Christmas with kids in Central London: Family guide 2026
Christmas feels a little more magical when you experience it as a family. There are plenty of ways to enjoy Christmas with kids in Central London, from festive attractions to seasonal experiences.
Many children’s Christmas activities in London are also within easy reach of one another, making it simple to plan a full festive day out. This guide brings together some of the most enjoyable ways to make the most of Christmas in Central London with children.
Step into Santa's magical Christmas world
Meeting Santa is one of the most memorable children’s Christmas events in London, and Central London offers more than the traditional grotto.
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Discover Hamleys Santa’s Grotto at The Langham
- Location: The Langham, 1C Portland Place, London W1B 1JA
Date: 15-24 December 2026, advance booking required
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: £275 for up to 3 people, £75 per extra person
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.1 mile (a 3-min walk)
The Langham and Hamleys create an enchanting Christmas Grotto filled with games, playful elves and sweet festive treats. Children can meet Father Christmas and his elves, receive a special gift bag and enjoy hot drinks as part of the experience.
Find Father Christmas at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
- Location: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London W2 2UH
Date: 19 November 2026-3 January 2027; closed Christmas Day
Santa’s Grotto: 10am-6pm
Price: £1.00 for off-peak times, £5.50 for standard times, and £8.25 to £8.50 for peak times
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 1 mile (around a 27-min walk)
Santa Land turns meeting Father Christmas into a bigger winter adventure. Children can visit the free Santa’s Grotto before discovering gentle rides including Santa’s Train Ride and Reindeer Ride. The grotto operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so families should allow extra time during busy December days.
Explore more: Best things to do near Hyde Park
Climb aboard the Santa Steam Express
- Departure: London Victoria Station, London SW1V 1JT
Date: 12 and 19 December 2026
Time: 9:15am, 11:45am, 3:15pm and 5:15pm
Price: Tickets start at £55 per person
Duration: 90 minutes
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: Around 1.8 miles (a 40-min walk)
Step aboard festively decorated vintage carriages for one of London’s most magical family Christmas events, with Santa, his elves, storytelling and festive singalongs. Children can meet Santa and receive a traditional gift, activity sheet, snack and drink, while adults can enjoy a warm drink and festive mince pie.
Taste the sweeter side of Christmas
A festive treat offers families a cosy break between busier family Christmas events. From Wonderland-inspired afternoon tea to winter sweets and freshly made Christmas doughnuts, Central London has plenty of ways to make the season taste as magical as it looks.
Pick a Christmas doughnut at Crosstown Fitzrovia
- Location: Crosstown Fitzrovia, 13 Newman Street, London W1T 1PB
Date: 1 November-31 December 2026
Time: Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm
Price: Christmas doughnuts from £5.75-£5.95
Must-try: Vegan Gingerbread & Caramel or Spiced Pear & Cinnamon Christmas Doughnut
Crosstown brings a little extra sweetness to Christmas in Fitzrovia Quarter with its limited-edition festive doughnuts. Freshly made and dressed for the season, they make a cheerful treat to pick up while enjoying Christmas with kids in Central London.
Discover more local sweet stops through the best bakeries in Central London.
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Tumble into Festive Mad Hatters afternoon tea
- Location: Sanderson London, 50 Berners Street, London W1T 3NG
Date: From 2 November 2026 through the New Year holidays
Time: Daily, 12pm-7pm
Price: around £75-£94 per adult; £45 per child under 12
Must-try: White Rabbit Carrot cake and Caterpillar éclair
Right in Fitzrovia Quarter, Sanderson transforms its famous Mad Hatters Afternoon Tea for Christmas with playful festive treats inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Whimsical teapots, imaginative cakes and the dedicated Little Hatters menu turn afternoon tea into an experience of its own rather than simply a break for food.
Explore more: Afternoon tea spots in Fitzrovia
Escape into a Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea
- Location: The Chesterfield Mayfair, 35 Charles Street, London W1J 5EB
Date: 13 November 2026-3 January 2027
Time: 12:30pm-5pm
Price: £75 per person; £85 with Champagne; £45 per child under 12
Must-try: Festive handmade sweets, seasonal savouries and warm scones
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.9 mile (a 25-min walk)
Chesterfield brings the feeling of a winter wonderland indoors with a festive version of its much-loved afternoon tea. Seasonal sweets, savouries and handmade treats arrive in an elegant Mayfair setting, with a dedicated children’s price making it easy to turn afternoon tea into one of the day’s family activities at Christmas.
Watch festive stories leap from page to stage
Christmas theatre turns familiar characters into some of the most exciting Christmas events for kids. The 2026 season brings colourful puppetry, music and storytelling to theatres around Central London, with several productions designed around shorter family-friendly performances.
Join Peppa Pig’s newest family adventure
- Location: Theatre Royal Haymarket, 18 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HT
Date: 4 December 2026 – 3 January 2027
Time: 10:30am, 11am, 1pm and 1:30pm
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes including interval
Price: From £12.50 (babies under 12 months can sit on an adult’s lap without a ticket)
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.8 mile (a 23-min walk)
Peppa, George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig arrive on stage with colourful sets, life-sized puppets, original songs and plenty of audience interaction. Earlier daytime performances make Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show! easy to combine with other children’s Christmas activities in London, including two daytime performances on Christmas Eve.
