Christmas in North London with kids: Family events + activities near you
Perhaps the main thing that makes spending Christmas in North London so magical is the theatre shows.
A couple of us on the Loopla team are North Londoners, so we can vouch for how great the theatre scene is up here. But we actually have numbers to back it up, too.
While putting together our main page on Christmas in London with kids, we checked nearly 300 events and activities. As far as we can tell, North London is putting on more family shows than any other part of the city for Christmas 2026.
- See more: The best toddler theatre shows in London
One of the new shows we're most excited to see is Sherlock Holmes and the Twelve Days of Christmas at Alexandra Palace.
Then you have returning favourites like Scruff’s Christmas Adventure at Islington puppet specialists Little Angel Theatre.
But what other family Christmas activities does North London have to offer?
Fun things to do with kids during Christmas in North London
Alexandra Palace is the busiest Christmas venue on our list, with six festive events this year. Kids can meet Santa in its grotto. The year-round ice rink is hosting festive skate sessions into January.
And during the first week of December, Cinderella On Ice glides onto the rink. On top of all this Alexandra Palace also happens to have (in our opinion) the best views in London.
Closer to Central London there's the brand-new King’s Cross Winter Market in Granary Square. As well as stalls, there’s a roller rink to try.
In particular we recommend King's Cross to families who love Wallace & Gromit. There will be a big Aardman-themed Christmas tree to take in on the way to Lightroom's immersive Larger than Life show. Shaun the Sheep and Morph make an appearance on it as well.
- More family fun: Things to do with kids in London in November
Looking for kids' Christmas activities in another London area?
Family activities for Christmas in North London you can book right now:
Baby Gospel Christmas Family Concert, Highgate
Baby Gospel returns for a Christmas special! An uplifting family concert of soul, gospel and festive music, featuring the featuring the exceptional voices of members of CK Gospel Choir. Sing and clap along with your family to Christmas favourites like ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Jingle Bells’ plus timeless carols such as ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’ Expect the usual soul, gospel and Motown favourites too, and even bubbles! This baby-friendly concert welcomes everyone from newborns to school-aged kids, parents, and even grandparents. Lasting approximately 40 - 45 minutes, it's the perfect way to celebrate the festive season together. CK Gospel Choir are a renowned group from London who have performed with stars like Beverley Knight, Peter Andre, and Alfie Boe. This is a festive family event you won’t want to miss. “Had an incredible time…singing along to classics, dancing and grooving” The Young Londoner “A beautiful interactive performance for all ages” - parent
Tue 22 Dec - Tue 22 Dec
15:30 - 16:15
Music • 0m-8 years • £15.50
N6, Highgate United Reformed Church
Santa's Christmas Grotto at Lauderdale House
Every year, a magical Christmas grotto springs up at Lauderdale House as Father Christmas himself pays us a very special seasonal visit! Children of all ages are invited to come along and meet Santa in his festive hideaway. While you wait, get into the Christmas spirit with free winter colouring-in before stepping into the Long Gallery, transformed with festive decorations into a magical winter grotto. There you’ll meet Ken the Elf, who will welcome you into the grotto and take you to meet Santa, with a chance to snap a photo with our giant snowman along the way. Each child will have a chat with Santa before heading home with a special Christmas present.
Sat 5 Dec - Sun 6 Dec
10:00 - 10:30
Christmas Activities • all ages • £12.50
N6, Lauderdale House
Christmas Family Concert, West Hampstead
Grab your family, harness up your fastest reindeer and meet us at a Bach to Baby concert for the perfect prelude to the holiday season! Sleigh bells ring, the stage is set - a jolly concert you won't forget. So don your glitter, grab your crew - Bach to Baby's got a treat for you! Our Christmas concerts are a festive feast of music and sing-along carols - featuring seasonal favourites, jazzy twists and surprises. Whether rocking a baby, shepherding tots, or gathering the whole family tree, eveyone's welcome. About Bach to Baby Bach to Baby is the critically acclaimed concert series for babies, toddlers and their carers. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances by outstanding musicians, with your young babes in tow. Outstanding Musicians, Exhilarating Performances, Inspiring Locations across the UK. As seen at Royal Albert Hall and Buckingham Palace. Featured in The Times (London) and the New York Times.
