Last updated: November 11, 2024
Explore the must-see festive events in Chelsea! Discover all the top holiday highlights with our guide. From locals to holiday tourists, this guide showcases the best of Chelsea's festive season.
Popular events include Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, where visitors can enjoy traditional market stalls, rides, and seasonal treats in a magical setting. Covent Garden Christmas offers stunning decorations and vibrant entertainment, making it a lively gathering spot during the holidays. And the enchanting ice rink at Somerset House is something you definitely don't want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Chelsea Holiday Light Displays
Christmas at Kew
Christmas at Kew is a botanical garden event featuring twinkling lights, seasonal sounds, and festive food. The event includes glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections, and larger-than-life illuminations. Visitors can enjoy delicious independent street food vendors and glimpse Father Christmas along the way.
Regent Street “The Spirits of Christmas”
Regent Street's "The Spirits of Christmas" features over 300,000 LED lights, showcasing 45 handcrafted spirits soaring through the skies above Regent Street and St James's. The display includes stunning lights along Piccadilly, Fortnum & Mason's iconic windows, and the majestic Waterloo Place Christmas tree.
Mayfair Christmas Lights
Mayfair's iconic Mount Street is being illuminated with a sparkling new set of opulent Christmas lights this year, adding a vibrant touch to the festive season.
Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree
The Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree is a 50- to 60-year-old Norwegian spruce, over 20 metres high, gifted annually by Oslo to London as a token of gratitude for Britain's support during World War II. The tree is selected with great care, felled in November, and transported to London where it is decorated in traditional Norwegian fashion with vertical strings of lights.
Chelsea Holiday Markets and Shopping
Covent Garden Christmas
Covent Garden transforms into a vibrant winter wonderland with iconic decorations, a 60ft Christmas tree, and festive dining options.
Southbank Centre Winter Festival
The Southbank Centre Winter Festival is a vibrant celebration featuring spectacular shows, luminous art, and a wondrous Winter Market offering a diverse range of inspiring books, homeware, prints, and accessories. The event includes Modified Social Benches, Klaus Weber's Thinking Fountains, William Pye's Zemran sculpture, and Natura Nostra Forest, creating a natural oasis.
Christmas at Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station transforms into a vibrant holiday destination with over 120 Christmas trees, sparkling lights, and a riverside ice rink. Enjoy family-friendly activities, arts and crafts sessions, live performances, and a variety of shops and restaurants.
Chelsea Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham Palace
The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham Palace is an immersive theatrical journey through the stunning art-deco mansion, where Father Christmas needs help restoring the true meaning of Christmas. Visitors will meet delightful characters, uncover the essence of the season, and enjoy interactive storytelling and captivating performances.
Father Christmas Storytelling at Chelsea Physic Garden
Meet Father Christmas in the Chelsea Physic Garden for a special storytelling experience. He will tell a story in the Science Themed Grotto, and each child will receive a lovely gift. There will also be an opportunity to take a picture with Father Christmas and enjoy eco-friendly Christmas decoration craft activities.
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith
Join Santa as he awakens from a dream of sun, sea, and sand to find it is the busiest day of the year: Christmas Eve. Watch as he prepares for his deliveries, feeds his reindeer, and takes flight into the snowy night.
Cadogan Hall Christmas Events
Cadogan Hall presents a delightful array of Christmas events, featuring the Mozart Symphony Orchestra's annual performance of "The Snowman," accompanied by live orchestral music, and the return of "The Gruffalo" and its sequel "The Gruffalo's Child," each character represented by a different instrument in the orchestra. These family-friendly concerts offer a perfect antidote to pantomime, with 15-year-old Alice Mackenzie singing the iconic aria "Walking in the Air."
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a six-week event featuring a variety of attractions, shows, and culinary delights. It includes the UK's largest outdoor ice rink, a Magical Ice Kingdom with intricate ice sculptures, and thrilling rides like the Giant Observation Wheel and Wilde Maus XXL rollercoaster. The event also offers festive food and drink options, live music, and themed areas like Santa's Grotto.
Charles Dickens Museum Christmas Events
Celebrate Christmas at Charles Dickens Museum, where you can explore his home, enjoy festive decorations, and experience live performances of his classic tales.
Chelsea Other Holiday Activities
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House offers an unparalleled winter experience with skating lessons, contemporary music, and gourmet dining. Enjoy exclusive evenings, DJ takeovers, and festive shopping in the heart of London.
London Bridge, Christmas By The River
London Bridge City's Winter River event is a gathering of bold, beautiful, and curious individuals as the nights grow longer. It is a place where people come together to experience the allure of the season.
Charles Dickens London Walks
Join Charles Dickens London Walks to explore the Victorian London that inspired his iconic works, including A Christmas Carol. This guided tour delves into Dickensian lore and traditions, visiting historic sites and alleyways that shaped his stories. Discover how Dickens re-invented Christmas and delve into the social and political landscape of his time.
London Transport Museum Christmas Events
The London Transport Museum offers a variety of Christmas activities, including climbing aboard a Routemaster-inspired sleigh, crafting holiday cards, and following an immersive digital story trail. Families can enjoy festive story screenings, colouring activities, and delicious seasonal treats.
Somerset House Ice Skating
Skate at Somerset House offers an unparalleled winter experience with unrivalled skating, contemporary music, and tasty food and drink. Enjoy skating lessons, Chilled Out sessions, and trailblazing DJs on the rink-side decks. Exclusive evenings hosted by Virgin Atlantic Holidays feature signature special touches and the chance to win exclusive prizes. Pop-up restaurants and bars, including Chalet and Skate Lounge by Whispering Angel, provide gourmet dining options. Festive shopping at Shelter Boutique offers a handpicked selection of pre-loved clothing, homewares, and gifts.