{"id":642403,"date":"2025-12-19T14:50:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/642403\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T14:50:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T14:50:43","slug":"hidden-gems-and-cant-miss-events-you-can-still-book-today-and-many-are-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/642403\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Gems And Can’t-Miss Events You Can Still Book Today—And Many Are Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Save<\/p>\n

It happened again\u2014Christmas crept up on us fast. Left planning to the last second or festive ideas fallen through? Here\u2019s our list of last-minute things to do in London this Christmas<\/strong> to get you feeling festive right up until 25 December and beyond. From classic London Christmas markets<\/a> to cosy Christmas concerts<\/a>, discover loads of fun, unique and free Christmas activities in London<\/strong> that require little to no planning at all.<\/strong>\u200b<\/p>\n

1. Soak up the magic of a London Christmas market<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s Christmas in London without a Christmas market? From South Bank<\/a> to Winter Wonderland<\/a>, Christmas markets in London usually come complete with giant Christmas trees<\/a>, twinkling lights, fairground rides <\/strong>and too many food stalls<\/strong> to count.<\/p>\n

2. Feel festive at a Candlelight Christmas concert
\n\"AChristmas Candlelight concert at Central Hall Westminster<\/p>\n

Candlelight<\/a> is marking the festive season in London with a run of classical concerts built around much\u2011loved Christmas music. Soft candlelight fills venues like Central Hall Westminster and Barts North Wing while a string quartet plays favourites such as \u201cLast Christmas\u201d <\/strong>and \u201cAll I Want for Christmas Is You\u201d<\/strong>, plus classics from films like The Holiday <\/strong>and Home Alone<\/strong>. Pick your concert (in advance or on the same day), settle into your seat and let the festive tunes on strings do the rest.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tCandlelight: Christmas Movie Soundtracks<\/p>\n

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Central Hall Westminster<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tCandlelight: Christmas Classics<\/p>\n

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The Great Hall – Barts North Wing<\/p>\n

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3. Visit a festive edible world at London\u2019s Gingerbread City<\/strong>
\n\"aCredit: The Gingerbread City<\/p>\n

Imagination meets innovation at Gingerbread City<\/strong> in London. Open until 4 January 2026, this edible architecture exhibition is nestled inside Coal Drops Yard in King\u2019s Cross. There are several miniature cities made entirely out of gingerbread and topped with icing, chocolate buttons, candy canes and more.<\/p>\n

You can marvel at the gingerbread landmarks that put Bake Off to shame before building your very own gingerbread creation<\/strong> to take home\u2014a perfect Christmas day out in London with kids<\/a> <\/strong>that you can also book the day of.<\/p>\n

4. See London at Christmas from the best viewpoints
\n\"PrimroseSource: I Wei Huang via Shutterstock<\/p>\n

If you can brave the cold, there are several viewing points in London that offer gorgeous views of the city, especially at Christmastime. From Primrose Hill<\/a>, Oxford Street, Regent Street and the West End\u2019s lights twinkle in the distance; Parliament Hill<\/strong> on Hampstead Heath reveals the warm glow from Leadenhall Market, Bond Street and Trafalgar Square\u2019s iconic tree. Both parks are also popular walking spots for a Boxing Day stroll<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Explore London\u2019s Christmas movie locations for free
\n\"peopleCredit: Covent Garden<\/p>\n

London gives NYC a run for its money as cinema\u2019s top Christmas filming locations<\/a>. The city\u2019s provided the festive backdrop for loads of films:\u00a0Emilia Clarke\u2019s Last Christmas<\/strong> has countless scenes shot in Covent Garden<\/a> and beyond.<\/p>\n

And of course, we have to mention Love Actually<\/strong>: filming spots include Selfridges on Oxford Street, Tate Modern<\/a>, Millennium Bridge and of course, Heathrow Airport. String together a self-guided film tour and relive your favourite Christmas movie moments<\/strong>\u2014a brilliant\u00a0free Christmas activity in London.<\/p>\n

