Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city.

Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city.

Things to do in London in December 2023

The ianVisits guide to December's unusual events, tours, lectures and exhibitions happening around London.


Sunday 10th December

Take a boat trip through London's longest canal tunnel whilst enjoying a warm fruit punch and mince pie with cream.
2023-12-10
tba
 
Islington
Canal tunnel trips
Islington
Visit the 3 listed buildings and see the four Victorian beam engines, one of which will be working.
2023-12-10
10am to 3pm
 
Abbey Wood
Crossness Steaming Open Day
Abbey Wood
A model railway show with 15 working layouts and trade stalls.
2023-12-10
10am to 4pm
 
Woolwich
Woolwich
The broad range of ceramic artwork will have something for everyone this festive season.
2023-12-10
11am to 5pm
 
Peckham
Christmas Independent Ceramics Market
Peckham
Annual pre Christmas mini-exhibition featuring a selection of club and guest model railway layouts
2023-12-10
11am to 4pm
 
Islington
Islington
Featuring over 80 unusual shops full of curiosities & oddities.
2023-12-10
12pm to 6pm
 
Clerkenwell
Satanic Flea Market - Antichristmas Fayre
Clerkenwell

More London events on Sunday 10th December

Monday 11th December

No events are listed for today. Sorry.

More London events on Monday 11th December

Tuesday 12th December

Discover the unusual life of Elizabeth Blackwell, the woman behind this 18th century herbal
2023-12-12
1:15pm to 1:30pm
 
Pimlico
Lindley Live: A Curious Herbal - From Love Apples to Treacle Mustard
Pimlico

More London events on Tuesday 12th December

Wednesday 13th December

The museum will open later than usual to welcome visitors into a magical new take on its exhibition spaces, illuminated almost entirely by candles.
2023-12-13
4:30pm to 7pm
 
Greenwich
Greenwich
Annual evening of cheese at Borough Market, with cheese themed shopping and tastings.
2023-12-13
6pm to 9pm
 
Southwark
An Evening of Cheese at Borough Market
Southwark
A special evening as they blend history and holiday spirit together for Christmas at the Florence Nightingale Museum.
2023-12-13
6pm to 8pm
 
Southwark
Southwark

More London events on Wednesday 13th December

Thursday 14th December

An illustrated talk for the 400th anniversary of the publication of the first collection of William Shakespeare's plays.
2023-12-14
2pm to 3pm
 
City of London
Shakespeare, London and the First Folio
City of London
From the classic C shaped Cray-1 through generations of systems we will see and hear about the technology, applications and people involved with the worlds most powerful computers.
2023-12-14
Starts at 2:30pm
 
City of London
City of London
The museum will open later than usual to welcome visitors into a magical new take on its exhibition spaces, illuminated almost entirely by candles.
2023-12-14
4:30pm to 7pm
 
Greenwich
Greenwich
Late opening at the Canal Museum with a festive style.
2023-12-14
5:50pm to 9pm
 
Islington
Islington
An opportunity to discover the story of Keats by candlelight
2023-12-14
6pm to 7pm
 
Hampstead
Keats House by Candlelight
Hampstead
Discover the stories of our Favourite Christmas Carols with composer and conductor Andrew Gant.
2023-12-14
6:30pm to 8pm
 
Southwark
Deck the Hall - A Talk by Andrew Gant
Southwark
A rare opportunity to view the Home of Henry Stephens from top to bottom and learn more of its 149 year history.
2023-12-14
7pm to 8pm
 
Finchley
Avenue House - Take a Peek at Christmas
Finchley

More London events on Thursday 14th December

Friday 15th December

Join Dr Alastair Massie as he examines one of the pivotal moments in Britain’s defence of the Low Countries during the War of the Austrian Succession.
2023-12-15
12pm to 1pm
 
Chelsea
Sir John Ligonier’s Martyred Road to Rocoux
Chelsea
A talk about the disapearing architecture of the classic telephone exchange.
2023-12-15
2pm to 3:30pm
 
Strand
Strand
The museum will open later than usual to welcome visitors into a magical new take on its exhibition spaces, illuminated almost entirely by candles.
2023-12-15
4:30pm to 7pm
 
Greenwich
Greenwich
Hear about the latest cutting-edge satellite research and developments in how we observe the Earth from space.
2023-12-15
7pm to 8pm
 
Greenwich
Greenwich

More London events on Friday 15th December

Saturday 16th December

Visitors will have a chance to learn about 87 Hackford Road and its most famous tenant
2023-12-16
tba
 
Stockwell
Stockwell
Rummage through a selection of salvaged treasures from over 30 handpicked vintage traders.
2023-12-16
11am to 5pm
 
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
20 minute free horse and carriage rides around Chelsea each weekend in the run up to Christmas
2023-12-16
12pm to 4pm
 
