What better way to enjoy the lead up to Christmas than fun-filled evenings under the stars, or fairy lights, at the finest festive events in London.
Each winter the capital is inundated with brand new pop ups, and this year is no exception - with everything from Michelin stars to hipster bars on offer, there's something for everyone.
Check out our pick of the best cold-weather hotspots to warm up in.
Top tip: they're also perfect for date-night, so you might just get lucky under the mistletoe too...
London's Best Winter Pop Up Bars (list)
Once Upon A WigWam at Queen of Hoxton(01 of07)
Helped by the production maestros behind Bestival and Glastonbury, this is the East London bar's most ambitious concept yet.
This year's rooftop pop-up is inspired by the the Grimms' brothers Fairy Tales - wander up the vine-covered stairs before stepping into an enchanted woodland, complete with climbable treehouse. Grab a delicious hot Gardener’s Grog from the gingerbread house bar and toast some marshmallows by the open fires
Thursday 22nd October until end of March 2016. Monday-Saturday 4pm-10pm. Free entry, except on event nights.
The Queen of Hoxton: 1-5 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX (credit:Queen of Hoxton/Graham Turner)
This year's rooftop pop-up is inspired by the the Grimms' brothers Fairy Tales - wander up the vine-covered stairs before stepping into an enchanted woodland, complete with climbable treehouse. Grab a delicious hot Gardener’s Grog from the gingerbread house bar and toast some marshmallows by the open fires
Thursday 22nd October until end of March 2016. Monday-Saturday 4pm-10pm. Free entry, except on event nights.
The Queen of Hoxton: 1-5 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3JX (credit:Queen of Hoxton/Graham Turner)
The Churchill Bar & Terrace in Winter(02 of07)
The Hyatt Regency's sumptuous bar has once again undergone its annual winter makeover, transforming into a Narnia inspired hideaway with a hot chocolate cocktail menu curated by Green & Blacks.
Sink into the lavish fur-lined seats and relax in a winter wonderland of luxury - with hot water bottles and blankets available on request. Nowhere does cold weather glamour quite like it.
The Churchill Bar & Terrace: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH (credit:The Churchill Bar & Terrace)
Sink into the lavish fur-lined seats and relax in a winter wonderland of luxury - with hot water bottles and blankets available on request. Nowhere does cold weather glamour quite like it.
The Churchill Bar & Terrace: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH (credit:The Churchill Bar & Terrace)
Tokyo Nights at Night Tales(03 of07)
London's hottest pop-up is back in the form of Tokyo Nights, transforming 20,000 square foot of Shoreditch space into a scene from the back streets of Japan.
Sample the wares of Asian-inspired street food suppliers and test out their signature cocktails before tearing it up on the dance floor, or sneaking away into the faux-city metropolis should the mood strike.
Thurs-Sat, from 29th October for 8 weeks. Thursdays 6pm-11pm, Fridays 6pm-12am, Saturday 5pm-12am. £4 entrance, £5 after 9pm.
Tokyo Nights: Red Market, 288-299 Old Street, London EC1V 9DP (credit:Night Tales)
Sample the wares of Asian-inspired street food suppliers and test out their signature cocktails before tearing it up on the dance floor, or sneaking away into the faux-city metropolis should the mood strike.
Thurs-Sat, from 29th October for 8 weeks. Thursdays 6pm-11pm, Fridays 6pm-12am, Saturday 5pm-12am. £4 entrance, £5 after 9pm.
Tokyo Nights: Red Market, 288-299 Old Street, London EC1V 9DP (credit:Night Tales)
York & Albany's Winter Chalet(04 of07)
Escape the chaos of central London in this cute and cosy bolthole - Gordon Ramsay's must-book bar that can be hired exclusively for two to 12 people.
This Alpine chalet is decorated like a wintry mountain retreat with fairy lights, scattered pinecones and spiced candles. Wrap up in blankets and get treated to head chef Will Stanyer’s festive fayre along with a choice of seasonal cocktails - the winter-spiced old fashioned is a must-try
From Fri 30th October 2015 – 28th February 2016 excluding 25th December and 14th February.
York & Albany: 127-129 Parkway, London NW1 7PS
This Alpine chalet is decorated like a wintry mountain retreat with fairy lights, scattered pinecones and spiced candles. Wrap up in blankets and get treated to head chef Will Stanyer’s festive fayre along with a choice of seasonal cocktails - the winter-spiced old fashioned is a must-try
From Fri 30th October 2015 – 28th February 2016 excluding 25th December and 14th February.