6. Gaze at the Christmas lights in London
\n\"RegentCredit: Getty Images<\/p>\n

Bold claim incoming: central London has some of the best Christmas lights<\/a> in the world. As soon as you hop off a bus or emerge from the tube station, you\u2019re met with dazzling Christmas light displays<\/strong> as far as the eyes can see. You\u2019ll find some of the best this year on Oxford Street<\/a>, King\u2019s Cross<\/a> and Regent Street<\/a>\u2014 touring these street light displays is one of the easiest free Christmas things to do in London.<\/p>\n

7. Go for a Christmas Day run
\n\"TwoSource: Shakir Mohamed via Pexels<\/p>\n

Fancy getting your steps in on the big day? This is one of the more unique Christmas things to do near London city centre for active types. Christmas Day Cracker Run 2025<\/strong> stretches along the River Thames and runners are welcome to run (or walk) between 3km to 50km. <\/p>\n

Entry price ranges between \u00a316-\u00a335 and registration is open for latecomers until the night before (24 December). The starting point is at Wraysbury Skiff & Punting Club<\/strong> in Egham and festive food and drinks including mulled wine<\/a> will be able on site.<\/p>\n

8. Step into the glow of a luminous ballet show<\/p>\n

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Ballet of Lights<\/a> is a series of glow-in-the-dark ballet shows that\u2019s lighting up London\u2019s Shaw Theatre this December. Fairytales like Sleeping Beauty <\/strong>and Cinderella<\/strong> shine under a brand-new light because ballerinas take to the stage wearing glowing costumes decorated in fibre-optic lights<\/strong>. It\u2019s a unique, family day out for Christmas<\/strong> and you can snag tickets on the day no problem.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tBallet of Lights: Cinderella in a Sparkling Show<\/p>\n

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Shaw Theatre<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\tBallet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show<\/p>\n

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Shaw Theatre<\/p>\n

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9. Get your skates on at an ice rink
\n\"theCredit: Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink<\/p>\n

Ice skating in London\u2014another Christmas plan that never fails. Slip on your skates at one of the many London ice rinks<\/a> like Somerset House<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and Leicester Square<\/a> and show off your gliding skills (or lack thereof) with your nearest and dearest, no preparation or training required.<\/strong><\/p>\n

10. Watch a Christmas film at a London cinema<\/p>\n

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Loads of cinemas in London<\/a> are hosting special festive screenings this December. From now until 31 December, Backyard Cinema<\/strong> near London Bridge<\/strong> is screening iconic Christmas films back-to-back: Elf, Home Alone, The Nightmare Before Christmas, It\u2019s A Wonderful Life, The Grinch<\/strong> and many more.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of screenings throughout the day and you can book your ticket on the day<\/strong> either online or at the ticket office\u2014it\u2019s one of the easiest indoor last-minute Christmas activities in London. <\/strong>After the film, you can also head to Maltby Street Market and get 10% off food and drink by showing the vendor your cinema ticket.<\/p>\n

11. Cheer on swimmers at the Peter Pan Cup
\n\"SwimmersSource: Bur\u00e7in Erg\u00fcnt via Unsplash<\/p>\n

The Serpentine Swimming Club\u2019s Christmas morning swim<\/strong> is a tradition dating back to 1864. The \u2018Peter Pan Cup\u2019 was named after J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, who first presented the swimming race in 1903. It starts at 9am on 25 December at the south bank of the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park<\/a> and non-club members are welcome to cheer on the brave swimmers as they battle the freezing cold.<\/p>\n

12. Venture out of the city: last-minute Christmas days out near London
\n\"TheSource: Veda Wildfire via Shutterstock<\/p>\n

If a spontaneous festive trip<\/strong> outside of London sounds like a plan, we\u2019ve got a few ideas that\u2019ll make the journey totally worth it. Easy\u00a0Christmas trips from London\u00a0include:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save It happened again\u2014Christmas crept up on us fast. Left planning to the last second or festive ideas…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":642404,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[748,68924,35745,197468,393,4884,257,16,15,59345],"class_list":{"0":"post-642403","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-candlelight-concert","10":"tag-christmas","11":"tag-day-trip-half-day","12":"tag-england","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-london","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-winter"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115746794553070645","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=642403"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/642403\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/642404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=642403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=642403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=642403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}