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The Top Kid's, Food & Drink and Adult's Advent Calendars of 2024 Count down to Christmas with our guide to the most original and delicious advent calendars of 2024. From musical Gruffalo calendars, to advent doll's houses, luxury beauty calendars housed within jewellery boxes, gardener's calendars and hot chocolate treats, it's all here. __________________ KIDS The Gruffalo Musical Advent Calendar This magical advent calendar plays three songs from The Gruffalo’s Child movie, while magnetic characters dance on its ice rink, in front of a wintry forest backdrop. Open the doors to reveal pop-up scenery, stickers and three skating figures (Gruffalo, Gruffalo Child and snake) for the Music Box base as you count down to Christmas. It’s also filled with 3D pop-up card models and a range of stickers to decorate the festive scene. BUY FROM DANILO. £24.49 Polly Pocket Advent Calendar This wonderfully original advent calendar is housed in a giant pink gingerbread house playset, with numbered doors opening up to 25 different Christmas rooms in the house, filled with festive surprises to play with. The set houses 24 toys, from Christmas trees to cake rings, snowmen and furniture. There are also two dolls to live in the calendar house and the best bit is that it can be played with all-year round. BUY FROM JOHN LEWIS. £14.69 Pokemon Advent Calendar This fabulous Pokemon Holiday Calendar by Jazwares is bulging with 16 Battle Figures and eight accessories, for a festive Pokemon toy for every day of the Christmas countdown . All Battle Figures have a pearlescent finish that is exclusive to this calendar. It’s comes in a lovely, sturdy advent box and is the perfect way for little Pikachus to count down to the big day. BUY FROM JOHN LEWIS . £24 Pinball Machine Advent Calendar This planet-friendly, limited edition Pinball Machine Advent Calendar by Build Your Own has pieces and instructions behind each door on the countdown to Christmas. Over December, you will gradually assemble the pieces to construct a fully functioning Pinball Machine that the whole family can enjoy on Christmas Eve and beyond. Load your swirly glass marbles into the spring-loaded launcher and let the game begin. Will your marbles whizz along the top ramp or spin around the vortex cone? Use the elastic-band powered flippers to keep your marbles in play for as long as possible and get the highest score. There are five targets to aim for in this fast-paced action-packed game, which is easy to assemble using slot together techniques, with no glue, no mess and no fuss. BUY FROM BUILDYOUROWN £19.99 GROWN-UPS AYU Cosmetics Advent Calendar This stunning advent calendar doubles as a beautiful, velvet lined jewellery box with mirror  and pull out drawer, and houses 12 full-sized AYU Cosmetics products. On each day in the twelve night countdown, you will discover numbered boxes containing full size luxury gifts like Illuminating Face Cream, Glamour Lengthening Mascara, Liquid Blush (Pink or Peach), Cream Shadow Stick, Concealer Brush, Buffer Foundation Brush, Lip Gloss, Lip Balm (New & Exclusive), Kajal Eye Pencil, Eye Shadow Palette, Individual Eyeshadow, Brush Soap (New & Exclusive). You also have peace of mind, knowing that make-up artist Suzie O’Neill’s award-winning brand is fully vegan, never tests on animals and only uses wood from regenerated forests for the handles of their brushes. A truly stunning countdown to the big day. BUY FROM AYU COSMETICS. £127.73 Bimble & Bolt Runners Advent Calendar Perfect for passionate runners, park run joggers and fitness lovers of all kinds, this advent calendar sells out every year. It's bulging with the team’s brand-new Soft Stepper running socks, along with a mix of running accessories, energy boosters, hydration essentials, and snacks. With a total combined retail value of over £60, this calendar is packed with everything you need to elevate your runs.  BUY FROM BIMBLE & BOLT. £39.99 Yankee Candle Advent Book This gorgeous calendar is packed with 24 days of festive fragrances, hidden behind each door. It includes: Silver Sage & Pine, Cinnamon Stick, Wild Orchid, Amber & Sandalwood, Bayside Cedar, Vanilla Bean Espresso, Vanilla Cupcake, Black Cherry, Red Raspberry, Clean Cotton®, Spiced Banana Bread, and Soft Wool and Amber Accessory as well as a Constellation sliver plated glass Tea Light Holder. BUY FROM YANKEE CANDLE . £49.99 Border in a Box Advent Calendar The perfect Christmas countdown for green fingers, this unique calendar has 24 packets of seeds behind each door, containing a mixture of flowers, vegetables, herbs and even a Christmas Tree. The seeds have been selected to cultivate a diverse and vibrant garden, from fragrant herbs to colourful flowers, delicious vegetables and your own Norway Spruce tree. The pack contains twine to hang the 24, numbered seed envelopes, which feature a pretty, hand drawn wreath design, and 24 mini pegs. BUY FROM NOTONTHEHIGHSTREET £49.99 FOOD & DRINK Popcorn Shed Gourmet Popcorn Advent Calendars Popcorn Shed have two moreish advent calendars to pop open over December. The Signature Gourmet calendar has the beautiful festive design of a snow-capped, Popcorn Shed shop, bulging with 24 flavours, including Salted Caramel, Pop N Choc, Peanut Butter Caramel, Pecan Pie, Berry-licious and Cookies & Cream. The Vegan Gourmet calendar is equally delicious, in an emerald green box, festooned with  trees, crackers and holly and containing 24 treats, in Butterscotch, Cocoa Caramel, Cherry Pie, Gingerbread, Chocolate Orange and Christmas Pudding flavours. The only tricky part is limiting yourself to one window... BUY FROM POPCORN SHED. £25 Wonderland 12 Cocktails of Christmas This gift pack of easy but impressive cocktails is guaranteed to put the merry into Christmas. The 12 cocktails use Brewdog's spirits and are cunningly designed with extra space in the can, for the perfect shake and pour. The fizzy offerings in the box simply need to be chilled and poured. The treats include perfectly made classics, like the Mojito, Cosmo and Margarita along with some inspired twists on bar favourites, like their wonderfully festive Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini, or the Watermelon Margarita. No shaking, mixing, or messing up recipes, just perfect, bar-quality cocktails straight from the fridge - a lovely gift which will disappear worryingly quickly, if your recipient is anything like us... BUY FROM BREWDOG . £40 Cocoba Hot Chocolate Advent calendar An ingenious antidote to the traditional choccie calendar, this bad-boy contains an assortment of 24 hot chocolate bombes, spoons, and drinking chocolate flakes, all crafted from premium chocolate. It’s excellent value, in a chunky and suitably merry box, with everything you need to make the perfect, velvety winter cocoa. BUY FROM COCOBA . £62.95 TWG Tea’s The Twelfth Night Advent Calendar This luxurious calendar is a unique take on the advent countdown, with 12 of the finest teas included. The beautifully presented calendar is a gorgeous way to warm you through the countdown, with a dozen Christmas teas behind each door, including Christmas Jewel Tea; Magic Christmas Tea; Night in Paris Tea; Night in Shanghai Tea; and Night in New York Tea. BUY FROM TWG TEA . £70.98 We have been gifted samples in order to provide honest and accurate tried and tested reviews. But we never feature anything we don't recommend. Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Remarkable Immersive Theatre and Victorian Banquet Experience Bursts with Christmas Spirit Even the steeliest Scrooges will wrap themselves in mistletoe and dispatch urchins to buy fat geese after experiencing The Great Christmas Feast , a remarkable immersive experience which combines theatre, cinematic live music, food, drink and blockbuster sets, loaded with festive magic. The Lost Estate’s critically acclaimed retelling of A Christmas Carol has sold out for the past six years, so our expectations are high, as we head through the red velvet draped entrance for its launch event, into snowy, cobbled Victorian streets and through the secret, Christmas tree-flanked front door into the home of Charles Dickens himself. The theatre and feasting space transports us to Christmas Eve in Victorian London, 1843. With 5000sq ft of sets made by Darling & Edge - the legendary immersive designers behind Gingerline, Secret Cinema and Crystal Maze - the story unfolds around us before the show begins. The room is vast, yet intimate, atmospherically lit by flickering table candles and dangling street lights. The festive smells of roast duck and mulled wine hang in the air; classical Christmas music sets the tone, we’re surrounded by Christmas trees, artfully piled old books with four stages dotted around us, featuring sets like Scrooge’s velvet bed or Charles Dickens’s desk. Our china tea cups are filled with mulled cider, quickly followed by excellent Victorian cocktails - I have the First Edition 1843 - a fresh, citric Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne, Cognac and Yellow Chartreuse long fizz - and my partner kicks off with an Old Curiosity, their festive take on the Old Fashioned, infused with toasted pecans, burnt orange and winter bitters. Then the gong sounds, the lights dim and Charles Dickens bursts into the room - actor Alex Phelps reprises this role, as well as Scrooge and 18 other characters in this powerful, one-man performance, which recognises Dickens’s famous solo readings of his works, with us playing the role of his specially invited audience to preview his new, ghostly Christmas tale, over dinner at his home. Phelps fizzes with energy and captivating charisma, taking over the entire space, bouncing between tables to share wine with diners, and leaping through characters, aided by clever sets, dramatic lighting, spine-tingling effects and extraordinary live music from acclaimed musicians, who are the beating heart of the experience. His youthful Dickens reimagines the stuffy, mutton-chopped character that many imagine, and is perhaps closer to the jolly philanthropist, and occasional magician that he was. Stand out moments include a beautiful scene, with Phelps as Ghost of Christmas Present, fanning snowflakes around himself as he spins around in a green velvet coat; or the dramatic lightning-lit moment, when he sees a terrifying glimpse of his future. Phelps artfully moves the audience, recreating the family mourning Tiny Tim and then fills the room with cheer, forcing the room to join a rowdy Victorian dance, or bringing up audience members to act out scenes with him - many diners are dressed in period attire for the occasion and most are in their Victorian best. The show is divided into three acts, with an extravagant Victorian course for each, provided by Dickens’s housekeeper Ursula, otherwise known as Executive Chef Ashley Clarke, who is known for his delicious work with Gordon Ramsay Group, Smokestak, and Temper Soho. These are masterful. We begin with an explosion of Christmas flavours, via a dreamy Ham Hock Terrine with Pickled Beets, Samphire, Chutneys and Pickles, mopped up with great, Dickensian hunks of malt and white sourdough with truffle and sea salt butter. This is followed by a rich and tender Confit Grassingham Duck leg, with flesh which falls from the bone. The artichoke purée, mulled cabbage, and duck jus trimmings are excellent, and the standout is the crispy and fluffy thyme and garlic roast potatoes, which our forks greedily fight over. I lack a sweet tooth, but seemed to grow several for the dessert - it’s a Christmas miracle. The Twelfth Night Cake is Christmas on steroids - crispy, gooey, bursting with brandy and accompanied by a sublime plum pudding ice cream. These are all washed down with a lovely Rioja from Dickens’ well stocked wine cellar. The production is outrageously ambitious and with so many balls in the air, you would expect (and forgive) them for dropping one. But this is not the case, they triumph in every element - from the theatre to the food, drink, atmosphere, music and sets. We reluctantly return to the cold, dark streets of West Kensington, warmed by the festive magic of Dickens's hospitality and brimming with Christmas spirits of every form. The Great Christmas Feast , 9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP. Until 12 January 2025. Tickets from £105 pp Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Magical Light Trail Dials Up Christmas Spirit with Spectacular New Installations Leeds Castle has turned its Christmas dial up to 11 with its stunning light trail through its magnificent, 550-acre estate, blazing and twinkling with festive magic. We head to its launch, where we discover gingerbread men and fireworks exploding across the castle walls; winding paths of flaming flowers, shimmering in the water; sparkling tunnels, a field of light which dances to Christmas music; giant colour-changing lilies illuminating the lake and an otherworldly, lit waterfall. There are sparkling gingerbread men, leaping from trees; smoke and lasers that our children dance through; UV, neon bridges and giant Nutcrackers - in keeping with the theme of the castle’s new, immersive show. We warm up with mulled wines and hot chocolates, with pizza, crumble and custard at their fair and festive market area. The experience closes with marshmallow toasting around a fire pit, before a surprise meeting with Father Christmas himself, who awaits guests outside his cosy, wooden grotto at the close of the magical experience. It is even more beautiful than last year's light trail, with brand new installations and enough merry photo opps around each corner to melt your phone. Christmas is officially switched on. Christmas at Leeds Castle,   Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL. 23 November to 1 January. Not included with admission ticket. Tickets from £22.50 pp and £16per child. Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

