What's On in London, South East

Nairy Baghramian: Jumbled Alphabet

Venue: South London Gallery

Website: www.southlondongallery.org

Artist Nairy Baghramian makes sculptures that ask you to reconsider your sense of self, space and relation to the object.Children will be able to contribute to a shared drawing, as well as touch and even...

Nairy Baghramian: Jumbled Alphabet 

Venue: South London Gallery

Website: www.southlondongallery.org

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Winter Market

Venue: Southbank Centre

Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Stroll along the Thames under twinkling lights and sample indulgent drinks and scrumptious street food from our traditional alpine-style chalets.With pop-up bars, street food stalls and independent craft...

A Christmas Carol

Venue: The Old Vic

Website: www.oldvictheatre.com

A Christmas Carol  fills the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment. A unique staging immerses the audience in London’s longest running adaptation of this beloved festive favourite....

A Christmas Carol

Venue: The Old Vic

Website: www.oldvictheatre.com

A Christmas Carol  fills the auditorium to the brim with mince pies, music and merriment. A unique staging immerses the audience in London’s longest running adaptation of this beloved festive favourite....

The Grotto

Venue: Ruxley Manor

Website: www.ruxley-manor.co.uk

Father Christmas is coming to Ruxley Manor! Nothing makes Ruxley happier than seeing all of the excited children ready to meet Father Christmas, as a family run business, seeing their customers making...

Christmas at Kew

Venue: Kew Gardens

Website: www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on

It’s a botanical world brimming with seasonal cheer as twinkling lights and seasonal sounds fill the air. For a moment of reflection, pause at mesmerising flickering flames in the fire garden, wander...

Kingston Christmas Market

Venue: Kingston Ancient Market Place

Website: www.kingstonchristmasmarket.co.uk

Experience the magic of Christmas in Kingston with its popular Christmas Market. Don’t miss the walk-through present installation and giant light-up reindeer. You can also embark on a festive adventure...

Santa's SteamLights

Venue: Bluebell Railway

Website: www.bluebell-railway.com

Sparkle, glow and shimmer on a magical steam train covered by thousands of colourful lights. Feast your eyes on a magical and spectacular light show as you travel through the winter landscape! Santa will...

The Ice Rink

Venue: Ruxley Manor

Website: www.ruxley-manor.co.uk/whats-on/ice-rink

Get ready to lace up your skates and hit the ice, because the much-loved ice rink is coming back to Ruxley Manor for Christmas 2024! Families and friends can once again glide across the real ice and make...

Santa's Ice Castle

Venue: Broadway Shopping Centre Bexleyheath

Website: www.broadwayshoppingcentre.com

Your experience starts as soon as you join the queue. First, you’ll enter through the magically lit, giant Christmas tree tower and, once you have walked through, you’ll be greeted by an immersive,...

Character Encounters

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/character-encounters

Encounter different characters who will take you on a special tour and bring the stories in the Museum to life before your eyes. Every Saturday at 11.30, 12.30, 1.30 and 2.30pm. Suitable for ages 5+.Free.

Charlton Athletic Football Club

Venue: Charlton Athletic Football Club

Address: The Valley

Website: www.charltonafc.com

At The Valley there is a Fan Zone and a Family Activity Zone with lots of activities to keep youngsters entertained.The club also runs a junior membership programme, Junior Addicks, where children aged...

Charlton Toy Library

Venue: Charlton House, Charlton Road

Website: www.charltontoylibrary.org.uk

Charlton Toy Library is a fun, stimulating and safe place. It provides families with a place to come and meet other parents, play with their children or get advice from very experienced members of staff....

Cutty Sark Adventures

Venue: Cutty Sark

Website: www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark

Visit the Cutty Sark figureheads and follow a free family trail to discover how the ship’s crew lived and worked at sea in the age of sail.Play interactive games to chart Cutty Sark’s journey at sea...

Discover Sundays

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/discover-sundays

Each week a different artist will take visiting families on a journey into the Museum’s collection. Discover objects that introduce different people, histories and cultures. Participate in different...

