A baby’s first Christmas is sheer magic and there are some wonderful Christmas activities for babies and toddlers in London. While I wouldn’t overwhelm yourself by taking them out to too many things, there are some lovely sensory experiences to enjoy. For an energetic toddler, there are also plenty of ways to get into the festive spirit.
If you’re looking for the best Christmas activities for babies and toddlers in London, I’ve included plenty of ideas that parents will enjoy just as much as their children. They might not remember their first Christmas, but you certainly will.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026
1. London Lights
My absolute favourite thing to do at Christmas time is to check out the Christmas decorations around the streets of London, adorning the facades of shops, restaurants and hotels. This is a great thing to do and it’s absolutely free!
In Mayfair I recommend taking a trip to Bond Street where top designer stores have the best decorations. Look out for Cartier, Dior, Tiffanys & Co, Louis Vuitton and Chanel.
On Regent Street you can see the famous angels, a canopy of more than 300,000 lights over the famous shopping street. On nearby Piccadilly, Fortnum & Mason is the star of the show and for the last few years has transformed its facade into a giant illuminated advent calendar. Not too far away from Piccadilly you’ll reach Knightsbridge and see Harrods absolutely aglow with festive cheer! Covent Garden is a great place to check out decorations and there’s a huge. Christmas tree plus the famous bells. This year the Ever After Garden is in Chelsea. It’s stunning and raises for charity!
One of the best facades is always famous private members’ club, Annabel’s in Berkeley Square, so don’t forget to pay a visit! The colours and lights will be an absolute sensory feast for your baby or toddler. You can walk around town pushing your pram or take a Christmas lights bus tour.
2. A London lights afternoon tea bus tour
Lots of London’s afternoon tea buses don’t allow babies and toddlers but the Peppa Pig bus allows toddlers from age 2 and is the perfect way to see London, while nibbling on Peppa Pig-themed Christmas treats and singing along to Peppa’s favourite songs.
3. Museums and Experiences
Paddington Bear – We loved the Paddington Bear Experience and for Christmas the immersive experience on London’s South Bank gets a festive makeover with a Christmas tree and festive treats. With stunning decorations including a 5.5-metre centrepiece Christmas tree and a beautifully lit Windsor Gardens, the whole family can enjoy Paddington’s World at Christmas. There may even be a chance of snow…!
Date: 10 November – 4 January
Age: All ages (children 2 + need a ticket)
Price: From £24
The Discover Children’s Story Centre is a great place for babies and they are running festive baby story telling. More info to come.
The Postal Museum – Festive tunnel walks and Christmas display cases. Details to come.
Museum of the Home – Christmas installation and winter market and wreath making. Details to come.
Natural History Museum – Join Santa as he shares a magical Christmas story filled with surprises that both children and parents will love. After the story, capture the moment with a festive photo and take home a special T. rex tree decoration. Visit the famous animatronic T. rex afterwards, which is sporting its very own dino-sized version of our Christmas jumper.
Date: 1 December – 22 December
Age: All ages
Price: £20 non-members, £18 members
London Museum, Docklands – Victorian Santa’s Grotto The Sailortown gallery is decorated for Christmas, where you can meet Santa in his Dickensian-style grotto. Lots of other activities including performances and sensory sessions for babies.
Date: 20 November – 23 December
Age: All ages
Price: From £15
I’ve also put together a guide to the best free things to do in London at Christmas with kids, with lots of ideas that work particularly well for families with younger children.
For more ideas, see my full guide to the best Santa’s Grottos in London, including several options especially suited to toddlers and younger children.
4. Singing and Carols
I love Bach to Baby Concerts and this year there’s a whole programme of Christmas-themed concerts. There are lots of different locations throughout London and various dates throughout the festive period. I love listening to the beautiful music with no worries that my toddler might disturb people people as this really is one for the whole family.
Date: 5 November – 4 January
Age: All ages
Price: Up to two children go free with every adult! Adult ticket £18
Family Christmas Carols with Little London Music School – Suitable for babies, toddlers, school-aged children and their families. An afternoon of Christmas carols and songs.
Age: All ages
Price: From £10
5. A Christmas Show
Some of the festive shows have restrictions on bringing babies and toddlers while others are intended for the tiniest tots. Here are a couple I have my eye on.
Here’s the very best in Christmas shows, music and carols for babies and toddlers in London for 2026.
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas at Lyric Hammersmith Join Father Christmas as he prepares his deliveries, feeds his reindeer and takes flight into the night.
Date: 18 November – 31 December
Age: Under 6
Price: From £15
The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre : Christmas Eve magic brings a snowman to life, a young boy and his new friend embark on an unforgettable adventure through the starlit sky, meeting Father Christmas, friendly reindeer and more along the way in this classic tale. This year there is brand-new staging that will take you soaring with songs like Walking In the Air. I actually took Noah to this when he was a newborn and it’s very sedate!