York & Albany: 127-129 Parkway, London NW1 7PS
Sipsmith at The Well(05 of07)
This winter, artisinal London distillers Sipsmith are transforming The Well's downstairs cocktail lounge into a traditional alpine ski lodge.
Thaw out while you sip on a hot gin toddy in their mountain paradise - kitted out with vintage cosy armchairs, fur rugs and everything else you need for a comfy festive party.
Open from 10 November.
The Well, 180 St John St, London EC1V 4JY (credit:The Well)
Thaw out while you sip on a hot gin toddy in their mountain paradise - kitted out with vintage cosy armchairs, fur rugs and everything else you need for a comfy festive party.
Open from 10 November.
The Well, 180 St John St, London EC1V 4JY (credit:The Well)
The Treehouse at SkyLounge(06 of07)
The roofspace atop the Skylounge has just launched its winter residency, an enchanting treehouse themed bar set among the rooftops of the city.
Get stuck into the peanut butter ice cream cookies, or savour spiced rum cocktails and Lanson champagne as you overlook the ice-cold sights below.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm until late, until the end of February 2016.
SkyLounge: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 7 Pepys Street, London, EC3N 4AF (credit:SkyLounge)
Get stuck into the peanut butter ice cream cookies, or savour spiced rum cocktails and Lanson champagne as you overlook the ice-cold sights below.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm until late, until the end of February 2016.
SkyLounge: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 7 Pepys Street, London, EC3N 4AF (credit:SkyLounge)
Dinerama(07 of07)
The Street Feast team are back and this time, they've winter-proofed - adding not one, but five, new roofs (smart people).
The toasty, drizzle-free new venue plays host to an alpine lodge, a crystal cocktail palace and a undercover wine garden, aptly named Winerama. Street food heavyweights Smokestak, Birdbox and Duck'N Roll return alongside brand new bar German Sex Dungeon and killer cocktails from the Milk & Honey drinks wizards.
Every Thu/Fri/Sat to 17/18/19 December, 5pm - Midnight. Free before 7pm, £3 after.
Dinerama: Shoreditch Yard, 19 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EJ (credit:Dinerama)
The toasty, drizzle-free new venue plays host to an alpine lodge, a crystal cocktail palace and a undercover wine garden, aptly named Winerama. Street food heavyweights Smokestak, Birdbox and Duck'N Roll return alongside brand new bar German Sex Dungeon and killer cocktails from the Milk & Honey drinks wizards.
Every Thu/Fri/Sat to 17/18/19 December, 5pm - Midnight. Free before 7pm, £3 after.
Dinerama: Shoreditch Yard, 19 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EJ (credit:Dinerama)
London's Best Cocktail Bars
City Social(01 of12)
"You can keep your dark grottos and Dickensian apothecaries. When I want a cocktail, I want to feel fabulous. There are fewer better locations than City Social, which has a jaw-dropping, wall to ceiling view of London, and cosy booths to sip your tipple.
"Speaking of tipple, cocktails are perfectly executed, from the more out-there Pea-lini (pictured) (that's peas and bellini, dah-ling) to straight vodka martinis.
"Plus, the fact that it's a Jason Atherton winner means the bar snacks are superb - no pork scratchings here, and even if they did them you can bet it'd be the best pork scratching of your life. Oh, and make sure you visit the toilets. You'll see what we mean"
City Social24th Floor, 25 Old Broad St, London EC2N 1HQ020 7877 7703 (credit:City Social)
Booking Office, St Pancras Renaissance Hotel(02 of12)
"Rest assured - although this bar may be in a train station, it's certainly not your standard Wetherspoon's.
"With live music and a glowing atmosphere, beaten only by the drinks, it's a great place to while away the night. The bar is well worth a visit, not to mention it's part of the stunning St Pancras Renaissance.
"Try the Burnt Brandy, served warm and the perfect drink for those chilly winter evenings, or the Old Fashioned - certainly the best I've tasted in London (and believe me, I've tried a fair few). For something with a fruity punch, opt for for the Kentucky Spritzer or the Buffalo Diamond - a refreshing number with an agostura kick, served in a delightfully quirky silver tankard.
Booking Office
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Euston Road, King's Cross, NW1 2AR
020 7841 3566 (credit:Booking Office)
"With live music and a glowing atmosphere, beaten only by the drinks, it's a great place to while away the night. The bar is well worth a visit, not to mention it's part of the stunning St Pancras Renaissance.
