It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go in the capital
By Sara Darling
There’s nothing to get you in the Christmas spirit, like snuggling up under a blanket with mulled wine and a Christmas movie, and where you watch it will make all the difference.
Iconic Christmas movies are a holiday stalwart, and there are now heaps of place to soak up the Christmas spirit, rather than risk a breakage on an ice rink or brave the rain at Winter Wonderland. Get over yourself, and embrace the bratty teenagers, animated reindeer, and pyscho Santas, and all the cockle-warming sentiments that come with them!
If you are in London in the lead up to Christmas, not only can you be spoilt by the spectacular Christmas lights around the city, you can get festive with a date or a group of pals with a hot toddy on standby in a fabulous range of locations which have added sparkle for the festive season.
Whether you’re a Grinch or Scrooge, or Christmas isn’t Christmas without Home Alone- and watching them on a big screen will make Santa seem all that more special.
Here is our pick of the coolest places to get you in the mood.
The Luna Winter Cinema
The stunning Kensington Palace is also welcoming visitors into its Pavillion on the lawns of the Palace. Imagine you are in the company of Queen Victoria, as you soak up classics like Home Alone’, ‘Elf’, ‘Love Actually’ and ‘It's a Wonderful Life’.
Or perhaps you need some light relief and a bit of a sing song- cue crowd pleasers ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘The Greatest Showman’. With hot food and beverages available from Bam Bam Crêpes, this is bound to a magical experience.
Luna Winter Cinema, Kensington Palace Orangery, Kensington, Dec 15-22.
The Nomad Cinema festive igloo
We might not get snow this Christmas, but the Nomad cinema in Moorgate will certainly conjure up a magical experience.
With ticket proceeds going to charity, your spirit of goodwill will be working on overdrive, and you might want to book up for more than one of the impressive selection of movies, which ranges from ‘The Holiday’, ‘Love Actually’ and ‘Home Alone’ to the Elton John biopic ‘Rocketman’ and the Aretha Franklin concert film ‘Amazing Grace’.
Nomad Cinema igloo, Citypoint, Moorgate 4 Dec-21 Dec.
http://www.whereisthenomad.com/
The Curtain Hotel Rooftop Cinema
The members only rooftop bar of this amazingly chic, boutique hotel is getting ready for Santa by erecting a large screen on it’s rooftop (which also has stunning views of the city).
Wrap up warm and grab a blanket and a complimentary hot toddy to enjoy screenings including ‘Die Hard’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’.
The Curtain, Shoreditch. 8 Dec-23 Dec
bit.ly/TheCurtainsRooftopCinema
The Berkeley Hotel, Rooftop Cinema
Embrace this great outdoors in rustic wooden chalets, snow-worthy blankets and a background of twinkly lights which are on offer at the spectacular rooftop at The Berkeley Hotel. Providing family-friendly options of Home Alone or adults-only screenings of The Holiday, the ticket price includes dishes from the winter menu- imagine fondue, mulled wine and as many mince pies as you can manage!
The Berkeley, 15 Nov-26 Dec.
Rooftop Winter Cinema at The Berkeley
Harvey Nichols Secret Forest
Embracing a Northern Lights theme, the fifth floor of Harvey Nics has transformed into a Scandinavian wonderland, with a menu filled with kantarell macka (mushroom and Gruyère toasties), köttbullar (meatballs), and a choice of ice cream cocktails.
But on Wednesdays and Sundays, the venue screens Christmas films, so you can tuck into that menu while you watch festive faves including It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle On 34th Street, alongside classics-in-the-making including The Greatest Showman.
Harvey Nicols, Fifth Floor, 17 Nov-5 Jan.
The Ship, Wandsworth
Not only one of the oldest pubs in London, its impressive location on the banks of the Thames makes The Ship a pretty memorable visit, whatever the occasion.
