For Christmas 2025–2026, major London West End shows include The Lion King, Wicked, Matilda, and Les Misérables. Festive highlights feature The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum (English National Ballet) and Royal Opera House. Other options include 2:22 A Ghost Story and various pantomimes.
What musicals are playing in the West End for Christmas 2025?
Also all of the smash-hit, long-running musicals and plays are running in the West End over Christmas, including Disney's The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre; Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre; Matilda The Musical at the Cambridge Theatre; Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre; and Harry Potter and the Cursed ...
For Christmas in the UK, popular choices range from big city celebrations (London's Winter Wonderland, Manchester Markets, Edinburgh's Hogmanay) to charming historic towns (Bath, York, Stratford-upon-Avon), picturesque countryside escapes (Cotswolds, Scottish Highlands, Lake District), and festive theme parks like Lapland UK, offering everything from grand markets and light trails to cozy log cabins and winter walks.
My top 5 London theatre shows I've seen in 2025 (so far)
What is the most watched Christmas show in the UK?
The King's Christmas Broadcast was the most-watched TV programme in the UK on Christmas Day, overnight data has shown. Nearly 7m tuned in on the BBC, ITV, Sky News and GB News to watch King Charles deliver his annual message, this year recorded in Westminster Abbey.
Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features 17 Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake.
What new musicals are opening in the West End in 2025?
New musicals hitting London's West End in 2025 include Disney's live-action stage adaptation of Hercules, the return of the beloved Ghibli adaptation My Neighbour Totoro, the musical version of the hit film Clueless, and the powerful Live Aid-themed show Just For One Day, alongside revivals like Evita and major new plays, with many promising big names and stunning visuals for a packed year of theatre.
The BST Hyde Park 2025 lineup featured major headliners like Olivia Rodrigo, Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, Sabrina Carpenter, Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, and Jeff Lynne's ELO, with shows running from late June to mid-July 2025, showcasing a mix of pop, country, and legendary classic artists across three weekends, although many dates, especially for top acts, sold out quickly.
What is the most Christmas obsessed place in the UK?
Oxford has been named the most Christmas-obsessed city in the UK. According to new data from Ashridge House Illuminated, festive-related online searches from the city have risen by 455 per cent year-on-year, indicating that residents are planning their seasonal celebrations earlier than ever before.
Christmas 2025 specials featured popular returning series like Call the Midwife, Beyond Paradise, Death in Paradise, All Creatures Great and Small, The Taskmaster, and Mrs Brown's Boys, alongside festive films, comedy shows (Would I Lie to You?, Two Doors Down), and unique events like Amandaland. Key highlights included heartwarming dramas, comical holiday challenges, quizzes, and traditional festive programming across UK channels like BBC One and Channel 5.
Where is the most magical place to go at Christmas?
The most magical Christmas spots often blend snow, lights, and unique traditions, with Rovaniemi, Finland (Lapland) topping lists for its authentic Santa Claus Village, Northern Lights, and reindeer sleigh rides. Other top contenders include New York City for iconic big-city festive displays, Colmar, France for storybook charm, Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens for fairy-tale amusement, and even warm-weather options like Hong Kong or Disney World for unique holiday spectacles, but snowy Lapland often embodies pure, classic Christmas magic.