Family Leisure Zone

Venue: Brixton Recreation Centre

Website: www.active.lambeth.gov.uk/activities/family-leisure-zone

The Family Leisure Zone is an exciting new facility at Brixton Recreation Centre that incorporates a dynamic and diverse range of fun physical activities for the whole family! Find fantastic soft play,...

Ice Skating at Active Lambeth

Venue: Brixton Recreation Centre

Website: www.active.lambeth.gov.uk/activities/ice-skating

Brixton Recreation Centre have public sessions available for children and adults and you can learn to skate with one of their nationally acclaimed coaches or just skate for fun. All sessions run for 60...

Jambs Owls Experience

Venue: Hall Place and Gardens

Website: www.hallplace.org.uk

Have a HOOT at Jambs Owls Experience getting to know all the live owls including the opportunity to hold one! The lovely friendly team are on hand to answer all your questions and make your visit something...

Jigsaw Performing Arts Free Trial

Venue: Various venues

Website: www.jigsaw-arts.co.uk

Looking for a fun, creative outlet for your child in the new year? Join Jigsaw Performing Arts, where children aged 3-18 can discover their passion for dance, drama, and singing in a safe, nurturing environment....

Kids for a Quid

Venue: Bluebell Railway

Website: www.bluebell-railway.com

Any child (aged between 3-15 years old) can travel on the railway for just £1 with any fare paying Adult. This ticket would allow you to travel on the railway as many times as your like throughout your...

Thames adventure with City Cruises

Venue: Greenwich, Tower, London Eye, and Westminster Pier

Website: www.cityexperiences.com

Families are in for a treat with onboard activities tailored for children, including engaging activity books and more to enhance their journey. Plus, with the Family River Pass, up to three kids can enjoy...

The Curling Club

Venue: The Curling Club

Address: Southbank Centre, Under Hungerford Bridge

Website: https://thecurlingclub.com

The Curling Club is the perfect family destination this season, with two fantastic spots - the Southbank Centre location and the brand-new venue at Vinegar Yard near London Bridge. For just £50, families...

Theatre Peckham Academy

Venue: Theatre Peckham

Website: www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/tp-academy

Classes are for children aged between 3-16 and include Musical Theatre, Ballet, Acro, Song Writing and Music Production, Acting, Glee Club Pop, Junior Acting Company, Tap Dance, Street Dance and Young...

Young Astronomers Workshop

Venue: Royal Observatory, Peter Harrison Planetarium

Website: www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on

Go along to make-and-do activities about space at the Royal Observatory and ask the Observatory Explainers your questions about the Universe. Suitable for ages 4+. (Weekends 11am-2.30pm).

Odd and the Frost Giants

Venue: Unicorn Theatre

Website: www.unicorntheatre.com

This Christmas, follow unlikely hero Odd on an epic journey as he meets Norse Gods Odin, Loki and Thor, stuck in animal form in the human world. They are in trouble so Odd must use all his cunning to save...

Alice in Wonderland Returns

Venue: Brixton House

Website: www.brixtonhouse.co.uk

The return of their multi-award-winning, five-star festive show, Poltergeist production weave rap music together with the sights and sounds of Brixton into a hundred-mile-an-hour Christmas adventure. A...

Huddle

Venue: Unicorn Theatre

Website: www.unicorntheatre.com

Combining playful and innovative projections and sound, Filskit Theatre’s gorgeous, engaging and highly visual show returns to the Unicorn after a sold-out run in 2018. This is a heart-warming tale about...

RHS Glow 2024

Venue: RHS Glow

Website: www.rhs.org.uk

Take an enchanting walk around the garden and see some of RHS Wisley’s iconic sights in a new and dazzling light. Discover a botanical winter wonderland as thousands of glittering lights and a rainbow...

Ballet Shoes

Venue: National Theatre

Website: www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ballet-shoes

In a crumbling house full of dinosaur bones and fossils, three adopted sisters – Pauline, Petrova and Posy – are learning who they are and what they want to be. Katy Rudd returns to the National Theatre...

