Stuck for plans during that glorious limbo between Christmas and New Year? London’s got you covered. Here are the best things to do this Twixmas, from festive film nights and curling lanes to Victorian markets, fire-lit terraces and decadent afternoon teas.
The post-Christmas slump is real. Luckily, the city comes alive in that deliciously unhurried stretch between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.
Think cosy cocktails, glowing markets, winter sports without the frostbite and enough sparkle to pull you out of hibernation
Whether you’re hanging out with friends, entertaining the family or treating yourself to something indulgent, here’s what to book.
Read more: These are the best Christmas themed bars in London for 2025
Best Twixmas activities to do with friends
Festive screenings at W London
Fancy swapping the sofa for something a little sleeker? This Twixmas, W London rolls out the luxe for a special screening of festive favourite Die Hard. Expect freshly popped popcorn and alpine-inspired cocktails like the Velvet Glide (Hennessy, Grand Marnier, cocoa powder and cream) or the Lumière Royale (Veuve Clicquot, Belvedere and mulled spice syrup).
It’s all part of W London’s wider seasonal takeover, which includes Après Skate at The Perception Bar — a Veuve Clicquot–partnered winter hangout complete with spiced cocktails, faux-fur loungers and discounted entry to Leicester Square’s skating rink.
- When: Saturday, 27 December at 5pm
- Where: W London, 10 Wardour St, W1D 6QF
For more information or to book, visit Eventbrite.
Read more: Where to watch fireworks in London for free this New Year’s Eve 2026
The Curling Club
Good news: The Curling Club is expanding its icy empire this winter, pitching up at three London hotspots — Canary Wharf, the Chelsea Winter Illuminations and London Bridge’s Vinegar Yard. Step inside a cosy après-ski bar, grab a winter cocktail and give curling a go.
DJs, festive food, light trails, markets and workshops make it a full day (or night) out.
- Chelsea Winter Illuminations & Winter Village: until 28 December
- Marceline, Canary Wharf: until 28 February
- Vinegar Yard, London Bridge: until 28 February
- For more information or to book, visit The Curling Club.
The Fire Garden at Ham Yard Hotel
Turn up the heat (literally) at Ham Yard’s Fire Garden — a collaboration with sustainable spirits brand Sapling. Running throughout December, this glowing terrace features a bespoke fire pit, atmospheric lighting and a flight of mini-cocktails curated exclusively for the event.
Sip hot cocktails infused with toasted marshmallows, brownie-infused vodka and lacto-fermented lemons, or try cold creations starring smoked barbecue gin, chimichurri-washed vodka and truffle-macerated gin. Pair it all with gourmet flatbreads, wood-fired skillets and indulgent small bites.
- Tickets: £28 (£24 non-alcoholic)
- When: 29 November to 31 December, 6pm to 7.30pm
- Where: The Library at County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, SE1 7PB
For more information or to book, visit The Library.
Read more: How to experience Europe’s Christmas magic in 24 hours
Best activities for families
Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations, London
Step into the festivities at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and wander through a magical 1.5km trail of glowing gardens, sculptural light installations and immersive soundscapes. Touch, play and activate as your journey around, with interactive orbs, neon trees and the scent of mulled wine guiding your way.
As part of the Chelsea Winter Village, enjoy Christmas markets, artisan workshops, curated street food, seasonal bars including an après-ski bar, live music at the bandstand, and traditional fairground rides for the perfect festive afternoon with family and friends.
- Tickets: From £5 for kids, £15 for adults
- When: Until December 28
- Where: Royal Hospital Chelsea, Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4SR
For more information or to book, visit Chelsea Winter Illuminations.
Victorian Christmas Market at St Katherine Docks
A perfect post-Christmas amble. This atmospheric Victorian-style market is set against the marina with views of Tower Bridge.
Pick up food, drinks and gifts, soak in the lantern-lit vibes and snap a few festive photos.
- When: daily, 11am to 8pm
- Where: St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LE
For more information, visit St Katherine Docks.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Back for its 18th year, Winter Wonderland is still the city’s biggest festive playground, packing in over 150 rides, shows and attractions across Hyde Park. Start in Santa Land, home to London’s largest free Santa’s Grotto and an interactive Elves Workshop, before wandering through Luminarie Lane, where towering light sculptures glow over cosy market stalls and mulled-wine stops.
