Aldgate in Winter Festival is returning for its 9th edition!

Date of main festival: Thursday 4th & Friday 5th December
Location: Aldgate Square

This year’s festival will see the return of everyone’s favourites, including: the Lantern Parade, live performances on The Aldgate Stage, creative workshops, community feast, and more. Whilst bringing in exciting new additions, including a 3-week Lantern Trail around Aldgate, more photo opportunities, and even launch event in the heart of Petticoat Lane.

Save the date for the main event taking place on both Thursday 4th and Friday 5th December in Aldgate Square, and join the vibrant energy of The Aldgate Stage, featuring an exciting line-up of talented local musicians and standout performers from across London.

Running throughout November and December, everyone will have the opportunity to get inventive at our creative workshops. The incredible large-scale lanterns will displayed in a Lantern Trail around Aldgate from 24th November to 15th December, providing you with a sneak peak ahead of our showstopper Lantern Parade.

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DATES & TIMES

4 - 5 Dec 2025
12.00 am

WHERE

Aldgate Square

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Sky High Retro Gaming

DATES & TIMES

25 Nov 2025
6.00 pm

Sky High Retro Gaming

REZtron invites you to an evening of ‘Retrotainment’, a Sky High Retro Gaming social @ PocketSquare Skyline Bar and Terrace, located on top of the stunning new Hyatt Place London City East Hotel.

Throwback to the golden era of gaming and expect an evening of 80s 90s retro games. Think Pac-Man, Double Dragon, Golden Axe, OutRun, R-Type, Mario Kart, Micro Machines, Mortal Kombat,Aladdin, Street Fighter II, Streets of Rage, Sonic, Virtua Athlete, Donkey Kong, Marvel vs Capcom, Virtua Cop, House of the Dead ,and much much more! displayed on original consoles, CRT TVs and projector mixed with drinks, competition, 90s music, networking, breathtaking views of the London skyline, and good times…. all under one amazing Sky bar in the heart of East London.

Thanks to Farshore Books and Lost In Cult we have the newly released The Console Chronicles book and set of 5 collectable postcards to give away as Sonic speedrun prizes at all our nights this year, so make sure you book your tickets and take part in the competition!

See you on level 9!

#RETROTAINMENT Awaits….

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DATES & TIMES

25 Nov 2025
6.00 pm

Nightlife

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Ludgate Circus Light Switch-On

DATES & TIMES

19 Nov 2025
5.00 pm

Ludgate Circus Light Switch-On

WEDS 19TH NOVEMBER, 5PM – 8PM • LUDGATE CIRCUS / ST BRIDE STREET • NO BOOKING NECESSARY

Join Fleet Street Quarter to see Ludgate Circus buzzing with seasonal cheer. Come one, come all and revel in the most wonderful time of year with Snoopy, our FSQ Community Choir, Bella Tromba, delicious food vendors, offerings from local businesses, mulled wine and much more.

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DATES & TIMES

19 Nov 2025
5.00 pm

Nightlife Unexpected

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Snoopy Sculpture Trail

DATES & TIMES

Ongoing

Snoopy Sculpture Trail

This winter, the Fleet Street Quarter will welcome a very special guest: Snoopy! From 19 November 2025 to 16 January 2026, the world-famous character will take over the streets of the Quarter in the form of twelve unique sculptures, each artist-designed to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Charles M. Schulz’s beloved comic strip, Peanuts™.

The Snoopy Sculpture Trail is a partnership between Fleet Street Quarter BID, Wild in Art, and Peanuts Worldwide. Each sculpture will feature Snoopy perched on his famous red doghouse, reimagined through the creative lens of twelve artists, and placed in surprise locations across the Quarter for visitors to discover.

The trail arrives just in time for Christmas, building on the success of previous festive installations in the district and continuing Fleet Street Quarter’s mission to weave culture, creativity, and storytelling into the heart of London’s historic newspaper district.

