Fabulously spoilt: Christmas in London with kids 2022

Christmas in London with kids is such a joyous affair and we are all spoilt again with choices – so much wintery fun to be had! Here are our favourites and our best winter selection over the years and updated for 2022. After 2020 & 2021 lockdowns and restrictions, December in London with children is thankfully back to the usual feasts and treats!

The Rat Pack at Christmas

A festive and rebellious classic, The Definitive Rat Pack brings the party to Cadogan Hall, whilst Manhattan Swing Orchestra is fab and tonic. The coolest concert in town warmed up the hearts, drifting us back in time, soaking the glam and bubbles, Vegas coming to Sloane Square : My way, Got you Under My Skin, Volare and seasonal classics including funky beautiful Silent Night, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland and so much more !

Christmas in London with kids: HCP

Christmas in London with kids: RAH

Close by the Cadogan Hall (literally 10 minutes by foot) and for more festive arts and crafts, head to the Gingerbread City Exhibition – architects, builders, engineers, big and young kids alike; in the past, in stunning Sommerset House, now for the second year on the lovely Motcomb street, in Belgravia.

Christmas in Kensington & Belgravia @ Gingerbread House 2022 is sweet and ESG

In 2021 GingerBread City’s theme was nature in the City; we are so looking forward to seeing once again in 2022 popping up December 3rd-January 2nd, this year it is all about Ecohomes.

Christmas in Kensington & Belgravia @ Gingerbread House 2022 is sweet and ESG

GingerBread City 2022

Very ESG and topical and we are hopeful to chip in  with 1 creation or 2 in dough and icing with eco-buildings, healthier and greener infrastructure!

Gingerbread City Exhibition, Motcomb Street

Gingerbread City Exhibition, Motcomb Street

Gingerbread City Exhibition, Motcomb Street

Gingerbread City Exhibition, Motcomb Street

Christmas at Kew returns again with over one million glittering lights, a celebration of nature by night and wonder of biodiversity. Start the festive season with a spectacular show by the Temperate House and Palm House, alongside installations on the Lake and across Kew’s Arboretum. This stunning botanical world fills with seasonal winter joy and over the years, has been consistently WOW!

Christmas Cathedral Kew Gardens 2021

Christmas at Kew 2021 with kids

Christmas at Kew

Christmas at Kew with kids: Xmas

Iceskating at Royal Palaces. Our favourites tested historically have been Hampton Court and Queens House Greenwich . A Royal palace in the background illuminated magically with festive lights, Hampton Court is superbly atmospherical – a quintessence of London heritage and festive fun. Counting down as 2022 iceskating starts on November 17th!

Iceskating at Royal Palaces: HCP

Christmas in London with kids: HCP

We were very lucky to be invited on a Sunday afternoon – not too crowded but just about the right ratio of iceskaters and kids. The mulled wine and hot chocolate after are the regular treat and we loved sipping them over the magic lights and ice glimmering on Hampton Court Palace, Henry VIII’s historic home.

Iceskating at Royal Palaces: HCP

Greenwich iceskating with kids

Tower of London icerink similarly breathed history and more festive fun but in 2022 will not re-open, some major renovations on, so hopefully back in 2023. We raved about extensively in here: one feels blessed to take in the dramatic setting of the fortress beside the Thames whilst whizzing around on ice in one of London’s most famous landmarks!

Queens House Greenwich Ice Rink

Another winter classic close to Belgravia, National History Museum icerink was sadly on its last year in 2021; we loved over the years its gorgeous backdrop of Alfred Waterhouse’s building, fairy lights, Austrian chalet set up and vibes just above the icerink.

NHM Ice Rink

December in London with kids

Not Royal but surely a stunning classic, Skate at SOMERSET HOUSE WITH MOËT & CHANDON is ON again in 2022 November 16th – January 15th.

Skate at SOMERSET HOUSE WITH MOËT & CHANDON

Iceskating at SOMERSET HOUSE with kids

And if the weather is not great and kids are keen on iceskating, we warmly recommend the classics indoors (no pun intended) Alexandra Palace Icerink – read all in our dedicated article in here; or Queens skate dine bowl, a Kensington classic for weekends all year around or birthday parties.