Mars in the Painted Hall

Venue: The Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College

Website: www.visitgreenwich.org.uk

Following the success of Gaia and Museum of the Moon, Mars will complete the trilogy of Jerram’s out-of-this-world installations at the Old Royal Naval College. Measuring seven metres in diameter, this...

The Spirit of Christmas at Eltham Palace

Venue: Eltham Palace and Gardens

Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk

Enjoy an hour-long immersive and theatrical journey through the stunning art-deco mansion, perfect for the whole family. Prepare to be dazzled at Eltham Palace with interactive storytelling, captivating...

Santa's Christmas Skyride

Venue: Centrale and Whitgift Shopping Centre

Website: www.centraleandwhitgift.co.uk/santas-grotto

Families will be taken on an unforgettable journey to visit the wonder of Santa’s snowy world.Perfect for children and parents alike, this immersive adventure is designed to bring the enchantment of...

Peppa Pig's Fun Day Out

Venue: Theatre Royal Haymarket

Website: https://trh.co.uk/

Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles, and even swim in the sea! Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa’s Fun Day Out guarantees...

Gingerbread Grotto

Venue: Woolwich Works

Address: The Fireworks Factory

Website: www.woolwich.works

This Christmas Santa is heading to Woolwich Works to meet local families in his Gingerbread Grotto – complete with lollipop-lined garden and icing-tiled roof! This deliciously delightful event for all...

Hansel and Gretel

Venue: Shakespeare's Globe

Website: www.shakespearesglobe.com

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Hansel and Gretel, as a new version of The Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage transforms the Globe Theatre with poetry, songs and...

A Gilded Christmas at Ham House and Garden

Venue: Ham House and Garden

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/ham-house-and-garden

Take in twinkling candlelight and fairy lights, Christmas trees and aromatic greenery as you discover the stunning Stuart interiors. Enjoy family-friendly activities on two trails – one inside the 17th-century...

Father Christmas at Marble Hill

Venue: Marble Hill

Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/marble-hill-father-christmas

Father Christmas will be telling some of his favourite seasonal stories around the Christmas tree in a group storytelling session. Then, you and your children will get the chance to meet the man himself,...

Meet Santa at the Southside Grotto

Venue: Southside Shopping Centre

Website: www.southsidewandsworth.com/grotto

Get ready for Christmas and visit Southside for a festive meet and greet with Santa in his cosy cabin. During this 30-minute experience, you can enjoy Christmas bauble decorating with their Christmas elves...

The Elves and the Magic Bear | Interactive Christmas Show

Venue: Admiral's House, Old Royal Naval College

Website: www.ornc.org/whats-on/the-elves-and-the-magic-bear

This interactive production is designed to captivate individuals of all ages, making it a perfect family affair. It offers an immersive experience that will leave everyone with a heart full of festive...

Danson House Grotto

Venue: Danson House

Website: www.communityhospice.org.uk/events/danson-house-grotto

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Sleeping Beauty

Venue: Broadway Theatre

Website: www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/events/sleeping-beauty

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Beauty and the Beast

Venue: Richmond Theatre

Website: www.atgtickets.com

Actress Dame Maureen Lipman returns to Richmond to star as Mrs Potty in this enchanting pantomime adventure, alongside comedy magician Pete Firman as Silly Billy. One of the most romantic pantos of all...

Beauty and the Beast

Venue: Richmond Theatre

Website: www.atgtickets.com

Actress Dame Maureen Lipman returns to Richmond to star as Mrs Potty in this enchanting pantomime adventure, alongside comedy magician Pete Firman as Silly Billy. One of the most romantic pantos of all...

The Nutcracker

Venue: Churchill Theatre

Website: www.trafalgartickets.com/churchill-theatre-bromley

It is Christmas Eve and Clara is allowed to choose one present from under the Christmas tree, so she chooses a Nutcracker, who, with the help of a little imagination magically comes to life and the new...

The Night Before Christmas

Venue: New Wimbledon Theatre

Website: www.atgtickets.com

This enchanting Christmas adventure is suitable to 3 - 8 year olds and features festive fun, classic Christmas songs and lots of audience participation plus the opportunity to join Santa, his helpers and...