Whether it’s Bruce Willis who gets you in the mood, or something more soppy, the Ship is offering movie lovers a Martin Miller’s Mulled Gin on arrival, and will provide toasty blankets for warming up under.
The Ship, Wandsworth. 5 Dec-12 Dec. https://www.theship.co.uk/
Rivoli Ballroom, Crofton Park
Embrace the season in the truly atmospheric Rivoli Ballroom in south London. As one of the last remaining ballrooms, the fixtures and fittins are perfect for a date night!
Their season of pop up films include ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone’ and ‘The Grinch’, as well as other Christmas classics such as ‘Die Hard’, ‘Elf’ and ‘Love Actually’.
Rivoli Ballroom, from Dec 11
Southbank Centre
The southside of the river is transformed into an impressive Christmas market throughout December, complete with cabins, mulled wine and carols. Grown ups will enjoy the cosy pop-up cinema which is tucked away in the Circus Bar which is showing Love Actually’, ‘Dirty Dancing’ and ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, while families can drop in for ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Home Alone’, ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ and more.
Southbank Centre, Waterloo. 11 Nov - 29 Dec.
Backyard Cinema
Capital Studios in Wandsworth is the new permanent home to the infamous pop up cinema, with a selection of festive treats.
The Winter Night Garden is a woodland-themed, fairy light-strewn hideaway screening big blockbusters (Aladdin, A Star Is Born), and cult favourites (True Romance, A Princess Bride). But for something, well, more Christmassy, book yourself a ticket to The Snow Kingdom. Enter via a hidden entrance, movie lovers are transported down a secret passageway, where they have to navigate a magic ball pit river, and enter the secret password to gain access to the Kingdom. With a bar selling festive snacks, guests cuddle up on giant bean bags to enjoy favourite Christmas classics.
Backyard Cinema's Winter Night Garden is open until 8 December and Secret Snow Kingdom, until 18 December.
BFI
As you might expect from the Biritsh Film INstitute, there are a selection of bizarre and out of the ordinary Christmas offerings which will be perfect for anyone who enjoys a slightly wonky take on Christmas time. Expect David Walliams’s latest small screen addition along with Joe Dante’s cult hit ‘Gremlins’, which will screen in a new 4K digital restoration. You’ll also find numerous screenings of classic TV pantomimes, such as ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ and ‘Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp’.
BFI Southbank
Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square
This Christmas, the Prince Charles Cinema said, ‘’Tis the season for a bucketload of films’. Which includes some whacky choices, such as ‘Anna and the Apocalypse’, described as a zombie Christmas musical or serial killer thriller ‘Black Christmas’.
You can also partake in their famous pyjamas party movie marathons (all three extended versions of Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy tickle you?)
Prince Charles Cinema, until 29 Dec
https://princecharlescinema.com/PrinceCharlesCinema.dll/Seasons?e=157
One Aldwych, Aldwych
If you want to impress your date, head to you One Aldwych in central London which has teamed with Curzon to create have curated a season of their Film and Fizz events.
Showing feel-good favourites like ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ and ‘White
Christmas’ - all screenings also include a two-or-three-course-meal.
One Aldwych. 22 Nov-18 Dec
Clapham Grand, Clapham Junction
Styled with a winter wonderland theme, complete with snow machine, confetti cannon and themed photo booth, you can also soak up some favourite seasonal flicks on the big screen. Choose from the Nightmare Before Christmas (Dec 4), Love Actually (Dec 5) or Muppets Christmas Carol (Dec 18), you can also tuck into festive treats including pigs in blankets, mulled wine and seasonal cocktails.
The Clapham Grand. 4 Dec - 21 Dec
The Exhibit, Balham
Bottomless bubbles with a festive film? That sounds like my kind of Christmas.
Visit the boutique cinema (featuring extra snug sofas & surround sound) at the Exhibit for screenings of Christmas staples such as ‘Love Actually’, ‘Elf’ and ‘The Holiday’ along with their signature bottomless bubbles.
From Nov 23 Nov- 29 Dec