Chelsea
Horse & Carriage Rides in Chelsea
Chelsea
A tour of the large church, followed by a slightly hair-raising climb up the church tower.
2023-12-16
Starts at 2pm
 
Islington
St Mary Islington - Church and Tower tour
Islington
A bus tour of London's Christmas lights - raising money for Ukraine.
2023-12-16
Starts at 3:30pm
 
City of London
London Christmas Lights Tour
City of London
The museum will open later than usual to welcome visitors into a magical new take on its exhibition spaces, illuminated almost entirely by candles.
2023-12-16
4:30pm to 7pm
 
Greenwich
Greenwich

More London events on Saturday 16th December

Sunday 17th December

The re-creation of London route 227 (Bromley to Penge or Crystal Palace) with a fleet of vintage buses.
2023-12-17
All Day
 
Visitors will have a chance to learn about 87 Hackford Road and its most famous tenant
2023-12-17
tba
 
Stockwell
Stockwell
Take a boat trip through London's longest canal tunnel whilst enjoying a warm fruit punch and mince pie with cream.
2023-12-17
tba
 
Islington
Canal tunnel trips
Islington
Rummage through a selection of salvaged treasures from over 30 handpicked vintage traders.
2023-12-17
11am to 5pm
 
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington

More London events on Sunday 17th December

Monday 18th December

No events are listed for today. Sorry.

More London events on Monday 18th December

Tuesday 19th December

No events are listed for today. Sorry.

More London events on Tuesday 19th December

Wednesday 20th December

No events are listed for today. Sorry.

More London events on Wednesday 20th December

Thursday 21st December

Late opening of the Bank of England Museum -- and free Christmas tree bauble filled with shredded bank notes
2023-12-21
5pm to 8pm
 
City of London
Museum Late: The Christmas special
City of London

More London events on Thursday 21st December

Friday 22nd December

A one-hour tour of the Triforium which includes the library, the Trophy Room and Great Model, as well as a spectacular view down the nave from above the Great West Doors.
2023-12-22
12:30pm to 2pm
 
City of London
Tour of St Paul's Cathedeal's Triforium
City of London
A Christmas themed late opening at the museum for adults only.
2023-12-22
6:45pm to 9:30pm
 
South Kensington
Christmas at the Natural History Museum
South Kensington

More London events on Friday 22nd December

Saturday 23rd December

For the first time since the pandemic, the annual turkey and meat auction returns to Smithfield meat market.
2023-12-23
10am to 11:30am
 
Barbican
Annual "christmas eve" meat and turkey auction
Barbican

More London events on Saturday 23rd December

Sunday 24th December

Soak up the festive spirit this Christmas Eve as you explore the very home in which Charles Dickens lived and wrote.
2023-12-24
10am to 6pm
 
Clerkenwell
Christmas Eve at the Charles Dickens Museum
Clerkenwell

More London events on Sunday 24th December

Monday 25th December

You can watch hardy folk going for a traditional Christmas morning swim in Hyde Park.
2023-12-25
Starts at 9am
 
Paddington
Paddington
A vintage bus hire company will be offering a free vintage bus service on Route 430 between Roehampton and Putney Bridge.
2023-12-25
9:30am to 3:50pm
 
Vintage bus to run along Route 430 on Christmas Day
The one ice rink that will be open on Christmas Day.
2023-12-25
12pm to 8pm
 
Hampstead
Hampstead

More London events on Monday 25th December

Tuesday 26th December

The Herga Mummers perform traditional ritual drama from the Middlesex villages of Eastcote, Pinner and Sudbury Hill.
2023-12-26
12pm to 4pm
 

More London events on Tuesday 26th December

Wednesday 27th December

No events are listed for today. Sorry.

More London events on Wednesday 27th December

Thursday 28th December

Take a boat trip through London's longest canal tunnel whilst enjoying a warm fruit punch and mince pie with cream.
2023-12-28
tba
 
Islington
Canal tunnel trips
Islington

More London events on Thursday 28th December

Friday 29th December

Take a boat trip through London's longest canal tunnel whilst enjoying a warm fruit punch and mince pie with cream.
2023-12-29
tba
 
Islington
Canal tunnel trips
Islington

More London events on Friday 29th December

Saturday 30th December

This is the first opportunity in two years for people to marvel at the working steam engines that provided water to millions and helped make London the city it is today.
2023-12-30
11am to 5pm
 
Brentford
New Years Steam Up
Brentford
Once a month open day at a nature reserve that sits alongside the railway in Forest Hill.
2023-12-30
1pm to 4pm
 
Forest Hill
Monthly open day at Dacres Wood nature reserve
Forest Hill

More London events on Saturday 30th December

Sunday 31st December

This is the first opportunity in two years for people to marvel at the working steam engines that provided water to millions and helped make London the city it is today.
2023-12-31
11am to 5pm
 
Brentford
New Years Steam Up
Brentford

More London events on Sunday 31st December

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