What's On November in winter
The winter season gets started with events at some of London’s most iconic venues.
Grab your skates and hit the ice
Whether you’re planning a picture-perfect date night, eager to test your blades with fellow skating enthusiasts, or enjoying a family outing, here are the best ice rinks in London!
Glide at Battersea Power Station
Boots presents Glide at Battersea Power Station, set against the backdrop of one of London’s most iconic buildings, returns from 6 November - 3 January. The ice rink offers unparalleled views of the Thames and the Power Station as you skate around three interconnecting rinks surrounded by twinkling lights and a spectacular 30ft Christmas tree. Off the ice, the excitement continues with an array of vintage-style fairground rides, live entertainment, and photo booths to capture precious moments. It will be an unforgettable festive experience.
Photo credit: Joshua Atkins
Nearest pier: Battersea Power Station
Skate at Somerset House
Skate at Somerset House with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, 11 November to 10 January. Lace up in a stunning 18th-century courtyard and spin beneath a 40ft Christmas tree, then warm up with festive food and drink and a browse of the seasonal stalls. Tickets from £11 - a true London winter classic.
Nearest pier: Embankment
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Battersea Fireworks
On the 7 and 8 of November, prepare for a dazzling two-night extravaganza as South London's grandest fireworks display returns to Battersea Park.
Saturday night will feature a magnificent firework show, a traditional bonfire, and an array of winter comfort foods, cosy mulled wine, and glow-in-the-dark face-painting.
If you're planning a family outing, mark your calendars for Sunday night. It's Family Night! Alongside delicious food, drinks, and face-painting, Sunday offers a unique, earlier light display perfect for the little ones, replacing the traditional bonfire with an awe-inspiring show.
Make travel time part of the fun and get to Battersea Fireworks by boat. Kids and grown-ups alike will love it!
Nearest pier: Battersea Power Station
Cloud 9
From 2 November, Caryl Churchill’s wild, boundary-pushing Cloud 9 is back on the London stage for the first time in 30 years. Dominic Cooke directs this daring revival at the National Theatre’s Lyttelton, jumping from colonial Africa to 1970s England in a dizzying look at sexual and colonial repression.
Nearest pier: London Eye (Waterloo)
Get ready to jingle and mingle at London's winter markets!
Indulge in festive cheer as you wander through enchanting stalls and sip on seasonal delights, all against the backdrop of the city's glistening festive lights!
Southbank Centre Winter Market
Southbank Centre's annual Christmas market returns to the Queen’s Walk from 2 November, with festive Alpine-style chalets along the river. Enjoy pop-up bars, street food like truffle burgers, molten cheese toasties, Dutch pancakes, and shop for unique gifts, jewellery, and decorations from independent creatives.
Warm up with mulled wine or hot chocolate as you stroll beneath the twinkling lights. This year’s Winter Festival also includes the après-ski-themed Curling Club and cosy pop-up restaurant Fire & Fromage under Hungerford Bridge.
Nearest pier: London Eye (Waterloo)
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Greenwich Christmas Market and Lantern Parade
On 18 November, join the fun as talented schoolchildren will parade their handmade colourful lanterns through the Old Royal Naval College grounds, around Cutty Sark Gardens, and into the Market for the grand Christmas countdown and light switch-on! Check items off your Christmas shopping list while exploring Greenwich Market's stalls and shops, offering a range of stocking fillers, fashion items, crafts, and original artworks.
Nearest pier: Greenwich
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Salad Days Christmas Market
Save the date! Salad Days Christmas Market is coming to Battersea Power Station between 15 November and 14 December with 30 different small businesses showcased each day, that’s 120 unique makers across both weekends! Expect beautiful, sustainably crafted gifts from handmade jewellery and personalised baubles to festive cards, ceramics, and homeware. Perfect for getting into the holiday spirit and finding something special for everyone on your list!
Nearest pier: Battersea Power Station
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Santa’s Winter Garden
From 20 November to 23 December 2026, Fulham Palace’s historic walled gardens become Santa’s Winter Garden, a snowy North Pole right here in London. Created with the special effects team behind your favourite snow-filled Christmas films, it’s all falling snow, sparkling lights and surprises around every corner, finishing with a private visit with Santa for photos, hugs and Christmas wishes.
Nearest pier: Putney
The Last Days of Pompeii: The Immersive Exhibition
This November at Excel London, the immersive exhibition takes visitors back to 79 AD, bringing Pompeii to life with recreated streets, frescoes, artefacts, and ash-cast citizens. Spanning over 2,000 square metres, the event features VR experiences, 360-degree projections, and interactive installations, offering a dramatic and educational journey suitable for all ages.
Nearest pier: North Greenwich then IFS Cable Car across
Experience London’s festive magic by river and road with the Christmas Lights Tour by Bus and Boat.
Cruise the Thames with an Uber Boat by Thames Clippers 1-Day Hop-On Hop-Off ticket, then hop on the City Sightseeing open-top Christmas Lights Bus Tour to see Oxford Street, Regent Street, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus sparkle with festive lights and music.
A perfect Christmas day out for visitors, couples, and families.