With Chimney Experiences to Blow Santa's Mind, Skating, Festive Food and Entertainment, this might be London's Ultimate Christmas Destination Battersea Power Station has turned its Christmas dial up to 11 with this year’s Glide ice rink, plus luxury igloos, a glass apres ski lodge, rides, games, elf school, festive markets and the chance to hurry up its iconic chimney, for a sleigh's view over London’s festive twinkles. Giant candy canes welcome us, as we totter along Electric Boulevard towards the landmark, where we discover a 40 ft tree in Malaysia Square, exploding with 1,500 baubles, and a giant bauble installation bigger than a bus along the riverwalk. London’s only riverside ice rink has returned for its third season, set against the backdrop of the Grade II listed Power Station, with three interconnecting rinks and a suitably extra, 30-foot Christmas tree. The rink itself is straight out of a Richard Curtis Christmas rom-com, festooned with twinkling lights and swirling with couples or kids floating along with penguin aids. Away from the ice, we recommend a festive tipple at The Glass House, overlooking the river and station. Their Cointreau Christmas Margarita with cranberry sauce is our kind of Christmas spirit and the Hot Chocolate Orange is a big hit with the kids, who burn the sugar off, by hurtling around Glide’s Helter Skelter and Carousel. If you’re feeling particularly fancy, there are posh glass igloos - festooned with McQueen flowers, naturally - for fizz and a banging view of the Power Station. For us, the real wow factor is a chance to play Santa with a trip up the world’s most iconic chimney, Lift 109. The experience includes an immersive history exhibit, before stepping inside the glass elevator and whooshing up 109 metres to the top of the chimney, for extraordinary 360 degree views across London’s skyline. There are also a gaggle of seasonal events, from Santa’s School for Elves - a 25-minute experience inside the Big FC’s cosy yurt - to Christmas crafting workshops; festive food huts - check out their Chimney Cakes - and obviously, all the Christmas shopping and food your purse can handle, inside the station. It’s one of our ultimate London Christmas picks - amazing backdrop: check. Skating: check. Festive food and entertainment: check. Chance to get a Santa’s eye view above London: check, check, check. Battersea Power Station, Circus Rd W, Nine Elms, London SW11 8DD Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

We journey through the lands of toys, sweets, snowflakes and flowers on a quest to rescue the Sugarplum Fairy Leeds Castle has been transformed into a magical, immersive Nutcracker experience, where we journey through the lands of toys, sweets, snowflakes and flowers on a quest to rescue the Sugarplum Fairy. The Nutcracker himself greets us at the grand, Christmas tree flanked doors to the castle, which is bulging with enough beautifully decorated trees to fill an enchanted forest. The installations and decorations are jaw-dropping and have the starring role in this reimagining of the festive classic, alongside live actors, playing the Sugarplum Fairy, the Nutcracker and the mischievous Mouse King. We shrink in Clara’s bedroom, where her giant toys come to life around us. There are life-sized musical jewellery boxes for our children to spin on like little ballerinas, with giant golden keys to twist in their backs. We rummage through fancy dress boxes for the children to join the Mouse King on his stage for photographs, dressed as mini Nutcackers. It’s a breathless romp through room after stunning room, with our children excitedly searching for clues and delighting at each new discovery. We discover bedrooms filled with gingerbread houses, snow and trees; enormous twinkling trees through the window in the cobbled courtyard and vintage toys beneath trees, ready for Christmas Day. Stunning chandeliers and Christmas trees constructed from tutus and ballet slippers herald our meeting with the Sugar Plum Fairy, in a magical room, festooned with giant candy canes, sweets, trees and twinkling lights. The experience culminates with a sword fight showdown between the Nutcracker and Mouse King, who is finally defeated. We leave this impossibly festive and cosy experience back into the cold night of the castle grounds, where the Nutcracker waves us off with a wink… was it all a dream? A Nutcracker Christmas , Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL. 23 November to 5 January. Included with admission ticket, which also gives you access to Leeds Castle for a year Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Unmissable festive experiences, theatre, ice rinks, feasts and family events this Christmas 2024 Polish your baubles, unleash the shelf elves, frown at the orange cream Quality Streets and get out the novelty hats because it’s here… the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. Time Well Spent ’s elves have been gathering the UK's best Christmas events of 2024 and wrapping them up in a giant bow for you , from the top Christmas experiences and ice rinks to festive theatre and family fun this December. See why our excitement is as high as Santa's sleigh, by clicking the buttons below: ______________________ Best Christmas Events The Great Christmas Feast Read our review The Lost Estate’s critically-acclaimed, immersive theatre and dining experience, A Christmas Carol: The Great Christmas Feast is back, following six sold out years in a row. Guests will be transported to the home of Charles Dickens on Christmas Eve 1843, for three courses of extravagant Victorian feasts, while watching an immersive retelling of the ultimate festive ghost story, with cinematic live music and 5000sq ft of sets constructed by legendary immersive designers Darling & Edge ( Gingerline , Secret Cinema , Crystal Maze ). The Lost Estate, 9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP. 8 November 2024 - 12 January 2025. Tickets £135-£265pp Hogwarts in the Snow Have a very Harry Christmas at the Hogwarts in the Snow studio tour, when the iconic Harry Potter sets are twinkling with Christmas lights and covered in a blanket of snow. The Great Hall will be decked in golden decorations from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, and you’ll find a banquet of turkeys and flaming puddings for the end-of-term Hogwarts feast. Learn the dance moves studied by Neville Longbottom ahead of the Yule Ball in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , or how the invisibility cloak Harry Potter receives as a Christmas present was used to create the illusion on-screen. Then step into the Forbidden Forest , where the woodlands will be covered in snow, or stroll down Diagon Alley   with its snowy shop fronts and cobbled stones. Stop by the Christmas shop which has returned this year to provide you with a premium and exclusive selection of Christmas gifts, souvenirs, and stocking fillers. The experience ends with a walk around the Hogwarts Castle model, which is blanketed with snow. Hogwarts in the Snow , Warner Bros Studios, Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR. 16 November - 19 January. Tickets from £56. Under 4s go free. Christmas at Kew The most festive botanical event this side of the moon kicks off on 13 November,  with Kew’s annual light behemoth. Discover glittering tunnels of light, dancing lakeside reflections and trees drenched in jewel-like colours. Warm up with flickering flames in the fire garden, wander beneath larger-than-life illuminations and keep your eyes peeled for Father Christmas along the way. Kew Gardens  has four entrance gates: Victoria Gate (TW9 3JR) Elizabeth Gate (TW9 3AB) Brentford Gate (TW9 3AF)13 November - 5 January. From £25.50 per adult. £16 per child. Children under 4 go free A Nutcracker Christmas at The Castle Read our review Rescue the Sugar Plum Fairy in Leeds Castle's reimagining of The Nutcracker festive classic, where toys come to life. In this festive journey through beautifully festive rooms, discover a whimsical doll house, and a rocking horse which awaken the mischievous Mouse King. The event culminates in a  showdown between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, with live performers on weekends and during the school holidays. A Nutcracker Christmas , Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL. 23 November to 5 January. Included with admission ticket, which also gives you access to Leeds Castle for a year. Christmas at Leeds Castle Read our review Leeds Castle has turned its Christmas dial up to 11 with its stunning light trail through its magnificent, 550-acre estate, blazing and twinkling with festive magic. We head to its launch, where we discover gingerbread men and fireworks exploding across the castle walls; winding paths of flaming flowers, shimmering in the water; sparkling tunnels, a field of light which dances to Christmas music; giant colour-changing lilies illuminating the lake and an otherworldly, lit waterfall. There are sparkling gingerbread men, leaping from trees; smoke and lasers that our children dance through; UV, neon bridges and giant Nutcrackers. The experience closes with marshmallow toasting around a fire pit, before a surprise meeting with Father Christmas himself. Christmas at Leeds Castle, Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL. 23 November to 5 January. Included with admission ticket, which also gives you access to Leeds Castle for a year. Secret Santa's Giving Grotto Many children will wake up on Christmas morning without presents, food or even a bed to get out of. Action for Children is addressing this by launching the UK’s first Secret Santa’s Giving Grotto , where children give a gift rather than receiving one.  Unlike a traditional grotto, young visitors will step into the role of a Secret Santa, selecting a gift (from £5 teddies to books, toys, meals and warm clothes) that could help a vulnerable child. As parents make a donation, their child will choose a present which could help a vulnerable child feel the magic of Christmas.  When there, the parent or carer will be able to make a donation, helping to support the vital work Action for Children does all year round. For the children, once they have visited Santa, they will receive a special reward of a photo taken with Father Christmas, a ‘thank you’ letter, and a badge for their generosity.  BOOK NOW . 15 Bateman Street, Soho, London. 