Find Your Creative Bliss and Enjoy Christmas in London (for Under £40!)

With endless shopping possibilities and miles of twinkling lights, London is a truly magical place to explore at Christmas. Make this year's festive visit extra special by discovering the creative underground of passionate local artists— plus it’s a great way to save money in London too.

That’s right – this is more than just a list of the best craft spots and art workshops in the capital. Leave those shopping bags and hefty price tags behind and focus on finding revitalising things to do in London at Christmas with your nearest and dearest. 

Take refuge from busy Christmas shopping and dive into paper crafts – Cost: £25 pp

Stamp your way to creative bliss as you immerse yourself in London’s sustainable papercraft scene! Want to introduce some calm into your day of Christmas shopping? Swap the shops for a couple of hours of craft and pop along to this warm and friendly workshop in Bushwood, and get set to learn a crafty new skill as you sink into the soothing and mindful flow of papercraft. With the gorgeous creation you make in this class, you can spruce up any dim corner of your home with a sprinkle of colour. Leave this workshop with a newfound passion for transforming old paper into beautiful DIY home decor and with a rejuvenated pep in your step, ready to tackle the rest of your Christmas shopping list!

Craft a reed diffuser and excite your senses – Cost: £27pp

Filling your home, or the home of others, with the divine scents of the season doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. This fragrance extravaganza is sure to make your nose happy as you sniff out your perfect blend and pour it into a glass diffuser bottle. There are better things to do in London at Christmas than browsing the crowded shops of White Company or Jo Malone for perfect quality smellies for your mum. Have a fun day out with your pals instead and make a personalised reed diffuser and swap shopping stress for creative calmness. Plus, it’s cheaper than store-bought! You even get a miniature version for your car, so you can enjoy your yuletide fragrance on the go.

Spend time with family at this parent and child jewellery workshop – Cost: £30 pp

The holiday season is the perfect time to make lasting memories with your family. What if you could wear that memory forever? Discover the art of jewellery making with your little one and everyone will walk away with their very own bracelet or necklace as a memento. Your friendly teacher from Craft My Day will have a huge range of charms, beads and pendants ready and waiting to be transformed into handmade jewellery. Rather than searching for the perfect Christmas charm in a busy Pandora, enjoy getting playful with your kids and come away with a much more personal piece to put in the jewellery box (or under the tree!). 

Learn how to make a terrarium for a winter wellbeing boost – Cost: £32pp

When the trees turn bare in the winter, it’s more important than ever to find that colour in your life. Come and dig your hands into the cool soil and make cute miniature gardens to spruce up your shelves. This is one of the best things to do in London at Christmas with your friends and family, after all, what’s more festive than the colour green?

If the foliage at Kew Botanical Gardens has inspired your mind or left you wanting some plants that don’t hibernate in the cold months, come visit the plant experts at Art Play London. They’ll show you how to plant your own terrarium with evergreen succulents, as well as a few tips for keeping it alive so it can add some colour to your home all season long.

Deck the tree with handmade Christmas decorations – Cost: £35 pp

How could we write a list of things to do in London at Christmas without thinking about baubles to jazz up the tree? Whether it’s mince pies or sparkling snowflakes, let your imagination go wild with needle, thread and felt. Get your craft on surrounded by some fellow festive fans at the warm and colourful Make Your Own studio as you pick up some new sewing skills and maybe even a few new pals! Once you’re all done creating these hanging decorations, take them home and display them on your tree year after year as a personal tradition. 

Find some Christmas-time calm and explore a world of colour with neon life drawing – Cost: £11-26pp

Drenched in fun and vivid colours, this art class is all about letting your hair down! If the run-up to the 25th is leaving you feeling frazzled, then this workshop is the place to go. Join your teacher in one of their many classes and you’ll find your inner artist and plenty of neon paint. This one is just for adults and is a perfect cheap date night idea to enjoy over the festive period that will wow your other half. Even better, you will have some psychedelic art to brighten up your wall, hand-drawn personally by you. Or, if you’re looking for a unique Christmas present for her, him or them, give your neon masterpiece away to a new home!