Lightopia, Crystal Palace Park
The lantern festival, previously held at Chiswick House, has spread its wings for south London. The illuminated trail is draped around Crystal Palace Park, from its “rusty laptop” waterside concert venue to its iconic dinosaurs, along a 2km route.
There are giant Christmas baubles, rainbow walkways, musical stepping stones, illuminated flowers and a replica Crystal Palace, with a location-specific surprise at the end of the trail. A stunning celebration of light brightening the dark winter nights.
Until 2 January, tickets from £19.50/£13, london.lightopiafestival.com
Shrek’s Adventure Christmas Grotto, South Bank
Gingy, the Three Blind Mice and Three Little Pigs all make cameo appearances at the Christmas grotto at Shrek’s Adventure. Visitors will take a short wander through a snowy scene, then enter the cabin to meet Father Christmas and receive a candy cane before continuing on their adventure into Far Far Away via Drury Lane, the Muffin Man’s house and more.
Weekends until 24 December, tickets included in general admission from £27, booking essential, shreksadventure.com/whats-inside/events/christmas-grotto
Borealis, City of London
Swiss artist Dan Acher has brought the Northern Lights to London again, lighting up the night skies over Guildhall Yard. The immersive light installation projects the shape-shifting borealis into the clouds and night sky, in a location you wouldn’t normally expect to see the natural phenomenon.
Until 22 December, free; advance tickets sold out. Walk-up tickets available on the day, cityoflondon.gov.uk/events/borealis
Percy the Park Keeper’s winter trail, National Trust properties
At four National Trust properties across the capital (Morden Hall, Rainham Hall, Ham House, Osterley House, Claremont Landscape Garden), Percy the Park Keeper has created winter trails to help him find his equipment needed to complete his winter tasks.
Until 4 January, free, nationaltrust.org.uk/features/explore-percy-the-park-keepers-winter-wander-trails
Battersea Power Station Winter Village
Festive games and attractions in and around the new riverside development include a vintage Ferris wheel, wreath-making workshops, feed the snowman, Santa’s postbox, a 30ft Christmas tree and giant bauble installation. There will also be craft market stalls and festive films.
Until 31 December, prices vary, batterseapowerstation.co.uk/whats-on/detail/christmas-2021
Gingerbread City, Belgravia
It’s a Bake-off extravaganza at the Museum of Architecture, where a for a month, a gingerbread city is on display. Created in plots (urban river edge, forest, flood plain, farming, forgotten places) by architects to showcase their creativity and innovation, its theme is nature and the city: rewilding and creating space for biodiversity and balance. Gingerbread house-making workshops will also take place.
4 December to 9 January, £14/£8.50, workshops £40, museumofarchitecture.org
Christmas at St Paul’s Cathedral, City of London
As part of a guided tour of Christopher Wren’s masterpiece on Saturday 4 and 11 December, families can hear the Christmas story from a shepherd or make a ceramic tree decoration.
On 23-4 December, at 4pm, a Christmas carol service will be given by the cathedral choir, which is free and unticketed.
Family activities £17/£7.20, carols free, stpauls.co.uk/christmas-2021
Canopy Christmas Market, King’s Cross
Handmade crafts, street food, craft beer, natural wines and gins fill the stalls beneath the West Handyside canopy in King’s Cross, just behind Granary Square. Each weekend brings a special focus: vegan on 3-5 December, workshops and tastings 10-12 December, and last-minute craft 17-19 December.
Tuesday-Sunday until 23 December, free, kingscross.co.uk/event/canopy-christmas-market
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