A lively orchestral quest where kids help track down Santa’s missing map, with the BBC Concert Orchestra bringing the story to life.
Age: All ages | Price: £25 | Info

🎄 Christmas Elf Cadet Training @ RAF Museum
Date & Loc: Dec 6–14, Colindale NW9
Kids become RAF Elf Cadets as they learn to load Santa’s sleigh, pick the right aircraft for the mission and help map out Santa’s route.
Age: 4+ | Price: £6.50 | Info

🎄 Festive Family Fun Days @ London Wetland Centre
Date & Loc: Dec 6–21 (weekends), Barnes SW13
Seasonal activities including marshmallow toasting, gingerbread decorating, storytelling and festive crafts, plus choir and bubble shows on select dates.
Age: All ages | Price: from £10 | Info

❄️ The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure @ The Albany
Date & Loc: Dec 6–24, Deptford SE8
A musical woodland quest for ages 3–8 with songs, puppetry and gentle winter magic as Gerda sets out to save her best friend.
Age: 3–8 | Price: £14 | Info

👠 Cinderella @ The Radlett Centre
Date & Loc: Dec 6–Jan 3, Radlett WD7
A glittering family pantomime packed with music, costumes and plenty of audience participation from Upstage Productions.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £20.50 | Info

🎬 First Films Fundraiser: The Gruffalo’s Child & Olaf’s Frozen Adventure @ ArtHouse
Date & Loc: Dec 7 (Sun), Crouch End N8
A relaxed screening perfect for little ones who like to move, make noise and enjoy films freely.
Age: All ages | Price: £6pp donation | Info

🦌 The Night Before Christmas @ artsdepot
Date & Loc: Dec 8–31, North Finchley N12
A warm, festive adventure for young children, filled with storytelling, magic and Christmas Eve excitement in this family favourite show.
Age: 3–7yrs | Price: £13.75 | Info

🎨 The Merry Makers Series @ Fulham Pier
Date & Loc: Dec 10 (Wed), Fulham SW6
A festive drop-in crafting afternoon at Riverside Market, featuring Scruffs Christmas Adventure Puppet Making as part of Fulham Pier’s Merry Makers Series.
Age: Everyone | Price: £5 | Info

📖 Family Storytelling: The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland @ British Library
Date & Loc: Dec 11 (Thu), King’s Cross NW1
A festive storytelling adventure with music, movement and Wonderland-themed crafts, inspired by the new picture book The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland.
Age: 2–5yrs | Price: no cost (book. req) | Info

🎶 Sing with Santa’s Elves @ Pickled Pepper Books
Date & Loc: Dec 12 (Fri), Crouch End N8
Festive sing-along with carols, fun activities and a chance to write a letter to Santa.
Age: All ages | Price: £6pp donation | Info

🎨 Family Takeover: Shaping Patterns @ Camden Art Centre
Date & Loc: Dec 13 (Sat), Finchley Road NW3
A free day of art-making inspired by the Acts of Creation exhibition. Families can experiment with colour, texture and pattern in drop-in workshops led by artists.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🧩 The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland @ British Library
Date & Loc: Dec 13 (Sat), King’s Cross NW1
A relaxed, SEND-friendly Wonderland storytelling session with the book’s author and illustrator, plus a sensory room and a special screening of the animated film adaptation.
Age: 5+ | Price: no cost (book. req) | Info

🎶 Echoes of Peace @ St Columba’s Church
Date & Loc: Dec 13 (Sat), Kensington SW1X
A meaningful night of global music marking 30 years of Firefly International’s work supporting children affected by war, featuring One World Orchestra, Syrian violinist Bassel Hariri and a special short film. Children attend for free.
Age: Everyone | Price: £15 (kids free!) | Info

🎨 Kids’ Craft Club: Christmas Edition @ Tower Bridge Collective
Date & Loc: Dec 14 (Sun), Tower Bridge SE1
A festive “craft buffet” where kids design their own colourful food creations using glitter, pompoms and crafty bits.
Age: Everyone | Price: Free | Info

🎄 The Big Christmas Market @ The Tate Institute
Date & Loc: Dec 14 (Sun), Canning Town E16
A bustling community Christmas market with handmade gifts, festive stalls and family-friendly activities, hosted by The Community Shop Newham.
Age: Everyone | Price: no cost | Info

