The Gold Edition’s Festive Culture List: What To Book In & Around London

Hampton Court Palace will transform its courtyards into a food-lover's Christmas wonderland for this year’s Festive Fayre. Soak up the spirit of the season with delicious street food, warming festive drinks and even the odd sing-along around the bandstand. Visitors will be able to browse a selection of stalls, offering plenty of foodie Christmas treats and special presents for everyone on your list. Admission is included as part of a standard entrance ticket to Hampton Court, which starts from £27.20 per adult. 

Hampton Court Way, Molesey, KT8 9AU; Friday 6th & Friday 13th December

Visit HRP.org.uk

From immersive installations to legendary art pieces from the pre-internet age, Tate Modern is set to open an exhibition that explores digital art from the 1950s to the 1980s. Electric Dreams highlights pioneering artists who pushed the boundaries of perception, blending science, technology and creativity to create immersive sensory experiences. Visitors can explore psychedelic environments and see how artists embraced early digital technology in the 70s and 80s, experimenting with machine-made art and home computing systems. 

Bankside, SE1 9TG; 28th Nov-1st Jun

Visit Tate.org.uk

If you’re looking to shake up your Christmas traditions – and the grandchildren are too old for pantos – The Lost Estate’s immersive take on A Christmas Carol is the perfect alternative. Returning for its seventh year after six sell-out seasons, this year’s edition transports you to Victorian London on Christmas Eve in 1843, where you’ll experience Dickens' classic tale like never before. The production combines stunning performances, cinematic live music and a lavish Victorian feast crafted by executive chef Ashley Clarke (Gordon Ramsay Group, SmokeStak). Highlights include corn-fed chicken, confit Gressingham duck and Twelfth Night cake, with vegetarian and vegan options available. 

7-9 Beaumont Avenue, West Kensington, W14 9LP; 8th November-12th January 

Visit ChristmasFeast.TheLostEstate.com

Following in the footsteps of her Normal People co-star Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones will be taking to the stage in a reimagining of another Tennessee Williams play. Instead of A Streetcar Named Desire, Daisy will be taking on another classic, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, alongside Kingsley Ben-Adir (Bob Marley: One Love) and Lennie James (Mr Loverman, The Walking Dead). The 1955 play, which scored Williams his second Pulitzer Prize for drama, follows a wealthy but disintegrating Southern family who have gathered to celebrate bullying patriarch Big Daddy’s birthday. Rebecca Frecknall – who has made her name reviving Williams’ classics – directs, bringing new levels of social insight to the play. 

Almeida Street, London N1 1TA; 10th December-1st February 

Visit Almeida.co.uk

Estelle Manor is one of the UK’s loveliest hotels and it really comes into its own over the winter. This year, the team is drawing inspiration from festive folklore. With the estate decorated in winter florals and opulent, seasonal décor from 30th November until 5th January, it will host its first ice rink on its north lawn. Expect a festive food market serving winter warmers such as pretzels, mulled wine and hot chocolate.

Visit EstelleManor.com

The Royal Albert Hall always pulls out all the stops for its Christmas showcase and this year is no exception. The venue has been celebrating the festive season for 150 years and this year sees the return of tried-and-true classics and some new musical delights. Highlights include a festive evening with piano-man Jamie Cullum, a classical Christmas night with Katherine Jenkins, Guy Barker’s Big Band Christmas and a performance from the London Community Gospel Choir. Our pick is Home Alone in Concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kensington Gore, South Kensington, SW7 2AP; various dates throughout December

Visit RoyalAlbertHall.com

Skate at Battersea Power Station is one of London’s most festive winter attractions, offering visitors the chance to skate beneath the power station’s towering chimneys and a 30ft Christmas tree. Surrounded by twinkling lights and a magical atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for a fun-filled skate with friends or family. After hitting the ice, guests can warm up with seasonal treats from nearby food stalls or visit the Christmas market for gifts and crafts. Be sure to book ahead as this skating destination tends to sell out quickly during the festive season.

Nine Elms, SW11 8EF; 8th November-5th January

Visit GlideBatterseaPowerStation.co.uk

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake broke onto the scene nearly 30 years ago, revolutionising the dance theatre world with its bold, rule-breaking reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet. For Christmas 2024, the show returns with a fresh revamp and a new generation of performers. For those seeing it for the first time, this isn’t your traditional Swan Lake – Bourne’s version is a darker, twisted take on the Russian classic, filled with hallucinations and sinister characters, with all-male swans replacing the familiar female ensemble. Amid the intensity, Tchaikovsky’s sweeping score and moments of levity – like a disenchanted burlesque dancer – infuse the production with humour and charm.

Rosebery Avenue, Angel, EC1R 4TN; 3rd December-26th January

Visit SadlersWells.com

On a cold Christmas Eve, bitter and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge receives an unexpected visit from the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. Shackled in chains as punishment for his lifetime of greed, Marley warns Scrooge that it's not too late to change his ways – if he's willing to confront three more ghostly visitors. Matthew Warchus’s heart-warming, critically acclaimed production of Charles Dickens' timeless tale returns to The Old Vic. Adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, His Dark Materials) and starring John Simm (Life on Mars, Grace) as Scrooge, this festive classic is a must-see.

103 The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 8NB; 9th November- 4th January 

Visit OldVicTheatre.com

For an enchanting skate in the heart of the picturesque Surrey Hills, a frost-touched wonderland awaits at the sprawling Beaverbrook estate. The hotel's much-awaited ice rink has returned for the season. If you want to go all out, there is a ‘Stay, Skate & Dine’ package, with unlimited time on the ice rink throughout your stay and a £55 dining credit per person. Or you could go for the ice skating experience, complete with a glass of bubbles for the adults and a sweet treat for the children, or make a day of it and dine at one of the hotel’s three restaurants. 

Reigate Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8QX; 23rd November-30th January

Visit Beaverbrook.co.uk