5 Festive Family Activities To Do In London

There is no shortage of family activities in and around London over Christmas and New Year: from ice skating to theatre and Christmas markets. Here’s five things to do in London with kids at Christmas.

1. Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park is turned into a huge theme park during the winter months where you have your pick of Christmas fun and activities for its Winter Wonderland. There is a Christmas market, fairground rides including an observation wheel, a circus, a magical ice kingdom and a production of The Nutcracker on Ice. It is free to enter with rides, shows, food, drink extra. It’s open until January 2, 2017.

2. Ice Skating

In winter, ice rinks pop up all over London – in the backdrop of some of the capital’s most historic buildings. The Natural History Museum, Hampton Court Palace, The Tower of London and Somerset House are just some of the picturesque locations where you can go ice skating.

If you aren’t keen on outside skating, Westfield London has rinks suitable for children over 4 complete with penguin and seal stabilisers for those less experienced children (and adults)!

3. Harry Potter Studio Tour

You can visit ‘Hogwarts In The Snow’ at the Warner Bros Studio Tour near Watford, just outside London. The home of the Harry Potter films, this seasonal attraction, is the chance to see some of the film’s most iconic sets beautifully decorated for festive scenes – with some special effects thrown in for good measure. It is running until January 29, 2017,

4. Theatre and Carol Concerts

You are spoilt for choice for children’s theatre in London especially around Christmas. You can’t get more festive than The Snowman! A live theatre version of Raymond Bigg’s iconic book is playing at the Peacock Theatre from November 23 until January 1 while there’s the Railway Children, The Very Hungry Caterpillar (at the Ambassador’s Theatre) and Dr Suess’ Cat In The Hat showing at the Pleasance Theatre until January 2, 2017. For Frozen fans (so pretty much any child between the ages of 2 and 10), Disney’s Frozen on Ice is being performed at the O2 for a limited run.

Two adaptations of children’s favourite author, Julia Donaldson, are showing in London this winter too. The Gruffalo at the Lyric Theatre is on until January 17 (see my review here) and Stick Man, which we have now seen twice, is playing again at the Leicester Square theatre. And of course there is panto! Oh yes there is! Plenty of productions going on in London and throughout the UK. If you are into seeing something really festive, then head to one of the many Christmas carol concerts going on throughout the capital.

5. The Southbank

A lively place at all times of the year but during the winter London’s Southbank turns into a ‘London Wonderground’ with the area by the River Thames taken over by a Christmas market featuring plenty of food stalls among the 50 chalet-style huts. There is also a carousel, the 60m tall Star Flyer ride, the contemporary circus show BIANCO and the BUMP Rollerdisco! Inside the Southbank Centre, the Million Dollar Quartet musical is being performed.

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