Address: The Paddington Bear Experience, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Website: paddingtonbearexperience.com
ABBA Voyage
What’s more joyful than a night at ABBA Voyage? A night at ABBA Voyage during Christmastime! Winter at the ABBA Arena features a magical winter garden where guests can gather before the show to drink and dance. The new heated winter bar is a welcome space serving festive-themed cocktails, mulled wine, and cider, and there’s festive-themed food on offer too. Superfans will love the additional Christmas-themed merchandise – there’s definitely room on your tree for an ABBA Voyage bauble. Abigail Malbon
Address: ABBA Arena, 1 Pudding Mill Lane, London E15 2RU
Website: abbavoyage.com
The Importance of Being Earnest
While the festive makeover may not extend far beyond the Noël Coward Theatre’s foyer, there’s no denying that tickets for director Max Webster’s take on the Oscar Wilde classic are some of the most coveted in the capital right now. The all-star cast includes Olly Alexander as Algernon Moncrieff, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Jack Worthing, Hugh Dennis as the Reverend Canon Chasuble, and Stephen Fry as Lady Bracknell. 21st-century colloquialisms and allusions (The Vauxhall Tavern, anyone?) collide with Wilde’s beloved original text in a camp celebration with a finale that has everyone on their feet.
Address: Noël Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4AU
Website: noelcowardtheatre.co.uk
Looking for something a little quirkier? Each year, stars of stage, screen (and miscellaneous origin) take to the stage in some of London’s most storied theatres for tongue-in-cheek takes on fairytale classics. Some of the biggest pantomimes for 2025 include the New Wimbledon Theatre’s take on Robin Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk at Lyric Hammersmith, and the London Palladium’s Sleeping Beauty spectacular starring Catherine Tate and Julian Clary.
