Thinking about spending a few days this Christmas in London with kids? I can guarantee that you won´t regret it! London is the perfect destination to visit with children during the Christmas holidays, and if you plan your days wisely, they will go home with a trip they´ll remember a lifetime.
London is not only filled with wonderful Christmas lights, but there are Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, Santa´s Grottos as well as the fabulous Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
Here is a list of things you cannot miss if you are planning a trip to London this Christmas with kids.
If you are visiting London this Christmas and bringing the kids with you, you should at least spend an afternoon at Winter Wonderland. This is a Christmas fair and Market that is installed during the Christmas period in Hyde Park every year.
Christmas is absolutely magical here, and it is undoubtedly one of our favourite places to visit during Christmas in London with kids.
Here you will find Christmas markets, and funfair rides for children of all ages, with a specific area for younger children. One of London´s most beautiful Christmas ice rinks is also located here. There is also a circus and loads of food stalls and restaurants.
You can easily spend half a day visiting Winter Wonderland and I´m sure the little ones will definitely want to come back! If you go late afternoon, you´ll get to see all the Christmas lights switched on which makes it very magical. We, however, have been taking our kids in the morning during the week the last few years as there are less people. It can get very crowded during the weekends, especially in the evenings
Tickets: Winter Wonderland.
2026–27 Winter Wonderland dates: 19 November 2026–3 January 2027, except Christmas Day. Book entry in advance. Santa’s Grotto is free once you are inside and usually runs from 10 am to 6 pm; rides, skating and the circus cost extra. The Magical Ice Kingdom follows Peter Pan’s adventures this season, so it is especially appealing if your family knows the story.
Hamleys, London’s most famous toy shop
Christmas in London with kids would maybe be incomplete if you don’t include a visit to Hamleys, one of London’s best toy shops. Located on Regent Street, this toy shop has 7 floors of fun where you can find absolutely anything that you can think of! From toys to collectable items, puzzles, bath toys and lots of Lego! During the festive season Father Christmas spends a lot of time at Hamleys (obviously!), so you can also book tickets to go and meet Santa in his grotto.
Website: Hamleys.
Christmas in London with kids: Best Santa’s Grottos to meet Father Christmas
Where will you take the little ones to meet Father Christmas this year? We all know how exciting meeting Father Christmas is, and how important it also is to make sure you pick a good Father Christmas as they start getting older and asking questions!
The good thing is that there are numerous Santa’s Grottos in London, practically every shopping centre, every children’s farms and some of London’s most famous shops and attractions have a Father Christmas available to listen to children’s requests. So, you’ll be spoilt for choice when you need to pick which one (or ones!) you want to book. He usually spends a few minutes with each child, asking them what they want for Christmas and always gives them a little something in the end. If you are spending a few days this Christmas in London with kids meeting Father Christmas in one of his amazing grottos will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the trip!
A boat trip to Father Christmas in Greenwich
A journey on the Thames makes the trip to Greenwich part of the treat. Take a river boat to Greenwich Pier, walk through Greenwich Market and the Cutty Sark area, then head for the Queen’s House. For 2026, Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House runs from 14 November to 24 December: children meet Father Christmas and receive a gift at the end of an immersive visit. Book the grotto separately from your boat fare, and give yourselves enough time for the walk from the pier.
Choose a Queen’s House Santa session. For an ordinary Thames journey, see Uber Boat routes and fares.
Meet Father Christmas in Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland has one of our favourite Santa’s Grottos in London. It is always very neatly decorated, and you can buy a professional photo and take your own. One of the best things is that you don’t have to book to go and see Father Christmas, but you do need to buy an entry ticket for Winter Wonderland. Queues to see Father Christmas in Winter Wonderland can be quite long, but if you go in the morning, the queues tend to be much smaller.
Santa’s Grotto is located in Santa Land in Winter Wonderland. The grotto cannot be reserved, and the queue may close early on busy days, so go there before committing to a paid ride or a fixed show time. This is where all the funfair rides are for little ones, too.
- Dates: November – January
- Web: Winter Wonderland
Meet Father Christmas at Hamleys
Hamleys has a walk-through Santa’s Grotto experience that children will love. They usually have an elf school and learn how to be elves themselves until they reach Father Christmas’s grotto to meet him. Along the way, there will be songs and games. The format and duration depend on Hamleys’ current Christmas programme, so choose a booked slot before planning the rest of your Regent Street walk.
Tickets usually sell out very quickly, though!
- Dates: November – December,
- Web: Hamleys
A family Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a memorable venue for a festive family performance. In 2026 its programme includes Baby Gospel Christmas on 8 December, Baby Broadway Christmas on 9 December, and Carols at the Royal Albert Hall from 19 to 24 December. Choose one that suits your children’s ages and your planned day near South Kensington. See the Hall’s Christmas programme.
Ice skating is one of the most beautiful things to do in London at Christmas. Several ice skating rinks pop up throughout the city, and the little ones enjoy this very much! Some rinks have skating aids for younger children, and Somerset House offers a Kids’ Club for ages 6–10. The minimum age and whether you can reserve an aid depend on the rink, so choose the venue to suit your children before booking.
Winter Wonderland has one of the biggest ice skating rinks this Christmas in London, but other ice skating rinks you might like to visit are Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace, Canary Wharf, Queen´s House or Skylight.
Christmas at Kew with children
If your children love an evening walk, Christmas at Kew runs on selected dates from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Follow the illuminated trail at your own pace, with light installations, warm drinks and opportunities to stop along the way. It needs its own timed ticket; admission to Kew Gardens during the day does not include the evening trail. Because Kew is outside the central sightseeing loop, we would make this the main event of one evening rather than rushing there after a packed itinerary. Book Christmas at Kew.
Visiting a Christmas market in London is a must if you spend a few days here this Christmas. Several Christmas markets are dotted around London, where you can buy Christmas gifts for the family or find something special to decorate your home.
We have already discussed the Christmas market in Winter Wonderland, but there is also a Christmas Market in Southbank, in Leicester Square or London Bridge, to give you a few ideas.
Christmas Shows in London to see with the kids
Going to the theatre is one of our favourite Christmas outings with children. There is a good range of productions in 2026, so choose by your children’s interests and energy rather than trying to fit in the biggest show.
- For a first theatre trip: The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre runs from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and its dance and visual storytelling suit younger children.
- For Peppa fans: Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show! is at Theatre Royal Haymarket from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. The theatre has specific ticket and pushchair rules for families.
- For a British pantomime: Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire (21 November–31 December 2026) brings songs, jokes and audience participation.
- For toddlers: Huddle at the Unicorn Theatre runs 27 November 2026–3 January 2027 and is designed for ages one to four.
- For a big spectacle: Disney On Ice plays The O2 on scheduled dates from 24 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Older children might enjoy Nutcracker at the London Coliseum from 17 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
See our Christmas shows guide for more detail, venue locations and performance links. Matinees can leave the evening free for the Christmas lights.
Taking the kids to the circus is also a very Christmassy thing to do. There is a circus in Winter Wonderland this year, which takes place in the largest circus tent in the United Kingdom. The 2026 show is Gandeys K-Pop Dragon Circus, which combines acrobatics with music, dance and a dragon story. Book a timed performance alongside the day’s Winter Wonderland entry.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.