Sun 22 Nov - Sun 22 Nov
15:00 - 15:45
Music • 0m-5 years • £18.00
NW6, Emmanuel Church
Baby Gospel Christmas Family Concert, West Hampstead
Baby Gospel returns for a Christmas special! An uplifting family concert of soul, gospel and festive music, featuring the featuring the exceptional voices of members of CK Gospel Choir. Sing and clap along with your family to Christmas favourites like ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Jingle Bells’ plus timeless carols such as ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’ Expect the usual soul, gospel and Motown favourites too, and even bubbles! This baby-friendly concert welcomes everyone from newborns to school-aged kids, parents, and even grandparents. Lasting approximately 40 - 45 minutes, it's the perfect way to celebrate the festive season together. CK Gospel Choir are a renowned group from London who have performed with stars like Beverley Knight, Peter Andre, and Alfie Boe. This is a festive family event you won’t want to miss. “Had an incredible time…singing along to classics, dancing and grooving” The Young Londoner “A beautiful interactive performance for all ages” - parent
Tue 1 Dec - Tue 1 Dec
11:00 - 11:45
Music • 0m-8 years • £15.50
NW6, Emmanuel Church
Baby Gospel Christmas Family Concert, Highbury
“Had an incredible time…singing along to classics, dancing and grooving” The Young Londoner “A beautiful interactive performance for all ages” - parent Baby Gospel returns for a Christmas special! An uplifting family concert of soul, gospel and festive music, featuring the featuring the exceptional voices of members of CK Gospel Choir. Sing and clap along with your family to Christmas favourites like ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Jingle Bells’ plus timeless carols such as ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’ Expect the usual soul, gospel and Motown favourites too, and even bubbles! This baby-friendly concert welcomes everyone from newborns to school-aged kids, parents, and even grandparents. Lasting approximately 40 - 45 minutes, it's the perfect way to celebrate the festive season together. CK Gospel Choir are a renowned group from London who have performed with stars like Beverley Knight, Peter Andre, and Alfie Boe. This is a festive family event you won’t want to miss. For further details and to book tickets go to www.babybroadway.co.uk Sunday 6th December, 3pm Highbury Roundhouse, 71 Ronalds Road, London N5 1XB Adults £15.50, kids free https://billet.to/2021880-listings
Sun 6 Dec - Sun 6 Dec
15:00 - 15:45
Music • 0m-8 years • £15.50
N5, Highbury Roundhouse
The Magic of Christmas at London Zoo
Perfect for families and kids this Christmas & New Year Looking for things to do with kids over the Christmas break? Look no further – London Zoo has got you covered. Explore over 8,000 animals and feel the Christmas magic at London Zoo from 21 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Wander through our magical Christmas forest and be transported to the North Pole HQ! In our HQ, you will find a host of festive activities to enjoy throughout your visit. Little ones can write a personal note to Santa and share all their Christmas wishes, or get creative decorating and filling their very own Christmas cracker, complete with a party hat and joke, ready to make you roar with laughter on Christmas Day. You’ll also find even more arts and crafts activities, like Christmas card decorating, or festive origami. Don’t miss our cheeky elves, who will be hosting their very own game shows every day. Will you be the lucky winner of a very special prize? There’s plenty more entertainment too! On peak days*, you can also join Mrs Claus' Storytime, hearing not only your favourite Christmas stories, but her own adventures in the North Pole too. The old saying goes, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, so there will also be a live musician, singing everybody’s favourite Christmas tunes – new and old – over lunch. Head to HQ for the full programme of entertainment on the day of your visit. But most importantly, we will be joined by Santa himself, and he'll be making his way through the Zoo each day over lunch on his special zoo Santa-Mobile. Make sure you line the pathways to give him a big wave as he and Mrs Claus drive by. Keep an eye out across the zoo for our festive animal talks, where our expert keepers are adding a seasonal twist to some of their favourite talks. Amongst others, you could join ‘Bah Humboldt’ to uncover the secrets of our Humboldt penguins, discover more about our beautiful capybaras at ‘Capy Christmas’, or find out how our otters are getting into the festive spirit at ‘It’s Beginning to Look a L-Otter Like Christmas’. Don’t forget to get your festive selfies, ready to send to all the family with our giant festive photo ops in Barclay Court.
