It will come as no surprise to any long-term resident that London comes alive in December. As the lights go up and the capital’s luxury hotels fill with glittering Christmas trees, seemingly every bar, restaurant and boutique in the city is also hosting its own drinks party, special shopping event or collaborative pop-up. We’ve scouted out some of the best festive events in London in December 2025. Plus, because there is such a thing as too much Christmas, a few which have absolutely nothing to do with Santa or sleigh bells.

The bucket list: British Pullman festive lunch

There’s no better way to get in the festive spirit than by spending a day aboard Belmond’s British Pullman train, indulging in Christmas fare while traversing the English countryside in glamorous fashion. Harking back to a bygone era of old-world luxury, the iconic Art Deco carriages of the British Pullman train – each with their own name, decor and history – are bedecked in festive decorations and Christmas magic, offering enchanting journeys from London Victoria into the Kent countryside until 21 December. 

Start your day with mulled wine and mince pies to warm the cockles at Belmond’s lounge at Victoria station, where 1930s-inspired singers will serenade your arrival. Climb aboard the train to be greeted by suited-and-booted waiters, who are on hand to hang your coats and pour a glass of Veuve Clicquot as the Pullman rolls out of the station. Walnut wood accents, gilded lamps, white-glove service and traditionally upholstered and plush armchairs set the scene, while a five-hour whistlestop tour of the Garden of England awaits. 

Five decadent courses celebrate the very best British produce, featuring mulled wine-cured salmon, celeriac and blue cheese soup, ballotine of Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings, as well as a festive snowflake dessert, British cheeseboard and petit fours with coffee. Wines are paired and poured generously tableside, including a glass of vintage 2018 Veuve Clicquot with the main course, as flapper dancers tour the carriage to provide thoroughly English entertainment. Also don’t forget to pull the beautiful blue crackers to discover your very own embroidered Christmas decoration to take home. Proving trains are the essence of timeless travel, this is certainly an afternoon well spent – and an experience you won’t want to miss this month. 

From £535 per passenger on a table for two, visit belmond.com

The restaurant: Chargal

On 11 December, acclaimed chef Serdar Demir will launch his second restaurant on Mayfair’s Berkeley Street following the success of The Mantl in Knightsbridge. A striking new three-storey dining destination, Chargal is set to redefine modern Turkish cuisine via fire-led cooking to deliver a multi-sensory experience where dining, and artistry come together under one roof. Served throughout the first-floor mezze bar, restaurant and Turkish lounge, expect signature dishes reinterpreting beloved classics: wagyu İskender, red bream ceviche nodding to Turkey’s coastal traditions, lamb tartare and pulled lamb hummus celebrating Anatolia’s deep pastoral heritage, and a dark chocolate sorbet with fennel pollen and olive oil, echoing the flavours of the Aegean. 

Chargal will open on 11 December 2025 at 11 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DS, visit chargal.com

The shopping: Astrid & Miyu Gift Shop

British jewellery brand Astrid & Miyu is bringing festive sparkle to London this season with the opening of The Gift Shop: a new retail concept reimagining the jewellery shopping experience. Adorned in a festive palette of ruby reds, exclusive Astrid & Miyu merchandise will be available, including branded caps, socks, keyrings, and tote bags. To mark the launch, Astrid & Miyu will host an evening of Christmas carols and mulled wine on 4 December, while Tony’s Chocolonely will be offering custom-wrapped chocolate bars as a gift-with-purchase from 6-7 December and a festive cart with sweet treats and warming drinks will be on hand to whet your whistle from 6-13 December. 

The Gift Shop by Astrid & Miyu is open at 4 South Molton Street, W1K 5QD, visit astridandmiyu.com

The menu: Roux Family Christmas at Caractère

Fans of Michelin maestro Michel Roux Jr will have the rare chance to indulge in his Christmas cooking this month. Joining forces with his daughter Emily and son-in-law Diego Ferrari, the four-course Roux Family Christmas menu returns to Caractère for its third year in a limited run from 16-20 December. Combining the history of Michel's Le Gavroche together with the savoir faire of Caractère, this collaboration will extend to the team, with the much loved Le Gavroche twins, Ursula and Silvia Peberschlager, taking over front of house. Priced at £195 per person, menu highlights include Orkney scallops with leeks and crispy Iberico ham, roast wild sea bream with trout and herring roe, and stuffed bronze turkey breast with black winter truffle and Madeira jus. 