29 November (12.30 - 7pm) 30 November (10am - 7pm) Entry is FREE with a £5 deposit, allowing for a family up to five. The Elf on the Shelf® Christmas Adventure Our review The interactive Christmas adventure from The Lumistella Company’s The Elf on the Shelf® Santaverse™ will make its global debut at Bluewater in Kent from 16 November. Visitors will step through the Elf Door to the North Pole, where they will embark on an interactive, 25-minute adventure, to help the Scout Elves spread Christmas cheer. As well as making a wish at the wish-gatherer, challenges will include Christmas tree decorating and snowball throwing. Meanwhile Santa will be watching over the ‘Christmas Spiritmeter,’ a magical machine monitoring Christmas Spirit levels. Santa plans to drop into some sessions to encourage the children to complete all the challenges on their Christmas Spirit Checklists. Budding elves will collect stamps on their Christmas Spirit Checklist as they complete games and challenge, and each child will receive a gift. While there, guests can also visit Bluewater’s Ice Rink, the Winterland experience and The Giving Tree. The Elf on the Shelf Christmas Adventure , Upper Rose Gallery, Bluewater, Dartford, Greenhithe DA9 9ST. 16 November - 24 December The Gingerbread City The Museum of Architecture’s deliciously festive Gingerbread City returns this Christmas, with an eye-popping world of buildings and people made entirely from gingerbread, frosting and sweets, complete with moving trains and twirling parts. Each year, the MoA challenges more than 50 leading architects and designers to create a futuristic, gingerbread city. There are also daily workshops and this year’s promises to be the sweetest yet. MOA , The Gaumont, Chelsea, 196 - 222 King's Road, London SW3 5XP. 30 November - 29 December. Christmas at Old Royal Naval College Our review Old Royal Naval College is bulging with festive family events, including storytellings with Father Christmas, the return of family favourite, immersive show The Elves and The Magic Bear, Christmas carols, and a unique festive dining experience beneath Luke Jerram’s astonishing Mars installation. Old Royal Naval College , London SE10 9NN. From 30 November Natural History Museum at Christmas Even the T-Rex is dressed in his jazziest Christmas jumper and Santa hat… and you can meet the big guy himself for storytelling with Father Christmas, and nab a pic and gift. Natural History Museum , Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD. 10 - 15 December. Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park The capital’s annual, Christmas mecca returns for its 17th year on 21 November. The event includes a Magical Ice Kingdom made from more than 500 tonnes of ice and snow, plus an apres ski ice bar; ice rink, a real ice slide; wintry Cirque Berserk circus show; Zippos Christmas Circus Show, ice sculpting workshop; open air Christmas markets and a Bavarian Village. There are rides for all ages, from Ice Mountain to a ride around a Christmas tree in giant baubles, plus Santaland with more rides, the Santa Express Train and the chance to meet the Big Guy himself; firepits for marshmallow toasting, the apline, Explorer’s Rest and a Santaland Chill Out area for little ones.   Hyde Park Winter Wonderland , Hyde Park, London. 21 November - 5 January. Off peak tickets are free and peak tickets are £7.50 Winter Festival - Museum of the Home Winter traditions are explored through a gaggle of colourful events for all ages, celebrating cultures spanning from Diwali and Hanukkah to Christmas and Lunar New Year. Highlights include the Winter Past Exhibition, looking back on festive traditions from 1630 to the future and Christmas events from live toy theatres, to gift making workshops. Museum of the Home , 136 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8EA. 19 November - 12 January Christmas at Kent Life This award-winning Christmas experience invites children to graduate from elf school, hop on the Jingle Express for a ride around the festive farm, visit the Candy Cane Cottage sweet shop, build their own teddy bear, decorate gingerbread or make reindeer food. The highlight of the event will be visiting Father Christmas in his magical grotto where little ones can choose a gift from the well-stocked toy shop. The Snow Inn will also be filled with mulled wine and festive food and drinks. All tickets include all day access to Kent Life, which is brimming with activities and animals. And from 30 November - 1 December, the Santa Paws experience invites dogs along for a photo with the Big FC. Kent Life , Lock Ln, Maidstone ME14 3AU. 30 November – 24 December, Adult: £13.95, Child (aged 1-15): £18.95, Child (under 1): £8, Concession: £12.95, Family (2+2): £65 Crystal Maze Snow Dome The Christmas magic returns to The Crystal Maze with the return of The Snow Dome. Leap into the festive edition of the 90s gameshow, racing against the clock, solving puzzles and taking part in interactive activities during a 75-minute adventure. Players can take to the snow from 18 November to 29 December at the London and Manchester locations. Crystal Maze , 22 - 32 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EU. £59pp Friends The Experience: The One in London FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London is giving their New York-themed sets a festive twist, inviting fans to celebrate the festive season “Holiday Armadillo” style. Relive unforgettable holiday moments from the show, including Monica’s Christmas tree and Ross’s Holiday Armadillo costume. Additionally, visitors can indulge in a holiday-themed menu, which offers festive treats at FRIENDS™ Station. Could that BE any more festive? The Friends Experience : The London One, Immerse LDN, ExCeL Waterfront, E16 1XL. Tickets £20 Best Christmas Theatre Robin Hood at The London Palladium This is the ultimate panto, on steroids. Famed for special effects like the giant beanstalk, which caused jaws (including our own) to drop as it grew through the audience to the ceiling. This year, Julian Clary returns for its ninth season to steal the show with smut and sequins as Robin Hood, alongside Jane McDonald as Maid Marion.  This brilliantly camp and extra production sees the return of Palladium panto favourites, including Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers Charlie Stemp and Rob Madge, with insane sets, special effects and costumes. Robin Hood, London Palladium , 8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF. 7 December - 12 January. Tickets from £39.50 A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic The Ebeneezer baton has been passed onto John Simm for The Old Vic’s eight staging of A Christmas Carol. The latest (and possible final) of the festive Dickens classic is being touted as one of the best yet, with the Life on Mars star masterfully switching from bah-humbugging old miser to fat goose-sharing Christmas cheer on two legs. A Christmas Carol , The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB 23 November - 22 February. Tickets from £15 pp The Snowman at Peacock Theatre Spend an evening walking in the air in the 27th year of this magical ballet adaptation of the much-loved Christmas story. Hearts (and snowmen) will melt, with the moving choreography, enchanting set, fake snow, and famous soundtrack for big and little kids. Peacock Theatre , Portugal St, London WC2A 2HT. 23 November-4 January 2025. Hansel and Gretel at The Globe Read our review Follow the trail of breadcrumbs all the way to Shakespeare's Globe this Christmas, for their beautiful production of Hansel and Gretel, returning for its second year. Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage transforms the Globe Theatre into the gingerbread and lollipop festooned sphere of the world's most famous witch-conquering siblings, for this classic Brother Grimm fairytale. In this timely retelling, a woodcutting dad and bread-making mum leave their children in the woods to protect them from their war-torn village, where they meet a strange old lady with a plan of her own. The Globe,  21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. 29 November - 5 January Sleeping Beauty at Broadway Read our review Award-winning panto alchemist, Susie McKenna has waved her wand and transported Sleeping Beauty to Lewishtonia, in this modern retelling of the classic, packed with magic, comedy, sparkling routines and West End stars. The show is fizzing with amazing production and effects and is one to get in the diaries this Christmas. You snooze, you lose. Broadway Theatre , Rushey Green, Catford, London, SE6 4RU. 4-31 December Odd and the Frost Giants Children aged 7+ can enter the enchanting realm of Norse mythology this winter, in a magical and humorous adaptation about unlikely hero Odd, who is on a daring quest to save the mighty Gods - Odin, Loki, and Thor - who have been transformed into animals and stranded in the human world. With the Frost Giants threatening to envelop the world in an endless winter, this powerful new production tells a story about finding unexpected friends and courage. Unicorn Theatre , 147 Tooley St, London SE1 2HZ. 19 November - 31 December. From £16.50 Jack and the Beanstalk at New Wimbledon Alexandra Burke and Joe Pasquale star as ‘the villianous Mrs Blunderbore’ and Jack’s brother Simon, in New Wimbledon Theatre’s big production. Oh yes they do. New Wimbledon Theatre , 93 The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG. 7 December - 5 January. Tickets from £13 Dick Whittington and his Cat The National Treasure of Dames, Clive Rowe returns in Hackney Wick’s 25th panto, this time as Sarah the Cook. The production follows Dick on his search for fame and fortune as Mayor of London and features all the crucial panto ingredients - slapstick, audience participation and smut - plus gorgeous costumes, a great cast - including regulars like comedian Kat B - and effects. Hackney Empire , 291 Mare St, London E8 1EJ. 23 November - 5 January. Tickets from £10 Room on the Broom Read our review Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's classic children’s book is zooming onto the stage at the Lyric Theatre, in this Olivier Award-nominated adventure. When a witch with a plait, a hat and her cat are flying through the skies, they pick up some fantastic creatures along the way. But while there was room on the broom for two, there certainly was not room for five. And things take a turn for the worse when a fiery dragon is thrown into the mix. Lyric Theatre , Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES. 22 November - 5 January. Tickets from £12 The Fir Tree How it Ended and artsdepot present a playful re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic Christmas tale, The Fir Tree . Fusing movement, live music, song, and puppetry, this meaningful and playful production explores mental health and environmental responsibility and made with neurodiverse audiences in mind. Artsdepot, 5 Nether St, London N12 0GA. 12-31 December Best Ice Rinks Skate at Somerset House It’s not Christmas until Somerset House opens its iconic ice rink. Expect gourmet dining at The Chalet, a rink-side view Skate lounge by Whispering Angel; Skate School lessons, and a pop-up Shelter Boutique store. Somerset House , Strand, London WC2R 1LA. 13 Nov - 12 Jan. Tickets from £11 Royal Pavilion Ice Rink For an otherworldly skating experience - which is also powered entirely by Green Energy - glide over to the beautiful Royal Pavilion Ice Rink in Brighton. With the backdrop of the iconic, fantasy former royal residence behind you and hugged by a ringside bar and kitchen full of warming goodies, it’s one of the UK’s most beautiful spots to hit the ice this Christmas. The Royal Pavilion , 4/5 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EE. Until 5 January 2025. Tickets from £9. Westfield London’s Tropical Moana Rink Westfield London’s   ice rink returns with a tropical twist, in celebration of Disney’s  Moana 2 . From 15 November until 5 January, skaters will be transported to the colourful world of Oceania as the Westfield Square rink brings the spirit of the Pacific islands to life. At the centre will be Europe’s tallest Christmas tree on an ice rink, soaring 65 feet high and festooned with island-inspired decorations, Westfield London , Westfield Square, Ariel Way, London W12 7SL. 15 November - 5 January Glide at Battersea Power Station Set against the backdrop of one of London’s most iconic buildings, this Insta-perfect rink offers stunning views of the Thames, while you skate around three interconnecting rinks surrounded by twinkling lights and a giant, 30ft Christmas tree. Afterwards, you can warm up with a hot chocolate - or something stronger - at the Glass House Nine Elms , London SW11 8EF. 8 November - 5 January. tickets from £14 Lapland UK's Frozen Elf Pond Read our review This elves' frozen pond is flanked by snow-covered Christmas trees at the heart of The Elven Village, in this extraordinary Ascot wonderland, created with blockbuster movie production quality. The rink is surrounded by elven characters, passing huskies, an elf emporium, restaurant and Elva’s Post Office. Children can use penguin supports as they glide around the otherworldly space, before warming up with hot chocolates and sweet treats. Afterwards, they will head deeper into the Enchanted Forest, past the famous, real reindeer and a sleeping Rudolph - illluminating the stable with his bright nose, as he snores - to the sleigh and finally, the wooden cabin of Father Christmas himself. Lapland UK , Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Rd, Winkfield Row, Ascot SL5 8BD. Tickets from £59 pp in November and from £89 pp in December. Opens on 9 November until 24 December Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink This stunning rink returns to the gardens of Henry VIII’s historic home, with beautiful views of the illuminated Tudor palace in the background as you glide around its 26 foot Christmas tree centrepiece. After your 45 minute session, you can head to the Rink Cafe and Bar for festive food and drinks. Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Ct Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU. 22 November - 5 January. Tickets from £20.65 per adult and £15.65 per child. Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park Rink The capital’s annual, Christmas mecca returns for its 17th year on 21 November. The event includes a Magical Ice Kingdom made from more than 500 tonnes of ice and snow, plus an apres ski ice bar; ice rink, a real ice slide; wintry Cirque Berserk circus show; Zippos Christmas Circus Show, ice sculpting workshop; open air Christmas markets and a Bavarian Village. There are rides for all ages, from Ice Mountain to a ride around a Christmas tree in giant baubles, plus Santaland with more rides, the Santa Express Train and the chance to meet the Big Guy himself; firepits for marshmallow toasting, the apline, Explorer’s Rest and a Santaland Chill Out area for little ones. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland , Hyde Park, London. 21 November - 5 January. Off peak tickets are free and peak tickets are £7.50 Ice Rink Canary Wharf London’s longest running seasonal ice rink, Ice Rink Canary Wharf offers visitors a magical skate session in the heart of Canary Wharf. This year’s ice rink will be putting on themed skating sessions, including 80’s, 90’s and Soul Classics nights to get skaters in the festive spirit. There’s a transparent roof, to thwart Blighty’s pesky weather, plus an apres-skate alpine bar serving winter warmers for skaters and spectators. And the centre piece this year is a glorious Christmas tree, beneath a suspended giant mirrored ball, casting disco reflections across the rink. Ice Rink Canary Wharf.  Canada Square, London E14 5AB. 26 Oct - 23 February Winter Funland Midlands This festive indoor fairground returns to The NEC from 9 December until 1 January, with an enormous ice rink at its heart. Skate instructors and penguin aids will be on hand for little ones. And afterwards, the family can enjoy the UK’s largest indoor funfair, complete with Christmas markers, unlimited rides including dodgems, waltzer and a giant slide, a Christmas circus performance in their 1200-seater theatre - featuring an extreme motorbike show - plus a meeting with Santa himself in his grotto. Winter Funland,  NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT. 7 December - 1 January. Under 3s go free. Adult/Child ticket £31.50 pp plus £3.50 booking fee. Christmas at Warwick Castle Ice Rink If you like history and beauty with your ice, then look no further than Warwick Castle. The iconic building's east front transforms into a magical skating rink from 25 November to 7 January. During your 45 minute experience, you can glide beneath the majestic Guy’s Tower, to the sound of Christmas bangers, with the amazing backdrop of Warwick Castle, illuminated for Christmas. Warwick Castle, Warwick, CV34 6AU. 25 November - 7 January. From £11 pp Best Santa Grottos Lapland UK Read our review Pure Christmas magic, which leaves visitors of all ages in no doubt that Father Christmas exists and resides within the ancient elven civilisation at  Lapland UK . This extraordinary, immersive experience starts when your child opens the icy cold, wax-sealed invitation from the Big Guy, inviting them to Lapland to help the elves make their toys. Deep in Ascot's snow-covered, Enchanted Forest, the elf folk present the Small People with special elven passports, enabling entry through the secret doorway to Lapland, where they will discover a jaw-dropping world full of elven characters, the toy factory, real reindeer and huskies, Mother Christmas’s Kitchen, The Elven Village complete with ice rink, elf emporium, restaurant and Elva’s Post Office for a magical, four-hour experience in an astonishingly detailed and sprawling world. Finally, deeper in the forest, past the magical sleigh, they head to Father Christmas’s wooden cabin and see their own names handwritten on the Good List, before meeting St Nick himself, in front of a roaring fire - he knows plenty about each child and will present them with a toy and a special bell, only awarded to his best elves. Lapland UK , Whitmoor Forest, Swinley Rd, Winkfield Row, Ascot SL5 8BD. Tickets from £59 pp in November and from £89 pp in December. Opens on 9 November until 24 December Santa Breaks at Aviemore Resort Three days brimming with Christmas magic, including the UK’s only free-range reindeer herd, Santa’s grand arrival, real snow, plus a visit to his woodland grotto and elves’ workshop. There is also a Christmas panto, festive family movie pass, a gaggle of daytime and evening Christmas entertainment. And on top of that, there’s a hearty Scottish breakfast each morning, special, festive dining experiences every day and splash fun in the indoor pool with flume and wave machine. Magical Santa Weekends , Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Highland Resort, Aviemore, Inverness-shire, PH22 1PN. Select dates between 29 November - 23 Dec Father Christmas at The Eden Project There are few places as other-worldly and exciting as the Eden Project, so it’s no surprise that Father Christmas has set up camp there this December. Little ones can meet him and his newest helper Elfie, who is fresh out of Elf Training Camp. Elfie is keen to help, but accidentally causes havoc. Children discover how he learns to be brave and teams up with Father Christmas to deliver a Christmas miracle.During each 40-minute session, kids will check out Santa’s Eden camp, including elf bunk beds, bedside stories and letters from children before meeting Father Christmas himself, leaving with a storybook of Elfie's adventures, plus a chocolate treat. Eden Project.  Bodelva, Cornwall, PL24 2SG. Select dates from 22 November - 24 December. From £12-£16 for a child with one adult plus admission. Take Europe's Steepest Cable Railway to Santa's Zipmas Grotto For a grotto experience with a difference, head to Zipmas  at Zip World , North Wales, which can only be accessed via Europe’s steepest cable railway. Santa’s grotto is so special and secret, it can’t be reached by foot, so you must descend deep below ground on a special cable car, surrounded by twinkling lights. On arrival, you will encounter three magical chambers, housing a light maze, Santa’s Workshop and beautifully lit tunnels to the final chamber, where the Big Man will be awaiting you in his cost cabin, warmed with his log burner. You can also meet the elves, create slate baubles, or have a go at Zipmas’s Grotto Golf experience – the world’s only adventure golf set in a cave.   Zipmas , Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3NB. 22 November - 24 December. From £20 per adult, £23 per child Santa in the Sky at Brighton i360 Father Christmas is very at home in the sky - after all, he spends most of Christmas Eve up there on his sleigh. So he’s inviting families to visit him and his elves 450ft above Brighton beach inside the Brighton i360  glass pod. It includes a 25 minute pod journey, meeting with Santa and a gift for every child. Afterwards, you can also enjoy a festive themed cream tea in their beachfront building. Brighton i360 , Lower Kings Road, Brighton, BN1 2LN. Tickets £6.85 - £12.95 per child. £19.95 per adult Santaland at Winter Wonderland The capital’s annual, Christmas mecca returns for its 16th year on 17 November with an entire land dedicated to the big guy himself. Santaland has kid-friendly rides, the Santa Express Train and the chance to meet the Father Christmas, as well as firepits for marshmallow toasting, the apline, Explorer’s Rest and a Santaland Chill Out area for little ones.The event includes a Magical Ice Kingdom made from more than 500 tonnes of ice and snow, plus an apres ski ice bar; ice rink, a real ice slide; wintry Cirque Berserk circus show; Zippos Christmas Circus Show, ice sculpting workshop; open air Christmas markets and a Bavarian Village. There are rides for all ages, from Ice Mountain to a ride around a Christmas tree in giant baubles. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland , Hyde Park, London. 21 November - 5 January. Off peak tickets are free and peak tickets are £7.50 Santa's Winter Wonderland at Snowdome Play and slide in a real  snow wonderland, complete with sledges, snow slides, snow tubes and proper, falling snow. Then join Santa and friends for their all new, Santa in Wonderland  stage show. Explore Santa’s Village, meeting his real , furry animal friends before finally visiting the Big Man’s home and leaving him a letter in the magical, talking post box. SnowDome , Leisure Island, River Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7ND. 16 Novemnber- 5 January Santa's Special Trains - Epping Ongar Railway For turbo- Polar Express  vibes (in Essex) head to the glorious Epping Ongar Railway  to board  Santa’s Special Train.   Grab some festive drinks and nibbles and listen to the brass band while awaiting the magical train, then head over the footbridge for photos with the man in red and a view of the steam train’s grand arrival. Once onboard, children can write their letters to Santa and will be entertained by his elf friends, while waiting for Father Christmas to waddle through each carriage, meeting the children and giving them presents. Epping Ongar Railway , Station Approach, Chipping Ongar, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9BN. Select dates from 23 November to 24 Dec.   The Father Christmas Experience at Marsh Farm Marsh Farm never disappoints in the Santa stakes. Small People must first head to the Elf Academy, where they will learn the crucial magic required to be inducted as honorary elves. Once they’ve received their elf passports, they stop off at Mother Christmas’ kitchen, for treats to fuel them through the adventure, which includes an audience with the Mr FC himself, a trip to the Teddy Bear market and a visit to Elfville’s Toy Shop, where they can exchange their Magical Snowy (elf dosh) for any toy on the shelves. This year, they have added rides, a Santa train and ice rink. Marsh Farm,  Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5WP. From 16 November to 24 Dec. Tickets from £30pp Christmas with Shrek For a swampy twist on the traditional grotto, head to Shrek’s Adventure, where the Big Green Ogre dons the famous red suit to take children on a festive, fairytale adventure from Far Far Away on a flying bus, guided by Donkey. They’ll encounter Puss in Boots, Pinocchio, Princess Fiona, Cinderella and the Muffin Man along the way, before their happily ever after, culminating in an audience with Santa Shrek for photos and sweet treats. Check out our Shrek’s Adventure review  to find out more. Shrek’s Adventure tickets.  Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1. Dates TBC Chelsea Christmas Grotto Sloane Square’s Chelsea Christmas Grotto launches a new Christmas experience, in partnership with festival events juggernauts, Underbelly. Follow the Christmas trees to Santa’s fancy grotto - scented by luxury fragrance maison, Diptyque.The Big FC will read them a story in a 25 minute session and each child will receive a gift from his elves.Afterwards, the family can explore the winter wonderland, featuring festive food and drink, twinkling winter terrace and a Bavarian Curling Rink. Chelsea Christmas Grotto . Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EG. 19 November - 24 December excluding 18 and 24 December. Tickets £15pp. Noir Kringle - The Black Santa's Grotto Experience Amazingly, Noir Kringle is London’s only diverse Santa experience, launched in 2018 to give children and parents the opportunity to visit a magical Christmas grotto where Father Christmas and all of his elves are Black. Noir Kringle events have been sell out hits every year since, for families who value the importance of positive Black representation, inclusion, and diversity. Mr Kringle loves rum coke and sorrel for Christmas Eve and his cosy workshop is full of the sounds, smells, and spirit of Christmas that encapsulate Black British culture. Noir Kringle , Crooked Billet Yard, Shoreditch, London, E2 8AF. Dates TBC Set Sail with Santa If a Santa rendezvous on dry land doesn’t float your boat, perhaps a Santa boat will? Santa’s embracing some self care away from the North Pole on a cruise around Poole, and you can join him for some mulled wine, mince pies and carols while you sail around Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula, Studland Bay and more. Santa meanders around the boat, meeting the little ones and dishing out gifts. After leaving your 1.15 hour Christmas cruise, you can wander around the Quay and admire the Christmas tree and festive shops. Santa Cruise , The Quay, Poole BH15 1BQ. from 30 November -24 December. Tickets from £16pp Winter's Tail at Chessington World of Adventures Follow the jolly elves as they guide you through a snowy wonderland with real falling snow, to Santa’s cosy cabin for an audience with the Big Guy. Afterwards, children head to his Toy Workshop top explore where he builds his gifts and can choose their own present to take home. Kids can also help the elves make (and eat) festive treats in the Magical Cookie Kitchen as well as enjoying The Wild Christmas Panto and a host of live entertainment to get them in the Christmas spirit, from carols to audiences with Mrs Christmas to real reindeer. And on top of that, they can enjoy some family favourite rides, like Room on the Broom and Adventure Tree, as well as lions, gorillas, sharks and rays at the zoo and Sea Life aquarium. Chessington World of Adventures .Leatherhead Rd, Chessington KT9 2NE. 23 November - 31 December Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

