Things to do in London today

Every winter the Southbank Centre turns the banks of the Thames into a frosty wonderland, full of little wooden Alpine-style cabins selling gifts, warming drinks, and snacks. You’ll find huts serving up truffle burgers, duck wraps, mulled wine, Dutch pancakes, churros and many more tasty morsels to nibble on while you look through gifts, jewellery and decorations made by independent craft traders. Or, once you’re done browsing, snuggle up at pop-up king Jimmy Garcia’s riverside venue Fire And Fromage, where you can snaffle all you can eat raclette, sip on seriously decadent hot chocolates, and even toast your own marshmallows round a cosy fire pit.  When is Southbank Christmas Market open? The market opens on November 2, and will stay open until January 3 in the New Year. Do you need to buy a ticket? No, it's free to enter and have a wander. 

We’ve all heard of Sid Vicious, Joe Strummer and Iggy Pop. But what about Gina Birch, Ari Up and Gaye Black? Although not completely unknown, these women pioneers of punk often go unsung. In a new free exhibition, the Museum of Youth Culture (MOYC) is finally giving them their safety pin-adorned flowers with a show dedicated entirely to the ‘she punks’ of the past 50 years.  Taking place in a single room at the MOYC, God Save the Queens brings together rare and previously unseen artwork, photography, fashion, film and archival material. A large chunk of the exhibition comes from the archive of the late Poly Styrene – the braces-wearing frontwoman of X-Ray Spex – and is curated by her daughter Celeste Bell.  The museum crams a lot into the fairly compact space. On the far wall is a gallery of larger-than-life photos – the highlight of the exhibition. Vivienne Westwood, shot by Dennis Morris (1978), leans nonchalantly against the SEX shop counter with her iconic spiked hair. Debbie Harry, by Bob Gruen (1977), looks at the camera in her Wayfarers, while sitting in a car smoking a cigarette. Jayne County of the Electric Chairs squats down on stage, holding the mic stand to her crotch like an appendage, shot by Jill Furmanovsky. Poly Styrene, Siouxsie Sioux and Soo Catwoman are also all here.  The women in these photos look like the coolest people on earth The women in these photos look like the coolest people on earth, and what’s most striking is how they all appear...

This major exhibition from the V&A will transport visitors to one of the world’s great cities, exploring its best-known landmarks, from the Hippodrome and Hagia Sophia to Topkapı Palace and the Galata Tower. Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires will explore 1,600 years of this influential city. Once called Constantinople and now called Istanbul it was the imperial and religious capital at the heart of two successive empires: the Byzantine (AD 330– 1453) and the Ottoman (1453–1922), and this show will span AD 330 to 1922, it will bring together remarkable works of art, design and architecture to reveal the enduring creative legacy of an imperial capital that shaped the Mediterranean world and far beyond.  This will be the first exhibition in the UK to tell this story in full, serving up a new perspective on a city defined by artistic excellence across more than a millennium. Expect rarely seen objects dating back to 4th century, drawn from the V&A collection as well as national and international loans, including decorative arts such as fine silks and textiles, ceramic tiles, mosaics and tableware, precious metalwork and jewellery, as well as sculpture and architectural furnishings, works on paper, manuscripts and paintings. 

Somerset House’s annual ice rink pop-up has long been one of the city’s favourite festive traditions, with thousands of Londoners and tourists alike making it part of their celebrations each year, and for good reason. Gliding (or nervously shuffling) around the rink, gazing upon the surrounding Georgian architecture and the courtyard’s magnificent 40ft Christmas tree feels like you’ve skated onto a movie set, ready to be watched by families settling in for their post-turkey food coma.  There’s more to this rink than just skating, though. This year's Skate Lates programme is sponsored by Aperol Spritz, who'll have an orange van parked rinkside for refreshments. Soar round the rink to a DJ soundtrack at these night time ice parties. The line-up for 2026 includes community sounds from Netil Radio, ground-shaking bass from UKF and BUMPAH, South Asian creative collective Daytimers, queer Latinx partystarters 2CPERREA, and selections from the team behind Gauchoworld. For the first time ever, there's also a K-Pop party (Nov 23) with a special live set from DY EMKAY. While you're at Somerset House, don't forget to head indoors for Through Our Eyes, a free group exhibition of works by indigenous Sámi artists, who'll explore their lives in snowy Nordic landscapes using sculpture, photography, video and performance art. How much does Skate at Somerset House cost? Ticket prices for Skate at Somerset House vary depending on what time you visit, with cheaper tickets at less popular...