Queens skate dine bowl 2022

Alexandra Palace ice skating with kids

Christmas shows. We love to start the winter festivities season with the Snowman at the Peacock theatre – what a treat! Our eldest adored it at 6, 5 and 4, no doubt his favourite part was the flying above mountains to the North Pole! For me the music is superb and la mise en scene simply fantastic -tears in my eyes at the end every time, very emotional and Christmassy.

Christmas in London with kids: Snowman at the Peacock theatre

Snowman at the Peacock theatre

Dedicated article in here. Pair it with Covent Garden for more festive fun, an iconic market and street entertainers – an absolute must see Christmas in London with kids.

Sushi SAmba Covent Garden

Christmas market and street entertainers

For scrumptious lunches nearby for sushi lovers, we adore Sushi Samba overlooking Covent Garden or Sticks and Sushi for something more casual.

December in London Xmas market Covent Garden with kids

Sushi Samba Covent Garden with kids

And whilst we are talking about gastro treats December in  London with kids, the afternoon teas are particularly festive and joyous and One Aldwych afternoon tea themed Charlie and the Chocolate factory must be our favourite.

Another great option for afternoon tea London in Belgravia is the chilled and chic Anya café by Anya Hindmarch, perfect also for week-end brunches and all day coffees. Quintessential British reimagined with the brands’ trademark humour, we indulged into dark chocolate sweet treats in the heart of Anya’s Village on Pont street.

Anya Hindmarch sweet treats

Anya Hindmarch Pont Street Village

For very lucky children in  Anya has also a Grotto, one immersive journey through a moonlit forest and across crunchy snow to find Father Christmas, who will read them a story and give them a gift. Grown-ups get a free hot drink from the Anya Cafe as well as mince pies, gingerbread men and Christmas cakes. The gift shop has limited-edition Anya Hindmarch gifts and Christmas decorations, including ceramic tree baubles, crackers, puzzles, mugs, crayons and teddy bears but we got truly excited about the Return to nature Anya’s bags collection, all biodegradable and perfect gifts from one visionary Greenpeace Ambassador (Anya!) to fashionistas ESG minded and Earth lovers – a truly perfect Christmas present!

Christmas in London with kids will not be Christmas without Royal Albert Hall and what an array of magic shows and performances have been lined up at this iconic institution!

Christmas at RAH London

Christmas at RAH London

Father Christmas at the Hall has been a favourite for years and 2022 will bring to the Hall the revamped version including a Sleigh! We were very lucky to have in our diaries as well My Christmas Orchestral Adventure and The Snowman and Paddington Bear – both of them fabulous, wrote about in here.  My Christmas Orchestral Adventure introduces kids to classical music via a full symphony orchestra and encouraging them to sing, dance and join in as they help getting Santa’s map ahead of the Big Delivery on Christmas Eve! The Snowman and Paddington Bear live in concert as one could guess, celebrates two national institutions. And for a wonderful arty wrap up, look no further than Nutcracker wonderfully performed by Birmingham Royal Ballet – a three generations treat that we raved about extensively in here. All these shows make also sparkling Christmas gift ideas – so much better than toys going in a cupboard ! No tidy up needed either – true festive magic points! Huddle at Unicorn Theatre was another Christmas treat and a precious memory as we attempted a first time 4 of us at a show, including one energetic and 2 years old troublemaker. 2022 Unicorn Theatre shows are in here.

The children loved Silverstone Lap of Lights in 2021; the heart of British motor racing spoiled us with over 400 laser beams, 400,000 festive light pixels and a trip around the world – all with a self drive by the  iconic Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit. Sadly in 2022, due to a number of projects there won’t be a Lap of Lights experience; nor the lodge of winter fun (children’s cinema, racing games, curling , ‘Santa’s letter’ corner, live concerts, great food and drinks); nor the iceskating built in and around the Formula 1 garages and pit lane. Will keep an eye for the coming years!

Silverstone alpine lodge

What else do we have planned for December in London ? There’s Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park with its endless entertainment options, from Nutcracker on Ice to Circus, to its many rides and cute and lively Bavarian villages. What do YOU have planned or YOU’d like to hear about? Have a lovely festive December ALL!