This year’s Magical Ice Kingdom transforms 500 tonnes of ice and snow into an immersive mythical fantasy world, letting visitors journey through the four realms of Earth, Fire, Air and Water. Feel the après-ski buzz in the Bavarian Village (think steins, schnitzel and live oompah), then catch a chill — in a good way — inside Bar Ice, where the walls, tables and even your glass are sculpted from ice.
If you prefer views to booze, soar above London on the 70m-tall Giant Wheel, race down the Real Ice Slide, or settle in for family-friendly thrills at Zippos Christmas Circus.
Entry is free off-peak and up to £7.50 at peak times, or you can skip the fee entirely by pre-booking £25 worth of rides, food, drinks or games.
- When: until 1 January
- Where: Hyde Park, W2 2UH
For more information or to book, visit Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.
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Glide at Battersea Power Station
Set against one of London’s most iconic backdrops, Glide is Twixmas skating with flair.
The three interconnected rinks loop around a giant Christmas tree, making it one of the most photogenic skate spots in the city. Whether you’re showing off, shuffling along with a penguin aid or just soaking up the riverside atmosphere, it’s a brilliant way to stretch your legs between servings of leftovers.
Warm up afterwards with mulled drinks and street food from the surrounding pop-ups or head inside the Power Station for shopping and late-night dining.
- When: until 4 January
- Where: Battersea Power Station, SW11 8DD
For more information or to book, visit Glide.
Skate at Somerset House
Somerset House delivers full-on winter magic, with its courtyard transformed into a grand ice rink framed by neoclassical architecture and twinkling lights.
It’s one of London’s most atmospheric skating experiences — equally great for wobbly beginners, date nights or a post–Boxing Day family outing.
Expect DJ nights, cosy alpine food, and excellent people-watching from rink-side
This year it stays open all the way through early January, offering a final burst of festive charm long after Christmas Day has passed.
- When: Until 11 January
- Where: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA
For more information or to book, visit Somerset House.
Sleeping Beauty at the London Palladium
This year’s lavish panto stars Catherine Tate, Julian Clary, Jon Culshaw, plus returning favourites Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers and Rob Madge.
Expect riotous comedy, big musical numbers and plenty of sparkle.
- When: until 11 January
- Where: 8 Argyll Street, W1F 7TF
For more information or to book, visit the London Palladium.
Best afternoon teas
The Library Festive Afternoon Tea at London Marriott Hotel County Hall
Wandering the South Bank? Warm up with a festive spread overlooking the Thames and Big Ben.
Savour smoked salmon and crème fraîche sandwiches, pigs-in-blankets brioche, Christmas scones with cranberry and cinnamon, and desserts including a mandarin-nutmeg tart and a Queen Elizabeth Tower mince pie.
A glass of English sparkling wine seals the deal.
- Price: from £75 per person
- When: daily, 12pm to 5pm
- Where: The Library at County Hall, SE1 7PB
For more information or to book, visit The Library.
Festive Afternoon Tea at The Stratford
If you’re hitting the Boxing Day sales in Westfield, this one’s a treat.
Set within the hotel’s Enchanted Winter Forest decor, the tea features roast beef and horseradish sandwiches, festive sausage rolls, warm scones, a Christmas pudding truffle, sherry trifle and a frangipane mince pie.
Add Champagne for extra sparkle.
- Price: £32 per person (£45 with Champagne)
- When: Fridays to Sundays, 12pm to 5pm
- Where: The Stratford, 20 International Way, E20 1FD
For more information or to book, visit The Stratford.
Midwinter Night’s Dream Festive Afternoon Tea at the five-star Taj Hotel London
For something magical, the Taj’s Shakespeare-inspired afternoon tea is a theatrical delight.
Expect chocolate-cherry mousse, butternut squash hummus, quail egg puffs and an Armagnac-cranberry roulade. Vegan and vegetarian options available.
- Price: £69 per person (Mondays to Thursdays), £85 per person (Fridays to Sundays); kids aged four to 11 half price
- When: daily until 4 January, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm
- Where: Kona at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, SW1E 6AF
For more information or to book, visit Taj 51.
Feature image: Danny Sargent
