All aboard to meet Santa at London Transport Museum in Covent Garden

From Friday 25 November

Kids go free!

• Meet Santa in a twinkling winter wonderland at London Transport Museum from 25 November
• Follow a wintery trail to discover vintage vehicles and fascinating facts with the chance to win a Mini Underground Roundel Lightbox worth £25
• Get crafty and make a jolly pop-out Christmas card
• Enjoy Christmassy treats in Canteen, the Museum’s café, and deck the whole family out in fun festive knitwear from the Museum’s shop
• A SEND Explorer Event will take place for families on 10 December 
• Kids go free and adult tickets offer free return day-time entry for a year!
• Adults receiving Pension Credit and Universal Credit enjoy £1 entry

Santa is landing his sleigh at the award-winning London Transport Museum in Covent Garden to meet families from 25 November until 23 December. Kids can meet Santa and his Elf in a twinkling winter wonderland and climb aboard a Routemaster-inspired interactive sleigh for a festive selfie. Families can get creative as they make a jolly pop-up Christmas card and follow a wintery trail around the galleries with the chance to win a Mini London Underground Lightbox worth £25. A parade of festive posters from the Museum’s collection will also be on display featuring Christmassy scenes of London and its transport over the last 100 years.

For the first time since winter 2019, London Transport Museum’s much-loved Lights and Sights tours will also return on the 10, 11, 17 and 18 December. Ticket holders can journey through the West End’s festive light displays and illuminated landmarks on a classic red Routemaster bus.

The full festive programme includes:

Meet Santa (From 25 November to 23 December, selected times)

Get cosy in a twinkling winter wonderland and meet Santa and his Elf. Climb aboard Santa’s Routemaster-inspired interactive sleigh and step inside a giant festive transport poster for a Christmassy selfie. Festive books and toys will also be available for little ones to read and play with. On weekdays during term time Santa will be in the Museum between 11:00 and 15:00; and between 11:00 and 17:00 on weekends and during the school holidays. The Museum’s festive winter wonderland will be open for families to enjoy until 2 January 2023.

Christmas crafts (Drop-in daily from 25 November until 23 December)

Families can get creative by drawing and decorating a festive fireplace to make a jolly pop-out Christmas card featuring Santa climbing down a chimney. Christmassy colouring-in activities will also be available to enjoy.

Family trail (Daily from 25 November until 2 January)

Follow a wintery trail around the Museum to find icy silver roundels nestled amongst the vintage vehicles and answer fun transport trivia questions. Families who find and answer all the questions will be in with a chance to win a Mini London Underground Lightbox worth £25 from the Museum’s shop!

Winter Wonderland poster parade (From 25 November to 26 January)

A parade of 20 posters from London Transport Museum’s world-class collection of 20th century poster art will be on display. Spot works by famous artists including Dame Laura Knight, Edward McKnight Kauffer, Hans Unger, Kathleen Stenning and Tom Eckersley and see how depictions of London and its transport during the winter months have changed over the last 100 years.

SEND Early Explorer Mornings (Saturday 10 December)

On Saturday 10 December the Museum will open early between 08:30 and 10:00 for families with special education needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Enjoy the Museum at a quieter time, free from the public, with many of the gallery sounds turned off. Meet Santa, enjoy Christmas card making, explore the All Aboard family zones and get hands-on with genuine parts of transport history. Advanced booking is essential as places are limited. To book visit: www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/family-send-explorer-events

Christmas treats in Canteen

Tasty Christmas treats will be on offer in Canteen and the Lower Deck, the Museum’s café bar. Feast on festive hot drinks, gingerbread doughnuts and cookies. A special menu featuring traditional festive sandwiches and wraps will also be available.

Festive knitwear and gifts

Deck the whole family out with the Museum’s exclusive new festive jumper and matching knitwear accessories featuring iconic red London buses, Tube trains and bikes – all made in the UK from sustainable ecoyarn. Christmas decorations and gifts galore are also available; think wooden train sets and roundel baubles to vintage poster prints and transport-inspired home accessories.

Ticket information

London Transport Museum is open daily from 10:00 until 18:00 (last entry at 17:00). Kids go free! Adult annual passes cost £21 and include free return entry for a whole year. Adults receiving Pension Credit and Universal Credit can enjoy £1 entry. Tickets can be booked in person on the door or in advance at www.ltmuseum.co.uk/christmas

Lights & Sights vintage bus tours

This December, London Transport Museum is bringing back its much-loved Lights & Sights tours for the first time since winter 2019. Ticket holders will journey through the West End’s festive light displays and illuminated landmarks on a classic red Routemaster bus. Accompanied by a jolly soundtrack of classic Christmas tunes, the tours are a unique way to soak up the twinkling merriment and cheer that characterises the capital at Christmas. Lights& Sights tours will run on 10, 11, 17 and 18 December at 15:30, 17:00, 18:30 and 20:00. Tickets must be booked in advance: www.ltmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/lights-and-sights