Our concierge team have selected the city’s best family friendly activities to enjoy this festive season.
Father Christmas at Hamleys
Hamleys, Regent’s Street – 12th November – 24th December
Santa Claus has been busy packing his sleigh and polishing Rudolf’s nose in preparation for his special visit to the magical grotto. Enchanted elves are ready to welcome you to the Christmas festivities and they’re giving you and your family the opportunity to meet Santa. To make your time with Jolly St Nick even more special, he has a treat waiting for you to take home, so you’ll remember your visit with him forever. Don’t forget to tell us your family’s names and favourite things to do so our toy-testing elves can let Santa know before you arrive!
Price – One ticket costs £50 and allows access for up to 3 people. If more guests want to join, it’ll be £15 per each additional person up to a total of 6 people (applicable for all ages).
Santa’s Grotto & The Magic Tree
John Lewis, Oxford Street – 3rd December – 3rd January
John Lewis has partnered with Lego to make sure the whole family can experience the magic of Christmas this year. Come and plant a magic bean that turns into your very own mini Christmas tree you can decorate. You can also take home a wonderful Lego or Lego Duplo gift and buy a photo with Santa.
Price – £20 per child + accompanying adults (includes a Lego or Lego Duplo gift)
Santa’s Sleepover
Legoland Windsor – 3rd December – 3rd January
Have a sleepover at Legoland with a special twist this Christmas. Enjoy festive fun including an elves’ magic show and a Father Christmas meet and greet in his grotto.
This festive season you can enjoy awesome rides and attractions, live entertainment, yuletide activities and character meet & greets. Keep your eyes peeled, you may even spot Santa out and about on his magical sleigh!
Price – from £32.00 per person
Storytime with Father Christmas
Winter Wonderland – Hyde Park, 2nd December – 20th December
Father Christmas returns to his ‘top-secret London headquarters’ at the Royal Albert Hall for Christmas 2022. Kids are invited to wander around a North Pole street, meeting various festive characters. The man himself will appear too, reading children’s book Tiny Reindeer by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros, before giving each child a small gift to take home.
Price – £21.50 per child (adults free, max. two per child)
Breakfast with Santa
Jungle Cave Café – 19th November – 18th December
The Jungle Cave Café hosts breakfast with Santa at weekends throughout November and December. The Amazonian jungle theme remains, offering a tropical backdrop for the 90-minute experience. Tuck into a full English, a veggie breakfast, or pancakes, as Santa and the Jungle Cave mascot circulate among the tables, posing for photos and handing out goody bags to younger diners.
Price – £17.00 per person
Santa at Selfridges
Selfridges – 25th November – 24th December
Get into the festive spirit and bring your little ones to meet Santa (and his trusty elf sidekick) as he roams throughout the store.
Price – Free
The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert
Royal Albert Hall – various dates, please consult Concierge
Family favourite The Muppet Christmas Carol will be screened with a live orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. The show will take you on a magical journey through the classic Charles Dickens story performed by the Muppets. In this heart-warming Disney movie, Kermit the Frog plays Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit among others.
Jack and the Beanstalk
London Paladium – Saturday 10th December 2022 – Sunday 15th January 2023
A giant panto at an iconic venue! Dawn French and Julian Clary headline the Palladium’s panto this year for a spectacular you won’t want to miss. It’s everyone’s favourite Christmas tradition, and London’s biggest panto is the best way to celebrate. Book your tickets now for Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium.
ELF the Musical
Dominion Theatre – Monday 14th November 2022 – Saturday 7th January 2023
Christmas is a time for family– or maybe for finding who your real family is. Based on the hit Will Ferrell movie, this heart-warming musical reminds us of what really matters. Running for a strictly limited holiday engagement, the story of Buddy the Elf boasts a score of delightful new songs. Enjoy a holiday treat for the whole family — book Elf at the Dominion Theatre today.
Miracle on Mount Crumpit
The Ivy Chelsea Garden – Until 6th January
Alongside its modern British menu, splendid interiors, a garden terrace and an orangery, The Ivy Chelsea Garden is known for its bold and beautiful installations throughout the seasons. The restaurant’s winter installation is back, and the theme this year is Miracle on Mount Crumpit, inspired by the Christmas classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The restaurant’s impressive façade is covered with sparkling baubles, a Christmas tree, Whoville-style houses, and of course, the Grinch climbing down Mount Crumpit.
