With last minute gifts to buy, what better place to look for inspiration than London’s iconic museums, galleries, tourist attractions and institutions. Choose from delicious seasonal food and drink, sustainable clothing, books to delight art and history lovers, even purchase those adorable tree decorations and themed festive jumpers. Alternatively take time out from shopping and enjoy an enchanting light trail, festive cinema experience, magical open-air ice rink, delight in a seasonal performance or world class choral music concert. Whatever you choose you will be supporting those that make London unique and inspiring this season.
This Christmas, prepare to be swept up in a whimsical world of planets and stars on an enchanting new light trail at Hampton Court Palace. As dusk falls across this magnificent former royal home, an atmospheric, fantastical wonderland of clocks, moons, planets and sundials is just waiting to be discovered.
Our light trail winds through some of the palace’s stunning gardens and across a flickering moonlit ball in the East Front Gardens. You can hear ancient trees as they whisper their secrets and peek into mysterious miniature shadow worlds before being transported to another planet in the deepest depths of the Wilderness, once home to King Charles II’s formal pleasure garden.
Along the way, indulge in seasonal food and drink, as you experience the palace gardens after-hours as you've never seen it before.
Enjoy a magical Christmas treat, perfect for all the family.
HARROW 450 | A PHOTOGRAPHIC CELEBRATION OF HARROW SCHOOL BY PHOTOGRAPHER WILLIAM COOPER
£80.00
This beautiful book is a visual biography of Harrow School. From its founding to the present day, photographer Will Cooper takes us on a journey that delves deep into Harrow’s archives and collections, buildings and traditions. We visit the quieter corners of the School, rediscover familiar friends, uncover the unknown and travel through time to enjoy rarely seen artefacts from the School’s collections.
From Byron’s slippers to Churchill’s letters, from the Fourth Form Room to Lyon’s, these stunning photographs make up a unique record of 450 years of Harrow School.
https://www.harrowschoolenterprises.com/product/a-photographic-celebration-of-harrow-school/
Orders now available for post-Christmas only.
The Horniman Museum & Gardens is excited to launch an online shop with a new sustainable, cotton clothing line in partnership with Teemill.
The colourful collection features Horniman favourites like the Walrus and animals from our popular Aquarium and Butterfly House. T-shirts and hoodies for adults and kids as well as tote bags are printed on super soft, certified organic cotton in a factory powered by renewable energy. Making perfect gifts for friends and family.
Order now in time for Christmas: https://horniman.shop/
Alternatively treat someone to a whole year of inspiration and delight with a Gift Membership. Every purchase also supports the care of the museums collections, animals and Gardens.
For further details: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/membership/
Looking for a Christmas gift for someone with a passion for politics? Take a look at the Houses of Parliament’s Christmas Shop, where you’ll find plenty of gift inspiration. Their collection includes lots of festive food and drink (including treat-packed hampers), decorations, homeware, books, jewellery and more – all inspired by politics, Parliament and the Palace of Westminster.
Discover their range of exclusive gifts at shop.parliament.uk.
Experience iconic films from Elf and Home Alone to Love Actually and The Holiday on the big screen at Kensington Palace this Christmas season.
The ultimate festive cinema experience gives film fans a chance to take a break from the chaos around last-minute Christmas shopping and the festive party season, to snuggle up and enjoy iconic Christmas classics on the big screen with friends and family. With the chance to enjoy classic festive film favourites such as "Love Actually", "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Elf" - it’s set to be an unashamedly Christmassy extravaganza.
With delicious mulled wine, mince pies and hot chocolate on offer as well as a full bar and comfy seats, The Luna Winter Cinema is the perfect Christmas outing for all ages.
All tickets are seated, with the additional option to purchase VIP premium tickets. A VIP ticket offers the chance to cosy up on a luxury sofa for two, with a complimentary drink and butler service.
https://www.lunawintercinema.com/kensington-palace
Christmas at London Transport Museum has kicked off! Families are invited to come and meet Santa and his Elf and help him fix his sleigh which has crash landed in the Museum and needs little hands to help fix it! As well as a magical winter garden for storytelling, festive trail around the galleries and seasonal poster display, there is a huge amount on offer this winter. Plus, no visit would be complete without taking a pit-stop in the Museum's cafe, Canteen, for a hot chocolate and festive mince pie slice or heading to the shop to pick up those fantastic transport-inspired gifts.
