We’ve got your Christmas in East London all wrapped up with this round-up of 20 fun and festive things to do with the kids.
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1 The Lord Mayor’s Show
- When: Sat 14 Nov 2026, from 11am
- Where: Starts at Mansion House, City of London (nearest stations Bank and St Paul’s)
- Tickets: FREE
800 years in, and if you’ve never been, it’s time to behold the spectacle that is the Lord Mayor’s Show. The gleaming gold State Coach will wind through the City accompanied by marching brass bands, horses and floats. The river flotilla will be back for the first time since 2017. Get there early to nab a good spot near St Pauls and make sure to wrap up warm.
2 A Christmas Carol
- When: Wednesday 10 November 2026 – Saturday 9 January 2027
- Where: The Old Vic Theatre, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB
- Tickets: From £51. A £2.50 transaction fee applies
An incredibly festive event sure to get you feeling the spirit of Christmas. Join this atmospheric, in-the-round staging of Dickens’ festive classic, adapted by Jack Thorne and directed by Matthew Warchus, and experience a heart-warming tale of kindness, ghosts and redemption suitable for ages 8+.
3 Christmas at the Tower of London
- When: Friday 28 November 2025 – Sunday 4 January 2026 (closed 24–26 December & 1 January)
- Where: London EC3N 4AB
- Tickets: Adults from £35.80 | Children (5-15) from £17.90
Concessions: Residents of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets can visit for just £1 (adult ticket + up to three children) with proof of address/ID.
Celebrate the Victorian traditions that shape the Christmas we love at the Tower of London with character actors to bring the moments of invention to life. What would Christmas be without a tree and presents? With shimmering decorations, themed displays and backdrops. The Tower will come alive with holiday magic for the whole family to enjoy.
4 A Gruffalo Gala with Axel Scheffler
- When: Thursday 3rd December 2026 5:30 – 8pm
- Where: Discover Children’s Story Centre, 383–387 High Street, Stratford, London E15 4QZ
- Tickets: £65 proceeds go to Discover’s charitable work.
Award-winning illustrator Axel Scheffler will be venturing out to Discover’s deep dark wood in support Discover’s charitable work. Families can enjoy a delicious Gruffet (a Gruffalo-themed buffet) before joining Axel to learn his drawing secrets, watch a live-drawing and listen to all three of the Gruffalo stories, including the brand-new Gruffalo Granny! You’ll have a chance to win the drawings that Axel creates live, make your very own take-home Gruffalo Granny, browse the shop for book-signing and Christmas shopping, and enjoy Discover’s twinkly Story Worlds.
5 Queen’s House Ice Rink
- When: Wed 18 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027, 10am – 9pm
- Where: Queen’s House, Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
- Tickets: Session prices vary
Get your skates on at one of London’s last remaining historic ice skating destinations, a Greenwich World Heritage Site no less. With views of Canary Wharf and double the space to skate this year, is this the best ice rink in East London? Look out for toddler and SEND sessions. Book your visit with Santa while you are there.
6 Victorian Santa’s Grotto at Museum of London Docklands
When: Fri 20 Nov – Wed 23 Dec 2026, 9.45am–4.15pm
Where: London Museum Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL
Tickets: Booking in advance is required.
Step into a festive, Victorian-style grotto in the Docklands where children meet Santa in a Dickens-inspired setting, receive a thoughtful gift made of traditional materials, and you can snap your own photo too. Quiet sessions available early morning for children with extra sensory needs.
7 Robin Hood
- When: Sat 21 Nov 2026 – Sat 2 Jan 2027
- Signed performance 11 Dec, captioned 18 Dec, audio described 19 Dec, relaxed 2 Jan
- Where: Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, London E15 1BN
- Tickets: From £26–£43
Christmas in East London just isn’t complete without the Stratford Panto! This year, Robin Hood is getting an East End twist. His hooded crew are taking from the rich, backing the poor, and showing Stratford what happens when everyday people stand together. Expect stunning sets, outlandish costumes and plenty of audience interaction. Written by Yolanda Mercy (CBeebies’ JoJo & Gran Gran) and directed by Olivier winner Jade Lewis with Newham-native Ashley Joseph as Robin.