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DATES & TIMES

Ongoing

Art Markets and Shopping
Unexpected

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EFG London Jazz Festival 2025 - The Jazz

DATES & TIMES

Ongoing

WHERE

Citypoint

EFG London Jazz Festival 2025 – The Jazz Social

🎵 The Jazz Social

🕛 *NEW for 2025* open til midnight on Thursdays and Fridays for post-concert drinks | 🍹 Happy hour everyday from 17:00 – 19:00

🎼 Your favourite Festival hangout, The Jazz Social, is back for a second year in a row! Expect everything from intimate live performances, one-off events, live radio broadcasts, family-friendly activities and more – with a few surprises thrown in! Browse the in-store record shop from Everything Jazz and Blue Note and grab exclusive Festival merch, all while enjoying drinks from the Festival bar!

🎺 Live Music
An exciting line-up of intimate evening performances and lunchtime gigs at The Jazz Social with tickets less than £15 or FREE!

🎤 Live Broadcasts & Events
Jazz FM and One Jazz will be broadcasting live from The Jazz Social with performances and special guests dropping in to preview their gigs and talk about the festival vibe.

👋 Family Fun
The youngest fans can also get involved with family-friendly activities at The Jazz Social.

🔗 Full line-up coming soon | The EFG London Jazz Festival is produced by Serious.

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DATES & TIMES

Ongoing

WHERE

Citypoint

Music & Dance Nightlife
Unexpected

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Leadenhall Market Christmas Light Switch

DATES & TIMES

13 Nov 2025
5.00 pm

WHERE

Leadenhall Market

Leadenhall Market Christmas Light Switch-On 2025

Christmas Lights Switch On 2025

Lady Mayor of London to switch on Christmas lights at City of London’s magical Leadenhall Market

Thursday 13 November 2025

The most magical night of the year returns to Leadenhall Market as we officially kick off the festive season on Thursday 13 November 2025.

This year’s Christmas Lights Switch-On Ceremony will take place from 5.15pm, with live performances from the Super Tenants, who will fill the air with Christmas classics to get everyone in the festive spirit. The official switch-on will take place at 6pm led by Dame Susan Langley DBE, the newly appointed 697th Lady Mayor of London – and the first to use the title “Lady Mayor”, marking a historic moment for the City of London.

Visitors can expect a spectacular evening of festive cheer, with the Market’s 18ft real Christmas tree taking centre stage beneath the stunning star-covered Victorian roof. The tree will be adorned with glittering baubles and sparkling lights creating a picture-perfect backdrop for seasonal photos. Fir tree garlands and giant baubles will weave throughout Leadenhall Market, along with nets of glittering lights to illuminate the cobbled passageways.

This year, visitors can experience the magic of snowfall at Leadenhall Market for the first time in years. As part of our Christmas Lights Switch-On celebrations, a flurry of festive snow will fall through the Market at 6pm! The snow doesn’t stop there; throughout the festive season, visitors can enjoy this wintry wonder twice daily, at 12pm and 6pm, bringing an extra touch of Christmas magic to every visit.

Whether you’re joining after work or visiting for the evening, this beloved annual celebration promises to be a joyful start to the Christmas season in the heart of the City.

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DATES & TIMES

13 Nov 2025
5.00 pm

WHERE

Leadenhall Market

History and Information Nightlife
Unexpected

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Bow Lane Christmas Lights Switch-On 2025

DATES & TIMES

12 Nov 2025
4.30 pm

Bow Lane Christmas Lights Switch-On 2025

Cheapside Business Alliance (CBA) is delighted to join the Bow Bells Association to invite you to the annual traditional switching on of the Christmas lights on Bow Lane: a much-loved local celebration marking the start of the festive season in the City!

The event will be taking place on Wednesday 12th November, beginning at 4:30pm at the corner of Watling Street and Bow Lane. This year’s ceremony will feature speeches from Mary Gilmore, Charlotte Fletcher, Chair of Cheapside Business Alliance, and the Mayoral Consort, who will have the honour of switching on the Christmas lights to kick off the festive season.

This annual event is one of the highlights of the Cheapside calendar, bringing together local businesses, residents, and visitors to celebrate community spirit and heritage of Bow Lane.

