Christmas 2025 in The City

Luke Chapman

November 5, 2025

The City has never looked so beautiful as when it’s covered in festive lights and the hot chocolates are flowing. There are always so many festivities taking over the square mile, it can be hard to keep up with them. Switch-ons are always great events, filled with goodies and sometimes celebs, so we’ve taken the liberty of listing some of the City’s key festive moments leading up to the big day.

Bow Lane Lights Switch-On – November 12th 16:30 onwards

The first of the festive events across the Square Mile, the Bow Lane Lights Switch-On marks the welcoming of Christmas into the City and starts the procession of a lit-up Square Mile. Bow Lane takes its name from St. Mary-Le-Bow Church on the corner which will also be adorned for this festive event.

Leadenhall Market Christmas Light Switch-On – November 13th from 17:15

One of the first activities for the newly elected Lord (Lady) Mayor, the iconic Leadenhall Market comes to life from November 13th, and this one is truly not an event to be missed. Think live musical performances, and for the first time in years, snowfall from the Market!

Ludgate Circus Christmas Light Switch-On – November 19th 17:00-20:00

Next on the list for the Square Mile is the Ludgate Circus switch-on. Bringing Fleet Street Quarter to life, there’ll be a festive choir, food vendors on site and mulled wine. Head down to Ludgate Circus on November 19th for some Christmassy fun.

Snoopy Trail Across Fleet Street Quarter – November 19th to January 16th

A real celebrity is coming to the square mile, it’s Snoopy! Fleet Street Quarter are bringing a 12-piece sculpture trail to the BID footprint, where the lovable character will be lying atop 12 bespoke painted dog houses, and you can walk around them all with a nice hot chocolate.

Eastern City Christmas Light Switch-On – November 20th 17:30-18:30

London’s biggest Christmas tree is back in the City. Returning for another year outside the Pan Pacific hotel, the Eastern City BID will be bringing the area to life on November 20th with a very special guest appearance.

Aldgate In Winter Festival

The famous Aldgate in Winter festival is returning for another year, but this time it’s returning for two days! Across December 4th and 5th, you can expect live performances, the return of the Aldgate lantern parade and more. Be sure to join the two-day-long festivities at this Aldgate classic.

The City truly comes alive in the festive season, and so many areas go truly all out. So embrace the lit up commute home, revel in the joy, and get stuck in!

A Snoopy Trail is Coming to the City

Luke Chapman

October 20, 2025

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts™️, Fleet Street Quarter are bringing a Snoopy Trail to the City of London this festive season! It’s the perfect way to spend the evening and bring some art into your routine.

Taking place from November 19th until January 16th, twelve unique sculptures will bring this area in the West of the City to life, each specifically designed by a different artist to bring a bespoke touch to Fleet Street.

The concept is a partnership with Fleet Street Quarter BID, Wild in Art, and Peanuts Worldwide, in which each of the twelve sculptures will feature the iconic imagery of Snoopy perched atop his famous doghouse. Each famous dog house will be creatively reimagined by an artist or designer to bring the whole concept alive.

As the home of London’s publishing, central to the rise of magazines and comics such as Peanuts™️, there’s no better place to see Snoopy lazing around, taking his honorary home in the heart of the UK’s printing.

The iconic trail is landing in the area just in time for the festive season, meaning you can take your evening stroll, reminisce about one of your childhood’s most beloved characters, and maybe grab a hot chocolate for your trip down memory lane. Of course, it’s also PERFECT for the kids too!

Full information will be released, including specific locations and artist information, in the coming weeks. This will pair alongside Fleet Street Quarter’s full festive programme. We’re jumping the gun a little here, but we just wanted to let you know about this ASAP, as we’re so excited for such an icon to land in our back garden (pun intended).

To see more, check out the page on Fleet Street Quarter’s website here.

The Cosiest Spots for the Longer Nights

Luke Chapman

October 7, 2025

The longer nights are starting to creep in (boooo), but depending on your outlook, it also means peak cosy season is around. Long gone are the beer gardens of the summer, but let me introduce you to hot chocolates under festive lights and book shopping in warm jumpers and it starts to look more positive. The Square Mile offers some of the best spots around London to fulfil those cosy autumnal desires, so stick around and you’ll be filling out your pre-Christmas calendars with all the best warm nights before you know it.

