Best Christmas Events along the River Thames

Christmas is the time of year when the river Thames becomes a party river, with festive party boats, riverside restaurants and hotels blazing with Christmas tree lights and dancing to DJs. The towns along the Thames have wonderful Christmas markets, festivals and Christmas Light events. There’s plenty of Christmas inspired things to do whether it’s a Santa Cruise, a craft workshop or outdoor adventures.

Best Christmas & New Year Events 2024 along the River Thames

Santa Special Christmas Lunch Cruise for Groups of 40+ with French Brothers
Santa's swapped his sleigh for a boat, so join us at Runnymede for this fun and festive cruise that will be sure to get your group in the Christmas spirit. Warm yourself with a merry mulled wine before we serve you a three course lunch with all the trimmings. With seasonal music throughout the afternoon and a visit from Santa bearing a small gift in his sack. What better way to start the holiday season than celebrating with friends. The all-weather, centrally heated vessels mean that even at this time of year, your group will stay warm and dry.

The Royal Borough will be alive with festive cheer and a magical atmosphere. Sparkling baubles, twinkling lights, and the sound of carols will fill the air.

• 12 TO 16 NOV - A Christmas Carol – On Air, Theatre Royal Windsor
• 14 NOV - Eton Christmas Lights Switch-on
• 14 TO 17 NOV - The Christmas Fair at Ascot Racecourse
• 15 NOV TO 4 JAN - Windsor Great Park Illuminated
• 15 NOV TO 5 JAN - Windsor On Ice, Alexandra Gardens, Windsor
• 16 NOV - Windsor Christmas Lights Switch-on
• FROM 16 NOV A Royal Christmas Spectacle: Windsor Castle Illuminations
• 16 NOV TO 24 DEC - Santa’s Grotto Experience at Daniel of Windsor
• 22 NOV TO 12 JAN - Dick Whittington, Theatre Royal Windsor
• 23 NOV - Maidenhead Christmas Lights Switch-on and Christmas Market
• 22, 23, 29 AND 30 NOV - Christmas Wreath Making, Norden Farm Centre
• FROM 23 NOV - The Great Reindeer Chase! Maidenhead
• 23 AND 24 NOV - Windsor Christmas Market
• SELECTED DATES FROM 23 NOV - The Magic of Legoland at Christmas
• 24 NOV - Local Producers Winter Market, Maidenhead
• 23 AND 24 NOV - Windsor Christmas Shopping Fair, Royal Windsor Racecourse 24 NOV - Cookham Christmas Market
• 24 NOV - Clewer and Dedworth Christmas Fair
• 27 TO 30 NOV- A Christmas Carol, The Old Court, Windsor
• 28 NOV TO 22 DEC* - Christmas Tree Shop in Windsor Great Park (*While stocks last)
• 30 NOV TO 22 DEC SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS - Festive Weekends in Maidenhead
• 30 NOV - Windsor Christmas Vegan Fiesta
• 1 TO 24 DEC - Windsor and Eton Living Advent Calendar
• 6 DEC - Cookham Dean Metre Market
• 6 AND 7 DEC - Festive Night Market, Norden Farm Centre
• 9 AND 12 DEC - Festivo Concerts, St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle
• 13 DEC - Carols on the Hill
• 14 AND 15 DEC - Embrace Christmas, Windsor Royal
• SELECTED DATES IN DEC - Christmas Carols in The Savill Garden Visitor Centre
• 1 DEC - Alexander Devine’s Santa Dash, Windsor
• 8 DEC - The Nutcracker, The Old Court, Windsor
• 14 TO 24 DEC – Cinderella, Baylis Theatre, Braywick Leisure Centre, Maidenhead
• 18 DEC - Maidenhead Concert Band, Norden Farm Centre
• 20 AND 21 DEC - Howden Christmas Racing Weekend, Ascot Racecourse

There's plenty more inspiration in the Royal Borough's Christmas Brochure.

Christmas and New Year Events in and around Henley on Thames

• 21-23 DEC - Santa Cruise with Hobbs of Henley - Featuring the fantastically entertaining Bertie Slippers - along with the red-clad man of the moment, Santa Claus himself. With a show aimed primarily at younger audience members but with fun for adults too. Bertie who combines a mixture of magic, music games, puppets and balloons to create a fun packed magical experience and all on board our flagship vessel The New Orleans. Santa will be in his grotto bearing gifts for all the children!  Plus there will be Mulled Wine for the adults, juices for the kids and homemade cakes and mince pies, something for all the family!
• 8-22 DEC - Christmas at the River & Rowing Museum - Includes: Make your own Christmas Jumper! (8, Dec), Santa’s Grotto with Special Guest Mr Toad (14,15,18-22 Dec), Christmas Family Workshops: Biscuit Decorating & Storytime (14,22 Dec), Christmas Family Workshop: Decoration Making & Storytime (15, 21 Dec)

There's more information on the below on Visit Henley.

