All You Need to Know About Events In London This Christmas

If you’re looking for hostels in London then you’ve come to the right place. Here at London Backpackers we provide budget hostels in London which are clean and comfortable, located within easy reach of the attractions of central London and packed with the kind of facilities you need to make the most of your visit. In addition to our UK hostels themselves, we like to provide as much information as possible for our guests, and right now we know that what people are looking for is a guide to some of the magical events taking place in London over the Christmas period. There are things happening all over the city during December, adding a little extra magic to this special time of year, and we’ve selected a few of the best:

The DIY Christmas Art Market

When: Sunday December 5th
Where: Truman’s Social Club, 1 Priestley Way E17 6AL
Price: £1 for entry to the market
If you’re looking for unique gifts to give to family and friends then look no further than the DIY Christmas Art Market. The market features more than 100 independent artists setting up stalls selling goods which range from prints and screen-prints to ceramics, tote bags, t-shirts and comics. You can pick up some genuinely different gifts at the same time as supporting local artists and enjoying a mince pie and a warming mulled wine.

Christmas Carols at St Paul’s Cathedral

When: on dates throughout December – see https://www.stpauls.co.uk/christmas-2021
Where: St Paul’s Churchyard, EC4M 8AD
Price: Free of charge and no tickets required
There are few places in London which capture the feel of a traditional Christmas better than the magnificent interior of St Paul’s Cathedral. As if the building itself – complete with Christmas trees – was not enough to create a feeling of wonder, throughout December it is the venue for a series of carol concerts, up to and including Christmas Eve. Events range from classical works such as Messiaen’s ‘La Nativité du Seigneur’ to the family-friendly tradition of Lessons and Carols.

Southbank Centre Winter Market

When: Every day through December up to Christmas Eve
Where: The South Bank, SE1 9PP
Price: Free entry
As well as being a religious festival, a celebration of links with friends and family and a chance to treat your favourite people to some gifts, Christmas is a time of the year which is dominated by delicious food and drink. The Southbank Centre Winter Market is a celebration of this, featuring food stands and pop-up bars gathered along the banks of the Thames. No matter what gets your juices flowing you’ll find it being served deliciously here, from mince pies and pancakes to burgers, toasters and bratwurst, plus loads more. If the weather is too chilly, rest assured there are heated, covered snowglobes and added attractions like a Christmas-themed indoor mini golf course.

Natural History Museum Ice Rink

When: Every day until 16th January (excepting Christmas Day), from 11am to 10pm
Where: The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
Price: Adults from £12.65, children from £8.80
Every year for the past 16 years the iconic Natural History Museum has been the location for a stunning outdoor ice rink, but this year is the last year that the rink will be located there. If you want to find out what it’s like to skate in the great outdoors with the smell of mulled wine in the air then this is your last chance to find out. Tickets will be in high demand, however, so it’s best to book your session online if you want to avoid having a long wait for an empty slot to come up.

Winter Wonderland

When: Throughout December and on to January 3rd
Where: Hyde Park, W2 2UH
Price: Off-peak tickets are free but standard tickets cost £5 and peak tickets – for most weekend times in December – cost £7.50
One of the biggest and most popular Christmas events in London, the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland had to be cancelled last year but now it’s back and bigger than ever. Packed with food and drink stalls, rides, shows and games, it offers hours of entertainment and fun. Major attractions include the Giant Wheel, a real ice slide and an 85 metre drop tower. If that all sounds a bit too scary then rest assured you could spend your visit enjoying delicious street food or taking in live music and DJ sets. Entry has to be booked online with arrival limited to a specific time slot, although once you’re inside you can stay for as long as you like.