Thu 29 Oct - Sun 3 Jan
12:00 - 16:00
Christmas Activities • 0m-11 years • From £19.40
NW1, London Zoo
Baby Broadway Christmas Concert
Join us for a magical Baby Broadway concert that brings the spirit of Christmas to life for families with young children. Sing and dance along to festive showtunes from hit musicals and beloved Christmas films, all performed by two talented West End singers. Enjoy classic songs from Elf, White Christmas, The Snowman, Frozen, and more. Festive fancy dress is encouraged, and the fun doesn’t stop there – expect bubbles, bells, flying babies, and puppetry for a truly interactive experience! Open to all ages – from newborns to school-aged kids and grandparents – this 45-minute concert is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. This lively concert is all about the music, with no costumes or elaborate staging – just festive fun for all.
Sun 29 Nov - Sun 29 Nov
11:30 - 12:30
Theatre Show • 0m-8 years • £13.75
N12, Arts Depot
Aliens Love Panta Claus
This Christmas, join a super-charged rabble of aliens and Santa Claus, as they spread festive knicker cheer! This brand-new stage show brings to life Claire Freedman and Ben Cort‘s beloved picture book, Aliens Love Panta Claus. Adapted and lyrics by Chandni Mistry (The Owl Who Came For Christmas), and packed with catchy songs and lyrics from Jude Taylor (Pirates Love Underpants), this magical family adventure will be full of intergalactic joy, starry surprises and rocket fuelled memory-making for all!
Tue 8 Dec - Sat 19 Dec
10:30 - 11:25
Theatre Show • 3-9 years • From £15.00
N12, Arts Depot
Let's All Dance Ballet Company: The Nutcracker
Back by popular demand, the award-winning Let’s All Dance Ballet Company returns with their fun festive sparkling production of The Nutcracker, perfect for the whole family. Join Clara this Christmas and meet the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy, the very bouncy Jumping Jack and the iconic Nutcracker Prince. Let’s All Dance Ballet Company creates high-quality, entrancing shows for young and family audiences and makes this beautiful art form accessible to people of all backgrounds and cultures. Children and adults love the fabulous dancing, gorgeous music and stunning costumes. After the show you can have your photo taken on stage with the professional dancers and create magical memories with your family and friends.
Tue 29 Dec - Sun 3 Jan
13:30 - 14:25
Dance • 3 years+ • £13.75
N12, Arts Depot
Baby Gospel Christmas Family Concert, Stoke Newington
Baby Gospel returns for a Christmas special! An uplifting family concert of soul, gospel and festive music, featuring the featuring the exceptional voices of members of CK Gospel Choir. Sing and clap along with your family to Christmas favourites like ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Jingle Bells’ plus timeless carols such as ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’ Expect the usual soul, gospel and Motown favourites too, and even bubbles! This baby-friendly concert welcomes everyone from newborns to school-aged kids, parents, and even grandparents. Lasting approximately 40 - 45 minutes, it's the perfect way to celebrate the festive season together. CK Gospel Choir are a renowned group from London who have performed with stars like Beverley Knight, Peter Andre, and Alfie Boe. This is a festive family event you won’t want to miss. “Had an incredible time…singing along to classics, dancing and grooving” The Young Londoner “A beautiful interactive performance for all ages” - parent Monday 7th December, 10am & 11.30am The Old Church, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 9ES Adults £15.50, kids free 10am: https://billet.to/2021883-listings 11.30am: https://billet.to/2021884-listings
Mon 7 Dec - Mon 7 Dec
10:00 - 10:45
Music • 0m-8 years • £15.50
N16, The Old Church
Christmas Family Concert, Islington Angel
Grab your family, harness up your fastest reindeer and meet us at a Bach to Baby concert for the perfect prelude to the holiday season! Sleigh bells ring, the stage is set - a jolly concert you won't forget. So don your glitter, grab your crew - Bach to Baby's got a treat for you! Our Christmas concerts are a festive feast of music and sing-along carols - featuring seasonal favourites, jazzy twists and surprises. Whether rocking a baby, shepherding tots, or gathering the whole family tree, eveyone's welcome. About Bach to Baby Bach to Baby is the critically acclaimed concert series for babies, toddlers and their carers. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances by outstanding musicians, with your young babes in tow. Outstanding Musicians, Exhilarating Performances, Inspiring Locations across the UK. As seen at Royal Albert Hall and Buckingham Palace. Featured in The Times (London) and the New York Times.