The top pantomimes, all-star variety shows, musicals and festive theatre of 2024 Ladies and gentlemen, girls and boys, we are presenting our annual guide to the best Christmas theatre shows in or near London… OH YES WE ARE. It’s not Christmas until festive drag queens are wheeled out to make jokes about your Aunt Fanny and cockatoos. And we’ve got all the sequins, tinsel-covered jazz hands and dancing elves to see you through to 2025. So point your eyes here and then take them there. ______________________ Robin Hood at The London Palladium This is the ultimate panto, on steroids. Famed for special effects like the giant beanstalk, which caused jaws (including our own) to drop as it grew through the audience to the ceiling. This year, Julian Clary returns for its ninth season to steal the show with smut and sequins as Robin Hood, alongside Jane McDonald as Maid Marion.  This brilliantly camp and extra production sees the return of Palladium panto favourites, including Paul Zerdin, Nigel Havers Charlie Stemp and Rob Madge, with insane sets, special effects and costumes. Robin Hood, London Palladium , 8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF. 7 December - 12 January. Tickets from £39.50 A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic The Ebeneezer baton has been passed onto John Simm for The Old Vic’s eight staging of A Christmas Carol. The latest (and possible final) of the festive Dickens classic is being touted as one of the best yet, with the Life on Mars star masterfully switching from bah-humbugging old miser to fat goose-sharing Christmas cheer on two legs. A Christmas Carol , The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB 23 November - 22 February. Tickets from £15 pp The Snowman at Peacock Theatre Spend an evening walking in the air in the 27th year of this magical ballet adaptation of the much-loved Christmas story. Hearts (and snowmen) will melt, with the moving choreography, enchanting set, fake snow, and famous soundtrack for big and little kids. Peacock Theatre , Portugal St, London WC2A 2HT. 23 November-4 January 2025. Hansel and Gretel at The Globe Read our review Follow the trail of breadcrumbs all the way to Shakespeare's Globe this Christmas, for their beautiful production of Hansel and Gretel, returning for its second year. Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage transforms the Globe Theatre into the gingerbread and lollipop festooned sphere of the world's most famous witch-conquering siblings, for this classic Brother Grimm fairytale. In this timely retelling, a woodcutting dad and bread-making mum leave their children in the woods to protect them from their war-torn village, where they meet a strange old lady with a plan of her own. The Globe,  21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT. 29 November - 5 January Sleeping Beauty at Broadway Read our review Award-winning panto alchemist, Susie McKenna has waved her wand and transported Sleeping Beauty to Lewishtonia, in this modern retelling of the classic, packed with magic, comedy, sparkling routines and West End stars. The show is fizzing with amazing production and effects and is one to get in the diaries this Christmas. You snooze, you lose. Broadway Theatre , Rushey Green, Catford, London, SE6 4RU. 4-31 December The Great Christmas Feast Read our review The Lost Estate’s critically-acclaimed, immersive theatre and dining experience, A Christmas Carol: The Great Christmas Feast is back, following six sold out years in a row. Guests will be transported to the home of Charles Dickens on Christmas Eve 1843, for three courses of extravagant Victorian feasts, while watching an immersive retelling of the ultimate festive ghost story, with cinematic live music and 5000sq ft of sets constructed by legendary immersive designers Darling & Edge ( Gingerline , Secret Cinema , Crystal Maze ). The Lost Estate,  9 Beaumont Ave, London W14 9LP. 8 November 2024 - 12 January 2025. Tickets £135-£265pp Odd and the Frost Giants Children aged 7+ can enter the enchanting realm of Norse mythology this winter, in a magical and humorous adaptation about unlikely hero Odd, who is on a daring quest to save the mighty Gods - Odin, Loki, and Thor - who have been transformed into animals and stranded in the human world. With the Frost Giants threatening to envelop the world in an endless winter, this powerful new production tells a story about finding unexpected friends and courage. Unicorn Theatre , 147 Tooley St, London SE1 2HZ. 19 November - 31 December. From £16.50 Jack and the Beanstalk at New Wimbledon Alexandra Burke and Joe Pasquale star as ‘the villianous Mrs Blunderbore’ and Jack’s brother Simon, in New Wimbledon Theatre’s big production. Oh yes they do. New Wimbledon Theatre , 93 The Broadway, London, SW19 1QG. 7 December - 5 January. Tickets from £13 Dick Whittington and his Cat The National Treasure of Dames, Clive Rowe returns in Hackney Wick’s 25th panto, this time as Sarah the Cook. The production follows Dick on his search for fame and fortune as Mayor of London and features all the crucial panto ingredients - slapstick, audience participation and smut - plus gorgeous costumes, a great cast - including regulars like comedian Kat B - and effects. Hackney Empire , 291 Mare St, London E8 1EJ. 23 November - 5 January. Tickets from £10 Room on the Broom Read our review Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's classic children’s book is zooming onto the stage at the Lyric Theatre, in this Olivier Award-nominated adventure. When a witch with a plait, a hat and her cat are flying through the skies, they pick up some fantastic creatures along the way. But while there was room on the broom for two, there certainly was not room for five. And things take a turn for the worse when a fiery dragon is thrown into the mix. Lyric Theatre , Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7ES. 22 November - 5 January. Tickets from £12 The Fir Tree How it Ended and artsdepot present a playful re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic Christmas tale, The Fir Tree . Fusing movement, live music, song, and puppetry, this meaningful and playful production explores mental health and environmental responsibility and made with neurodiverse audiences in mind. Artsdepot, 5 Nether St, London N12 0GA. 12-31 December A Nutcracker Christmas at The Castle Read our review Rescue the Sugar Plum Fairy in Leeds Castle's reimagining of The Nutcracker festive classic, where toys come to life. In this festive journey through beautifully festive rooms, discover a whimsical doll house, and a rocking horse which awaken the mischievous Mouse King. The event culminates in a  showdown between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, with live performers on weekends and during the school holidays. A Nutcracker Christmas , Leeds Castle, Broomfield, Maidstone ME17 1PL. 23 November to 5 January. Included with admission ticket, which also gives you access to Leeds Castle for a year. Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

From FREE concerts and acting classes to comedy shows, Hindu temples and cinema nights If you’ve sold one kidney to fund Christmas and are keen to keep the second, while STILL enjoying amazing activities in the world’s best (but wallet-annihilating) capital, we’ve got you thrifty, fun-wizards covered. To be fair to The Big Smoke, there are amazing, free experiences that everybody knows about - most of the big museums are free, from National History Museum and Royal Academy of Arts to Tate Britain . And there are some brilliant, free experiences, like the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London and spots like Columbia Road Flower Market and foodie Mecca, Borough Market. But we’re bringing you the most unusual and exciting experiences that many Londoners themselves don’t have the whiff of a Scooby about, from FREE concerts and Royal Academy acting classes to comedy shows, Hindu temples, chocolate meccas and cinema nights. So read on, and your wallets can thank us for nothing, ____________________________ Underground Roman Temple for Mithras Cult A secret Roman temple, created nearly 200 years after the founding of London for the mysterious cult of Mithras and hidden beneath the City of London? We’re in. This extraordinary, immersive experience in London Mithraeum is staggeringly FREE. It was discovered during a building’s construction in 1954 and now sits beneath the Bloomberg London building. The multi-sensory experience takes you seven metres below the city streets, where the river Walbrook once flowed, to where the Roman’s cult god, Mithras the bull slayer was once worshipped by cult followers shrouded in a veil of secrecy. And it houses Britain’s largest and earliest collection of its kind, including the first known reference to London, Roman waxed writing tablets and the earliest hand-written document in Britain. London Mithraeum 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA London’s Only Lighthouse  Built 150 years ago, this lighthouse was once used as a laboratory by famous scientist Michael Faraday and is now used to play a musical composition, projected to last one thousand years without ever repeating. You can find it in one of the capital’s most eccentric and rarely visited areas - Trinity Buoy Wharf. There you will also discover a sea container city; ringing public telephones you answer for free meditation and memory experiences;  an original Fifties George town diner, moved to London to become Fatboy’s Diner ; a floating music recording studio and the world’s smallest museum ( Faraday Effect ) inside a wooden hut. Trinity Buoy Wharf , 64 Orchard Pl, London E14 0JW Free Short Story Dispensers Choose the length of your story - one, three or five minutes - and the free short story dispensers at Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place, Churchill Place and Crossrail Place Roof Garden will select a story for you. Genres range from suspense, crime, science fiction, to romance, humour, fiction and children’s stories – printed on eco-friendly paper to read on your commute and swerve doom-scrolling for a bit. Find them at Jubilee Place, Churchill Place and Crossrail Place Roof Garden Secret Millennium Bridge Steps to Hidden Beach There are secret steps near Millennium Bridge which few venture down, but head through the open gate at the bottom and you will discover a hidden, sandy beach which runs along the South Bank, when the tide is out. In this peaceful spot in the heart of the capital, you can enjoy amazing views of the city, north bank and river as the boats bob by. Thames Embankment, London EC4V 3QH Find the Eyes and Ears of London Two artists secretly placed various body parts around the city for you  to find. Rick Buckley hid 30 reproductions of his nose onto famous landmarks and public places as a protest against CCTV, which led to various urban myths when they were first discovered - like the one about the spare nose for Nelson’s column beneath Admiralty Arch. You can still find that one as well as six others, dotted around Great Windmill