8 The Snowflake
When: Friday 21 Nov–23 Jan 2027
Where: Little Angel Workshop, 41 Cross Street, London N1 2BB
Tickets: £18 Adult | £16 Child (ages 1–17)
Wherever the wind takes us, we all find a place to land… This year’s festive performance at Little Angel Theatre is based on the timeless Christmas story by Benji Davies. The Snowflake tells the tale of a little girl, her Pappie and a snowflake – all longing for their own special place in the world. A feel-good family Christmas show packed with playful puppetry and wonderful songs.
9 Huddle at the Unicorn Theatre
- When: Huddle: Fri 27 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027 ages 1–4
- Where: Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley Street, London SE1 2HZ
- Tickets: 1 adult + 1 child £18.50–£21.50 | 2 adults + 1 child £25.50–£28.50
After a sold-out run in 2024, Huddle returns with playful performance projection and sound to create a fun sensory first theatre experience. In the frozen landscape of Antarctica, Mr Penguin receives a special delivery… his very own egg. Soon the egg hatches and Mr Penguin finds that he has his flippers full looking after his baby chick. Join this new Dad as he navigates the world of parenting – penguin style!
10 Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People (Family Matinee)
When: Saturday 12 December 2026, 11:30 am (doors 11:00 am)
Where: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG
Tickets: £17-£23(plus fees) — under-30s tickets from £10.00.
Best for children ages 10+, Join the festive edition of the celebrated variety-night Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People, curated by Robin Ince. Expect a lively mix of science, comedy, music and surprise guests covering themes from astronomy to art, robotics to ragtime.
11 Ebony Scrooge
- When: Tues 24 Nov 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027, various times
- Where: Sadler’s Wells East, Stratford, London E15 1BX
- Tickets: from £15 (plus £4 transaction fee)
Experience ZooNation’s bold re-imagining of A Christmas Carol: join Ebony, a powerhouse fashion mogul who’s cancelled Christmas for her big show, as she’s visited by three mystical spirits and rediscovers her Caribbean roots and the true meaning of happiness.
12 Wundrful World of Christmas
- When: Fri 13 Nov 2026 – Thurs 24 Dec 2026, various times
- Where: ImmerseLDNExcel Waterfront, ExCel, London E16 1X
- Tickets: from £24.90 per person (prices vary by session)
The Wundrful World of Christmas invites little ones ages 3-8 to embark on an immersive festive journey. You’ll begin in a magic lift, then wander through an Enchanted Forest until you get to the Toy Sorting Station, where you’ll become a trainee elf. You’ll get to meet Mrs Claus in her kitchen and visit Santa’s Cottage, finishing at the North Pole Post Office for your photo with Santa. The word on the street last year is that Santa’s pressie is quite anticlimactic, hopefully they sorted it this year.
13 Revel Puck
When: Thurs 3 Dec 2026 – Sun 3 Jan 2027, various times
Where: Revel Puck Circus Winter Festival at Walthamstow Town Square, Walthamstow, London E17 4JF
Tickets: Quentin Blake’s Clown start from £13.30 Fête du Puck from £22.50
With last Christmas’s sell-out shows, Revel Puck returns with not just one, but two original circus productions this festive season: Quentin Blake’s Clown, for ages 2+ a story of hope, friendship and kindness. For older kids, Fête du Puck, an all-ages foot-stamping circus celebration of past, present & future. All happening under a heated, all-weather “mini big top” tent venue behind Walthamstow Central station, plus a pop-up tap room, heated garden and festive market of local food & drink.
14 Little Match Girl
Wednesday 3 December 2025 – Saturday 3 January 2026, various times
Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1 8JB
Tickets priced from £16 – £35 for adults; £14 – £32.50 for concessions.