🧚 The Magic Flute @ The Place
Date & Loc: Dec 17–24, Euston WC1H
A joyful dance-theatre spin on Mozart’s classic, packed with music, magic and festive fun. Join Papageno and Prince Tamino on a playful adventure to rescue Princess Pamina. Top choice this Christmas!
Age: 5+ | Price: from £12 | Info

🎨 Mini Morris: Recycled Christmas Tree Craft @ William Morris Gallery
Date & Loc: Dec 18 (Thu), Walthamstow E17
A festive, toddler-friendly drop-in session where little ones craft colourful Christmas trees using fabric scraps and recycled materials.
Age: 2–5yrs | Price: no cost | Info

🎭 Ballet Shoes @ National Theatre
Date & Loc: until Feb, South Bank SE1
A playful stage adaptation of Noel Streatfeild’s classic story, following three adopted sisters as they chase their passions with heart and determination.
Age: 7+ | Price: varies | Info

🎅 How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? @ Unicorn Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jan 3, London Bridge SE1
A playful Christmas caper mixing physical comedy, music and festive mayhem, based on Jon Klassen’s adored picture book.
Age: 2+ | Price: from £12 | Info

🎄 The Twelfth Night of Christmas @ Chiswick House
Date & Loc: until Jan 4, Chiswick W4
Step inside Chiswick House for a self-guided festive journey through opulent Georgian-inspired rooms, dramatic installations and magical Christmas tableaus.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £14 | Info

⛄ The Snowman @ Peacock Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jan 4, Holborn WC2A
The beloved Christmas tale returns with enchanting music, festive magic and a soaring Walk-in-the-Air moment for the whole family.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £18 | Info

🎄 Christmas Films in an Enchanted Forest @ Backyard Cinema
Date & Loc: until Dec 31, London Bridge SE1
Step into a twinkling woodland cinema and enjoy festive film favourites under the stars. Hot chocolate, cosy blankets and Christmas magic guaranteed.
Age: 7+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🍬 Christmas Candy Grotto @ Woolwich Works
Date & Loc: until Dec 22, Woolwich SE18
The colourful Christmas Candy Grotto, with Santa, festive surprises and a playful sugar-themed setup for families.
Age: Everyone | Price: £6 | Info

🧛‍♂️ Dracapella @ Park Theatre
Date & Loc: until Jan 17, Finsbury Park N4
A fang-filled musical comedy packed with a-capella bangers, beatboxing and over-the-top vampire chaos. Think Eye of the Tiger… but undead.
Age: 10+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🎩 A Christmas Carol @ The Old Vic
Date & Loc: until Jan 10, Waterloo SE1
Jack Thorne’s acclaimed, atmospheric retelling returns with music, lanterns and a spine-tingling dose of festive magic.
Age: 8+ | Price: from £15 | Info

🪵 Pinocchio: Family Workshop @ Shakespeare’s Globe
Date & Loc: until Dec 20, Bankside SE1
Step into the world of Pinocchio through games, storytelling and playful theatre activities designed for young imaginations and their grown ups.
Age: 5–8yo + grown ups | Price: £12 | Info

⛸️ Disney On Ice @ The O2
Date & Loc: Dec 26–Jan 4, North Greenwich SE10
Join Moana, Elsa, Ariel and more as Disney’s most beloved heroes glide onto the ice in a dazzling live show full of music, adventure and skating magic.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £30 | Info

🚂 The Polar Express @ Discover Children’s Story Centre
Date & Loc: until Jan 4, Stratford E15
Step aboard a festive adventure inspired by the beloved tale. Enjoy storytelling, creative play and a magical journey to the North Pole.
Age: 1–6yo | Price: from £5 | Info

🎄 Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas @ Lyric Hammersmith
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Hammersmith W6
A gentle, magical stage adaptation bringing Briggs’ festive classic to life for little ones.
Age: Under 6s | Price: £14 | Info

⛸️ Ice Rink @ Hampton Court Palace
Date & Loc: Ongoing, Molesey KT8
A picturesque open-air rink set against the palace’s historic backdrop, with festive lights and a smooth new ice surface for all ages.
Age: Everyone | Price: from £13.50 | Info

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