Things to do

It’s cold outside, it’s dark, so where do you go? Well, that’s why we’re here. Your perfect plans for a crisp evening are here.

Daunt Books– One of my absolute favourite spots in the City. With two floors of books, you can truly get lost in the heart of Cheapside at Daunt Books. It’s famous the world over, and that’s because of its special editions, signed copies and staff recommendations. It’s the BEST place to pop into after a long day and find your next book to get lost in.

Beers Gallery– If books aren’t your thing, maybe art is. Beers Gallery is a beautiful spot, perfectly quaint near Smithfield Market with a revolving cycle of exhibitions on different topics and styles. It’s small enough to pop into, but good enough to make a stop off.

Aldgate Bouldering– Maybe you want to keep warm and get active in the longer dark nights. Bouldering could well be your next hobby. Aldgate Bouldering is in the heart of London, right near your office if you’re in the square mile, and offers a great stress-relieving pastime for you to get stuck into and lost in this autumn/winter.

Guildhall Art Gallery– Following the art theme, Guildhall Art Gallery offers the perfect lunch or weekend haunt. Housing some incredible historic pieces and a headline exhibition, this is one of the staple spots to hit if you’re after culture in the square mile.

Barbican Cinema– Ever thought about watching cinema in one of the most iconic buildings in the UK? Now’s your chance. With cheap tickets throughout the week, you can also pair it with a visit to the Barbican Kitchen, catch a show, or check out their current exhibition. You’ll get so much bang for your buck at the Barbican.

Viewing Platforms– Wherever you’re working or staying, the City has a range of viewing platforms that are easy to get to, and often free. From the Garden at 120 to the Sky Garden and more, seeing the City in the newly welcomed darkness and dusk is a great way to see in the Autumn.

Bridewell Theatre– Theatre in the City of London? Absolutely! It’s all here. The Bridewell Theatre is an incredible hidden gem from the Victorian times that hosts a huge range of events. From live events to theatre shows and art exhibitions, it is ALWAYS worth checking out the events listing on their website.

London Mithraeum– This is a great one for a quick hit of history on your way home. Visit the Mithraeum (or the Temple of Mithras, Walbrook, if you’re fancy) to witness the remains of London’s Roman history first-hand. Discovered during construction in 1954, you can now see history up close and personal on your way home from work.

Pubs and Bars

Going alongside the book shopping, sports and culture, of course, is a nice place to sit down with a pint, or maybe just a warm drink to get you heated up! We’re always raving about the pubs of the City, and winter is as good an excuse as summer to get stuck into trying them.

The Blackfriar– We had a visit to the world’s skinniest pub, and it’s a marvel. It’s deceptively tiny on the outside, but surprisingly spacious inside. Adorned with history across the walls, it’s a fascinating space unique to the City of London.

Eastcheap Records– Prepare to be entertained with this gorgeously funky jam. The interior offers the perfect spot for a cocktail in a corner watching the world, or listening to their live music sessions and DJ nights every single night.

Leadenhall Market– Okay, so this one is cheating a little bit, but Leadenhall Market offers a little bit of everything, including a good number of cosy pubs in a beautiful setting. Top tip: look up! The ceiling is a sight to behold in and of itself, so take a look the next time you’re there.

Old Doctor Butler’s Head– This is our go-to for after-work drinks. Tucked away in a narrow street just behind Guildhall, this olde-style pub offers a quaint interior accompanied by a pleasant walk through Guildhall Yard to clear the few pints you’ve had from the system.

Places to grab a bite

Biang Biang– The perfect warm noodle spot over in Aldgate. Get settled and cosy with their speciality Chinese noodles and prepare to be transported through the senses. Trust me, this one is well worth the visit.

Barbie Green– Food with a side plate of history. The adjacent Roman remains of the London Wall can’t be missed from Barbie Green, and of course, the food is gorgeous too!

