Looking for a cheeky freebie this week?
Then give one of these fun, festive and totally free London activities a try…
1) Slide into the season with the Slideatron, Wembley Park
Slideatron is a futuristic, illuminated 18m Christmas tree with a 20m slide you can ride. Find it in Wembley Park, London’s next great creative hotspot, just 12 minutes by tube from Baker Street. Right next to Wembley Stadium, SSE Arena Wembley and the London Designer Outlet, it’s rather an impressive installation, which lights up to bespoke soundtracks and coloured LEDs – and it also has a viewing platform on top and festive food market. Best of all, unlike other winter attractions, it is totally free! Open until Jan 2. Book your free tickets on the Slideatron website (Sponsored).
2) Feel the joy with Christmas carols by candlelight
The Union Chapel is one of London’s most beloved music venues, but it is, as the name suggests, also a functioning church. This Sunday, Dec 17, they’ll be holding a free Carols by Candlelight service that promises to be utterly uplifting. Doors are at 6pm but you might want to get there early as a queue is expected. Full details on their website. (There is a charity collection at this free event so do bring some change – or a few crisp notes – if you can.)
3) Explore the Gingerbread city
Head to South Kensington to discover an incredible gingerbread city, where each deliciously edible building has been designed and created by a genuine London architect. You can’t eat it though – sorry.
4) See the home of a Roman cult at the London Mithraeum
This fascinating little space is one of London’s newest historical attractions, revealing the remains of a temple from Roman London dedicated to the mysterious Mithras. It’s right in the heart of the City, and open most days except Mondays – details here.
5) Try to beat the Kings Cross tree
The Christmas tree in Kings Cross Station isn’t just an elegant spiral of lights – it’s also a punishingly difficult game! Basically a deeply abstract festive Donkey Kong, this ‘Line Wobbler’ game sees players attempting to guide their heroic little light to the very top of the tree… by wiggling one of those bendy door stops. Good luck!