Christmas in Putney spans six full weeks this year, from the lights switch-on on Friday 28 November through to New Year celebrations on 4 January. That’s too much to keep track of without a proper plan – so we’ve built one for you.
See the complete Christmas guide with dates, venues, and booking links →
Unlike Diwali (five days) or Halloween (three days), Christmas is a marathon of events, deadlines, and decisions. When do the pantomimes start? Which restaurants still have tables? What time is midnight mass? Where’s the best value panto for families? We’ve answered all of it, and will be adding to it each day.
This Week: Lights and Ice
The festivities officially begin this Friday with two major free events:
Friday 28 November, 3-7pm: Christmas Lights Switch-On
Church Square becomes the centre of Putney’s Christmas as local school choirs perform throughout the afternoon, compered by Riverside Radio. The main lights switch-on happens at 6pm. It’s free, it’s outdoors, and it’s the moment Putney officially lights up for Christmas.
Saturday 29 November: Ice Sculpture Display
The day after the lights, stunning ice sculptures appear throughout Putney town centre. Free to view all day. Bring your camera.
These are your first proper “Christmas has started” moments. After this, it’s six weeks of sustained festivities.
Get exact times and locations for both events →
Four Pantomimes (including one in Putney)
Panto season runs from early December through early January, and you’ve got four options within easy reach:
Putney Arts Theatre: Peter Pan-to (11-21 December)
This is the one in Putney on Ravenna Road. Community theatre production by Putney Theatre Company. Evening shows at 7:45pm, weekend matinees at 3pm. Critically: tickets for under-12s are £5. Adults £14-18. That’s exceptional value compared to the professional productions.
New Wimbledon Theatre: Robin Hood (6 Dec – 4 Jan)
Big production with Marcus Collins and Jonny Wilkes. Spectacular sets, professional performances, the full West End treatment. From £15. About 20 minutes from Putney.
Richmond Theatre: Cinderella (6 Dec – 4 Jan)
Helen George (Call the Midwife) and Basil Brush. Classic panto experience. From £15. About 15 minutes from Putney.
Polka Theatre: The Snowflake (15 Nov – 18 Jan)
Alternative to traditional panto, designed specifically for very young children. Wimbledon location.
The guide includes full details on what makes each one different, which age groups they suit, and direct booking links. If you’ve got a family and want the best value, Putney Arts Theatre at £5 per child is hard to beat. If you want the big professional show, New Wimbledon or Richmond are your options.
Compare all four pantomimes with prices and dates →
Fourteen places to eat and celebrate
We’ve mapped out Christmas dining across Putney, organised by location so you can plan around where you actually are:
Riverside venues (Duke’s Head, Boathouse, Coppa Club, The Rocket): If you want Thames views with your Christmas dinner, these are your four options. Duke’s Head has private spaces for 40+ guests. Boathouse’s upstairs mezzanine works for parties. Coppa Club does their “Magic of Christmas” menus.
Upper Richmond Road (six venues including East Putney Tavern, Prince of Wales, Artisans of Sardinia): This is your highest concentration of options. Gazette Putney does French brasserie-style with a festive planning pack. Fox & Hounds has an early booking discount (book before 31 October, save £2 per person with code “EarlyBooking2025”).
Putney High Street area (Spotted Horse, Railway Pub, Coat & Badge, Bricklayer’s Arms): Local classics. Spotted Horse has over 250 years of history. Bricklayer’s Arms dates back to 1826.
Peak booking period is mid-December. If you want Christmas Eve or Boxing Day, book early. The guide has full descriptions, addresses, and direct links to each venue’s Christmas offerings.
See all fourteen restaurants with what makes each special →
Events calendar
We will be adding Christmas events as they pop up and automatically updating our list.
If you’re running a Christmas Event LET US KNOW by using this form: https://putney.news/events/community/add/
List of events in Photo View
The six-week timeline
Here’s what’s coming week by week:
Week 1 (25 Nov): Lights switch-on, ice sculptures
Week 2 (2 Dec): Pantomimes begin at three theatres
Week 3 (9 Dec): Peak restaurant booking period, carol services start
Week 4 (16 Dec): Last posting dates approach, main carol services
Week 5 (23 Dec): Christmas Week — services, closures, final preparations
Week 6 (30 Dec): New Year celebrations, pantomimes continue
Each week has its own focus. Early December is for booking and planning. Mid-December is for enjoying events and carol services. Late December is for knowing what’s actually open.
We’ll be publishing specific guides throughout:
- “Last Chance: Christmas Posting Dates” (16 Dec)
- “What’s Open on Christmas Day” (23 Dec)
- “New Year’s Eve in Putney: Where to Celebrate” (28 Dec)
But the main Christmas guide page has the full six-week overview so you can plan ahead.
Why you need this guide
Christmas in Putney has become too big to just “figure out as you go.” Friday night alone, you could be at the lights switch-on, booking pantomime tickets, trying to get a restaurant table for December, or planning which carol service to attend.
The guide is your centralised planner:
- See everything happening across six weeks
- Compare options side-by-side (especially the pantomimes)
- Get booking links and contact details
- Know key deadlines (posting dates, last restaurant bookings)
- Find free events versus paid events
- Plan by week or by category
Whether you’re organising for family visiting from abroad, planning office parties, booking your Christmas Day meal, or just want to know when the lights get switched on, it’s all in one place.
Visit putney.news/christmas for the complete guide →
It’s six weeks of Christmas in Putney. Make a plan.
