Looking for Christmas things to do in London? Here are our top Christmas in London festive pop ups…
Skylight
Wrap up well and head to the top of Tobacco Dock for mulled wine, fondue and views over the city of London. Along with festive mulled drinks (you can add a mince pie to your order for an extra £1.50) there’ll be a selection of winter cocktails including a spiced espresso martini with cardamom syrup, and a sweet apple crumble made with caramel syrup.
When it comes to food, fondue is the focus, with Melt Fondue serving emmental and gruyere with crusty bread or go for classic Canadian poutine served with hot gravy.
It’ll also be home to London’s first rooftop ice skating surface, but maybe give it a go before you’ve drunk too many festive tipples.
Opening 2 November, skylightlondon.com
Christmess at the Imaginarium
This year, Christmas has been cancelled and Christmess is taking place instead. Step into Olde London where you’ll be surrounded by live jazz and indulge in a deep-Southern feast of Cajun roast turkey, candied yams, salted celeriac and all the classic festive trimmings.
If you fancy something stronger, head to Santa’s whiskey grotto for a dram, the wine bar for a glass of glog or try and find the hidden absinthe bar set up by the green fairy. This is Christmas, but not as you know it…
Opening 18th November, christmess.co
Queen of Hoxton Winter Rooftop: The Moroccan Medina
Want to escape the chilly London air for a warmer climate? The Queen of Hoxton rooftop in Shoreditch will be transformed into a Moroccan hideaway this winter. The rooftop riad will be adorned with vibrant tiles, lanterns and a wigwam (of course).
This Moroccan hideaway is a place to warm your tummy, too, with halloumi fries, lamb and apricot tagine and a vegan mezze board on offer. There’ll be spiced hot buttered rum and pomegranate bellinis to sip on, but if you fancy something non-alcoholic, go for a pot of mint tea or cardamom spiced coffee.
26 October – End of March, queenofhoxton.com
Christmas at Pop Brixton
The heaters are on, pine trees are standing, and fairy lights are twinkling in the main square – Christmas has arrived at Pop Brixton. Over December, there’ll be a whole host of events taking place, from Christmas wreath making workshops, to festive food to warm you up. Vietbox will be serving Vietnamese mulled wine, infused with lemongrass and ginger, while Mama Jerk will be serving up a spiced jerk turkey.
Throughout December, popbrixton.org
Germans Gymnasium’s Terrace
Germans Gymnasium’s terrace at Kings Cross is being turned into The World of Tales this Christmas, inspired by the stories told by the Brother Grimm. Eight tales including Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin and Cinderella will each be recreated in cocktail form using Monkey 47 gin and Fever-Tree mixers. Little Red Riding Hood will be a spicy mixture of orange ginger ale, gin and lillet blanc. If you fancy a warming tipple, go for the Grimm’s potion – a hot G&T mixed with apple juice and blueberries. There’ll be roasted chestnuts and currywurst to enjoy alongside the drinks, too.
Opening 6 December, germangymnasium.com
Hot-tail bar at Il Tetto, Selfridges
Forget cocktails, this winter Selfridges rooftop is focusing on hot-tails, with a warm cocktail bar at Il Tetto. Mr Lyan (of White Lyan and Dandelyan) has created seven drinks inspired by Italian classics, including a rich hot chocolate served with a slice of buttered Pannetone and a blazed hot scotch to warm you up over the festive season.
Opening December, iltetto.co.uk
Bread Ahead seasonal bakery
Bread Ahead will be bringing their doughnuts, sourdough and tarts to Mayfair this winter with a café-style residency. Open from 7am till 7pm, you’ll be able to enjoy hot breakfasts at an 18th century banqueting table, including brioche French toast with bacon and syrup, scrambled eggs served on a demi-brioche bun and brown sourdough topped with mushrooms.
In true Bread Ahead style, a limited edition Christmas Pudding doughnut has been created, topped with a gingerbread star and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Grab one (or maybe two) to take away.
Opening 1 November, breadahead.com
WoodyBear
Inspired by an abandoned urban fairground, this winter pop up on Oxford Street will be different to the norm. Expect fairground rides, raclette wheels and hot gin punch on tap.
Madam and Monsieur will be toasting cheese sandwiches, or if you want something even more indulgent, go for a chunk of baked Mont d’Or. Along with hot gin punch, there’ll be eggnogs and negronis to keep you cosy.
2 November – 31 December, woodybear.london
The Ethicurean at The Gardening Society
Bristol-based restaurant The Ethicurean will be swapping its walled garden for a rooftop residency at John Lewis, Oxford Street, this winter. Expect seasonal modern British dishes with a twist, taking inspiration from historic London recipes, including a notable sticky toffee apple cake, Tandoor-spiced cauliflower and a limited edition Christmas venison pie. Warming tipples will be served alongside the food, among them an eight-spice mulled negroni and a pumpkin punch served with honeyed Rooibos tea syrup.
21 October – 24 December, johnlewis.com
Jimmy’s Lodge at the Southbank
Cosy up at the Southbank this winter in a lodge, and indulge in raclette, hot dogs, cheesy chips and hot winter mojitos. Spread across three areas, you can either keep it casual with street food, head to the refuge restaurant for a festive menu or hire out a private snow globe.
The restaurant will be inspired by après ski, with mulled wine cured gravlax salmon, game terrine and smoked goat curd to start, a vacherine, comte and emmental fondue served with bread, and artisan charcuterie for mains before finishing with winter spiced crème brûlée with cinnamon, cardmom and nutmeg.
If you want to keep cosy, choose one of the hot cocktails to sip on, from a classic mulled wine to butter rum – a drink made with spiced butter, pineapple and topped with a snowy meringue.
10 November – 31 December, jimmyslodge.com
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