Experience the enchanting glow of London amid golden leaves scattered along the sidewalk. Discover the most captivating events for November 2023 in this monthly column by our esteemed chief editor, Maria Bregman.
1. Christmas at Kew
November 15, 2023 – January 7, 2024
Christmas at Kew has become a key date in London’s festive calendar, as the 300-acre botanical garden is illuminated with sparkling lights and projections. This year, the route will pass by glasshouses adorned with kaleidoscopic projections, through shimmering light tunnels, and trees adorned with vibrant colors. As usual, there will also be winter warmers and a grotto where you can greet Father Christmas. Keep in mind, tickets for Christmas at Kew usually sell out quickly, so be sure to secure your spot.
Address:
Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens
London
TW9 3AB
Price: Ticket prices for adults start from £22.50, family tickets available (under 4s go free)
Opening hours: From 4:20 PM to 10:00 PM
2. Ice Skating at Somerset House
November 15, 2023 – January 14, 2024
Glide across the grand neoclassical courtyard on this vast open-air ice rink spanning 900 square meters, with a 40-foot Christmas tree placed in the center for maximum attention. This year, the rink will be themed around winter in Switzerland, thanks to Swiss tourism. Look out for specially curated sessions inspired by Swiss regions Bern, Lucerne, and Valais, a new restaurant Chalet Suisse by Jimmy Garcia, and a brand-new skate lounge by the cult pink brand Whispering Angel.
Address:
Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA
Price: From £10 to £25, children from £8 to £13
Opening hours: From 9 AM to 10:45 PM, on December 24th from 9 AM to 5 PM, on December 26th from 12 PM to 10 PM, on December 31st from 10 AM to 4 PM, on January 1st from 12 PM to 9 PM.
3. EFG London Jazz Festival 2023
November 10-19, 2023
For ten days, London’s venues will be filled with the sounds of the most innovative and respected performers working in and beyond jazz for the prestigious EFG London Jazz Festival. With over 300 concerts across more than 70 venues – from Barbican and Southbank Centre to independent jazz clubs like Cafe Oto and King’s Place – there is plenty to choose from.
Price: Depends on the show
Opening hours: Times vary
4. The Witches
Theatre, Musicals
November 7, 2023 – January 27, 2024
The musical comes at an exciting time for Dahl and his legacy: there has been much criticism of recent changes to his books aimed at making the language more acceptable to modern audiences, but at the same time, Dahl’s personal anti-Semitism is well-known, and ‘The Witches’ – with their depiction of powerful women with hooked noses – is often seen as a possible manifestation of this in his work. Hopefully, it will turn out to be devilishly entertaining, but it will be interesting to see if it can fully realize its potential without offending anyone egregiously.
Location:
National Theatre, South Bank
Price: £20-£99
Time: 7:00 PM.
5. Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Theatre, Drama
November 17, 2023 – June 30, 2024
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is a play written by Jack Thorn, an experienced stage director who wrote the first script and helped develop the storyline for “The First Shadow” directed by Steven Doldry, along with the Duffer brothers – the maestros behind the retro-horror smash hit Netflix series – and Kate Trefri, a writer for the show who also wrote the script here.
The cast doesn’t feature any big names, but it consists of quite respectable actors: The full cast includes Shane Ettyvoll (Chief Hopper), Christopher Barkley (Bob Newby), Michael Gibson (Victor Krill), Oscar Lloyd (James Hopper Jr.), Lewis McCartney (Henry Krill, pictured left), Isabella Pappas (Joyce Maldonado), Patrick Veil (Doctor Brenner, pictured right), Lauren Ward (Virginia Krill), Ella Caruna Williams (Patty Newby).
Address:
Phoenix Theatre
110 Charing Cross Road
London
WC2H OJP
Price:
£20-£185
6. Miracle
November 13 – December 24, 2023
The famous New York bar, Miracle on Ninth Street, opens in London for the holiday season, bringing 1950s Christmas decorations, accessories in a nostalgic alpine theme, and creative variations of old-school cocktails to Covent Garden. Think of the paused version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” from the 1960s, and you’ll feel the atmosphere of this contemplative pop-up window. Sit in the bar dubbed “the cozy chalet on Christmas Eve” and enjoy a classic snowball or a Christmas pie (with cranberry sauce and absinthe mist) served in vintage holiday glassware.
Address:
Hotel Henrietta
Henrietta Street, 14
London
WC2E 8QH
Price:
Free entrance
Opening hours:
1:00 PM – 11:00 PM
7. Musical “Elf”
Theatre, Musicals
November 15, 2023 – January 6, 2024
The musical “Elf” returns to the West End with the same irresistible charm as Buddy, its star. The last time this production was at the Dominion Theatre in 2015, it was the best-selling show in nearly a century. It would be a huge surprise if it didn’t find success again this time around. With a few changes and a couple of cut characters, the story largely follows the 2003 hit film starring Will Ferrell, which has now become a perennial Christmas favorite. The Teflon-coated welcome of the titular hero Buddy can’t hide the fact that he is suspiciously tall for an elf. When Santa Claus informs him that he is actually a human, Buddy sets off from the North Pole to find his real father in New York.
Address:
Dominion Theatre
268-9 Tottenham Court Road
London
WIT 7A0
Price:
£35-£195. Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes.
8. Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
November 17, 2023 – January 1, 2024
This annual favorite will celebrate its sixteenth year in 2023. Entry to Winter Wonderland is free during off-peak times and costs between £5 and £7.50 during peak hours. You can also enjoy brightly lit attractions on the funfair, visit Santa’s Land for children (including Santa’s Grotto), and explore the whimsical Christmas markets. It’s a real delight for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit, provided you’re willing to hear all those songs on repeat while going around. Other highlights of the annual Christmas extravaganza in Hyde Park include circuses and the UK’s largest open-air ice rink, which surrounds a Victorian bandstand and is illuminated by over 100,000 lights. There’s also a real ice slide, ice sculpting workshops, and a Bavarian-style village serving foaming tankards and live music.
Address:
Hyde Park
London
W2 4RU
Price:
Free, £5, or £7.50
Opening hours:
From 10 am to 10 pm
9. The House of Bernarda Alba
Theatre, Drama
November 16, 2023 – January 6, 2024
Get ready for a real treat as the great playwright Alice Birch returns to the National Theatre for her most ambitious show to date (previously known for her more unconventional projects such as “We Want You to Watch” and “[BLANK]”). “The House of Bernarda Alba” is a powerful and intense drama that explores themes of repression, family dynamics, and the stifling effect of societal expectations. Set in rural Spain, the play follows the lives of the formidable Bernarda Alba and her five daughters, who are trapped in a house filled with tension and secrets. Birch’s bold and poignant writing, combined with the National Theatre’s exceptional production values, promises an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Address:
National Theatre
South Bank
London
SE1 9PX
Price:
Ticket prices vary. Please check the official website for more details.
10.The London Festival
November 2 – November 16, 2023
Over the course of two weeks, 40 films will be shown at various prestigious London cinemas, including BFI, Rio, Garden Cinema, and others. The festival will begin with the thought-provoking adaptation of the novel “Normal Family” by Hur Jin-ho and will conclude with the mystical thriller “Doctor Chhon and the Lost Talisman”.
Address: Various (BFI, Rio, Garden Cinema, and other prestigious cinemas) London
Price: Prices vary
Opening hours: Times may vary