The festive performance the Guardian recommended borrowing or stealing children for as an excuse to see. On a snow-covered Christmas Eve in an imaginary Italian town, a young girl journeys through the streets with just one final match to keep her warm. Along the way she encounters moments of humanity and hardship in a moving winter tale of hope, compassion and imagination.With live music by Frank Moon, quirky humour, and imaginative staging this version of Hans Christian Anderson’s famous fairytail is not quite like the one you know. Expect laughter and exciting twists.
15 Stella’s Imaginarium
- When: Sat 13 Dec 2025 & Sun 14 Dec 2025, 11:00 am & 2:30 pm
- Where: Hoxton Hall, 130 Hoxton Street, London N1 6SH
- Tickets: from £15.50 (child) / £19.50 (adult) (+ booking fee)
Dive into Stella’s Imaginarium, as the much loved Hoxton Hall transforms into whimsical snowglobe. This magical family circus show by Brainfools featues a fantastical realm full of aerial acrobatics, shadow-dances and stunning vocals. A celebration of creativity and connection just in time for the holidays.
16 Christmas Carol Singalong
- When: Sat 19 Dec 2026 2pm & 5:15pm
- Where: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
- Tickets: From £27.50
Bing Crosby knew there was nothing better than a gang sing-along at Christmas. Let your voices ring out with Jonathan Cohen and West End star Louise Dearman, in this joyous singalong packed with festive favourites, timeless classics, and all the carols you love. Bring the whole family and feel the festive rush of live music at Christmas all set to the London Concert Chorus and the London Concert Orchestra.
17 Jack and the Beanstalk
- When: Fri 27 Nov 2026 – Sun 10 Jan 2027. Wed–Fri 1pm and 7pm, Sat 2pm and 7pm, Sun 1pm and 5pm
- Where: Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London SE10 8ES
- Tickets: Up to £46, concessions £23.75–£40
Greenwich Theatre presents ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ – the Panto you’ve BEAN waiting for! Jack and his Mother – Dame Dotty Trott – have fallen on hard times. They’ve even been forced to sell their beloved cow Pat! With a sprinkle of magic and a little unexpected help from an unconventional fairy, Jack climbs a beanstalk to Cloudland in an attempt to gain his fortune… however, there’s one giant problem that stands in his way! Greenwich theatre promises fee-fi-fo-FUN festive good times.
18 Saturday Sessions: A Festive Cracker
- When: 05 Dec 2026, 1.30pm
- Where: The Clore Ballroom, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
- Tickets: Free
Drag King, musician, comedian, writer, actor, director and facilitato, Len Blanco leads the festive fun with games, dances and crafty activities celebrating the magic of the season and the magic of being yourself. Make something new along with the artists and create with other children and their families – all for free!
19 Cut A Shine Festive Family Barn Dance
When: Sat 19 December 2025, 1 pm – 4 pm
Where: The Round Chapel, 1D Glenarm Road, London E5 0LY
Tickets: from £9 per person (under-1s free).
Get into the festive spirit with the team from Cut A Shine at this lively family barn-dance: perfect for all ages, beginners and enthusiasts alike, with two sets of dances (the first set easier for younger ones) followed by a kids’ disco finish. The venue offers lunch, a fully-stocked bar, baby-change and soft-play areas for the little ones.
20 Jack and the Beanstalk at Hackney Empire
- When: Saturday 21 November – Thursday 31 December 2026.
- Signed performances 5 and 17 December
- Relaxed and dementia-friendly performance 5 December
- Audio described performance 6 December
- Where: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ
- Tickets: From around £12. Suitable for all ages
Hackney Empire celebrates its 125th year this December and they’re pulling out all the stops! Panto legend Clive Rowe returns to direct and star as Dame Trot. Families can expect extra of all that we love about Hackney panto: belly laughs, outlandish costumes, songs to singalong to, and plenty of audience participation.