The loveliest winter pop-ups London has to offer

The Great Christmas Feast, London Bridge

Last summer, the Lost Estate brought us The Lost Love Speakeasy, a 1920s theatrical experience infused with a smoky Southern feast. Now, the immersive experience connoisseurs are back with a festive winter treat, The Great Christmas Feast: a night of Dickensian cocktails, theatre, live music and, of course, a multi-course feast.

Miracle, Henrietta Hotel

Voyaging across the Atlantic again this winter is Miracle: a Christmas-themed pop-up originally from New York. Hidden away on the mezzanine floor of the Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden, there punters will find Miracle decked out in 70s festive décor (stockings hung, fairy lights strung), offering a nostalgia-fuelled space to escape from the hectic world outside. The bar serves an array of festive cocktails; guests can indulge in the likes of the Snowball Old Fashioned (a Miracle favourite across the pond) and 2018 favourite And A Partridge In A Pear Tree alongside a selection of Alpine-inspired snacks, including Ibérico ham and truffle croque madame and a chestnut Mont Blanc.

Winter Rooftop Carnival, John Lewis

Last winter, John Lewis & Partners launched a new Skyline Skating experience on the rooftop of its flagship Oxford Street store. This year, the rooftop is being given an Americana makeover, complete with fairground rides, fairy lights, snug dens and plenty more childhood nostalgia. Wander through the House of Mirrors before trying your luck for goodies from the claw machine. This year, food comes by way of winter pop-up connoisseur Jimmy Garcia and takes the form of hot toffee apples, popcorn shrimp, corn dogs and Oreo cheesecake bites. Winter warmer cocktails, meanwhile, come courtesy of Sage and include a tipsy hot chocolate and butterscotch kiss.

Winterland, Fulham Alpine Club

Neverland in Fulham has swapped its beach for Nordic hot-tubs and its palm trees for pines this winter. Guests can wander among fire pits, fur-lined cabins and festive igloos, then play a round of shuffle board, beer pong or table tennis. Chilly? Duck into the Moose Bar for a mulled wine, hot gin or boozy hot chocolate, and if you find you have a bit of fire in you yet, stick around to dance the night away to DJ sets or live bands. There’s plenty of delicious street food to tuck into, from fondues and burgers to macaroni cheese and sourdough pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Those after something a little more gourmet, meanwhile, should head to the Hunting Lodge, where a festive banquet awaits.

The Secret Forest bar & pocket cinema, Harvey Nichols

Up on the fifth floor of the Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge store, an immersive adventure awaits. The bar has been transformed into a secret forest, where visitors will be guided on a journey through mystical woodland lit from above by the dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis. The Nordic theme is continued on the menu, where kantarellmacka (mushroom and Gruyère toasties), köttbullar (meatballs) and kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) all feature. Those with a sweet tooth can wash these down with a retro ice-cream cocktail.

Perhaps the best time to visit is on Wednesday and Sunday evenings, when the Secret Forest bar doubles up as a secluded cinema. Expect a host of family favourites, from Home Alone to Miracle on 34th Street, plus festive rom-coms including Love Actually and The Holiday.

Light Up the Night, Wembley Park

Following the success of its inaugural Light Up the Night festival last year, Wembley Park is staging another this autumn on Sunday 10 November. This multicultural event is a celebration of both Bonfire Night and Diwali, and will see the park come to life with fireworks, a light parade, and a range of music acts – including a performance from Bollywood Brass Band.

Truffle Hut, Le Pont de la Tour

Those keen to get into the spirit of all things warm and snuggly early this year should book a table at Le Pont de la Tour’s Truffle Hut. Seating just two diners – and with views overlooking the Thames – the intimate cabin is an ideal location for a romantic meal. Cosy up among the faux fur-smothered, greenery-scattered space and pop a bottle of Moët & Chandon, before tucking into a five-course truffle tasting menu. With the likes of breast of poulet noir with baby leeks, suprême sauce and black truffle on offer, what’s not to like?

Skylight winter season, Tobacco Dock

Wapping's highest party playground is being frozen over once again this winter as Skylight brings back its rooftop ice rink and becomes an 'urban après-skate bar'. Bust a groove with guest DJs, get competitive in an ice hockey shoot-out, or snuggle up under the heated pergola or with a blanket in the Snug bar (on level 9) – all while soaking up the best festive view in town.

The Emerald City, Queen of Hoxton

This winter, the Queen of Hoxton’s rooftop is going green. Follow the yellow brick road (a journey up several flights of stairs) until you reach the top, where a cosy WigWam den awaits. Fuel up on hearty, Kansas-style food (with decent vegan options) before continuing your journey to the Emerald Garden. Here, you’ll find fire pits for marshmallow toasting and a hidden bar serving hot and cold winter cocktails.