"Try the Burnt Brandy, served warm and the perfect drink for those chilly winter evenings, or the Old Fashioned - certainly the best I've tasted in London (and believe me, I've tried a fair few). For something with a fruity punch, opt for for the Kentucky Spritzer or the Buffalo Diamond - a refreshing number with an agostura kick, served in a delightfully quirky silver tankard.
Booking Office
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Euston Road, King's Cross, NW1 2AR
020 7841 3566 (credit:Booking Office)
Nightjar(03 of12)
"Blink and you'll miss it, this tucked away bar on Old Street is one of London's hidden gems. Grab a cosy corner at this old-school glamour venue and drink the night away.
"The cocktails are rich and dressed to impress. Smoking, bedecked in foliage or dressed up in sweet treats, the drinks are split into four categories: pre-prohibition, prohibition, post-war and nightjar signatures."
She added: "My faves were the Hobson's Kiss, served up with pineapple sorbet and topped with champagne, and the naughty but delicious Adam and Eve. All topped off by the delightful live blues band, who well and truly made the night."
Consumer marketing manager Caoimhe O'Reilly says: "This place is so much fun: authentic cocktails, great music and a lot of dancing. I would recommend to book in advance. Good spot and it’s open til the small hours of the morning. Perfect blend of prohibition alcohol, jazz and great company."
Nightjar
129 City Road, EC1V 1JB
0207 253 4101 (credit:Nightjar)
"The cocktails are rich and dressed to impress. Smoking, bedecked in foliage or dressed up in sweet treats, the drinks are split into four categories: pre-prohibition, prohibition, post-war and nightjar signatures."
She added: "My faves were the Hobson's Kiss, served up with pineapple sorbet and topped with champagne, and the naughty but delicious Adam and Eve. All topped off by the delightful live blues band, who well and truly made the night."
Consumer marketing manager Caoimhe O'Reilly says: "This place is so much fun: authentic cocktails, great music and a lot of dancing. I would recommend to book in advance. Good spot and it’s open til the small hours of the morning. Perfect blend of prohibition alcohol, jazz and great company."
Nightjar
129 City Road, EC1V 1JB
0207 253 4101 (credit:Nightjar)
Hoxton 100(04 of12)
"Glass-fronted, white walls, minimalist - the interior is inspired by the council block that the cocktail-bar-slash-restaurant calls home. It's pretty damn cool and well worth the walk from Shoreditch High Street."
"My favourite cocktails are the 100 Hoxton (prosecco with a hint of lychee, ginger, lemongrass & chili) for some uplifting fruity fizz and the Jamaican Me Oriental (Appleton VX rum, pomegranate, lime, coriander & chili) for a spicy, citrussy edge."
"The bar prefers punters to eat while they sip cocktails, so pick something delicious from the Asian-inspired menu - it'd be rude not to."
100 Hoxton
100-102 Hoxton St, London, Greater London, N1 6SG
020 7729 1444
(credit:Hoxton 100)
"My favourite cocktails are the 100 Hoxton (prosecco with a hint of lychee, ginger, lemongrass & chili) for some uplifting fruity fizz and the Jamaican Me Oriental (Appleton VX rum, pomegranate, lime, coriander & chili) for a spicy, citrussy edge."
"The bar prefers punters to eat while they sip cocktails, so pick something delicious from the Asian-inspired menu - it'd be rude not to."
100 Hoxton
100-102 Hoxton St, London, Greater London, N1 6SG
020 7729 1444
(credit:Hoxton 100)
Ruby's(05 of12)
"A Dalston basement masquerading as a cross between a tiled butchers shop and a fifties living room, Ruby's has a distinctive vintage charm that runs right through its drinks menu.
"From an old fashioned mixed with Japanese whisky to the tall blackberry mojito, nothing is quite what you expect, and while the prices are definitely more modern than retro, the atmosphere alone would be well worth the price."
Ruby's Dalston
76 Stoke Newington Rd, London
(credit:Ruby's/Tom Bowles)
"From an old fashioned mixed with Japanese whisky to the tall blackberry mojito, nothing is quite what you expect, and while the prices are definitely more modern than retro, the atmosphere alone would be well worth the price."
Ruby's Dalston
76 Stoke Newington Rd, London
(credit:Ruby's/Tom Bowles)
Graphic Bar(06 of12)
"Specialises in gin... Central, spacious and quirky (it likes its art and serves some drinks in paint pots) but MOST EXCITINGLY OF ALL it does a cocktail which, for £30,000, will be presented to you while Tony Hadley sings 'Gold', live, at your table.
