Alternative Xmas: What's on in London on Christmas and Boxing days

Slava’s Snowshow

Having toured 80 cities to rave reviews, this dream-like spectacular is back in the capital.

Pull yourself out of one festive slumber and drift into another as clowns combine theatrical performances and special effects to create a surreal world.

Sure, it’s good for big kids, but you’ll end up knee-deep in snow at the end after a blizzard, getting the white Christmas you’ve always wanted.

Boxing Day, 7.30pm, £20
Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall,
Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX
Tube | Waterloo 
southbankcentre.co.uk

Harvey Nichols

Sod the budget turkey and celebrate the festive season in style.

Dine on a fancy two-course brunch – think lobster, Cote de boeuf, sea bass – in Season on the first day of the sales.

Or head to the bar for a super-posh cocktail.

Boxing Day, bar open until 11pm, £25+
Fifth Floor, SW1X 7RJ
Tube | Knightsbridge
harveynichols.com

Boxing Day Sales

We can’t mention Boxing Day without mentioning sales.

This is heaven for bargain-hunters. Head to Westfield Stratford for impressive discounts, to catch a glimpse of the Olympic venues and for top bars to chill out in.

Boxing Day, 9am-11pm, free
2 Stratford Place, E20 1EJ
Station | Stratford
uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity

Somerset House Ice Rink

Work up an appetite for another full-on meal with a session on the ice.

Somerset House reopens its rink on Boxing Day so you can glide in beautiful surrounds.

Boxing Day, 10am-10.30pm, £9.60+
Strand, WC2R 1LA
Tube | Temple
somersethouse.org.uk

Boxing Day Bash

Watch more than 1000 stock cars smashing into each other during this ‘you must be mad’ annual bash at Wimbledon Stadium.

This derby of destruction is bound to wake you from your turkey-induced comatosed state, as vehicles bump and crash their way around the track, doing serious damage during the London Championship and the National Big Van Bangers. Top fun.

Boxing Day, 2pm, £13
Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane, SW17 0BL
Tube | Wimbledon Park
stockcar.co.uk

Exhibition & Globe Theatre Tour

Spend the day after Christmas learning something new at this popular tourist attraction.

Hear all about the Bard, where he lived in London and his work for the Globe during this 30-minute tour.

Wander around with expert guides who’ll fascinate you with tales of the venue as an open-air playhouse in 1599 to its reconstruction in 1997.

If that whets your appetite, book to see Twelfth Night at the Apollo later. It kicks off at 7.30pm and tickets cost from £25.

Boxing Day, 10am-5pm, free
21 New Globe Walk,
Bankside, SE1 9DT 
Tube | Waterloo
shakespearesglobe.com

More Christmas and Boxing Day events in London: From the Peter Pan Cup to the Charles Dickens Museum

Photos: Getty; Andrea Artz