LEICESTER SQUARE – THE WEST END’S HOME OF ENTERTAINMENT –PRESENTS A PACKED PROGRAMME FOR CHRISTMAS
Leicester Square, London’s home of entertainment since 1670, will be buzzing this yuletide, with a sparkling programme of high energy entertainment and events. Special festive pop-ups, film premieres, new theatre shows and the BODY WORLDS museum experience will shine against a backdrop of star-shaped Christmas lights that spill out across the Square’s gardens and surrounding streets.
Christmas Market
From November 9th 2018 to January 5th 2019, “Christmas in Leicester Square” will see the central gardens transformed into an exciting festive pop-up complete with a buzzing European-style Christmas Market featuring over 25 stalls plus, an exhilarating line up of shows all performed in a beautiful 1920’s Belgian Spiegeltent.
Full details on what’s happening in Leicester Square, including the yuletide shopping, eating and drinking options can be found at http://www.leicestersquare.london and to book tickets to the Christmas in Leicester Square Festival events www.christmasinleicestersquare.com
Theatrical entertainment
In Christmas in Leicester Square’s Spiegeltent there will be comedy, cabaret and burlesque for the adults – this year’s headliners are the hottest all-male “Boylesque” group with their Briefs: Close Encounters Show (9 November-3 January).
For families there’s the all new Brat Kids Carnival – a high action circus-style show (selected dates from 10 November to 30 December) and The Showstoppers, are back with their acclaimed Christmas Kids Show (selected dates 2-30 December) offering a totally improvised musical for the whole family. For little ones Monski Mouses’s baby disco (17-19 December) will get parents and kids dancing to some festive classics and, for a post-Christmas treat (2-5 January), there’s the delightfully funny Shakepearience, which introduces families to some of the Bard’s best works.
For lovers of live theatre and comedy, the festive Pinter at Pinter season at the Harold Pinter Theatre includes a who’s who of British acting favourites and there will also be plenty of Christmas sparkle at the Hippodrome’s new Magic Mike show, with Channing Tatum taking the lead. There’s also laughs galore at the birthplace of London’s stand-up scene, The Comedy Store.
Father Christmas. Three Times!
There’s not one, but three chances to see Father Christmas in various guises this year. He’ll be making himself at home in the Square with his own North Pole experience, open daily from 10 November until Christmas Eve.
Also, throughout December nearby in the fifth floor boardroom of the iconic Fortnum & Mason store he will be telling a yuletide story like no other as well as handing out goody bags and listening to last-minute present requests. The man in red will also be welcoming children in depths of Rainforest at the Rainforest Café every weekend from 10 November and daily from 3rd December to Christmas eve, visits include a grotto goody bag and two course meal and a drink in the restaurant.
Christmas Blockbusters
Christmas isn’t Christmas without a feel good film and the Odeon’s new flagship cinema will be the place to go this festive season to catch the latest big screen releases. Or, for a more interactive experience, Cineworld’s IMAX or 4DX cinemas will be showing films including Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Mortal Engines and Aquaman? And art-house fans can catch the latest offerings at Picturehouse Central, which is also featuring a special Christmas classic programme of events.
Body Worlds’ Museum Experience – new visitor attraction
To check how the body copes with Christmas excesses, open throughout the festive period including Christmas Day, the world renowned BODY WORLDS’ museum experience is a must visit. Housed at 1 Piccadilly Circus, the new permanent collection of Dr Gunther von Hagens’ renowned exhibition of real human bodies has been especially curated for London and will enable visitors to journey through the human body and discover the magic and mysteries that lie underneath the skin.
As well as providing fascinating insight into the inner workings of the human body and showing the effects that daily lifestyle choices have on health – the exhibition is also designed to stimulate curiosity about the science of anatomy and physiology. Adult prices from £24.50. For more information visit: https://bodyworlds.co.uk