Street, Meard Street, Bateman Street, Dean Street, Endell Street and D'Arblay Street. If you’re hungry for more, mysterious appendages, Tim Fishlock also glued casts of his own ear around London - there are two on Floral Steet, but he claims there are more to find around Covent Garden. Multiple locations around Covent Garden, Great Windmill Street, Meard Street, Bateman Street, Dean Street, Endell Street and D'Arblay Street. Giraffes in Regent’s Park A secret footpath in Regent’s Park will lead you to real  giraffes and penguins. It runs along the side of London Zoo , where you can admire the long-necked beauties, looking out over the hedges and peek through at the penguins splashing about, for free . Regent's Park , London Fake 10 Downing Street Door Just around the corner from the real PM’s gaff, you’ll find a replica of his famous door on 7-10 Adam Street, just off The Strand. The doors were made at a similar time, both with the same 10 and strikingly similar neoclassical surroundings. But this one has no security preventing a doorstep photo to confuse your Insta mates. House 7-10 Adam St, London WC2N 6AA Trapped Man in Paddington’s Clock Above Paddington Station, you can watch a man, inside a giant clock, painstakingly rubbing the hands and numbers off the face of the clock and redrawing them every minute. It was created by Dutch artist Martin Baas, who based the mysterious time keeper on the station’s architect Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Paddington, Praed St, London W2 1HU A Shrine to Dreams in an Artist’s Home Inside an unassuming terraced house in East Dulwich, you will find a mind-blowing museum to former art director, Stephen Wright’s dreams, life and loves and a monument to his deceased partner and parents. Every surface is a shrine to the discarded and the weird, covered in mosaics and bursting with sculptures, found objects, thousands of broken dolls, teeth moulds, glasses and even the actor, Richard Ashton’s ponytail. Stephen lives there, but opens it to the public on select days each month. House of Dreams,   45 Melbourne Grove, London SE22 8RG Cross Bones Graveyard and Garden This bright ribbon and flower-festooned shrine and garden to the Medieval prostitutes (or “Winchester Geese”) and 18th Century paupers who were buried there can be found off a side street, near Borough Market. In 2004, Friends of the Crossbones was formed, made up of “sex workers, poets, activists, oddballs and outsiders” who have met at 7pm on the 23rd of every month since then at Cross Bones Garden , for the Crossbones Vigil to the Outcast Crossbones Graveyard and Garden , Union St, London SE1 1TA Incredible Hindu Temple… in Neasden You are many moons away from the well-trodden tourist track in these northwest London ‘burbs. But make the trek and you will be rewarded by the jaw-dropping sight of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a 70 feet high, Hindu Temple carved by 650 artisans from 8,000 tonnes of Indian and Italian marble and Bulgarian limestone. This magnificent mandir is the largest Hindu temple outside India and will make it impossible to believe you are in what was one nicknamed ”the loneliest village in London.” Shri Swaminarayan Mandir , Pramukh Swami Road, Neasden, London NW10 8HW, UK Hyde Park's Secret Dog Cemetery Tucked away on the edge of Hyde Park is a secret pet cemetery, where Victorians buried their faithful friends. Each stone has a touching story to tell, and the graveyard even features in  Peter Pan  - its author JM Barrie lived nearby. If you visit in the Spring, it is bursting with bluebells. Hyde Park Secret Dog Cemetery, 41 Bayswater Rd, London W2 4RQ The Secret Rooftop Beside Sky Garden Everybody knows about the amazing, free views at Sky Garden – London’s highest garden, at the top of the Walkie Talkie building, with 360-degree views of the capital’s skyline amid exquisitely landscaped gardens, observation decks and open-air terrace. But because it’s so popular, free and (well) amazing, it’s often tricky to book the free tickets to enter. However, The Garden at 120 is located right next door to Sky Garden , commanding the same amazing views (from slightly lower down) but all you have to do is walk in. It also has a landscaped garden and water features, but without the major crowds and long wait for tickets. Win-win. The Garden at 120, 120 Fenchurch St, London EC3M 5BA God’s Own Junkyard Inside an unassuming, Walthamstow warehouse, you’ll find this neon wonderland, fizzing and burning with the glow of the world’s biggest neon sign collection. More than four decades ago, late owner, Chris Bracey started making signs for Soho strip clubs and his incredible talents led him to create props for directors including Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton, as well as some of the globe’s most iconic signs. This Aladdin’s cave of more than 1,000 neon lights is a museum to his life and the history of neon art, as well as an art gallery - with pieces you can buy or rent - and is home to The Rolling Scones cafe and bar. God's Own Junkyard , Unit 12, Ravenswood Industrial Estate, Shernhall St, London E17 9HQ Free Acting Masterclasses at Theatre Royal Haymarket If you’re between 18 and 30 and get your kicks from theatre, become a Masterclass Member for FREE acting masterclasses, which have been held by stars including Julie Walters, Steve Coogan, Catherine Tate and John Simm, plus onstage workshops, mentoring, free script development sessions and £5 tickets to top West End and fringe shows. Masterclass Theatre Royal Haymarket London SW1Y 4HT Free Comedy Gigs. Free comedy - are you having a laugh? Well, yes actually. The Top Secret Comedy Club in Drury Lane is so respected on the circuit, it’s where stars including Amy Schumer, Dylan Moran, Eddie Izzard, Micky Flanagan and Michael McIntyre head to work out new jokes and practice sets before tours or TV gigs. Many of these shows are completely free (or very cheap) and between 6 - 7.15pm most days, you can check out work in progress shows by the next big things preparing for festivals like Edinburgh arts festival. Or head to Angel Comedy at the Bill Murray in Islington for free comedy shows seven nights a week. Its stage has been graced by everybody from Stewart Lee and Tim Key to Simon Amstell and Joe Lycett. The Top Secret Comedy Club , 170 Drury Ln, London WC2B 5PD Angel Comedy, The Bill Murray, 39 Queen's Head St, London N1 8NQ Free Classical Music Lunchtime Concerts Every Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 1pm, an eclectic range of musicians from classical and pop to students at the Royal Academy of Music perform free lunchtime concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields church , on the corner of Trafalgar Square. Alternatively, experience an exciting programme of free, 45-minute classical music lunchtime performances by artists from The Royal Opera, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and The Royal Balle t in the newly opened-up spaces of the Royal Opera House. St Martin-in-the-Field s, London WC2N 4JH Royal Opera House , Bow St, London WC2E 9DD Free Tours at Somerset House Head to one of Europe’s most stunning courtyards and the last of the huge palaces that used to stud the Thames, for free, guided tours exploring the Neoclassical beast’s wonderfully dramatic history. Join the Old Palace tour to find out about the three, Catholic queens who used to call it home; the Historical Highlights tour to delve into the lives of the Tudors, Georgian enlightenment, scientific curiosity and naval power, or the Studios Tour to learn out about the palace’s current incarnation as a home for creatives. Somerset House , Strand, London WC2R 1LA Walk Beneath the Thames Head underneath the Thames, through the 370 metre Greenwich Foot Tunnel, for a more unusual way to explore the city from one side of the river to the other. When it opened in 1902, it was one of the city’s most impressive, engineering achievements and it’s used by more than 4,000 people a day. Greenwich Foot Tunnel The Chocolate Museum Did somebody say “chocolate” and “free?” French artisan chocolatier, Isabelle Alaya, established The Chocolate Museum in Brixton to inspire a passion for learning about quality chocolate and its history, via antique chocolate tools to old advertising materials. There are also paid for workshops and experiences which enable you to taste and make your own chocolates. The Chocolate Museum , 187 Ferndale Rd, London SW9 8BA Watch a Session at the Houses of Parliament Fancy a free clown show in a beautiful circus, steeped in history? Then head to the Houses of Parliament to watch parliament in session - it's free for overseas visitors and UK residents. You'll need to book ahead for the more juicy sessions, like Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) or Ministerial Question Time. There is only access when either House is in session. But if Parliament is in session (even as late as 11 pm) you're allowed inside for free. Houses of Parliament, London SW1A 0AA Barbican Conservatory Explore a hidden, tropical oasis on the third floor of The Barbican , with a glass roof, plus tropical plants and trees, birdlife and exotic fish. There are regular free events in the urban jungle, from art and design, cinema, music, theatre, dance as well as talks, workshops and tours. Admission is free. Tickets for the Conservatory are released one week in advance online on Thursdays at 10am. A limited number of day tickets are released for online booking from 9.30am each day that the Conservatory is open. Barbican , Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS The Horniman Museum The 16 acres of stunning gardens are completely free, dog-friendly and have some of the most breathtaking views across London and a variety of trails and activities. Children can make a racket on giant instruments in the Sound Garden, explore the Bee Garden, Wildlife Garden, play in the Meadow Field, picnic in South Downs Meadow and check out the living fossils in the Prehistoric Garden or visit alpacas, goats and sheep on the Animal Walk. The museum is also free and includes the wonderfully weird and fascinating Natural History Gallery, packed with taxidermy, skeletons and fossils including Forest Hill's most famous resident, The Horniman Walrus - generously stuffed by Victorians who had (clearly) never seen a real walrus before. There are floor to ceiling specimens, from a dodo, platypus to Bornean orangutang. And the Nature Base allows kids to stroke a fox, watch harvest mice and see hundreds of honey bees in a special hive. There are also a slew of free exhibitions. And for a very reasonable sum, you can also check out the butterfly house and aquarium. Check out our review HERE to see why we think it’s one of London’s best, hidden gems. The Horniman Museum & Gardens , 100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ OXO Tower Public Viewing Gallery For stunning views across the Thames, without juicing your wallet, get the lift to the eighth floor of the OXO Tower to gawp across St Paul’s and the Millennium Bridge. All you have to do it ask the guys on the floor’s front desk if you can see the platform, and they’ll escort you to the secret roof terrace. It’s on the same floor as the bar and restaurant, so you can spend some of the wonga you saved on a cocktail, while looking at the view from the bigger terrace…which no doubt, is the purpose of this dangled carrot of a secret viewing gallery. OXO Tower , Barge House St, London SE1 9PH Fulham Palace Head to West London to discover the home of the Bishops of London - a historic house and botanic garden, brimming with beauty and stories. Henry VII sent Catherine of Aragon there to keep her paws off his son (she got Henry VIII to put a ring on it anyway and became the first of his six wives) and Mary I turned it into a (very pretty) place of torture. Fulham Palace, Bishop's Ave, London SW6 6EA Kenwood House On the edge of Hampstead Heath, surrounded by 122 acres of landscaped gardens sits Kenwood House, a true gem in the capital’s crown. And you don’t have to spent a penny to enjoy its delicious gardens and interiors, or its world-class art collection, including Rembrandt’s iconic Self-Portrait With Two Circles. Kenwood House , Hampstead Ln, London NW3 7JR Watch BFI’s Film and TV Archives Head to the little-known, BFI Mediatheque , choose a cosy booth and explore the riches of the BFI National Archive of more than 33,000 films and TV shows for free, every Tuesday to Sunday from 11am - 9pm. BFI Mediatheque , Belvedere Rd, London SE1 Like what you've read? Why not subscribe to our free, monthly newsletter?