Bao– Want to have fun without having to leave the sanctity of indoors? Well, Bao is the place! Their site in the Bloomberg Arcade is their flagship store, which means… Karaoke. So you can get your bao buns with a side of a singalong, a perfect Thursday or Friday evening.

Yautcha– Clearly, an Asian theme is arising here, but Yautcha in Broadgate Circle is a dream of a restaurant. Their Cheung Fung is to die for, and worth the visit alone!

Now you’re armed for a perfect cold evening in the City of London, so don’t let the weather be an excuse for getting in the way of some One City fun!

Petticoat Lane: London’s Cheapest Lunch?

Luke Chapman

September 11, 2025

Welcome to Petticoat Lane, nestled in the heart of East London, this (not so) hidden gem harbours centuries of history straddling the border of the City of London.

Having stumbled across it on the way into the City from an event happening at Toynbee Hall, I just knew we had to come back and give it a true One City visit!

(p.s. If you want to watch a version of our visit, check out our reel her e.)

History

Petticoat Lane is a name known by most Londoners in some form or another. Its history spans centuries, but still continues to make waves around the city to this day. With its roots being traced back to around 1650, the area is a true testament to London and its changing faces. The area first became known as a post for trading and selling cheap clothes and goods. Since then, various waves of movement have helped shaped the area, notably in the 70’s where migration from Asia helped to create the unique area surrounding Brick Lane.

What’s There?

The area today is filled with food and drink vendors, as well as being surrounded by a range of shops, and of course, the famous street sellers continuing their history, selling fabrics and clothes at bargain prices! Walk around the area for just 10 minutes and your senses will truly come alive. Trust us, just head there and find out for yourself!

What we got

So, to the food! Head to the food market during the week from around 11 and you’ll be faced with one of the biggest decisions of the day, where to even start. You’ll find a HUGE range on offer, from Souvlaki and burgers, to kebabs, satay, and sambol, there’s everything here. The area is known for its amazing falafel (we love you, Eye Falafel), but when they’re doing offers for a £3 wrap, why not get multiple things and stock up!

We saw a vegan Ethiopian food stall, a Caribbean jerk shack, a build-your-own-noodle place and more, so what did we end up with… Well, we headed to Satay Street, checked out the Ethiopian offering, HAD to get a doner wrap, and the chinese was too tempting to resist too!

Oh yeah… and THE PRICES! We didn’t see a single for thing over £10, and you can easily get yourself filled up for a fiver with some fresh and good quality food. We had a huge bowl of Ethiopian for £7, a packed doner wrap for £6, a noodle box with chicken for £7 and a satay tofu box for £9. Yes there was only two of us, and yes we couldn’t choose.

The moral of this story, is that you need to get yourself down to Petticoat Lane for the cheapest, freshest and best lunch around the square mile!

Open House Festival in the City of London

Luke Chapman

August 22, 2025

Open House Festival returns between the 13th and 21st of September 2025. Run by Open City, a charity empowering local communities to learn about the areas in which they live, Open House Festival opens up and celebrates often closed spaces around London each year.

Included with this yearly festival is, of course, a bunch of exciting events taking place across the square mile, including walking tours, building visits and more. It’s a great opportunity to take part in something unique, engaging with the area in which we all spend so much time, and seeing something you can’t for the rest of the year!

The Livery Halls

Unique to the square mile, livery halls house the City of London’s many livery companies, institutions known for upholding the credentials of the industry in which they’re based throughout history. As part of the Open House Festival, many of the City’s Livery Companies will be opening their halls to the public to give a peek into an otherwise closed and exclusive world hidden in and around the square mile.

Some highlights include:

And so many more! Don’t forget to book on the Open House website if you want to see these.

Open Days

A key part of Open House is unique buildings and spaces around London opening their doors to visitors for a rare opportunity to peek inside. So many spaces around the square mile are welcoming in visitors across the week, here are some of our favourites:

Walking Tours

As well as the doors to many buildings flying open to welcome you in, a group of guides can whisk you around London, guiding you on a range of topics from the Romans to the internet infrastructure of London. Some highlights you might want to check out:

As well as these, there is a huge collection of unique talks taking place such as a weekend model talk at The London Centre. Head to the Open House Festival website and search these events to book your space today!

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