Looking for an alternative to the typical Christmas fair? Well there are far more options at your mitten tips than you might think.
Yes, 'tis the season to be jolly again, but you don't have to celebrate the festivities in the same way every year. From traditional entertainment to quirky alternatives, London has a wealth of different activities on offer. We've compiled a selection of our favourites to get you started for Christmas 2015.
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
Presenting an elegant take on the usual Christmas lights displays, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (pictured above) offers an illuminated winter trail that beautifully incorporates an array of twinkling bulbs into its lush setting. Children can be entertained by the rides at White Peaks, including a Victorian carousel and a helter skelter, while for the grown ups a cup of mulled wine will keep you toasty. It's £16 for an advance ticket or £18 on the day for an adult, while children get the discounted price of £10 or £12 respectively.
Somerset House with Fortnum & Mason
For those looking to turn up the music a notch or ten, Skate at Somerset House with Fortnum & Mason provides an attractive alternative to ordinary ice skating. Set in the courtyard of the historic building, this ice rink's Club Nights belie the traditional façade after dark, with popular music from a variety of genres, while the Botanical Bar in Fortnum's Lodge and the Skate Lounge supply the drinks you'll certainly need to warm you once you've sufficiently shimmied and slipped your way across the ice. Club Nights will take place from the 18th November-10th January at £17 a ticket plus a booking fee for 50 minutes of skating.
ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo has fully embraced the festive spirit and is especially well decked out for family outings to keep the little ones entertained. Santa will be visiting from the 5th-24th December and you can meet him at £10 a pop for children and free for accompanying adults. For those wanting to make the most of his appearance, a special VIP Meet Santa package is also available before the zoo has even opened, including breakfast, a present and a chance to feed the reindeers, all for £34.99 per child and £9.95 per adult from 21st-24th December. Present making for the meerkats and a living nativity are a couple more of the yuletide themed activities on offer.
Hogwarts in the Snow
Hogwarts in the Snow will surely be a sight to behold. Not only is it a stunning scene, but the tour lets Potter fans in on the secrets behind the festive settings that you see in the films. Situated in Watford, it is only 20 minutes from London Euston to the nearest station, Watford Junction, and well worth the trip. Tickets are priced at £33 for an adult ticket and £25.50 for children (free for children aged four and under) with discounts for group and family bookings.
Charles Dickens Museum
Take a trip back to the creation of the Victorian Christmas in literature in Charles Dickens' very own London home. A number of yuletide events are being put on this winter at the Charles Dickens Museum to give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a Christmas past, seeing Dickens beautifully restored home festively decorated and lit by candle light for £20, costing just another £2 to see a one-man performance of a Christmas Carol. Move your exploration out onto the streets of London on a Christmas Dickensian Walk; a journey through not only Dickens' life and career, but his characters too for only £10.
From clubbing to literary classics, it's clear there is plenty in our capital to keep you entertained at this time of year, so don't limit yourself to just Christmas markets!