Bow Lane takes its name from the nearby St Mary-le-Bow Church, famed for its Bow Bells. For centuries, the sound of these bells has marked the heart of the City and inspired countless London traditions.

We hope you can join us and look forward to celebrating the start of the festive season together!

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DATES & TIMES

12 Nov 2025
4.30 pm

History and Information Unexpected

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Lady Mayor's Show

DATES & TIMES

8 Nov 2025
12.00 am

Lady Mayor’s Show

For the first time in their very long history, The City of London are pleased to announce the Lady Mayor’s Show. It will be held on 8 November 2025, from 11am to about 2:30pm in the City of London.

The LADY Mayor

The 697th Lord Mayor of London will be Dame Susan Langley DBE, previously of the Aldgate ward. She is only the third woman to hold the post in over 800 years, and the first ever to be titled the ‘Lady Mayor of London’.

The new Lady Mayor will take office in the Silent Ceremony on November 7th, then on the next day the Lady Mayor’s Procession will convey her to Westminster to swear loyalty to the crown.

Procession

The 2025 Show has over 7000 participants from all over the world in a procession more than three miles long.

History

The Lord Mayor’s Show is the oldest, longest, best loved and least-rehearsed civic procession in the world. It dates back to the early 13th century when King John granted that the City of London could appoint its own Mayor, but required that each newly-elected Mayor should travel upriver to distant Westminster and pledge his loyalty to the King.

The Mayors have made that journey for over 800 years and around it has grown the noisy, colourful, joyous procession that over the centuries became known as the Lord Mayor’s Show.

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DATES & TIMES

8 Nov 2025
12.00 am

History and Information Unexpected

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The DROP at Broadgate Central

DATES & TIMES

4 - 13 Nov 2025
12.00 pm

The DROP at Broadgate Central

Step into Broadgate Central: Fashion, Food, Wellness—and Gifts Galore!

Forget everything you know about ribbon-cutting. At 12:30pm sharp on Thursday 13 November, Broadgate Central will flip tradition on its head with a launch moment like no other.

Instead of a single ribbon being snipped, hundreds of vibrant ribbons will cascade from above, giving you the opportunity to win prizes and exclusive experiences from some of your favourite retailers.

Hosted by fashion presenter Annaliese Days, along with live DJ sets and roaming performers, it will make for an unforgettable lunch break, worth leaving your desk for.

Times:

12pm: pop in for the opening moment with Annaliese Dayes, DJ sets and entertainment
12:30pm: THE DROP moment
12:35pm onwards: the prize desk opens for the lucky winners

No tickets required and free to attend. Head to Broadgate Central, next to Liverpool Street Station to get involved.

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DATES & TIMES

4 - 13 Nov 2025
12.00 pm

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Museum Lates at Dr Johnson's House

DATES & TIMES

23 Oct 2025
5.30 pm

WHERE

Dr Johnson’s Ho...

Museum Lates at Dr Johnson’s House

Explore London’s literary past after hours with a glass of prosecco and a lively 10-minute talk on Samuel Johnson, covering his Dictionary, his wit, and his love of London.

Highlight Talk: 6pm

Why did Samuel Johnson once claim that ‘no man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money’?

Drop by the Withdrawing Room at 6pm to find out and hear more about Johnson’s famous Dictionary, his love of London and his inimitable witticisms. (Highlight talks are 10-15 minutes duration).

Step inside Dr Samuel Johnson’s 17th-century townhouse, where the great lexicographer compiled his legendary Dictionary of the English Language in 1755. Wander through the historic rooms, soak up the atmosphere of London’s only surviving original townhouse in Gough Square, and discover the quirky words and witty definitions that still amuse us today—like hotcockles, jiggumbob, and twittletwattle!

With its period features, secret anti-burglary device, and a deep connection to London’s literary history, Dr Johnson’s House is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Join us for this exclusive after-hours experience and raise a glass to the man who famously declared: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”

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DATES & TIMES

23 Oct 2025
5.30 pm

WHERE

Dr Johnson’s House

Art Nightlife
Theatre & Film Unexpected

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