• 23 NOV - "Bethlehem- That Noble Place” – in aid of Bluebells Day Centre, st Mary's Church, Henley
• 29 NOV - Henley's Christmas Festival
• 30 NOV - Santa's Christmas Cracker, Kenton Theatre
• 14 DEC - Snow White Pantomime, Kenton Theatre

• 21 NOV - Christmas Lights Switch On
• 30 NOV - A Merry Marlow Christmas, Liston Court Gardens 
• 8 AND 15 DEC - Breakfast or Lunch with Santa, Bisham Abbey 
• 1 DEC - Marlow Santa Fun Run
• 5 DEC - Late Night Christmas Shopping in Marlow
• 17 DEC - Marlow Carols on the Causeway

Christmas and New Year Events in and around Reading

3 and 17 DEC - Festive Cream Tea Cruise with Thames Rivercruise - A Winter’s Cream Tea Cruise on the Caversham reaches of the Upper Thames offers a magical and serene experience, combining the tranquil beauty of the river with the cozy indulgence of a traditional English cream tea. As you savour these delicious treats, you can gaze out at the wintry landscape. The Caversham reaches are particularly beautiful in winter, with frost-tipped foliage and a soft, quiet ambiance that makes the river feel like a serene retreat from the world.

If you're heading into Reading throughout November and December, there's a whole host of exciting events for the whole family to enjoy, kicking off with the Reading Light Switch On, on Saturday 16 November. Take a look at Reading’s Christmas Activities:

• 16 NOV – Reading Christmas Lights Switch On
• 16 NOV TO 31 DEC – Broad Street Christmas Market
• 17 NOV – Artisa Christmas Market
• 23 NOV – Stan Tracey’s A Child’s Christmas Jazz Suite, The Alan Cornish Theatre at the Oakwood Centre, Reading
• 23 AND 24 NOV – Yattendon Winter Market, Modern Makers Collective
• 23 NOV TO 31 DEC – Christmas Activities at Reading Libraries
• 27 NOV – Xmas Fizz! Sparkling wine tasting! Thames Valley Wine School, Reading Biscuit Factory, MADEbyTamalia @Creativ.Spaces Art Studio & Event Spaces
• 29 NOV - Bach to Baby Christmas Family Concert in Reading, Reading Minster
• 29 NOV TO 31 DEC - The Snow Queen, Reading Rep Theatre
• 30 NOV – Children’s Business Fair
• 30 NOV – Reading Town Hall Christmas Market
• 30 NOV AND 4 DEC – Luxury Christmas Wreath Making
• 1 DEC – Reading’s Indie Market at Christmas
• 3 DEC – Carol’s by Candlelight, Reading Town Hall
• 6 DEC - Cavmas Christmas Market, Caversham
• 6 DEC – NHS Christmas Concert, Reading Minster
• 7 and 14 DEC - The Cunning Man Christmas Markets
• 7 DEC TO 5 JAN – Cinderella Christmas Panto, Hexagon
• 7 DEC – Reading Lantern Parade
• 7 DEC – Carols at the Minster
• 7 DEC – Christmas Concert by Candlelight, St. Andrews Church, Caversham
• 9 AND 21 DEC – Christmas Concert by Candlelight, Reading Minster
• 20 DEC – A Carols Concert with a Gospel Twist, Reading Minster
• 23 DEC – Festive Family Fun Day, Double-Barrelled Brewery

Christmas and New Year in London

City Cruises - Celebrate Christmas in style with a cruise along the river Thames! Christmas comes but once a year and, as ever, there are good times to be had on the river, from family fun and sightseeing to party boats and merriment or traditional lunch and sightseeing on Christmas Day itself. All our cruises match a seasonal flavour with great views of the river and its landmarks. 

Christmas Cruises

• 30 NOV TO 20 DEC - Thames Christmas Dinner Party Cruise
• 1 to 20 DEC – Thames Christmas Lunch Party
• 25 DEC – Christmas Day Sightseeing Cruise
• 25 DEC – Christmas Day Lunch Cruise

New Year’s Eve Cruises

• 31 DEC – New Year’s Eve Celestial Cruise
• 31 DEC – New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner
• 31 DEC - New Year's Eve Galaxy Plus Cruise
• 31 DEC – New Year's Eve Galaxy Cruise
• 31 DEC – New Year’s Eve Dinner Plus Cruise
• 31 DEC – New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise