Chelsea is going all in on the festive season this year — candlelit concerts, fondue nights, couture-worthy crafting sessions and a touch of alpine fantasy appearing in unexpected corners of the neighbourhood. One moment you’re wandering into the Ralph Lauren Holiday Experience on Sloane Square; the next, you’re belting out carols at the pub or playing bingo with Father Christmas calling the numbers.
Cadogan Hall’s line-up is particularly irresistible, with concerts guaranteed to pull little ones directly into the heart of the season. Over at The Cadogan, a Belmond Hotel, grown-ups can attempt the perfect mince pie, while Anya’s Grotto casts its own spell over younger visitors. And the Mandarin Oriental’s Twelve Days of Christmas brings a polished run of evening events devoted to making December feel properly special.
Here’s what to book now for a December that delivers all the delight.
Sloane Square has transformed into a mountain-inspired festive tableau, where Ralph’s Coffee serves winter warmers, the Holiday Shop curates beautiful gifts and The Ralph Lauren Giving Tree invites visitors to dedicate a star in honour of someone special, supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. It is a magical reinterpretation of a Rocky Mountain Christmas, right in the heart of Chelsea.
Address: Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE
Nestled within the barn at the centre of Sloane Square is a storytelling world designed especially for young children. Father Christmas and his elf welcome families into an intimate, 30-minute experience limited to 12 children and 12 adults, creating memories for ages 2–8 amid the warm rustic charm of Ralph Lauren’s winter setting.
Address: Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE
Cost: £60 per child
Within the rustic elegance of The Ralph Lauren Barn, guests can create a 45cm festive wreath during a two-hour workshop with the house’s florist-in-residence. Expect classic holiday greenery, refined craft guidance and a piece to take home. Open to ages 14+; those under 18 must attend with an adult.
Address: Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE
Cost: £180
Inside The Ralph Lauren Barn, children can decorate up to six Polo Bear cookies in a charming one-hour workshop led by Molly’s Bakehouse. Hot chocolate is included for little ones, while accompanying adults enjoy mulled wine as the festive creativity unfolds.
Address: Sloane Square, SW1W 8EE
Cost: £40 per child; children must be accompanied by an adult
A delightfully off-piste twist on festive entertainment, Father Christmas hosts an evening of bingo with cocktails and a festive tea. Expect playful prizes, spirited mischief and a thoroughly unfussy bit of seasonal joy.
Address: 11 Pont Street, SW1X 9EH
Cost: £80 per adult (minimum two tickets per party)
Wreath-making at The Ralph Lauren Holiday Experience
The Chelsea Winter Village lights up the Royal Hospital grounds with a radiant 1.5km trail, street-food stalls, artisan makers and a soundtrack of live festive music. Curling lanes add a competitive twist, while the illuminated gardens invite visitors to stroll, snack and soak up the glow.
Address: Royal Hospital Chelsea, SW3 4SR
Cost: Village free; light trail: Adult tickets £15–£24.95; Children £5–£17.50
A beautifully tactile morning awaits inside the historic Chelsea Physic Garden, where guests craft a seasonal table centrepiece using fragrant winter foliage. Led by expert horticulturalists, the session blends botanical knowledge with creative calm — an elegant way to begin the festive season.
Address: 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS
Cost: £85
On 6 December, Diptyque will add a precious finishing touch to festive gifting. With any purchase, the Maison’s calligrapher will inscribe the name of someone special on a gold-detailed label — a thoughtful gesture inspired by the poetry of Diptyque’s festive collection.
Address: 162 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BT
A breathtaking display of more than 30,000 illuminated white roses transforms Duke of York Square into a garden of remembrance. Visitors are invited to dedicate a rose to a loved one with a suggested minimum donation of £15, supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s life-saving work. Since its debut in 2019, the installation — created by Anya Hindmarch and Camilla Morton in memory of production designer Michael Howells — has raised over £1.2 million. A tranquil space for reflection amid the festive season, offering comfort, hope and quiet beauty.
Address: Duke of York Square, SW3 4LY
Cost: Free entry; rose dedications from £15
Cadogan Hall brings two beloved children’s stories to life with full orchestral accompaniment. Animation, narration and score combine to create an inviting first concert experience for younger audiences — engaging, atmospheric and quietly spellbinding.
Address: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Cost: From £20
This year’s programme features Elgar’s The Music Makers and The Snow, alongside Hubert Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens, performed with the Sloane Square Orchestra. Expect sweeping Edwardian lyricism, shimmering choral textures and an evening of bold, uplifting English music. Holy Trinity will also host Parish Carols by Candlelight on 14 December at 6pm, Midnight Mass on 24 December at 11.30pm, and Choral Eucharist with Carols on Christmas Day at 11am.
