Hounslow is a wonderful place to celebrate the festive season with plenty happening in the borough. Enjoy the festive activities: everything from a spectacular Christmas market in Chiswick House & Gardens, festive Crafternoons for the family at Gunnersbury Park Museum, to Christmas dinners at local pubs and Christmas classics in The Chiswick Cinema. Whatever tickles your fancy this festive season, you’re sure to find it in Hounslow! Find out what to see and do this year, as Christmas trees, festive decorations and twinkling lights pop up across the borough.
A Chiswick Christmas at Chiswick House
When
Friday 17 – Thursday 23 December, 10am – 3pm
Where
Location: Chiswick House, Chiswick, London W4 2QN
Visit Chiswick House this December for two long weekends of Christmas shopping and festive cheer. With artisan markets, workshops and Christmas carols.
Shop local and support independent artists and makers at Duck Pond Christmas Market. From jewellery to wooden toys, prints and sweet treats, the Market has a fantastic range of Christmas gifts you won’t find anywhere else. A festive open-air alternative to online shopping and the busy high street. Local community groups and schools will be providing the Christmas cheer with carolling against the backdrop of Chiswick House.
In addition to the full festive weekends, the Chiswick House Christmas Shop will be open on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout November and December, from 10am–3pm, selling gifts and decorations including Christmas Gin, gifts for all the family and Gift Memberships.
If you’re feeling creative, you could even make your own Christmas presents and hand-stitch Christmas cards at one of their creative workshops, suitable for kids and adults.
Christmas Workshop – ‘Do you want to make a snowman?’
Saturday 18 December 10:30am Children 5+
Join this fun family workshop to make a cute little sock snowperson of your own. Elaine Gordon will show you how to use simple techniques (no sewing required) to make your own individual and unique snowperson to take home with you. These loveable little characters would make a perfect gift for a family member or a keepsake to love for years to come. You’ll also have time to decorate a Christmas card featuring your snowperson.
The Snow Queen Storytelling Session
Saturday 18 December 2021 @ 01:30pm to 02:30pm
Gerda’s best friend Kai has been stolen by the terrifying Snow Queen. How can she find him?
Children aged 5-11 are invited to join storyteller Vanessa Woolf on Gerda’s exciting adventures, featuring cruel mirrors, icy windows, reindeer, witches, demons and a gloriously happy ending. This storytime session involves multi-sensory participation and is suitable for children over five.
Fun for children and families at Gunnersbury Park Museum
Christmas Crafternoons
Thursday 23 – Thursday 30 December. Drop-in between 12:30 and 3:30pm.
Get crafty over the Christmas holidays with free family drop-in activities and take something festive home. No booking is required but space will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
A Magic Lantern Christmas Show
Wednesday 29 December 11.30am
A seasonal Magic Lantern entertainment for families in the magnificent drawing room of Gunnersbury Park House. Embark on a visual journey of delights: from burning ships, exploding volcanoes and spectacular fireworks to the Man who eats Rats! Presented by internationally renowned magic lantern performers Jeremy and Carolyn Brooker.
Festive fun at Osterley House
Where
Osterley Park, Isleworth, TW7 4RB
Osterley Park’s Winter Garden
As the days grow shorter and the weather turns inclement it is sometimes tempting to stay indoors and wait for spring but on a crisp winter morning there is so much that can be enjoyed on a brisk walk through the Winter Garden.
The Winter Garden at Osterley is a sight to behold while the rest of the garden slumbers. Many varieties of trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and bulbs have been planted – all of which have colourful or interesting leaves, bark, stems or flowers in the winter months. See them at their best when light levels are low and when the sun’s winter rays light up their bright stems. Be sure not to miss this display!
Percy the Park Keeper’s winter wander trail
Trail runs Saturday 4 December – Sunday 2 January
This winter, treat your little ones to a world of adventures at Osterley on the Percy the Park Keeper’s winter wander trail. Join in the fun with Percy and his animal friends and give nature a helping hand.
Activities at Hogarth’s House for the entire family
Where
Hogarth’s House, Hogarth Lane, Great West Rd, London W4 2QN
Family workshop: print your own wrapping paper
Sunday 21 December, sessions starting at 1:00pm & 3:00pm
A Christmas-themed printing activity for families. Ages 5+. Do you like your presents wrapped in stars, snowmen, snowflakes, or all three? Use pre-made printing stamps or cut out your own. Your gift will stand out with its unique patterned wrapping paper. Each child will get a 2 by 3 foot piece of wrapping paper to print on. Spaces limited.
Santa’s grotto and elves workshop
When
Saturday 18 December 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Where
Bedfont Lakes Country Park, Clockhouse Lane, Feltham, TW14 8QA
Father Christmas will be visiting Bedfont Lakes this festive period in his brand new grotto; and his elves are hosting a craft workshop too! Our animal centre has had a Christmassy makeover ready for Santa’s arrival, so why not book a ticket for your child to have a wintry walk through the animal centre, a visit to Father Christmas himself, and a session in his ‘Elves Workshop’ to carry out some festive crafts.
Enjoy Christmas classics at Chiswick Cinema
Where
94-96 Chiswick High Rd, Chiswick, London W4 1SH
Is it even Christmas without festive films? Escape the cold weather and sit down comfortably with your favourite snacks to enjoy Christmas classics like Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, and even Die Hard, along with all the latest movie releases.
What’s on?
It’s a Wonderful Life
Saturday 18 December at 3:00pm, Tuesday 21 December at 6:00pm & Thursday 23 December 3:00pm
Beset with personal and professional problems, George Bailey finds his previously happy life falling apart around him on Christmas Eve. Seeing no way out, George considers suicide from the edge of a bridge – but Clarence, his guardian angel, intervenes and shows George what his beloved hometown of Bedford Falls would be like without him. Shocked by what he sees and at the unforeseen circumstances of his absence, George reconsiders and begs Clarence to return him to the problems of the present and the loving community he has fostered throughout his life.
Bolshoi: The Nutcracker
Sunday 19 December at 3:00pm
On Christmas Eve, Marie and her whole family are gathered around the tree in celebration of the holiday. She receives a magical gift from her godfather Drosselmeyer and soon enough this Christmas Eve will take an unexpected turn for her. Marie’s new doll comes alive and carries her into a whirlwind adventure. The exceptional score by Tchaikovsky, brought to life by the Bolshoi Ballet dancers delights the hearts and ears of all generations of music lovers. Experience this holiday classic with the whole family through the eyes of Marie and her Nutcracker Prince on the big screen.
Frozen: Sing-A-Long
Sunday 19 December at 2:30pm
When the newly-crowned Queen Elsa accidentally uses her power to turn things into ice to curse her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna, teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather.
Die Hard
Sunday 26 December at 6:00pm
On Christmas Eve, tough New York detective John McClane arrives in Los Angeles with the aim of reconciling with his estranged wife Holly at the Christmas party of her employer, the Nakatomi Corporation. When the party is disrupted by a group of heavily-armed criminals led by the charismatic Hans Gruber, McClane evades capture and begins a one-man war against the hostage-takers who are attempting to rob the corporation whilst occupying the LAPD and the FBI by posing as terrorists. Outmanned, outgunned and ill-equipped for the task at hand, McClane calls in the help of a local beat cop in his crusade against Gruber.