Luxury Indian Restaurant's GM Shares the Ultimate Guide to the Best Cafes, Restaurants, Bars and Hidden Gems Near Trafalgar Square Atul Joshi has been General Manager of luxury Indian dining concept Colonel Saab, since its inception three years ago, and is passionate about top quality food, drink and service. Alongside restaurateur and hotelier Roop Partap Choudhary, Atul has seen their flagship Holborn restaurant named UK’s Best Asian Restaurant for two consecutive years, while their newest, larger restaurant just off Trafalgar Square has recently been named Best Newcomer of the Year at the Asian Curry Awards. The William IV Street restaurant is a homage to Choudhary's travels across India with his mother, Mrs Binny Choudhary and father, Colonel Manbeer, who was given the honorific name ‘Colonel Saab’ - shared by the restaurants - while serving in the Indian Army. Choudhary spent a year retracing his father’s footsteps across India by train, bus and car to curate contemporary twists on dishes passed down through the generations of people they met, with many regional specialities appearing for the first time on a London menu. Atul has had a storied career in hospitality, spanning more than two decades, and he’s turned his discerning palate to the area around Colonel Saab, to bring us the ultimate guide to Trafalgar Square’s best places to eat and drink, from morning to night. Colonel Saab , Trafalgar Square, 40, 42 William IV St, London WC2N 4DD ____________________ COFFEE Monmouth Coffee Known for its consistent quality, Monmouth has been a staple of London’s coffee scene for decades. They specialise in brewed coffee made from a selection of carefully sourced beans, offering a purity and expertly crafted experience. Monmouth Coffee , 27 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9EU BREAKFAST The Wolseley A nostalgic gem serving classic breakfast in an elegant Mayfair setting, a 15 minute stroll from our restaurant. Their Eggs Benedict is a highlight and very well priced for the area. Its vintage vibe and quality food makes it a go-to for classic breakfast lovers like me. The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB LUNCH Casa Do Frango If you are craving Portuguese flavours, this spot is known for its signature Piri Piri chicken and other southern Portuguese delicacies. The casual yet stylish setting makes a person like me relaxed during a mid-day meal. Casa Do Frango, 31-33 Heddon St, London W1B 4BN DINNER The OWO Renowned, Michelin Star Chef Mauro Colagreco’s fine dining restaurant focuses on seasonal British produce. It has an intimate space called Mauro’s table, and Saison, which offers Mediterranean inspired cuisine, which is my must-go dinner spot in London. The OWO , 57 Whitehall, London SW1A 2BX DRINKS The Nightjar A speakeasy- style bar with a focus on vintage-inspired cocktails and live jazz is my perfect spot for a sophisticated night out. Nightjar Carnaby, 49-51 Kingly St, Kingly Ct, Carnaby St, London W1F 9PY INSIDER TIP Afternoon Tea at The Rosewood Afternoon Tea at the Rosewood London, served in the elegant Mirror Room, is a renowned and luxurious experience. Currently offering The Art Afternoon Tea, this innovative menu draws inspiration from famous artworks, presenting desserts and pastries that are both visually stunning and delicious. The experience starts with a selection of finger sandwiches, followed by freshly baked scones served with clotted cream, strawberry jam, and lemon curd. The pastry selection steals the show, with art-inspired treats like a Banksy-themed chocolate cube and a Van Gogh-inspired almond blossom cake. The ambience is sophisticated, with mirrored walls and lounge-style seating, perfect for a relaxed and indulgent afternoon. Rosewood London , 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN. Prices start at £68 per person, with vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and halal options available upon request. Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

We’re spellbound by this new offering of glittering potions, coffin excavations and magical food Is this the best new afternoon tea in London? My daughter seems to think so, and I’m inclined to agree. We’re at City of London’s five star, luxury boutique hotel, Vintry & Mercer to sample their brand new, Magic of Afternoon Tea. The tone is set in their moody, candlelit DND Bar downstairs, where we're greeted with UV torches to bring otherworldly creatures to life in our menus. We’re then presented with a wooden chest containing witchy bottles for my daughter to mix us a glittering Hocus Pocus potion, which thrills her by changing from blue to purple. The sweet and fruity hit is the closest she’ll get to a cocktail and is a lovely combination of pea tea, apple shrub and elderflower. This is followed by a mug of hot milk, for my daughter to stir with a chocolate witch hat and top with a cauldron of marshmallows, while I sip a pot of Earl Grey, from the artisanal tea selection. In dramatic swirls of dry ice, our afternoon teas arrive in giant golden cages - the children’s Wizard’s Tea for her and the M agic of Afternoon Tea for me. Each offering is exploding with creativity, wonderful flavours and execution. My daughter excitedly grabs a tiny, silver shovel and opens a little wooden coffin, to dig through (and gorge on) chocolate soil, excavating white chocolate bones and skulls. There is a gold dusted Book of Spells which is far too beautiful to eat, but we do regardless and are treated to a rich, chocolate opera cake. The Excalibur dish is the moment when my daughter squeals “this is the best day of my life” as she pulls the golden, chocolate sword from the white chocolate and mango cheese cake, devouring it along with the edible rock which crowns it. There’s a glittering, white chocolate owl, straight out of Hogwarts, topping chewy,  gooey blueberry macarons. We stuff our chops with edible wizard wands made from chocolate-coated vanilla fondant, and dive into a beautiful Blood Moon, with a heart of raspberry and grenadine mousse. Naturally we start with the savoury - we’re not complete monsters - and I can confidently say as a savoury-toothed tiger, that this is possibly the best I’ve had in an afternoon tea. The adult’s menu features a fluffy Yorkshire pudding stuffed with perfect pink roast beef, horseradish and gravy and I could eat approximately 80 of these with no regrets. There is a dreamy, truffled egg brioche bun; smoked salmon, caviar and cream cheese on wholemeal bread, and a tangy Coronation chicken vol-au-vent with mango chutney. The child-pleasing kid’s savouries include jam sarnies and cheese straws shaped like witch hats, and flaky sausage rolls with ketchup. All sandwiches can be replenished if requested. I'm so merrily stuffed by the end, that I only manage a bite of the scones, which are fresh and fluffy with perfectly crisped edges and come in plain and raisin with strawberry jam. I don’t think I’ve seen my daughter eat so much without complaint, and I make a mental note to serve all future dinners from coffins, covered in edible glitter. We’re fortunate to be invited to review a gaggle of afternoon teas, but this stands out by providing the perfect balance of fun, creativity, wonderful detail and theatre with high quality, exquisitely prepared food. Crucially, the menus are designed to appeal to adults and children - even fussy ones, like my daughter. Now that’s magic. Vintry & Mercer, 19-20 Garlick Hill, London EC4V 2AU. Adult's Magic of Afternoon Tea - from £49.50 pp. Kid's Wizard's Afternoon Tea - £37.50 Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Enigmatic Icon's Story Told Through 250 Objects in Sparkling UK Premiere It’s not often I’m left starstruck by an electric fan - but this is the fan behind (or beneath) Marilyn Monroe’s iconic flying skirt images for Seven Year Itch. I’m at the launch of the new Marilyn: The Exhibition at Arches London Bridge, where astonishingly accurate Monroe lookalike, Suzie Kennedy is currently recreating the scene, above a subway grate replica - the most famous moment in movie history is alleged to have caused her divorce from second husband, Jo DiMaggio, who branded it ‘exhibitionist.’ The UK premiere of this exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the private world of the eternally fascinating and enigmatic silverscreen legend, with a meticulously curated collection of 250 objects from the private collection of Ted Stampfer, the world's largest collector of Marilyn’s historical objects. We explore a warren of railway arches, discovering love letters, satin robes, scripts, timeless outfits to vintage shoes and make-up. They tell the story of a little girl with a heartbreaking childhood, who turned to the glamour of cinema for escapism, became a teenage model, a 16-year-old bride, an actress, voracious reader, scholar and icon who met an untimely and tragic end, with DiMaggio saying: “Instead of kissing you at the altar, I kissed you in your casket.” The famous President dress - most recently borrowed by Kim Kardashian, who was thankfully not allowed to alter it - glitters beside the video of Marilyn performing to JFK. Andy Warhol’s famous screen print hangs on the wall - he immortalised her in her prime, just after her death in 1962 and this image was the first of his famous screen prints of icons. There’s her famous black jumper and white capri trousers, Marilyn was expelled from school twice for wearing trousers and the exhibition also tells the story of a proto-feminist icon. She bravely spoke out about sexual harassment from powerful men in the film industry; became the second woman in America to have her own production company; she recognised the power of her sexuality and advocated passionately for equality and civil rights. There are recipe books, tiles from her kitchen and her cooking utensils on display, although she famously said: “I have too many fantasies to be a housewife.” Her three marriages are also charted in the show, with memorabilia from honeymoons, love letters and photographs. Marilyn has an enduring and complex legacy, and even with her famous dresses and handwriting within thrilling touching distance, she's always just out of reach. Like most people, I have always been mesmerised by Marilyn - as a child, for her beauty and as I got older, for her talent and powerful story as a strong, resilient and extraordinary woman ahead of her time, which is represented beautifully in this show. As Marilyn said: “A sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate being a thing.” She was so, so much more than that. Marilyn: The Exhibition . Arches, London Bridge,  8 Bermondsey St, London SE1 2ER. 17 October - February 2025 Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?