Meet the smartest giant in town
- Location: St Martin’s Theatre, West Street, London WC2H 9NZ
Date: 9 December 2026-3 January 2027
Time: 11am or 1:30pm
Duration: 55 minutes
Price: From £16
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.8 mile (around 20-min walk)
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved giant steps onto the stage in a warm story about friendship and generosity. Puppetry, lively songs and plenty of funny moments keep the story moving, while the compact running time makes it easy to include in a wider family Christmas day around the West End.
Follow Stick Man back to the family tree
- Location: Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AH
Date: 3 December 2026-3 January 2027
Time: 10:30am, 1pm and 3:30pm
Duration: 1 hour, no interval
Price: From £19
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.7 mile (a 18-min walk)
Based on the much-loved book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Stick Man brings his Christmas journey home to life through creative puppetry, live music and playful audience interaction. With plenty of laughs and a heartwarming appearance from Santa, it is a lively family event at Christmas for little theatre-goers.
Glide into Christmas on the ice
Ice skating is one of the most magical family activities at Christmas, bringing festive lights, music and winter scenery together on the rink. Families have several options within easy reach of Fitzrovia Quarter.
Twirl around Skate Leicester Square
- Location: Leicester Square, London WC2H 7LU
Date: 31 October 2026-3 January 2027; closed Christmas Day
Time: From 10am or 10pm depending on the date
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: From £14.5 for adults/£9.5 for children 3-12
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 0.7 mile (a 18-min walk)
Skate Leicester Square brings festive magic to the heart of the West End with a circular outdoor rink surrounding the square’s historic Shakespeare statue. Families can skate beneath the twinkling lights before warming up with hot chocolate and exploring the nearby Christmas market stalls, making it a sparkling addition to family Christmas activities in Central London.
Explore more: Best places to go ice skating in Central London
Skate beneath the tree at Somerset House
- Location: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
Date: 11 November 2026-10 January 2027; closed Christmas Day
Time: 9am or 10am-10pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: Adults £13-£28.50; children £11-£15
Kids Skate Club: Selected dates from 14 November
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: 1 mile (around a 28-min walk)
Glide around the grand courtyard of Somerset House beneath a spectacular 40ft Christmas tree. Dedicated Kids Skate Club sessions help younger skaters take their first steps on the ice, while Skate School offers extra guidance for families who want to build their confidence before joining the festive rink.
Skate under the lights at Hyde Park
- Location: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, London W2 2UH
Date: 19 November 2026-3 January 2027; closed Christmas Day
Time: 10am-9pm
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: £12.65-£19.25 for adults/ £9.35-£13.75 for children under 12
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: Around 1 mile (around a 28-min walk)
Glide around Hyde Park’s Victorian bandstand on the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, surrounded by a canopy of twinkling lights. The lively festive setting makes it one of the most atmospheric family Christmas activities, with plenty of rides, treats and entertainment to enjoy after leaving the ice.
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Watch Central London glow after dark
Not every memorable Christmas experience needs a ticket. The city’s lights are among the easiest free family activities on Christmas, whether families choose a display after another attraction or simply head out for an evening beneath the decorations.
Walk beneath Oxford Street’s sparkling stars
Location: Oxford Street, London W1
Switch-on: Expected 2 November 2026
Stay in Fitzrovia Quarter and look up as thousands of sparkling stars form a glowing canopy above Oxford Street. With festive shop windows shining below, the whole street feels bright and magical after dark.
Discover more: THINGS TO DO IN OXFORD STREET
Look up at Regent Street’s Christmas angels
Location: Regent Street, London W1
Switch-on: Expected 5 November 2026
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: Around 0.2 mile (a 5-min walk)
Regent Street glows beneath its famous Spirit of Christmas angels, with illuminated wings appearing to float high above the street. The sweeping lights create a magical scene that feels especially spectacular when seen from below.
Find a playful Christmas scene in Carnaby
- Location: Carnaby Street, London W1F
Switch-on: 4 November 2026
Distance from Fitzrovia Quarter: Around 0.3 mile (a 7-min walk)
Carnaby brings a playful burst of colour to Christmas, with its 2026 display inspired by the feel-good nostalgia of the 1990s. Bright lights and creative decorations transform the smaller streets into a cheerful festive scene full of colour after dark.
Discover more displays through our guide to Christmas lights in Central London.
Each part of Central London brings its own character to the festive season, from grand shopping streets to creative neighbourhoods and elegant historic corners.
Want to see more of Central London after dark?
Make family Christmas memories in Fitzrovia Quarter
Christmas with kids feels even more magical when everything is within easy reach. From festive treats and family shows to ice skating and sparkling lights, Fitzrovia Quarter makes a welcoming base for enjoying the season together, with quieter streets to enjoy the festive excitement.
Explore more seasonal ideas, places to eat and festive experiences through Christmas in Fitzrovia Quarter and make the neighbourhood part of your family’s Christmas in Central London.