Where to find free festive fun in London this Christmas

Jessica Baldwin

Jessica Baldwin

London: one of the most expensive cities on the planet. And as the temperatures plummet, the prices rise. But hidden amid the capital's costly ice rinks, light trails and grottoes, there's plenty of fun to be had for free, if you know where to look.

If you think free festive fun has to mean shuffling along packed streets, gawping at twinkling lights and ogling shopfronts, think again. Our guide has everything from ballet performances at the city's most famous opera house to joy-filled 'snow flurries' in the heart of Theatreland.

Whether you fancy a peaceful night carol singing beneath the capital's most iconic Christmas tree or an adrenaline-fueled festive jive, here are 15 yuletide experiences to enjoy around London this Advent that won't cost you a penny!

Where to stay: find great value accommodation for your festive city break with Travelodge*, which has more than 80 hotels across Central and Greater London.

Attend a festive Changing of the Guard

For a dose of seasonal pomp and pageantry head to Buckingham Palace for a festive Changing of the Guard. In the run-up to the big day, the military bands often swap traditional march music for classic carols, filling The Mall with holiday cheer. Expect bearskins, brass and plenty of Christmas spirit.

Venture inside a digital ice palace

The city's packed with pricey immersive experiences, but Outernet London offers jaw-dropping pixel play for free. This November, it's going full festive with its seasonal takeover: Ice Palace. You'll find yourself catapulted into fantastical Christmas realms, from The Nutcracker's grand ballroom and a life-size gingerbread house to Father Christmas's bustling workshop.

Experience a joy-filled "snow flurry"

With 300,000 twinkling lights, cobbled streets and a market decked out in giant Insta-worthy baubles, Covent Garden is London's festive showstopper. Swing by the piazza's dazzling tree (noon to 9 pm) for a magical on-the-hour snow flurry, guaranteeing you a white Christmas, whatever the weather.

See ballet at London's most famous opera house

If tickets to The Nutcracker are out of reach this year, get your seasonal ballet fix at Covent Garden's Royal Opera House. Home to both The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet, their hush-hush Live at Lunch sessions take place most Fridays at 1 pm, offering 45 minutes of ballet, opera or orchestral magic, all on the house.

Attend a midnight mass fit for a king

Think Westminster Abbey is reserved for royals at Advent? Think again. Pull up a pew beneath soaring Gothic arches and sing your heart out among royal tombs and Hockney's stained glass window. The larger-than-life carol services and spine-tingling midnight mass are both accessible to the general public; tickets are complimentary, but you'll need to book.

Sing beneath London's most iconic tree

Since 1947, Norway has gifted London a 20-foot spruce as thanks for Britain's wartime support. Decked out Norwegian-style, in simple vertical strings of lights and framed by London landmarks, the "Queen of the Forest" illuminates Trafalgar Square. Catch the grand lighting ceremony, or join the nightly carol service.

Parade through a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Watch local schoolchildren illuminate Maritime Greenwich with their sweet homemade lanterns in this enchanting annual parade. The procession winds through hundreds of years of seafaring history, from the Old Royal Naval College to the Cutty Sark, before finishing at Greenwich Market for the big Christmas switch-on. Expect live music, carols and plenty of seasonal stalls.

Embark on a luminous art trail

Light trails usually cost a packet, but Southbank's no-cost Winter Light exhibition lets you soak up the glow for nothing. This year, six new installations join the ever-growing trail of luminous artworks scattered around the Southbank Centre. Found them all? Warm up at the Winter Market, overlooking the glittering River Thames with a steamy chocolate-slathered waffle.

Sing carols in the West End's funkiest church

A bauble's throw from London's busiest (and most Christmassy) shopping streets, All Souls Langham Place is every Londoner's go-to for a holiday pick-me-up. Beneath the church's shimmering disco ball (yes, you read that right), a knockout choir belts out carols to a live orchestra, with complimentary mince pies and spiced punch to finish.

Listen to London's oldest orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra has been captivating audiences since the Edwardian era, but on select Fridays, you can experience its world-class musicians for free. These refreshingly unstuffy, hour-long concerts begin with an informative introduction to the music you're about to hear and often conclude with a brief Q&A.

Watch swimmers compete in the Peter Pan Cup

Dodging domestic duties this Christmas? Head to Hyde Park, where the fearless Serpentine Swimming Club races through the lake's icy waters. This chilly 100-yard Christmas Day race has been freezing competitors since 1864, and the atmosphere is as bracing as the water.

See 30,000 roses light up Chelsea's finest square

Duke of York Square is the new home of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity's breathtaking Ever After Garden. The poignant display features 30,000 glowing white roses, each dedicated to a lost loved one. Since its launch, it has raised a staggering £1 million for the charity. Visit for free, or donate to dedicate a rose to someone special.

Hang at London's poshest Christmas market

London's full of Christmassy markets, but for a few days in late November, the capital's glitziest pops up on Mayfair Place. Forget chestnuts: Novikov's caviar bumps are the dish of the day in these parts. Expect a free festive photo booth and a visit from Father Christmas himself. Stick around: DJs take over after dark.

Hit the dance floor with a Christmas Eve jive

With over 5,000 events a year, many of them free, the Southbank Centre is every savvy Londoner's go-to for yuletide fun on a budget. Shimmy into the big day at its annual Five Go Jive on Christmas Eve. Featuring short routines, beginners' workshops and live music, it's a swing dance extravaganza for all ages.

Get a bird's-eye view of the city's Christmas lights

Swerve Regent Street's hectic hubbub in favour of one of the city's spectacular public roof gardens. Located on the 15th floor of Fen Court, The Garden at 120 Rooftop, Fenchurch Street offers panoramic views of some of the capital's most recognisable buildings, including The Gherkin, the Walkie Talkie and The Shard. There's no need to book; just arrive early evening to catch the Shard's Christmas light show.

Climate in London

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
7°C maximum daytime temperature in January in London7
7°C maximum daytime temperature in February in London7
10°C maximum daytime temperature in March in London10
13°C maximum daytime temperature in April in London13
17°C maximum daytime temperature in May in London17
20°C maximum daytime temperature in June in London20
22°C maximum daytime temperature in July in London22
22°C maximum daytime temperature in August in London22
19°C maximum daytime temperature in September in London19
15°C maximum daytime temperature in October in London15
10°C maximum daytime temperature in November in London10
8°C maximum daytime temperature in December in London8
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
16 days with some rainfall in January in London16
12 days with some rainfall in February in London12
14 days with some rainfall in March in London14
14 days with some rainfall in April in London14
13 days with some rainfall in May in London13
11 days with some rainfall in June in London11
10 days with some rainfall in July in London10
12 days with some rainfall in August in London12
11 days with some rainfall in September in London11
13 days with some rainfall in October in London13
15 days with some rainfall in November in London15
14 days with some rainfall in December in London14

The above guide shows the climate in London. Find out more about conditions across the country in our complete guide to the climate in England.

Book your bed for the night: book an affordable stay with Travelodge, which has tens of properties in and around the capital.

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Jessica Baldwin

Jessica Baldwin

Posted in: City Season UK

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