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Venue: Fairfield Halls

Website: www.fairfield.co.uk

With a beautiful princess, a jealous Wicked Queen, seven bumbling dwarfs, a naughty nurse, a hilarious jester, a poisoned apple and a magic mirror, it’s not to be missed! Bursting with great songs, stunning...

Red Riding Hood

Venue: Stanley Arts

Website: www.stanleyarts.org

It’s almost Christmas and Red Riding Hood needs to take the cake to Grandma… but will she get there before the Big Bad Wolf has eaten Grandma for his dinner? Or will she be dessert? There’s only...

The Three Little Pigs

Venue: Omnibus Theatre

Website: www.omnibus-clapham.org

A funny and magical Christmas treat for the very young (ages 3-7) to make you squeal with laughter, bristling with puppets, live accordion music and lots of joining in. Will the wolf succeed in climbing...

Tom Fletcher's The Creakers

Venue: Southbank Centre

Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

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The Enchanted Cinema 'The Snowman' Interactive

Venue: Woolwich Works

Website: www.woolwich.works

This fun and interactive event starts with a vocal warm-up, preparing the chorister within for the unforgettable Walking in the Air sequence. The 30-min workshop is followed by Dianne Jackson’s magical...

The Nutcracker 2024

Venue: Blackheath Halls

Website: www.blackheathhalls.com

Let’s All Dance Ballet Company is back, once again, with its stunning festive family treat! You and your loved ones can indulge in spectacular dancing, glorious music and beautiful costumes. The Nutcracker...

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures

Venue: The O2 arena

Website: www.theo2.co.uk

Featuring new and classic tales, get ready to enter the enchanting Disney Kingdom as this multi-generational experience skates into an arena near you, with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics and...

The Nutcracker

Venue: Sadlers Wells

Website: www.sadlerswells.com

The Nutcracker is perfect for children of all ages. Whether your little ones have never been to the theatre before or are regular visitors, all children will be transported to the magical Land of Sweets...

New Years Eve Party

Venue: Woolwich Works

Address: The Fireworks Factory

Website: www.woolwich.works

Ring in the New Year at Woolwich Works - they’ll be open for merry-makers looking for a place to chat, eat, drink and dance in Woolwich’s newest cultural venue. Why not enjoy an evening walk along...

Buttons! the untold story

Venue: Bob Hope Theatre

Website: www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk

In this reimagining of the classic tale, Cinderella's plight under her cruel stepfamily is upstaged by her friend Buttons, who finally gets to tell his untold story! With a mix of comedy mishaps this original...

London New Year's Day Parade 2025

Venue: Piccadilly, Regents Street St James’s, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall

Website: https://lnydp.com

Running alongside the parade is the LNYDP concert series and the Grand Finale of the London International Choral Festival performed in internationally acclaimed music venues across the nation’s capital.

Sleeping Beauty

Venue: Erith Playhouse

Website: www.playhouse.org.uk/show/sleeping-beauty

A traditional family pantomime for all ages. Performances on Saturday at 2pm, 5pm and 8pm. Sunday at 2pm and 5pm. Wednesday to Friday at 7.45pm. Tickets £14. Book online at www.ticketsources.co.uk/erith-playhouse-limited...

Anna Fiorentini Taster Day

Venue: James Wolfe School

Website: www.afperformingarts.com

The Anna Fiorentini Theatre & Film School invites potential students aged 4–18 years to attend a Taster Day on Saturday 11 January at its Greenwich Branch. It's a chance to try out the classes and meet...

Bilingual Families

Venue: Royal Observatory

Website: www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory/bilingual-families

An astronomer will take viewers on a tour of our vast and intriguing Universe starting from the Earth; the show will travel through our celestial neighbourhood, visiting objects like planets, moons, and...

Safe Harbour

Venue: National Maritime Museum

Website: www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/safe-harbour

The sessions are an opportunity for families to have fun together in a friendly and welcoming space. Safe Harbour has been created in consultation with support organisations including We Are Family, and...