Roux Family Christmas will be served from 16-20 December 2025 at Caractère, 209 Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EA, visit caractererestaurant.com

The family-friendly events: Victoria’s Seaside Christmas at Kensington Palace and breakfast with Santa at Art’otel

This winter, Queen Victoria’s rooms at Kensington Palace will be transformed with enchanting seaside-themed decorations that capture the magic and intimacy of the queen’s childhood Christmas by the coast. Visitors to the palace can explore this family celebration in the charming seaside town of Ramsgate, Kent, marking 190 years since the young princess’s memorable holiday by the sea. Running from 3 December until 4 January 2026, the event explores how the young princess and her family embraced the season at their much-loved seaside retreat, featuring glittering shell-inspired decorations and nautical touches recalling the charm of an imagined Victorian pier scene. 

Families hoping to take a perfect festive photo can enjoy the pop-up illustrated seaside grotto in the Stone Hall – a royal spot to capture a festive memory. Elsewhere, discover the life-size sketches of sailors and fishermen that were drawn by the young Princess Victoria and round off the day with a festive-themed afternoon tea inspired by Princess Victoria’s Christmas traditions in The Orangery. 

Elsewhere, invite the whole family for an indulgent breakfast at Perola, where Father Christmas will make a very special appearance on 7 December from 8-11am. Santa will visit each and every table, greeting children with warmth and cheer and giving a special gift to each attendee. Capture the moment with a photo opportunity against the iconic Power Station chimneys, before gathering around as Santa reads a heart-warming holiday story. 

Victoria’s Seaside Christmas will open on 3 December 2025 at Kensington Palace, W8 4PX, visit hrp.org.uk; Breakfast with Santa at Perola will take place on 7 December 2025 at Art'otel, 1 Electric Boulevard, SW11 8BJ, visit artotel.com

The festive destination: The Winter Village at Dovetale

Following last year’s success, 1 Hotel Mayfair’s Dovetale terrace has been transformed into a whimsical Winter Village in partnership with Maker’s Mark, Guinness and Puffy Cookies. Enter beneath a canopy of twinkling lights, surrounded by wintery wood panelling and festive pine, before visiting four huts. The first will be decorated with the deep crimsons of Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky and sell both spiced cider and mulled wine, while the next hut will be the home of Guinness, serving draught and non-alcoholic pints and offering drinkers the opportunity to have pictures of their friends, family or themselves printed on top. 

An exciting new addition this year will be the Puffy Hut, serving cookies from the renowned Parisian brand. Dovetale’s own hut will be the largest of the four, emulating a Bavarian grotto and housing a Big Green Egg, serving bratwurst and pretzels, alongside an array of drinks. Also don’t miss Carollers in the Courtyard on 12 December and a wreath-making workshop on 6 December. 

The Winter Village at Dovetale is open now at 1 Hotel Mayfair, 3 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DL, visit 1hotels.com

The pop-up: Hôtel Costes at At Sloane, and Ming Jewellery at Harvey Nichols

Hôtel Costes at At Sloane

In need of some last-minute retail therapy in chic surroundings? We hear you. At Sloane – the elegant Chelsea hotel by acclaimed French hotelier Jean-Louis Costes – will transform its reception desk into an exclusive pop-up boutique for the whole of December, inviting visitors to shop a hand-picked edit of signature items from the Parisian Hôtel Costes. It marks the first time these coveted objects will be available for purchase outside the French locale, and among the selection is the Brown scented candle – the olfactory hallmark of Hotel Costes since 2001 – and the Golden scented candle: a reinterpretation of the signature, adding rose notes to the blend of precious woods, rum and beeswax. Also don’t miss the selection of bath and beauty essentials, a limited edition silk eye mask, indulgent chocolates and artisanal jams.

Ming 25

One of London’s leading contemporary jewellers, Ming Jewellery, will be celebrating its 25^th anniversary with an exclusive residency at Harvey Nichols until 22 December. The first jewellery pop-up in the retailer’s newly refurbished jewellery department will take pride of place on the ground floor, with cut-outs in the Sloane Street windows depicting a dazzling world of colour and gemstones. On display will be pieces from 25: Ming’s latest collection comprising 25 unique pieces, with highlights including multi-coloured pave sapphires celebrating the kaleidoscopic spirit of Notting Hill carnival and a chunky chain necklace elevated to a modern Art Deco emerald and diamond collar. Happy shopping!

Hôtel Costes pop-up is open at 1 Sloane Gardens, SW1W 8EA, visit atsloane.com; Ming Jewellery pop-up is open until 22 December 2025 at 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7RJ, visit mingjewellery.com

Read more: Everything the Luxury London team has been loving this month