Spirits and Pints in London's Spookiest BOO-zers When you find a pub you love, you don't want to leave. But if you've ever been turfed out at closing time, show a little respect for these ladies and gents who've been sticking around for centuries. In fact, it seems all you need to do is die a terrible, gruesome death (or commit a murder or two) and you'll be allowed to stroll around your favourite pub for eternity. From famous spirits (Dick Turpin and Jack the Ripper to Sir Walter Raleigh) to phantom toilet flushers, pubs with live ghost cams, body snatcher hauntings, Victoria skeleton discoveries and howling prisoners of yesteryear, we've gathered the dark histories of London's ten most ghost-addled boozers below, if you fancy extra spirits with your booze, ____________ THE SPANIARDS INN Hampstead Once upon a time, The Spaniards Inn wasn't nestled in the heart of leafy, affluent Hampstead, but was out in the countryside on the long road into London town. It was this position that made it a favourite spot for highwaymen and criminals to meet to plot and even carry out their nefarious deeds. One of those criminals went on to make quite a name for himself - the infamous Dick Turpin, who was so fond of the place, he still pops back every now and again. Visitors have seen his ghost wandering the old, wood-panelled rooms and some even claim a mysterious woman dressed in white will join him for a stroll around his old stomping ground, which just goes to show: Even in the afterlife, girls love a bad boy. Spaniards Rd, London NW3 7JJ, spaniardsinnhampstead.co.uk THE FLASK Highgate Across the heath from the Spaniards Inn is The Flask, a 17th Century pub also frequented by the booze-loving Dick Turpin. But there's a strict one-ghost-only rule around these parts and this is the home of a heartbroken young woman who supposedly met a tragic end right inside the building. Some say that the female phantom one worked in the pub and embarked on an affair with the landlord. But when the romance went pear-shaped, she couldn't bear the rejection and fellow workers found her hanged in the cellar. Staff know when she's about to make an appearance when the temperature plummets, but she doesn't always show herself to the naked eye. Regulars report seeing their glasses move across the table, others claim the lights begin to flicker and some even report feeling a blowing sensation on the back of their necks. Sounds like she's still terrible at flirting after all this time. If you're after a more reliable - but equally gruesome - tale to give you the shivers, the first ever autopsies were supposedly carried out in the committee room here on a corpse pinched from the Highgate Cemetery next door. If that isn't enough to warrant a haunting, we don't know what is. 77 Highgate W Hill, London N6 6BU, theflaskhighgate.com THE GRENADIER Belgravia Over in West London, The Grenadier is an upmarket gastropub tucked away in a pretty mews called Wilton Row. But if the name wasn't enough oof a giveaway, the wooden sentry box outside and the flashes of blue and red across the white exterior will tell you that this is a building with a proud military history. The upper floors of The Grenadier were used as an officers mess for the nearby barracks and the cellar became an illicit drinking and gambling den for the regular soldiers. But with high-stakes gambling comes winners, losers and inevitable upset - especially if cheating's involved. One night in September, when two soldiers discovered their opponent had been bending the rules, they gave him a bearing so severe that he died on the floor of The Grenadier's cellar. Ever since - and especially in September - objects move, tables and chairs rattle, footsteps are heard and mysterious moans fill the air. If you want to help the poor soldier pay off his debts and slope back off to the afterlife, you can join hundreds of other patrons in pinning some cash to the ceiling. Every little helps. 18 Wilton Row, London SW1X 7NR, thegrenadierbelgravia.com picture: The Grenadier | © Martin Belam/Flickr THE BOW BELLS Bow Is it a ghost, or a longstanding plumbing problem? Well, seeing as it's Halloween, we're going with the former. This old pub in London's East End has a phantom toilet flusher, who pulls the chain while people are sat atop the throne. In all fairness, that's exactly the sort of daft shenanigans we'd like to take part in if we were offered the chance to pop back as a ghost. If a shonky flushing system isn't enough to convince you of an otherworldly presence, there's a little more to the story. Fed up with soggy-bottomed locals complaining about the toilets, the landlord decided to call a seance and when they called forth the spirit, the women's toilet door flew open and smashed a mirror. 116 Bow Rd, Bow, London E3 3AA. thebowbellspub.co.uk THE RISING SUN Smithfield The Rising Sun sits right next door to Batholomew's Hospital, which is a big tick in the ghost-hunting world. Location, location, location and all that. Back in the 19th Century, gangs of bodysnatchers would drink and work at The Rising Sun (think of it as a very early WeWork) thanks to its proximity to the medical researchers next door. They'd drug pub-goers before killing them and selling the bodies to the scientists in Barts. Then, presumably, they'd pop back and spend their earnings at the bar. It's all been kicking off since then, with strange happenings being reported all over the ancient bar - including in the private flats upstairs, where one former landlady reported being interrupted in the shower by a ghostly apparition who whipped back the curtain and placed an icy hand on her back. Other barmaids who lived upstairs would wake up to find a spirit sitting on the end of the bed, slowly tugging their bedcovers off. 38 Cloth Fair, Barbican, London EC1A 7JQ, www.risingsunbarbican.co.uk THE TEN BELLS Shoreditch The Ten Bells on Shoreditch's Commercial Street has undergone a modernisation in recent years and is a lovely pub overlooking the equally posh boutiques of Spitalfields Market, so it's hard to imagine it as the dirty backstreet hovel it once was. The East End pub will always be tied with England's most famous serial killer - Jack the Ripper - who allegedly used to stalk his victims in this street, which at the end of the 1800s was a squalid slum. All of the Ripper's victims died within a mile or two radius of the Ten Bells but two in particular are linked to the pub. Mary Kelly was last seen in the pub on the night of 9th November 1988, and would have bumped into her killer in the streets outside. And Annie Chapman's body was found in Hanbury Street behind the pub. Workers and customers have since reported various sightings of a gentleman in Victorian dress strolling through the pub and down the street outside, and some also claim to have seen a ghost who looks curiously similar to Annie Chapman, leading people to believe the Ripper is still tormenting her to this every day. 84 Commercial St, London E1 6LY, tenbells.com THE OLD QUEEN'S HEAD Islington Now an upmarket gastropub that hosts live music, DJs and comedy acts, there's a dark side to The Old Queen's Head that only shows itself at night. The current building is a Grade II listed building dating back to the early 1800s, but a pub has stood on this site since the 16th century - and one of its past owners was rumoured to be the legendary Sir Walter Raleigh. Staff have reported seeing him swanning about the place - no doubt lamenting modern music and asking why everything has to be so loud - and disappearing without trace. Others claim to have seen a woman dressed in Tudor clothing and hearing footsteps, laughter and the chatter of young children after the pub has closed its for the evening. 44 Essex Rd, London N1 8LN, theoldqueenshead.com VIADUCT TAVERN Newgate Street The Viaduct Tavern is opposite the Old Bailey, London's famous court where thousands of criminals have learnt their fates over the centuries. Hundreds of those will have been taken straight to the fountain outside to be hanged in full view of passers by, whereas some might have been sent back to the grim debtors prison whose cells now form part of the cellar of the Viaduct Tavern. It's not hard to see why there are a fair few tortured souls knocking around the place, but just like in life, most of these guys are confined to the cellar and never seem to make their way up to the Victorian Gin Palace upstairs. They go for the usual temperature-dropping stunts, with the odd moan and groan thrown in for good measure, but these troubled ghosts also have a few innovative tricks up their sleeves. Back in 1996, the pub manager had to call his wife for help after the heavy cellar door slammed shut and the lights tripped out, leaving hime howling in the dark just like the prisoners of yesteryear. And a few years later, builders reported seeing a roll of carpet lift into the air and slam back down onto the floor for no apparent reason. 126 Newgate St, London EC1A 7AA, viaducttavern.co.uk THE OLD BULL & BUSH Hampstead Hampstead is one of our favourite areas of London, largely because it's packed full of an unfair number of incredible pubs. But, with old pubs comes paranormal activity. It's in the rules. And The Old Bull & Bush is no stranger to ghosts. Just like many of its local rivals, the Old Bull & Bush has changed through time, from an old pub on the edge of the city, to a well established drinking den and finally, as is the way, to an upmarket gastropub to serve the ludicrously wealthy locals. But one of these renovations might well have answered provided the answer to the pub's paranormal bother. For many years, workers and regulars have reported hearing strange bumps, moans and screams from various nooks and corners of this old pub. Some claimed to have been followed by strange footsteps and others even say they've seen a strange, Victorian man patrolling the area. But when a 1987 refurbishment required a section of wall to be pulled back, builders discovered the skeleton of a man in Victorian clothes. Even more bizarrely, he was surrounded by surgical equipment, giving rise to the story that Jack the Ripper may have died here while hiding out from the police. Despite the skeleton being removed and buried in a nearby graveyard, the hauntings continue to this day. N End Way, London NW3 7HE, thebullandbush.co.uk ​ THE MORPETH ARMS Westminster When will people learn not to build pubs on top of old prisons? It never seems to end well. The Morpeth Arms in Westminster has made full use of its grimy cellar, offering ghost hunters a live camera feed, with all lenses pointed firmly at a row of damp, dark and filthy arches that used to be holding cells for prisoners. The cellar would once have been linked by underground tunnels to Millbank prison, where convicts were kept until transportation arrived to whisk them off to a life of hard labour in Australia. Unsurprisingly, given they weren't going to be here for long, very little care was taken of the prisoners and scary and cholera ran rife through the inmates. Rumour has it that one prisoner took his own life rather than be deported to the other side of the world, and his tortured soul now swans around the posh pub upstairs, knocking pints out of people's hands and smashing bottles and glasses behind the bar. Exactly the kind of reckless behaviour that'd land him in prison in the first place. Will he ever learn? 58 Millbank, London SW1P 4RW. morpetharms.com Like what you've read? Why not follow us on Instagram?