The United Kingdom is famous for celebrating the Christmas season with aplomb, and in London alone, there are lots of quirky holiday traditions. Here are some of the locals’ favorite alternative Christmas activities that make the holidays much more fun in the city.

Last update: 28 December 2021

Mince Pies and an English Christmas Movie

Mince pies are small pastries typically filled with dried fruit and spices, including and herbs.The filling, which lends the pastry its meaty taste, is collectively called mincemeat but the pastries do not, in fact, contain meat.

Children typically leave mince pies by the Christmas tree as a treat for Santa or Father Christmas. But more recently around London, mince pies have become a traditional snack specifically while watching classic London Christmas films like A Christmas Carol, Love Actually, Bridget Jones’ Diary, or The Holiday. Some of the cooler cinemas to visit during Christmastime are the Backyard Cinema, Prince Charles Cinema, and Luna Cinema.

London Panto

English Pantomime or Panto is a musical comedy show that often borrow story lines from famous fairy tales or fables and then infuse them with irreverent pop cultural references, drag, singing, and dancing. Recently, RuPaul’s Drag Race alumna have been starring more and more in panto shows, so such celebrity factor adds even more enjoyment.

You will definitely enjoy your time in one of the shows, but be warned: the audience is often included in the jokes. All in good lighthearted fun, of course!

Ugly Jumpers, Socks, Ties, Scarves

For some reason, Londoners love wearing around the city their jumpers (or sweaters) and other items of clothing that are tackily Christmas-designed. Merry men and women do pub crawls in their ugliest holiday OOTD, roping in other normally dressed people to join in the ruckus.

If you’d like to join in on the fun, make sure to purchase one weeks before Christmas festivities get in. Stores easily sell out.

The Peter Pan Cup in Freezing Cold Water

Held in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, the Peter Pan Cup is an annual 110-yard swim race that takes place on Christmas Day. From the first race in 1864, the competition consists of only members of the Serpentine Swimming Club who have competed in at least 7 of 9 winter races beforehand.

Swimmers race in freezing cold water, wearing only swimsuits for the summer. Wetsuits are not allowed at all. Spectators are welcome, with no admission fee required.

JM Barrie, the Scottish novelist of Peter Pan, used to present the cup to the winner of the race, until the competition was eventually titled the Peter Pan Cup.

Santa at the London Zoo

The London Zoo is decked out for the Christmas holidays, and Santa Claus even comes to visit. Guests would go on a festive trail to learn about and meet a whole menagerie of animals, including penguins, zebras, and tigers. The goal is to gather information about what the animals want for Christmas, and guests can send a postcard to Santa to tell him to get them such presents.

The Zoo also features a Christmastime-only Sensory Sweet Shop, which boasts a marshmallow meadow, candy floss clouds, and a candy cane forest of candy canes.

Curling at Queen’s Ice Bowl

What is curling in the first place and what is the point? We suspect nobody really knows.

But imagine this: it’s like bowling but you’re deliberately directing the ball (in this case, a stone) toward the goal — but while you’re on skates. Your group of friends will be brushing the ice furiously to beat the other teams, while food and cocktails are readily available from the MEATliquor burger chain. You’re guaranteed one of the best Christmas moments of your life.