Sponsored: 5 must-attend Christmas events in London

EVERYONE needs a break sometimes, but a plane trip abroad isn’t always an option. If you’re looking to get away before the end of the year, then booking a train from capital-to-capital is one way to spruce up your winter blues.

Five ways to entertain yourself in London. Picture: submitted

Here is a selection of Christmas-themed events going on in and around the London area in the next two

months that will have you booking your seat with a window view in no time:

Hogwarts in the Snow

Warner Bros studios brings some wintery charm to their Harry Potter studio, with the snow - covered Hogwarts bound to bring some festive cheer to your visit. Other attractions on offer include a Christmas feast in the Hogwarts Great Hall taken from the first film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This includes prop versions of turkeys, vegetables, fruit and flaming plum puddings.

14 Nov - 1 Feb, Aerodrome Way, Leavesden, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 7LR

Kew Gardens Illuminations

Kew Garden’s glittering night-time trail uses stunning illumination effects to light up their scenic glasshouse gardens. Attractions include the garden of fire, tunnel of lights, sparkling giant snowflakes, Santa’s Snowflake Grotto to name a few and bound to make for a unique festive evening.

26 Nov - 3 Jan, Kew Gardens, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB

Ice Skate Vauxhall Street Food Market

Ice Skate Vauxhall brings you a delicious array of street food and a pop-up cabin bars open every day with special events planned through weekends and event nights throughout the Christmas season. The market will include freshly-prepared street food dishes as well as hot and cold drinks along with mulled wine. Accompanied by their new seasonal ice rink, this central event is bound to bring some festive cheer into your London Christmas experience.

21 Nov- 4 Jan, Kennington Lane, London SE11 5HY, UK

Natural History Museum ice rink

The stunning outline of the Natural History Museum makes for magical winter viewing in the heart of the city especially as you skate beneath it. Now in it’s 10th year, this rink is nestled in front of the iconic South Kensington building and is lit up by over 80,000 fairy lights.

30 Oct - 4 Jan, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 5BD

Pillow Cinema and Hot Tub Cinema winter warmers

Tired of uncomfortable cinema chairs? Well pop-up cinema may be up your street. The atmospheric underground station will be transformed into a giant beanbag space for the rest of November where afterwards those soft pillows will be swapped for bubbling hot tubs. What could be better than watching Christmas classics such as Elf and Love Actually whilst surrounding by hot jets?

21 Nov - 30 Nov, 2 Dec- 18 Dec Pedley Street, off Brick Lane, E1 5ER

Now your weekend is planned out, visit East Coast Trains to grab a great value fare to London.

Click here >>

This article is brought to you by East Coast.