Snow Globe Climb
Take 'Winter Wonderland' to new heights! From 6 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, climbers at Up at The O2 can enjoy a guided trek across the iconic roof before stepping into an immersive snow globe at the 52m-high summit.
Set against the stunning London skyline, the UK’s highest snow globe features falling snow and a whimsical winter scene -perfect for capturing magical festive photos.
Nearest pier: North Greenwich
Sea Shanty Festival 2026
Cutty Sark’s Sea Shanty Festival is back! On Saturday 21 November, celebrate the tea clipper’s 156th birthday with a day of traditional maritime music, performances, and workshops. Enjoy the vocal talents of bands and artists from across the UK and beyond, and join in the fun and festivities.
Nearest pier: Greenwich
Art on the Thames
Nan Goldin: You Never Did Anything Wrong
Opening 24 November at the Hayward Gallery, You Never Did Anything Wrong is a major solo show by the American artist and activist. Over five decades, Goldin has photographed intimate relationships, addiction and queer subcultures, creating what she calls “a record of my life that no one can revise.” The exhibition brings together four recent films, including the public debut of You never did anything wrong, Part II, alongside photographic stills from her archive. Marking her first UK institutional show since 2002, it rounds off the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary year.
Nearest pier: Waterloo
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Vanessa Bell & Duncan Grant: Inside Bloomsbury
Opening 12 November at Tate Britain, Inside Bloomsbury celebrates the artistic partnership of two of Britain’s most celebrated twentieth-century artists. Spanning more than 50 years of creative collaboration, the exhibition features over 300 works, from vivid portraits and still lives to decorative furniture, ceramics and textiles. A highlight is the restaging of the artists’ studio, relocated from their Sussex home, Charleston.
Nearest pier: Milbank
Renoir and Love
Visit by 31 January 2027 and fall in love with Renoir at the National Gallery. See waltzing couples, stolen glances and friends raising a glass through the eyes of an Impressionist unmatched at capturing how people connect. Walk through Montmartre with 'Bal au Moulin de la Galette' (1876), on display in the UK for the first time, alongside 40 paintings from collections across the world.
Nearest pier: Embankment
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Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends
This November at the National Portrait Gallery, Tim Walker's Fairyland: Love and Legends explores queer identity, community and love through the lens of one of Britain's foremost photographers. See new portraits of activists, performers, artists and writers, all created over five years in Walker's whimsical, fairytale-inspired style.
Nearest pier: Embankment
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The 90s: Art and Fashion
On at Tate Britain this November, The 90s: Art and Fashion is curated by Edward Enninful OBE. The exhibition explores a decade of bold creativity and rebellion, when art, fashion, photography and music collided to reshape British culture. Discover iconic images by Juergen Teller, David Sims and Corinne Day, work by Steve McQueen, Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas, and collections from Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and John Galliano.
Nearest pier: Milbank
Find out moreDon't miss
Back from 13 - 22 November 2026, the EFG London Jazz Festival brings ten days of live performances, exciting collaborations, new commissions, and fresh musical discoveries.
Book your NYE 2026
Victorian Santa’s Grotto
Santa is back at London Museum Docklands from 20 November - 23 December! The Sailortown gallery is decorated in festive style, and children can visit Santa in his Dickensian grotto. Each visit includes a classic, eco-friendly gift.
This family-friendly event celebrates London’s diverse culture and ensures every child can see themselves in the festive magic.
Nearest pier: Canary Wharf
Parks and open spaces along our route
As autumn paints the city in mesmerising hues, it's the perfect time to explore the enchanting outdoor spaces along the river. From the vibrant life of London Wetlands Centre to the serene beauty of Greenwich Park, these destinations offer a rich tapestry of nature and history.
London Wetlands Centre
Get up close to nature at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes.This centre boasts a variety of habitats, making it an ideal place to observe wildlife. From daily family activities to stained glass window-making workshops, the London Wetland Centre is truly the place to be for nature enthusiasts.
Nearest pier: Putney
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Brompton Cemetery
Discover the historic Brompton Cemetery in Kensington, managed by The Royal Parks. The cemetery features distinctive Gothic architecture and is teeming with stories from the lives of those who now rest there. Round off your day of learning and sightseeing by venturing to the north end of the cemetery, where you'll find a café to recharge with a delightful quiet coffee.
Nearest pier: Chelsea Harbour
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Battersea Park
200-acres of open green space, floral gardens and a boating lake, Battersea Park lies on the south bank of the River Thames. The park has stunning river views, a children's zoo and an adventure playground that kids love!
Nearest pier: Battersea Power Station
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St James’s Park
The oldest of London's Royal Parks, St James's Park is at the heart of Westminster. The park's artificial lake, flowers, trees and birds will make you forget that you are actually in the heart of London. It has breathtaking views of Buckingham Palace but don't forget to say hello to the pelicans!
Nearest pier: Westminster
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Greenwich Park
A short walk from Greenwich Pier, gorgeous Greenwich Park offers outstanding views of Canary Wharf and the City on a clear day. As one of London's largest Royal Parks, Greenwich Park offers a wide range of facilities and is home to the Royal Observatory and the Meridian line, as well as the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House.
Nearest pier: Greenwich
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