Don’t hibernate indoors just because the weather is cold. There’s plenty of things to do in London that will keep you warm and leave you feeling festive this Christmas, Cassie Smith rounds-up 17 of the best
1Slava’s Snow Show, Southbank Centre
In celebration of its 20th anniversary since debuting in the UK, the Slava Snow Show will tour through the UK this Christmas, ending in London from 17 December to 5 January. The Southbank Centre will welcome the theatrical clown performance for a fourth consecutive Christmas. The Olivier Award winning show has drawn in crowds of all ages since its debut in 1994 at the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets are available online now, ranging from £20 to £65. slavasnowshow.co.uk
Meow Meow’s latest show comes to the Southbank Centre
2Meow Meow’s Apocolypse Meow: Crisis is Born, Southbank Centre
International singing sensation and cabaret star Meow Meow will perform one of her provocative shows at the Southbank Centre’s Winter Festival this year. The festival, running throughout December, is for people of all ages, offering Christmas shopping, shows and more. Meow Meow’s Christmas cabaret show, Apocalypse Meow: Crisis is Born, is highly anticipated after her hit Feline Intimate raised the roof at the London Wonderground this summer. Meow Meow’s hypnotic shows have delighted audiences around the world, don’t miss her London performace. Tickets for Meow Meow’s eccentric show are available from Tuesday 16 to Saturday 29 December and are on sale now for £19. southbankcentre.co.uk
Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton will be brought to life at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 12 December
3Danny Elfman’s music from the films of Tim Burton, Royal Albert Hall
Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton will be brought to life at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 12 December for two back-to-back concerts. Burton’s original sketches will animate the music, which will be performed by the London Concert Orchestra and the Maida Vale Singers. Recognisable classics from films like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and more will show the relationship between music and storytelling. Having sold out during its World Premiere performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013, get your tickets quickly. royalalberthall.com
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4Meet Santa Claus and his Elves, Eddie Catz Wimbledon
Wimbledon’s play centre, Eddie Catz, has been transformed into a winter wonderland for Santa’s Christmas Grotto from Monday 8 December to Tuesday 23 December. Not only do children meet Santa Claus, but they also have the chance to write a letter to Lapland with the help of F.C’s elves, make a bag of reindeer food for Rudolph, and more. Pictures with Santa are included with tickets. Tickets cost from £15 per child, plus two accompanying adults. santasgrotto.london
London Syon Park will become a spectacular display of lights and colour this festive season
5Winter Wonderland, London Syon Park
The ‘town meets country’ styled retreat at London Syon Park will become a spectacular display of lights and colour this festive season. After talking a stroll through the enchanted woodland with the family, settle down at the Hilton London Syon Park’s bar for one of its festive cocktails to warm you up. Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse Bar and Grill is also offering a festive menu of Roast Turkey with Marco’s homemade stuffing, cranberry and port gravy with festive vegetables. londonsyonpark.com
The 1927 Company’s production Golem is one of this season’s most anticipated show
6 Golem, Young Vic
The 1927 Company’s Golem is London’s most anticipated show after the production company’s last show The Animals and Children Took to the Streets sold out for three Christmas seasons. Performed at the Young Vic, Golem combines stunning animation with live music and performances and the show questions who really runs the world, man or machine? Golem premieres on 9 December, Monday to Saturday at 7:30pm. Matinee performances are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm. Tickets are priced from £10 to £35. youngvic.org
7WWT London Wetland Centre’s, Barnes
For two days, the scenic wetlands will transform into a Christmas wonderland. You’ll find Father Christmas and his family of reindeer (including a 6-month old baby reindeer) at The North Pine forest, there will be sleigh rides available with loveable huskies and you can have your photograph taken with them. On Sunday there will be horse drawn rides through the grounds of the Wetland Centre, plus, if you want to hear icy tales of adventure, join Polar Explorer, Anthony Arctic as he tells his Frantic Antarctic Antics. Proceeds made from the weekend will be contributed towards the WWT’s conservation work in the UK. The event takes place Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December from 10am to 4pm. wwt.org.uk
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Kew Garden’s light trail will delight this Christmas
8Christmas lights, The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew
After 5pm every day, Kew Gardens will be illuminated in multicoloured lights, including a one mile long trail of lights. Guests will be guided by snowflakes through brightly lit foliage. On their journey they will see light sculptures, roasting chestnuts, marshmallows and festive music. The excitement isn’t only at night though. During the day, visitors can explore the grounds of Kew Gardens and see Santa at his Snowflake Grotto. Christmas at Kew Gardens ends 3 January. kew.org
9Phillip Pullman’s Grimm Tales, The Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf
The five floors of the Bargehouse will transform into the stage of the immersive theatrical show Grimm Tales for Young and Old. The audience will be led through various fairy tales, featuring classics like Hansel & Gretel acted out by wandering players. It’s the perfect alternative Christmas entertainment for adults and kids who don’t scare easily. The immersive play runs until 15 February. Adult tickets are on sale for £45. grimm-tales.co.uk
Meet Father Christmas and his reindeer at ArcelorMittal Orbit
10Christmas markets, ArcelorMittal Orbit
Every weekend leading up to Christmas and every day from 20 December to Christmas Eve, visitors can visit Santa and his reindeer at ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic Park. On Fridays in December guests can also enjoy a late-night cocktail at the bar. Entry is included with the purchase of a ticket to the ArcelorMittal Orbit. Guests will also receive a free glass of Prosecco after 4pm. Tickets are available at £15 for adults, £7 for children and £40 for a family. arcelormittalorbit.com
Emily Plumtree & Susannah Fielding in the original RSC production of The Merchant of Venice at Stratford-upon-Avon. Photo credit Alastair Muir
11 The Merchant of Venice, Almeida Theatre
Almeida Theatre Artistic Director Rupert Goold brings his electrifying production The Merchant of Venice, originally produced by the RSC, to Islington. Goold explosively relocates one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays to the bright lights of Las Vegas in a whirlwind of glitter, gambling and greenbacks. The Merchant of Venice is running from 5 December-14 February, 2015. almeida.co.uk
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Celebrated grand dame of pantomime, Clive Rowe, will make his much-anticipated return to the Hackney Empire this Christmas in Mother Goose
12 Mother Goose, Hackney Empire
Celebrated grand dame of pantomime, Clive Rowe, will make his much-anticipated return to the Hackney Empire this Christmas in Mother Goose, with Olivier Award-winning actress Sharon D Clarke playing the good enchantress Charity opposite Rowe. Set in the merry kingdom of Hackneytopia E8, the panto features a battle between two Enchantress Sisters, Charity and Vanity, for the soul of our heroine, Mother Goose. Will she be saved by Princess Pricilla, a goose who lays golden eggs? Mother Goose is on at Hackney Empire until 4 January 2015. hackneyempire.co.uk
Will Kemp (Ratty), Cris Penfold (Toad) and Clemmie Sveaas (Mole) in The Wind in the Willows. Photo by Johan Persson
13 Wind in the Willows, Vaudeville Theatre
Director and choreographer Will Tuckett’s critically acclaimed ballet of The Wind in the Willows returns to the West End at the Vaudeville after the success the Royal Opera House’s production last year. Children and adults will love the imaginative set design that transports the audience into the world of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger on the riverbank. The Wind in the Willows is on at the Vaudeville Theatre until 17 January 2015. roh.org.uk
Matthew Bourne’s dance production of Edward Scissorhands comes to Sadlers Wells this Christmas. Photo credit Hugo Glendinning
14Edward Scissorhands, Sadlers Wells
Matthew Bourne’s dance production of Edward Scissorhands has carved a place in the hearts of thousands across the world since its premiere. Presenting its first major revival, Bourne brings a fresh new look for this modern fairytale to Sadler’s Wells from
2 December-11 January 2015. sadlerswells.com
15La Soirée, Southbank Centre
This Christmas La Soirée heads to the Southbank Centre as part of their Winter Festival. La Soirée’s bizarre cocktail of cabaret, new burlesque, circus sideshow and contemporary variety is bigger than ever this year as they introduce some of the newest members to their ever-expanding and truly international family until 11 January 2015. For tickets, call 0844 847 9910 or visit southbankcentre.co.uk
Join the Royal Parks Foundation for a stroll through Kensington Gardens
16Christmas walk, Kensington Gardens
Join the Royal Parks Foundation for a stroll through Kensington Gardens on 12 December and be taken back in time to learn about the seasonal folklore, traditions and feasts that have developed over the centuries. On this walk you will find out what Christmas traditions Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert introduced to Britain, why robins appear on Christmas cards, and how holly was protected by Kings. Tickets cost £5. supporttheroyalparks.org
17Christmas concert, Brompton Cemetery
The Fieri Consort, made up of skilled, young ensemble singers from London, will put on a special Christmas concert at Brompton Cemetery Chapel on 14 December at 2.30pm. Fieri will be performing much loved carols such as Silent Night, O Christmas Tree, and The Holly and the Ivy. Profits from the concert will go towards supporting a lottery funding application by The Royal Parks to carry out a programme of improvements, including the restoration of the chapel. Cost £15 for adults and £5 for children. fiericonsort.co.uk