"Clearly, they must have some sort of hotline to him which they use whenever someone orders it. If, indeed, anybody ever has."
Graphic BarGraphic Bar, Golden Square, London
0207 287 9241 (credit:Graphic Bar)
"Clearly, they must have some sort of hotline to him which they use whenever someone orders it. If, indeed, anybody ever has."
Graphic BarGraphic Bar, Golden Square, London
0207 287 9241 (credit:Graphic Bar)
214 Bermondsey(07 of12)
"If you like gin - and, boy, we hope you do - then 214 Bermondsey is the establishment for you."Set in a basement at the end of beautiful Bermondsey street, there is more gin than you can shake a cocktail stick at."Highlights: the gin flight (pictured). This is great fun - try three gins from around the world and challenge yourself to guess the which is which using only a description of distinct flavours and your tastebuds. Trust us, it's harder than it sounds."
214 Bermondsey
214 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TJ
020 7403 6875
(credit:214 Bermondsey)
214 Bermondsey
214 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TJ
020 7403 6875
(credit:214 Bermondsey)
The Lonsdale(08 of12)
"The Lonsdale serves up refreshingly simple and wonderfully understated drinks with no frills and no fuss: just pure cocktail.
"Modestly priced, the extensive menu ranges from New York and London classics to bar manager Marco's own creations.
"Firm favourites re the Russian Spring Punch and The Old Cuban - so good I tend to have two. Of all the London bars I've frequented, these cocktails come first for flavour."
"And if you're peckish, try their mouthwateringly incredible starters: steak tartare and the asparagus with duck's egg and truffle toast. Mmm."
The Lonsdale
48 Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill
0207 727 4080
(credit:The Lonsdale)
"Modestly priced, the extensive menu ranges from New York and London classics to bar manager Marco's own creations.
"Firm favourites re the Russian Spring Punch and The Old Cuban - so good I tend to have two. Of all the London bars I've frequented, these cocktails come first for flavour."
"And if you're peckish, try their mouthwateringly incredible starters: steak tartare and the asparagus with duck's egg and truffle toast. Mmm."
The Lonsdale
48 Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill
0207 727 4080
(credit:The Lonsdale)
Made In Brasil(09 of12)
"Amazing, cheap, delicious and beautiful Caipirinhas at Happy Hour until 8pm every day and Tuesday ALL DAY LONG.
Made In Brasil
12 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London, NW1 7HJ
0207 4820 777 (credit:Made In Brasil)
Made In Brasil
12 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London, NW1 7HJ
0207 4820 777 (credit:Made In Brasil)
Sushi Samba(10 of12)
"If the view isn't enough to make you ride the lift all the ear-popping way to the 39th floor. The cocktails certainly will."
"The chucumber is a light and refreshing must for gin-lovers. Gin, plum wine and Maraschino liqueur shaken with freshly pressed cucumber water, lime, sugar and plum bitters."
Sushi Samba
Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY
0203 640 7330 (credit:Brogan Driscoll)
"The chucumber is a light and refreshing must for gin-lovers. Gin, plum wine and Maraschino liqueur shaken with freshly pressed cucumber water, lime, sugar and plum bitters."
Sushi Samba
Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AY
0203 640 7330 (credit:Brogan Driscoll)
BYOC(11 of12)
"A secret speakeasy hidden beneath an ordinary looking juice bar.
"Book a table, bring a bottle of booze and watch an expert mixologist knock up some delish cocktails at your table. Exposed brick, proibition era music, vintage drinks trolly."
BYOC
28 Bedfordbury Street, Covent Garden, Central London (credit:BYOC)
"Book a table, bring a bottle of booze and watch an expert mixologist knock up some delish cocktails at your table. Exposed brick, proibition era music, vintage drinks trolly."
BYOC
28 Bedfordbury Street, Covent Garden, Central London (credit:BYOC)
Ridley Road Market Bar(12 of12)
"Cheap-as-chips ginger mojitos or tequila and grapefruit mixers. Tiki-themed, with plastic fruit a-plenty and a different street food served outside every week while you queue."
Ridley Road Market Bar
49 Ridley Road, Dalston, E8 2NP London, United Kingdom (credit:Ridley Road Market Bar)
Ridley Road Market Bar
49 Ridley Road, Dalston, E8 2NP London, United Kingdom (credit:Ridley Road Market Bar)