The Emerald City is not only green in name (or appearance – the walls glisten with emerald-coloured jewels), so the pop-up is hosting a number of ‘green’ events throughout its run, including a clothes swap and pickling workshops where you’ll make Christmas gifts from kitchen scraps. It’s also celebrating the season of the witch, running witch academy classes in which you’ll learn Pxssy magic and how to cast spells. Finally, for something a little more down to earth, there are feminist storytelling nights around the fire pit.

Christmas at London Zoo, Regent’s Park

London Zoo is hosting its very own Christmas grotto, in the heart of the animal kingdom. In this rare opportunity to experience the zoo after dark and jazzed up for Christmas, guests will stroll along a one-mile long illuminated pathway. The Light Vortex will take you past dancing fountains in the penguin pool, an old-fashioned carousel and plenty of seasonal culinary treats. Although the zoo's resident animals will be fast asleep by the time you arrive, you'll have the opportunity to see a series of illuminated wild animal sculptures towering above you as you explore the enchanted land. Oh, and keep your eyes peeled along the way for Father Christmas and his elves.

Jimmy Garcia’s winter pop-up, Southbank

London's Southbank becomes home to its very own Alpine-themed ski lodge again this winter, courtesy of pop-up entrepreneur Jimmy Garcia. Situated on the river along the Queen's Walk, the lodge boasts an upstairs dining room called The Refuge, a wooden cabin overlooking the river with a fondue and steak-heavy set menu. Downstairs, the Alpine Bar is serving up winter warmer cocktails and mulled wine, alongside the Chalet Snack Bar, where visitors can sample festive street food including raclette burgers and venison hot dogs. The Lodge also boasts its own hireable Igloos, kitted out in full Alpine fashion, in which diners can enjoy their own playlist and breathtaking views of the Thames.

Winter Wonderland 2019, Hyde Park

Some pop-ups return year after year for a reason. One such seasonal attraction is Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, which has been welcoming millions of visitors through its frosty gates each year for over a decade. From stomach-dropping fairground rides to a glittering ice rink, circus shows to Christmas markets, there’s plenty here for the whole family to enjoy. Our top tip? Go midweek when it’s far less busy and you won’t have to shoulder-barge tourists to get your hands on a warming mug of mulled wine or a hearty bratwurst.

Jimmy Garcia’s Roof East pop-up, Stratford

New for 2019, Jimmy Garcia is launching a second winter pop-up at Roof East, which itself is a melting pot of winter sports and festive fun. Expect a relaxed menu – raclette burgers, wild boar hot dogs and camembert bites – served up in one of Jimmy's signature Alpine-themed lodges.

Skye-line igloos, Aviary London

Rooftop restaurant the Aviary has partnered with Isle of Skye-based spirit brand Talisker Whisky this winter to launch its Skye-line igloos (see what they did there?). Located on Finsbury Square, 10 floors above the City, the igloos offer a chance to look out over London's frosted rooftops from a cosy, rustic-themed snug. Drinks include a spicy and citrusy Scotch Mist, fruity and smoky Northern Lights and a Talisker Campfire Hot Chocolate, all made with Talisker whisky, of course.

Winter Forest, Broadgate Circle

Let Broadgate Circle transport you to forest filled with live music, warming food and tasty tinctures courtesy of Mrs Fogg, whose Winter Terrace is the place to get rosy-cheeked and merry this festive season. But it’s not all about the food and drink, there’s a host of activities and events to get involved with too: from the chance to make festive wreaths, candles and origami fairy lights, to a sing-along family carol concert. Broadgate is once again working closely with housing support charity Centrepoint, and a number of local restaurants and bars are holding charity collections or serving special items on the menu to support the charity.

Winterfest at Wembley Park

For the first time, Wembley Park is hosting its own ‘Winterfest’ light festival. Wander along an immersive trail of interactive light and sound installations, which include the Sonic Runway first seen at Burning Man, the tallest LED Christmas tree ever built in London, and a three-metre heart sculpture adorned with mistletoe and pulsating red lights, titled: ‘LoveSpot… Under the Mistletoe’.

Chromotherapy Christmas at Eccleston Yards

Visual installation specialists Squidsoup are popping up in various London hideaways this Christmas. As well as creating an installation for the Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, they’ve created the ‘Wave’ at Eccleston Yards: an interactive light and voice experience that claims to take inspiration from the ancient healing concept of Chromotherapy – the science of using the powers of light and colour to balance energy in the body and mind.

Wander beneath 500 colourful orbs, each with a voice of its own, enveloping visitors in hypnotic harmonies. The vibrations projected by the orbs hope to energise the body, stimulate happiness and calm the heart rate between them.

Off Piste, Canary Wharf

Head off piste this winter at Canary Wharf’s après ski-themed pop-up. Here, you can soak up all the fun of the slopes without feeling any of the winter chill. While tucking into sourdough pizzas from Radio Alice, Pravha pilsners and winter warmer cocktails, you can look out over vistas of the Alps thanks to footage of the Northern Lights and Rocky Mountains playing on an interactive screen. Those who stick around late on Thursday and Friday evenings can also boogie the night away to 80s DJ sets.