Address: Holy Trinity Sloane Square, SW1X 9BZ
Cost: From £18
Horrible Histories returns to Cadogan Hall with a festive caper that hurtles through centuries of Christmases past. Santa is in trouble, the season hangs in the balance, and a quick-thinking young hero must navigate Victorian scoundrels, Medieval monks, Puritan rule-breakers and Tudor revelry to set things right. Expect familiar faces from Dickens to Cromwell, each adding their own twist to the rescue mission. A lively, witty, history-meets-pantomime romp — ideal for families looking for something spirited and smart this side of Christmas.
Address: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Cost: £20–£40
A neighbourhood tradition worth rearranging an evening for, The Surprise hosts an informal carol-sing-along with Christchurch Area Residents’ Association. Expect roasted chestnuts, homemade mince pies and mulled wine — the kind of convivial, effortless cheer that marks a London December.
Address: 6 Christchurch Terrace, SW3 4AJ
A much-loved ritual, Candlelit Carols blends softly glowing light with orchestral arrangements and traditional carols. It’s the perfect punctuation mark for the season — luminous, melodic and deeply rooted in Chelsea’s winter rhythm.
Address: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Cost: £32–£50
Inside the Garden’s charming greenhouse grotto, Father Christmas shares heartfelt stories in a cosy, twinkling setting. Each child receives a special gift, making this an intimate, memory-making highlight of the season.
Address: 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS
Cost: £11–£13
Chelsea Winter Village at the Royal Hospital Chelsea
A whimsical journey into the imaginative world of Anya Hindmarch, this experience leads children through enchanting scenes on their way to meet Father Christmas. The set design is playful and tactile, with the quiet charm of a modern fairy tale.
Address: The Village by Anya Hindmarch, Pont Street, SW1X 9EH
Cost: £60 for one adult and one child, and £45 for each additional guest
A characteristically playful take on afternoon tea, complete with seasonal cakes, inventive pastries and touches lifted from the Anya world. A sweet, stylish interlude between shopping, strolling and other December pursuits.
Address: 11 Pont Street, SW1X 9EH
Cost: From £45
Inspired by the classic carol, the Mandarin Oriental has curated a refined programme of evening events centred around different seasonal crafts and traditions. On 9 December, guests can take part in an intimate, hands-on session crafting maki and nigiri alongside seasonal cocktails, while on 10 December, guests will be introduced to the elegance and heritage of Japanese spirits Sake and Shochu through guided tastings. And on 17 December, families are invited to learn about the Artistry of Sushi in a lively shared workshop that will explore sushi techniques, balancing flavour, texture and presentation.
Address: The Aubrey, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA
Cost: From £12, with proceeds given to charity
Address: Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, SW1X 9DQ
Cost: From £20
The Rosebery presents a De Beers–inspired afternoon tea that blends craftsmanship, heritage and a touch of sparkle. Jewel-shaped pastries and seasonally reimagined classics draw on the house’s British roots and Southern African origins. In collaboration with Fortnum & Mason, the exclusive 1888 Blend — created in honour of De Beers’ founding year — adds a final note of distinction to the experience.
Address: 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA
Cost: From £85
Inspired by the lotus motif central to De Beers’ Enchanted Lotus collection, this sculptural champagne and caviar bar offers a serene space for festive indulgence. Guests can enjoy a curated tasting of exceptional champagnes — Ruinart, Krug and Dom Pérignon — served alongside King’s Caviar. A refined celebration of artistry, form and seasonal elegance.
Jumeirah Carlton Tower brings Chamonix to Chelsea as The Peak Lounge becomes a modern chalet with Perfect Moment. City Lights, Alpine Nights offers an indulgent fondue feast from 8–10pm: molten cheese, charcuterie, French wines and seasonal cocktails enjoyed high above the city’s sparkling skyline.
Address: Jumeirah Carlton Tower, SW1X 9PY
Cost: From £75 per person
Parisian cult favourite Hôtel Costes brings its unmistakable aesthetic to …At Sloane, offering its coveted fragrances, von Halle silk masks, signature vinyl compilations and mood-setting accessories. A sensorial microcosm of the legendary Left Bank hotel — moody, polished and unmistakably Costes.
Address: At Sloane, 41 Sloane Street, SW1X 9QB
Here’s to a month filled with sparkle, spirited gatherings and the small indulgences that make this time of year feel unmistakably special.
'City Lights, Alpine Nights', Jumeirah Carlton Tower's signature fondue experience
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