Make the most of Christmas in London

The last of the leaves are still clinging to the trees but before you know it, Christmas will be upon us once more. While it's still a little early to think about baubles and mince pies, some festive fun requires early planning. If you want to enjoy London's most magical family outings or open the doors of an indulgent advent calendar this December, take a moment now to arrange a few essentials.
To make it as simple as possible, we've curated a shortlist of the best festive events that always sell out early.

The most covetable beauty advent calendars

The best of 2019's beauty advent calendars

A luxury beauty advent calendar might feel a little indulgent at a time when you are supposed to thinking about gifts for other people. But if you choose wisely, it can be a savvy way of stockpiling on beauty treats. Most beauty calendars are actually worth double or triple in retail value – meaning you get to try testers and full-size products (often award-winners and bestselling heroes) along with new must-haves before anyone else, all at a discounted price.

Follow the link below for our lowdown on this year’s luxury beauty advent calendars and remember, the best of the bunch are likely to sell out long before Christmas tunes start taking over the airwaves, so make a note of the on-sale dates and be ready.

Treat yourself

The most magical ballet of the season

The Sleeping Beauty is one of the best loved fairy tales of all, and has been adapted into one of the most delightful ballets of the classical repertoire. It also has a very special place in The Royal Ballet’s history, as it was the work with which the company reopened the Royal Opera House in 1946 after the end of World War II.

The Royal Ballet’s version, set to Tchaikovsky’s memorable score, is essentially the 19th century Russian classic. The production is a miracle of clear and transporting story-telling, framed by Oliver Messel’s sumptuous original designs and glittering costumes, later complemented by Peter Farmer’s. Book now for what is likely to be the highlight of the Christmas ballets this winter.

A fairy tale at its finest

A candlelit carol concert to take your breath away

In the lead up to the big day, a host of glorious carol concerts can be heard trilling out across the city. The loveliest of all is the Service of Lessons and Carols at Westminster Abbey. Not to be confused with the smaller concert in the St Margaret's Church (Sunday 22 December), the full, candlelit Christmas Services on 23 and 24 December are the pinnacle of festivities. The concerts are free to attend, but tickets must be reserved in advance (and they're always snapped up faster than hot mince pies).

To reserve your pew and sing ‘fa-la-la-la-la’ along with other merrymakers, remember to book your tickets on Tuesday 12 November (at 9:30am or 2:30pm) or Thursday 14 November (at 9:30am and 2:30pm).

Join the choir of angels

Reserve your seats for the best Christmas theatre in town

Hoping to enjoy a cosy night at the theatre this Christmas? Curtains are set to rise on some stunning productions: Jack Thorne's adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which returns to the Old Vic for the third year running, is an atmospheric and utterly charming take on Charles Dickens's festive classic.

Those dreaming of a white Christmas, meanwhile, should head to the Dominion Theatre, where a revival of Irving Berlin's festive musical White Christmas promises to warm the cockles. The production is transferring from Leicester Curve, where it has been hailed a 'faultessly executed', 'meltingly lovely' 'treat for the eyes and ears'.

Finally, venture through the wardrobe and into the magical world of Narnia as C.S Lewis's classic is brought to life at the Bridge Theatre. Sally Cookson's devised production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe transfers to London after a successful opening in Leeds in 2017.

See the lights dim

Glistening ice rinks to glide across this winter

Thick socks, scarves and ice skates at the ready: the city's glittering rinks are preparing to welcome smooth gliders and their Bambi-esque companions alike this winter. If you want to enjoy a festive experience at peak time, you'd better get your skates on: booking for the best is now open and while sessions aren’t going to sell out right away, we've found that the weekend slots and prime evenings close to Christmas fill up very fast.

There’s plenty to look forward to this season, from a host of special events at Somerset House, which is celebrating 20 years of its ice rink this winter, to the Natural History Museum and Hampton Court, where the ice skating experience retains all its traditional splendour. Follow the link below for our guide to the best ice skating in London.

Get your skates on

The greatest of the grottos

If you’re a Londoner hoping to take your little ones to see Father Christmas this year, you’re in luck: the city plays host to a number of grottos in the lead up to the big day, each offering a chance to deliver your Christmas wish list in person to the man who can make it happen. While the grottos at Harrods and Fortnums are two of the most luxe (and exclusive), our personal favourite is the immersive Christmas grotto at the Royal Albert Hall.

Families enjoy an exclusive tour around the 19th-century Hall and have the chance to interact with a range of North Pole characters along the way. Little ones enjoy a mix of storytelling, puppetry and live music from the experience, plus a chance to meet Father Christmas one-to-one and leave with a stuffed toy. This is a grotto as enjoyable for adults (who go for free!) as it is for their wide-eyed kids.

Sleigh bells ring