For adults looking for something new this December, grab your mates and come to London Transport Museum for one of their adult-only After Dark evening events. The Museum's 'Merry Quizmas' event is taking place on Friday 17 December where your team can take part in an end of year grand transport quiz hosted by none other than Santa himself.
https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/christmas
Image credit @ The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London
It’s getting very festive at the Natural History Museum with plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The Museum’s iconic animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex has been dressed in the Museum’s very own Christmas jumper, and we’re sure you’ll agree it’s looking roarsomely festive!
The animatronic dinosaur will be wearing the jumper until the Museum closes for Christmas (The Museum is closed 24-26 December), so visitors are encouraged to come and take a look (and a selfie!) in the dinosaurs gallery, and of course to buy their own dino-themed festive jumper. Made from 100% recycled materials, the jumper is available to purchase for adults and children at the Natural History Museum shop.
The Ice Rink at the Natural History Museum is open until 16 January. Set against the backdrop of the Waterhouse building, the ice rink is one of the most magical places to be at this time of year. This will be its final year at the Museum after an incredible 16 years, so book online to avoid disappointment.
The popular Yoga at the Museum programme hosted in collaboration with East of Eden will run its final event of 2021 on 12 December. Visitors can rise and shine with an invigorating yoga class followed by a live gong bath and exclusive access to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, while it is closed to the public. Limited tickets are still available at nhm.ac.uk.
Image credit: Matt Chung Photography
Royal Museums Greenwich really is the place to be this holiday season with something for all the family! The magical open-air Queen’s House Ice Rink is back for the third year, offering the chance to skate with family, friends and colleagues to a backdrop of iconic architecture and views of London.
With the Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition open in the National Maritime Museum, explore images of the outer reaches of our galaxy or look at the world through a seafarer’s eyes with the Exposure: Lives at Sea exhibition. For those who still have gifts to get, the Royal Museums Greenwich shop offers a range of timeless, out of this world treats for all your nearest and dearest. They look forward to seeing you in Greenwich this December!
For further information: https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on
Jingle Bells – Sadler’s Wells! We are so pleased that our theatres are back with wonderful festive performances in December and January.
If you are looking for a special festive treat, we would recommend seeing the amazing Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker at Sadler’s Wells in Angel. It’s a Nutcracker! like no other, adored by critics and audiences alike. Come and enjoy the show with your colleagues, friends and family.
Private event spaces and bespoke show packages are available for Nutcracker shows. Why not celebrate together with your colleagues and friends, and have a festive drink in a private area prior to the show? Contact our Events team to discuss your festive event wishes.
Sadler’s Wells Events: events@sadlerswells.com, 020 7863 8065
Image credit: Graham Lacdao / Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral
Celebrate Christmas at St Paul’s this year with a wonderful programme of services and events. From carols to sing and world class choral music, Midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve, and services through Christmas Day, everyone is welcome. Through the festive season, there is so much to see and enjoy, with beautifully lit Christmas trees, Advent wreath and a traditional, hand carved nativity scene. From the 20th December – 9th January 2022 the Dome galleries, with their sweeping views over London will be open Monday to Saturday. A marvellous selection of Christmas decorations and gifts can be found in the Gift Shop, with many exclusive, fair trade pieces to choose from. Supporting the Cathedral by purchasing sightseeing tickets, annual passes and open-dated gift tickets helps secure the future of this iconic building.
Find out more about Advent and Christmas at St Paul’s online at https://www.stpauls.co.uk/christmas-2021
Christmas at the Tower of London
Discover the iconic history of the Tower of London this Christmas through the animals that once lived within these walls, with a magical, festive experience for all the family.
Explore spectacular displays of festive decorations and illuminated animal-themed areas across the fortress. From majestic elephants to a twinkling winter wonderland scene where polar bears roam and playful ravens nest; there is lots for all ages to see and enjoy in royal style.
This unique experience at the Tower of London is the perfect winter treat this Christmas.
Christmas season has officially arrived at the Wallace Collection, so if you are in central London, pop in and visit our homely Museum. A beautifully decorated tree now adorns the Dining Room to provide a glittering holiday atmosphere as you enter the Courtyard café and restaurant.
If you are struggling with present ideas, a visit to our gift shop can easily solve this issue. You can find a wide variety of beautiful things from stocking fillers to larger gifts including books for art and history lovers, scarves for the ones who care about style and adorable tree decorations for the interior designers.
After admiring the Collection and shopping for presents, you can relax in the Courtyard restaurant and enjoy the new festive menu.
The Museum, shop and restaurant will be open until 23rd December. The shop’s last day for online Christmas orders is 17th December for UK and 12th December for our international friends.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Wallace Collection soon.
Wallace Collection Shop – The Wallace Collection Shop
The Wallace Restaurant | Venues in London | Peyton and Byrne