While Winter Wonderland might be on people's radar during this holiday season, not everyone wants to queue for drinks and lose all their mates in the market. Luckily for you, there are still plenty of other events hoping to fill that festive hole.
From smaller pop-ups offering themed drinks to stunning Christmas light installations and eating in an igloo, we've rounded up the season's best alternatives to Winter Wonderland in London.
Best Places Like Winter Wonderland In London To Visit In 2025
1. London's Most Festive Markets
- Price: usually free entry
- Location: Southbank, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Spitalfields, King's Cross and more
- Dates: often from November through to end of December
Swap your Winter Wonderland experience for one of London's best Christmas markets. From Greenwich to Southbank and King's Cross, many different hotspots across the city have their very own festivities - complete with seasonal food, artisanal crafts sold at wooden huts, and mulled wine or winter cocktails aplenty.
While not a Christmas Market, Buckingham Palace have also announced that they're opening their first ever Christmas Shop - so be sure to visit. And why not head to the brand-new Skate Leicester Square or one of the many amazing ice rinks around the city after you've wondered around buying pressies (and probably other bits you absolutely don't need).
Out of all the places like Winter Wonderland in the UK, London's seasonal markets are the best bet.
2. Après Bar London Bridge Rooftop
- Price: from £40 for bottomless brunch
- Location: Colechurch house, London Bridge Walk, Southwark, SE1 2SX
- Dates: from Saturday 15th November 2025
Après Bar London Bridge Rooftop is making a comeback this year. The wintery pop-up from the rooftop bar is best-known for its close-up views of the Shard. This après ski makeover sees it decked out with Christmas trees, fully covered and heated pergolas decorated in snowy furs and lights, and vintage ski memorabilia.
There's even a seat styled like a ski lift gondola, all in orange Aperol shades. Topping it off? Everything from bottomless après brunches to free-flowing mulled wine teapots and seasonal cocktails.
Swap Winter Wonderland for the slopes, without leaving London.
3. Fire & Fromage
- Price: £35 per person fondue bar
- Location: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX
- Dates: from Thursday 30th October 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026
For one of the most sought-after table bookings in the capital, pop-up Jimmy's Fire & Fromage is back with the ultimate winter warmer. Head over to Southbank and chow down on ooey gooey cheese fondue (£35 per person) while admiring views of the iconic Thames. All this takes place in the dreamy alpine-inspired cabana. The snuggle is real.
But you're wanting something a little more casual, then be sure to rummage through their street food menu which tastes just as good as it sounds. Think raclette burgers, Schnitzel and more. There's also signature cocktails on offer, as well as plenty of mulled wine.
This winter pop-up makes for one of the best Winter Wonderland alternatives in the UK.
4. The Montague On The Gardens Ski Lodge
- Price: from £140 per person for groups of up to 150
- Location: 15 Montague Street, Holborn, WC1B 5BJ
- Dates: from Thursday 30th October 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026
You can leave the snowsuits in the wardrobe for another year because this fun winter pop-up in London is bringing plenty of aprés without the need for the ski.
The ideal destination for small groups, The Ski Lodge is an annual installation at The Montague On The Gardens hotel and it offers the prettiest festive experiences complete with schnapps, seasonal snacks and a whole lotta fake snow. Inside, you'll also find a pop-up winter lodge for exclusive hire too.
This aprés ski affair is perfect for groups.
5. Circe's Cloud 9 Pods
- Price: pods from £200 (seat up to 9 people)
- Location: Mercury House, 117 Waterloo Road, Waterloo SE1 8UL
- Dates: until Tuesday 31st March 2026
Upgrade your winter experience and take it up a few levels to a Waterloo rooftop with Circe's Cloud 9 Pods. Nestled under the clouds are heated igloos complete with a complimentary Grey Goose welcome cocktail for every guest.
Once inside, expect full heating, soft blankets to cuddle up in, and even Bluetooth speakers ready to blast your very own playlist.
Avoid the crowds and have a relaxed time in your own pod.
6. Christmas At Kew
- Price: adults from £23.50 (member and off-peak pricing apply)
- Location: Kew Gardens, Kew TW9 3AB
- Dates: from Friday 14th November 2025 to Sunday 14th January 2026
The more wholesome way to do festive fun this year, Christmas At Kew's glow-up is much more than just a gathering for families and those couples who feel the need to be touching at all times.
Marvel at the most categorically Instagrammable trees and light installations across the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. One of the best cheap alternatives to Winter Wonderland in London? Sounds about light.
To catch London's most phenomenal light show, tickets start at just £23.50 during off-peak times.
7. Glide At Battersea Power Station
- Price: adults from £18.70; children from £11.50
- Location: Battersea Power Station, Nine Elms, Battersea, SW11 8EF
- Dates: from Friday 7th November 2025 to Sunday 4th January 2026
Brought to you by the same brains behind Winter Wonderland, Glide at Battersea Power Station will be open from Friday the78th of November, with tickets from just under £19 each. The city's only riverside rink will feature a 30-foot Christmas tree, as well as vintage fairground rides and photobooths.
Drinks-wise, you'll find delicious refreshments over at The Glass House, plus all the usual fabulous restaurants and bars will be open too, including Searcys and Vagabond.
Glide your way around this awesome ice rink.
8. The Glasshouses
- Price: from 12th November 2025
- Location: The Scoop at More London, London Bridge SE1 2AA
- Dates: from Wednesday 12th November 2025 to TBC 2026
Nestled right on the river in London Bridge, The Glasshouses are made up of three stunning event spaces inside beautifully decorated venues made entirely of glass. They host all kinds of seasonal fun here, including curling, wreath making and sip and paint sessions, with premium wine and bubbles on offer at most events.
Plus, you can hire out these spaces for up to 350 people, ideal for Christmas parties.
Great views and pretty decor? This place has got it all.
9. The Winter Garden At Beckenham Place Park
- Price: from £15.27 per adult, £9.90 per child for ice skating
- Location: Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham Hill Road, Beckenham, BR3 1SY
- Dates: 15th November 2025 - 4th January 2026
Embrace a world of festive magic as The Winter Gardens transforms Beckenham Place Park into a sparkling winter wonderland. From mid-November through to the new year, this enchanting event brings together everything we love about Christmas: twinkling lights, frosty fun, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel like a kid again.
Glide across the covered indoor ice rink, wander through a charming Christmas market filled with artisan gifts and seasonal treats, and take on Plonk Golf’s playful, winter-themed adventure course. Feel your heart race on the funfair rides, or be captivated by the jaw-dropping performances of the Revel Puck Circus.
The Winter Garden At Beckenham Place Park.
10. Club Curling
- Price: from £9 per person
- Location: Coal Drops Yard, Stable Street, King's Cross, N1C 4DQ
- Dates: 7th November 2025 - 1st March 2026
Winter’s coolest game is back, and it’s bringing serious festive fun to Coal Drops Yard. Club Curling returns for another sparkling season of friendly competition, après vibes, and hands-on fun for all ages. Gather your mates (up to six players), grab your lane, and test your aim on six colourful, sustainable curling tracks. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a total newbie, it’s impossible not to get swept up in the energy, especially with that winter chill and the buzz of King’s Cross all around you.
After a few rounds of curling glory (or near misses), head to the vintage Italian-themed Club Curling Lounge, where things take a delightfully immersive turn. Step into a cosy après world of festive science experiments and interactive sensory stations exploring how sight, sound, scent, taste and touch shape their winter experiences.
Club Curling.
Read
about more winter pop-ups in
London.