Dreaming of a kitsch Christmas? New York’s famous Miracle on Ninth Street bar is popping up in London for its eighth year, ‘50s Christmas decorations, nostalgic accessories and creative new spins on beloved cocktail favourites in tow. For festive season 2026, it’s taking over 9 Russell Street in Covent Garden. Past years have seen the bar slinging the likes of a Snowball Old Fashioned or a Christmapoliton, which includes cranberry sauce and absinthe mist – a take on Christmas trimmings that’s not for the faint-hearted. If you’re failing to get into the Christmas spirit, this is one great place to find it.

A humongous light trail that takes over south west London’s 300-acre World Heritage Site botanic garden, Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar since its first iteration in 2013. Visitors embarking on the 3km trail will get see the space lit up with dozens of larger-than-life illuminations, with both the venue’s glass houses and the trees that cover its grounds drenched in different hues. The whole thing is stunning, but don’t miss the lake, where you’ll catch reflections of the vibrant bulbs dancing on the water, taking the magical feeling to another level. Specific details for the light trail 2026 are yet to be unveiled but, as ever, the traditional fairground and warming winter snacks from food vendors are sure to be there.  How to get Christmas at Kew 2026 tickets  Tickets for Christmas at Kew 2026 are on sale right now. The sooner you book the better – as the UK’s original festive light trail, it sells out fast, especially for December. If you’re willing to wait until the New Year, there are normally a decent number of tickets available for the first week of January. And if your desired dates are booked up, it’s worth checking back regularly for returns.  What are the prices and opening times? Tickets for non-members start at £28.50 for off-peak slots and £36 at peak times. Members can get 15 percent off.  Christmas at Kew is open from 4.20pm to 10pm. Each visitor is given a specific time slot, with the last entry at 8pm.  How long does...

Marylebone Village’s Christmas lights are always super sustainable. Designed by Blachere Illumination, the displays are completely made from recycled plastic bottles and use recyclable LED systems that require 95% less energy than conventional lighting. Featuring curly banners adorned with golden leaves, the displays operate on reduced hours, from dusk until 11pm daily.  For a big party, head to the switch-on, which will see Marylebone Village transformed into a winter wonderland with stalls selling festive food and drink as well as crafts, family entertainment, and even a 55-foot Ferris wheel. The centre of the celebrations will be on Devonshire Street, where BBC broadcaster and local resident Jo Good will host an afternoon of live performances culminating in the official lights switch-on at 6pm, led by a tbc special celebrity guest.  This year, the switch-on will support Evelina London Children’s Charity, part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, which helps to improve specialist care and outcomes for young patients and their families.  

Oxford Street is one of the most iconic areas for London’s Christmas lights, and for good reason, given that a hefty proportion of us Londoners will see them lighting our way as we do battle for Yuletide gifts. This year, the lights are Harry Potter-themed to mark the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone TV show, scheduled to premiere on HBO on Christmas Day. Alongside the usual display, look out for the Hogwarts-themed designs. As is now tradition, the lights will be made from eco-friendly materials, including LED lights and recycled plastic. Featuring 5000 twinkling stars – they shine from 4pm to midnight daily until early January.  The switch-on, on November 4, will also coencide with the opening of the new Harry Potter Shop Oxford Street, which will be the largest shop in the UK to sell memorabilia from the magical franchise. 

Father Christmas clearly enjoys his posh new-ish Chelsea digs as for 2026 he’s returning to Anya Hindmarch’s Village store for the third year on the trot. In it, visitors will be guided through a wintry wonderland of candy cane forests and icicle caves. When they make it to their destination, they’ll be rewarded with a festive story by the fire and a gift from Saint Nick. Grown-ups get a free hot drink from the Anya Cafe, where there will be piles of mince pies, gingerbread men and Christmas cakes on sale. Exit through the gift shop to buy limited-edition Anya Hindmarch gifts and Christmas decorations, including ceramic tree baubles, crackers, puzzles, mugs, crayons and teddy bears. 

A month-long feast of contemporary Czech cinema, the Made in Prague Festival is back for its 30th edition with a thrilling selection of high-calibre dramas, comedies, docs and family films, hosted by the Regent Street Cinema and The Garden Cinema. This year’s programme brings together two distinct strands: the first celebrating the legacy of the Czechoslovak New Wave, and the second showcasing a selection of acclaimed new Czech films, all accompanied by live introductions and post-screening discussions. Highlights include the award-winning documentary Better Go Mad in the Wild, which follows a pair of 60-year-old twin brothers as they ‘booze, banter and bicker’ in their remote home in the Šumava mountains; the Oscar-nominated Father, which tackles a phenomenon known as ‘Forgotten Child Syndrome’; and Changes, the latest film from acclaimed director David Ondříček, which builds on his cult comedy, Loners, bringing together seven characters navigating life in modern-day Prague, each finding themselves at a crossroads and taking stock of their relationships, careers and personal ambitions.