A Christmas Carol to Twelfth Night Feast: Museum of London

As well as hosting a shimmering Christmas Grotto this year, the Museum of London has a range of fun activities for little ones to occupy the wintery mornings between the big day and the dawn of the New Year. All are free and tickets are sold at the door. We most recommend their interpretation of A Christmas Carol on the 28th and 29th December but, in true celebration of a our wonderful multicultural capital, there are wonderful events celebrating the Festival of Lights by helping children discover objects found under the Thames. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year with these delightful Christmas events at the Museum of London.

Decorate and celebrate

Sunday 27 December 12.30-2pm & 2.30-4pm, Monday 28 December 12.30-2pm & 2.30-4pm

Discover the long tradition of decorating houses for the festive season by helping us decorate our Saxon house with garlands, wreaths and yule logs.

Suggested ages: 5+

Festival of lights

Sunday 27 December 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm, Thursday 31 December 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm

Discover Hindu objects found beneath the Thames, then explore the celebration of Diwali at this interactive storytelling puppet session.

Suggested ages: 5+

A Christmas Carol

Monday 28 December 12–1pm & 2.30–3.30pm, Tuesday 29 December 12–1pm & 2.30–3.30pm

Travel back in time and see Victorian London come to life in a family friendly and up-close production of ‘A Christmas Carol’, Charles Dickens’s classic winter tale.

Suggested ages: 5+

Festive under 5s story time

Monday 28 December 11-11.30am, 12-12.30pm, & 2-2.30pm

Join us in our galleries for a fun, festive and interactive story telling for children under 5, told through the use of puppets, museum artefacts and music.

For under 5s

Fancy fireworks

Tuesday 29 December 12.30–2pm & 2.30-4pm, Wednesday 30 December 12.30–2pm & 2.30-4pm

Olympic Games, royal weddings, and New Year celebrations - fireworks are a perfect way to celebrate in London. Make firework-themed crafts at this art drop in session.

Suggested ages: 5+

A frost fair tale

Wednesday 30 December 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm

Join in the Frost Fair celebrations as you discover the tale of what Tudor Londoners did when the Thames froze over.

Suggested ages: 5+

Eat, drink and be merry

Wednesday 30 December 11am – 1pm

Explore clues from our archaeological archive, to discover what past Londoners enjoyed for their special meals, and what they ate them on.

Suggested ages: 5+

The feast of Janus

Thursday 31 December 12.30-2pm & 2.30-4pm, Friday 1 January 12.30-2pm & 2.30-4pm

Discover what happened at the Ancient Roman feast of Janus, the god of beginnings. Look back on the year that's gone and celebrate the year to come at this art workshop.

Suggested ages: 5+

O, Christmas Tree

Friday 1 January 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm, Saturday 2 January 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm

Meet Mrs Evergreen, a Victorian shopkeeper, as she tells the traditional German tale ‘The Golden Goose’. Learn how some popular Christmas customs started and how they came to London.

Suggested ages: 5+

Fun at the frost fair

Saturday 2 January 12.30-2pm & 2.30-4pm, Sunday 3 January 12.30-2pm & 2.30-4pm

Brrrr! Join the party, as we get creative and help build up a Frost Fair scene in the museum.

Suggested ages: 5+

Twelfth Night feast

Sunday 3 January 1-1.30pm, 2-2.30pm & 3-3.30pm

Join in this tale of wassailing apple trees, medieval feasts and Bankside celebrations at this story of Twelfth Night celebrations.

Suggested ages: 5+

Hands on history

Saturday 12 December 2-4pm, Saturday 19 December 2-4pm

Get up close to history at our family object handling table, and hear some incredible London stories from our team of volunteers.

Suggested ages: 5+