See our comprehensive guide to the greatest things to do in London all year long for further suggestions; however, please double-check what is open before traveling.
We come up with a lot of things to do and strategies to help the independent businesses in the capital each week. These are our best suggestions this week, which range from cultural events to gourmet gatherings.
What to do this weekend in London
1. Enjoy a cheesy feast.
Jimmy Garcia believed that even the most snow-averse Londoners should experience the aprés-ski culture and delectable cuisine after being inspired by the food and fun he witnessed while visiting Courchevel. This idea has come to fruition with Fire and Fromage, a pop-up on the Southbank created in association with Ramsbury Single Estate Spirits. Enjoy endless raclette, which is melted cheese spread over fresh baguette slices, garlicky young potatoes, and cornichons, while snuggled up next to a fire pit. The ideal desserts to have after a dairy feast are holiday drinks, homemade cookies, and marshmallows that have been cooked over a fire.
Site: jimmyspopup.com
Site: jimmyspopup.com
Menus start at £35 per person.
Dates: Through January 14, 2023, on Saturday.
2. In Covent Garden, eat, drink, and dance.
The nightclub restaurant is back, and Covent Garden's hippest hotel is joining the fun with Penelope's, its newest dining establishment. Executive Chef Fez Ozalgan oversees the Israeli-Spanish fusion food, which includes octopus-filled paella and entire sea bass and beef short rib platters. On Fridays and Saturdays, DJs take over the booth for dinner parties a la Berlin; expect baklava cheesecake followed by fizz on the dance floor till the wee hours. You may even step things up by attending one of Amano's Isramani parties. Keep an eye out for the most recent dates for this sell-out event in the German capital, which features sharing dishes for the table and hands-in-the-air merriment.
Address: 34-43 Russell Street, Penelope's, Drury House, London, WC2B 5HA
URL: amanogroup.de
Open now; the following Isramani celebration is on December 17th.
3. Visit the cool new bar
This week, a brand-new late-night bar in Covent Garden will open its doors, drawing inspiration from the city's vibrant nightlife scenes. Whether you're looking for an evening out of the cold or a pre-theatre aperitif, Stereo always has music, cuisine, and creative drinks. The restaurant's culinary operations are overseen by Andrew Clarke, and American favorites including cheeseburgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and lobster pies are served. Check out one of the hottest new cocktail dens and keep an eye on the website for the newest DJ and live music lineups.
Stereo is located at 35 The Piazza in London, WC2E 8BE.
URL: stereocoventgarden.com
Opens on Friday, December 10.
4. Make a holiday centerpiece.
Before the big day, take one of the craft masterclasses offered by Petersham Nurseries to learn the secrets of a handmade Christmas. Under the direction of Thomas Broom-Hughes, the company's head of horticulture, the Richmond restaurant is teaming beginner wreath-makers and green-fingered specialists throughout December. Create wreaths that are completely biodegradable and dress up the seasonal pieces with winter greenery, berries, and sweet-smelling dried fruits for a charming front-door centerpiece.
Address: Church Lane, Petersham Road, Church Lane TW10 7AB, Petersham Nurseries Richmond - Shop & Garden
URL: petershamnurseries.com
Starting at £150
Dates: Several times throughout December.
5. Arrive at the Greenwich Peninsula.
This Christmas, bundle up and head to the Greenwich Peninsula, where a magical woodland awaits. Expect a unique experience as you stroll through rows of lighted, snow-dusted trees in Peninsula Square. In the weeks leading up to the big event, keep a lookout for family-friendly events. This weekend, Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas are being screened at the pop-up theater, while on weeknights, DJs and carol singers amuse inquisitive audiences as they participate in wreath-making activities, sip mulled wine, and devour pots of churros from Greenwich Peninsula Market. As local entrepreneurs take over the booths with candles, paintings, pottery, and beauty items, it's also a fantastic place to pick some last-minute stocking stuffers.
Location: SE10, Greenwich Peninsula, London
Internet address: greenwichpeninsula.co.uk
Pop-up movie theater till Sunday, December 18
6. Sing for a good cause
Get into the holiday spirit of giving this week as Smile Train, the largest cleft charity in the world, makes a physical comeback with a carol concert following two years of online activities. The Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair, which was used to shoot Love Actually, will come alive with the sounds of holiday classics, unique performances, and team greetings. All evening long, mulled wine and mince pies will keep everyone toasty, including their vocal cords.
Grosvenor Chapel is located at 24 S Audley Street in London, England.
Url: smiletrain.org.uk
Date: December 8, Thursday
7. Uncover the mystery of a royal palace.
One of London's most beautiful and ancient palaces has undergone a glow-up for Christmas. As darkness falls, visit Hampton Court Palace to enter a world of sparkling unicorns, lions, and greyhounds among the well-kept grounds. The sculptures, which drew inspiration from Henry VIII's fabled zoo of monsters, were commissioned to light up the former royal house during the chilly winter nights. This is an immersive experience for the whole family thanks displays and projections, while street food pioneers KERB are on site to provide mulled wine, juicy burgers, and decadent hot chocolates.
KT8 9AU is the postal code for Hampton Court Palace in Molesey, East Molesey.
URL: hrp.org.uk
Adult tickets for the Palace of Light start at £14.50.
Dates: Monday, January 2, 2023, to Wednesday, December 7, 2022
8. Celebrate the birth of an institution.
Koya City is bringing back popular chalkboard specials from the past to commemorate five years of serving gastronomic Londoners. Gustavo Tavares, the executive chef, has revamped several dishes, including brill sashimi with coriander dashi and braised kombu, smoked scallops with irizake, and red pepper miso Presa with watercress surinagashi and pickled runner beans. Catch these innovative flavor fusions while you can since this superb Japanese restaurant frequently has a waiting list.
Koya City, 10-12 Bloomberg Arcade, London, United Kingdom, EC4N 8AR
URL: koya.co.uk
Tuesday, December 6, to Sunday, December 11.
9. Cheers with a Belgian tipple
Belgian beer brand Chouffe takes over French eatery Funky Cellar for a gastronomic experience, transporting you to the alpine towns of Europe. Spitalfields Market is full of cozy winter feelings and delicious options, so stroll around. Enjoy the pop version up's of the traditional Croque Monsieur while sipping on a variety of beers that were painstakingly made in the Belgian Ardennes.
Address: 10a Lamb Street, London, E1 6EA
URL: funkycellar.co.uk
Dates: Through January 3rd, 2019.
10. Discover the Fleet Street festivities
This week, the historic Festive Fleet Quarter will be converted into a winter wonderland with free events and holiday entertainment. The makers' market is bustling with vendors offering adorable goods, and the London Community Gospel Choir is setting the mood with its uplifting performances. Enjoy award-winning poet Tomfoolery's spoken word performance this week, as well as visits by carol singers.
Fleet Street Quarter in the City of London
URL: fleetstreetquarter.co.uk
Dates: Through December 15th, 2017.
11. Help a worthy cause.
For a ten-day Christmas shop residency, I Am Volya, a carefully chosen online store of Ukrainian apparel, has opened in Shoreditch. Get a sense of the nation's ingenuity and bravery as well as a taste of its fashion and culture. The Carol of the Bells theme is based on the Shchedryk melody, a Ukrainian folk song that has been played to convey good wishes since the early 20th century.
Address: 7 Dray Walk, Truman Brewery, E1 6QL
URL: instagram.com
Friday, December 9, through Sunday, December 18.