Last updated 9 October 2026. Every date below is checked against the organiser's own page. Where a 2026 date has not been announced yet, we say so rather than guess.
Twickenham starts Christmas early and does it on foot: carols on the Green, a stage at the top of Church Lane and the town switching on together. A week later Teddington has its turn, and all December there is Father Christmas at Marble Hill and a panto in Richmond.
Twickenham Christmas Light Up
Twickenham town centre · Expected Friday 20 November 2026, not yet confirmed · Free
Discover Twickenham, who run the evening, have not published the 2026 date yet. It has been held on a Friday in the second half of November, and 20 November is the likeliest. We will confirm it here as soon as they announce it.
Last year's programme, which gives a fair idea of the shape of the evening:
- From 3pm: the Riverside Radio stage at the top of Church Lane, opposite St Mary's Church, with live music from 3.30pm.
- 4.30pm: carols on Twickenham Green.
- 5pm: the tree on the Green is switched on.
- 6pm: the main switch-on, with a countdown at the stage.
Parking: Holly Road and Church Lane car parks are free after 6.30pm. The Arragon Road multi-storey is open later but is charged.
Teddington Lights Up
Teddington town centre · Thursday 26 November 2026, 4.30pm to 8pm · Free
The borough's biggest Christmas evening: a lantern parade, stalls, carols and the switch-on. Teddington Together will publish the full programme nearer the time. We have put last year's running order and how to make an evening of it in our Teddington Lights Up guide.
Father Christmas at Marble Hill
Marble Hill, Richmond Road, TW1 2NL · Weekends from Saturday 5 to Sunday 20 December 2026
English Heritage's grotto in the Georgian villa by the river. £15 per child, or £12 for members. Sessions run through the day from 10.20am, must be booked in advance, and allow one adult per child.
Jack and the Beanstalk at Richmond Theatre
Richmond Theatre · 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027
Bonnie Langford, Dr Ranj and Basil Brush. There is a relaxed performance on 30 December at 1pm. The theatre advises booking early.
Nearby days out
- Christmas at Kew, 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Ticketed, advance booking essential, and it sells out. Closed 16, 23 and 28 November and Christmas Day.
- The Robin's Tale at Ham House, 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, included in National Trust admission. Just across the river from Twickenham.
- Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink, 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and the Festive Fayre on 4 to 6 and 11 to 13 December.
Expected, but not yet confirmed
These all ran in 2025 or before. None has a 2026 date on its organiser's own page yet.
- Orleans House Gallery Christmas Shopping Weekend. Ran on 29 and 30 November 2025.
- A Georgian Christmas at Strawberry Hill House. Ran from 3 December 2025 into the new year.
- Light Up Whitton, the High Street market and switch-on. Ran on Saturday 29 November 2025.
- Hampton Hill Christmas Parade. Date to be announced.
- Church Street festive market. Last confirmed in December 2024.
We will update this page as the dates land. If you would rather be told, the signup at the foot of this page is one short letter a month and nothing else.
Coming home
The Light Up is a cold one, and it is dark by the time the lights go on. We leave a cordless lamp glowing in the window before we go out, and keep a throw handy for the walk back. Our Christmas gift guide is grouped by budget, with UK delivery included.
More nearby: Christmas in Kingston upon Thames, Christmas in Staines-upon-Thames and Christmas markets near Sunbury-on-Thames.