Sat 14 Nov - Sat 14 Nov
15:00 - 15:45
Music • 0m-5 years • £18.00
N1, St. Mary's Church
Stay in the London Loop
Join 30,000 London parents discovering the city's best family fun each week.
Finding the right family activities for Christmas in North London:
Where can kids meet Father Christmas in North London in 2026?
Kids can meet Father Christmas all over North London this year, from a historic house on Hampstead Heath to the zoo.
For a full immersive experience, keep an eye on Camden Market’s Ice Palace Grotto. Tickets go on sale on 2 November. Last year, the 90-minute visit to see both Father and Mother Christmas came with festive crafts activities.
Santa will also be at London Zoo from 21 November to 24 December. For an extra fee you can combine a meeting with a penguin feeding experience. The zoo will run a whole Magic of Christmas program until 3 January, too.
Kids can also meet Father Christmas over at Hampstead Heath's Kenwood House. This experience comes with a group storytelling session.
Kenwood House has one of the most beautiful cafe gardens we've visited. But we also recommend taking a Christmas walk down to Parliament Hill afterwards. Having taken in the view, you're not far from Swain's Lane, which has lots of great cafes and restaurants.
Where to see Christmas lights in North London in 2026
The biggest Christmas lights switch-on party we've found is in Hampstead Village on Sunday 15 November. Before the lights go on at 6pm, you have funfair rides, carol singers and festive food stalls to enjoy. Father Christmas will also drop by with his reindeer.
Across the heath, Highgate Village's lights are back this year, too. The 2026 date hasn’t been announced yet. Last year’s free switch-on took place outside the Highgate Society, with Harry Potter star Rupert Grint doing the honours.
FAQ: Planning Christmas in North London with kids
Where can kids meet Santa for free in North London?
Kids can meet Santa for free at Hampstead Village’s Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday 15 November. Father Christmas will arrive with his reindeer during the event. It runs from 4pm to 7pm and features carol singers, food stalls and funfair rides too.
What are the best Christmas markets in North London?
One of the best Christmas markets in North London for 2026 is King’s Cross Winter Market. Stalls and a roller rink will fill Granary Square from 26 November to 3 January. Camden Market is another popular Christmas Market. In its Hawley Wharf area you'll also find a ticketed Ice Palace Grotto.
Where can families go for free at Christmas in North London?
Families can enjoy Highgate’s village lights switch-on for free, though its 2026 date hasn’t been announced yet. You can also browse King’s Cross Winter Market and spot Wallace & Gromit on its Aardman-themed Christmas tree.
Where can I find fun things to do at Christmas with kids in North London?
You can find fun things to do at Christmas with kids in North London using Loopla’s search tool. Search by postcode, then narrow the results by age and date. Activities include grottos, pantos, puppet shows and festive workshops in Highgate, Hampstead, Camden, Islington and beyond. Each listing shows the ages, dates and price, plus what the activity involves.