Date: 21 November – 3 January
Age: All ages (under 2s are free)
Price: From £18
Peppa Pig’s Big Family Show – The show is at Theatre Royal Haymarket with an appearance from Baby Evie. With a new arrival on the way, the whole family are busy getting ready. With building and decorating work to be done!
Date: 4 December – 3 January
Age: All ages
Price: From £10
The Polka Theatre
Christmas Lights – The power of friendship can light up the dark.
Date: 11 November – 22 November
Age: 1-4 years
The Big Bash – A magical festive party, followed by a show.
Date: 6 December
Age: All ages
Stick Man at Bloomsbury Theatre – A brilliantly fun adaptation of the Julia Donaldson book. How will Stick Man ever get back to the family tree in time for Christmas?
Date: 3rd Dec – 3rd Jan
Age: all ages (under 2s are free)
Price: From £10
Unicorn Theatre
Huddle – In the frozen landscape of Antarctica, Mr Penguin receives a special delivery… his very own egg.
Date: 27 November – 3 January
Age: 1–4
Price: Children £16.50
Disney on Ice – Discover the Magic.
Date: There are shows throughout the UK from November to January. In London 24 December – 3 January.
Age: All ages. Under-2s free.
Price: From £44
Candlelight Christmas Classics – Live, multi-sensory musical experience.
Date: 12 December and 18 December
Age: All ages
Price: From £20
Little Angel Theatre
Scruff’s Christmas Adventure – It’s Christmas Eve, and Scruff the puppy can’t sleep.
Date: 28 November – 3rd January
Age: 3–6 years
Price: Adult £18, child £16
Dear Santa at Battersea Arts Centre – From the author of the well-loved children’s book Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell, comes Dear Santa.
Date: 28 November – 24 December
Age: This show is an ideal introduction to theatre for those aged two and over.
Price: Prices vary
Room on the Broom – Jump on board the broom with the witch and her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of Room on the Broom, the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. At the Lyric Theatre.
Date: 27 November – 3 January
Age: 3+
Price: From £10
The Smartest Giant in Town – George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. But after a trip to a fancy clothes shop, he has a spectacular new look: smart trousers, a smart shirt, a stripy tie, and shiny shoes. St Martin’s Theatre.
Date: 9 December – 3 January
Age: 2–8
Price: From £13
I’ve also rounded up the best Christmas shows in London for kids, including plenty of shorter productions suitable for toddlers and preschoolers.
6. A Santa’s Grotto
The ultimate ‘they won’t remember it but you will’. The first time your baby meets Santa is a really special one. I have a full list of the best Santa’s Grotto in London. For a baby I would honestly keep it low-key and low-pressure as they might be scared! The grotto at the Transport Museum (it’s no extra charge) works well for this but the Natural History Museum works well too. Try and visit during school hours when the museums are quieter.
Hamley’s The Christmas Grotto at London’s most famous toy shop. Details to come.
7. A light show or outdoor experience
The sensory magic of a light show can work really well for a baby or toddler and most light trails take place in outdoors and are not too crowded. Kew Gardens is the best known light trail in London with illuminated trees, tunnels of light and installations inspired by nature, however it is over two hours long, but it is buggy friendly!
Neverland at Kenwood was brilliant last year. Another great option is the Chelsea Winter Village which has a more central London location and takes around 45–75 minutes.
Santa’s Winter Garden at Fulham Palace – Sounds great for toddlers with a snowy garden, candy cane walk, snow maze and vintage sleds. Finally there’s a meet-and-greet with Santa at the North Pole Lodge.
8. A Trip to the Farm
One of our forever favourites, Vauxhall City Farm has a Santa’s grotto, light trail, market and crafting. The farm is easily accessible for small children, babies and toddlers. Details to come.
9. Visit the Zoo
In a similar vein, Battersea Children’s Zoo is an easily accessible option for younger children and is holding Christmas performances, mini feeding sessions and festive food and drink. Details to come.
London Zoo also has Christmas activities, festive animal talks, elf storytelling, festive food and drink and Meet Santa. Details to come.
10. Afternoon Tea
If you still have a newborn, take advantage of their sleepy, still nature and book a festive afternoon tea with a friend, there are lots of brilliant ones in London – for sheer indulgence check out The Dorchester, Claridge’s, The Ritz, Rubens at the Palace or for something more accessible there’s The Ivy, The Dalloway Terrace or Biscuiteers.
If they’re a little older, take the opportunity to share the tea with your little one and choose from my guide to the best child-friendly afternoon teas in London.
The key to enjoying Christmas in London with a baby or toddler is to keep it simple. Choose Christmas activities for babies and toddlers in London that work around buggies, naps and bedtime, and don’t feel like you have to cram too much in.
You really don’t need to do much to make it feel magical. I’d recommend a walk beneath the Christmas lights, a beautiful hotel Christmas tree, a visit to Santa and, of course, the absolutely obligatory trip to Hamleys!
Some of my favourite Christmas memories with the boys have come from the simplest things, and I think that’s especially true when they’re little.
PIN IT!
