Festive Fun: Christmas Activities for Families in Norbury, Tooting, Balham & Streatham
Christmas activities in Norbury, Tooting, Balham and Streatham. Looking for Christmas activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in South London this year? This 2026 guide covers festive events in Norbury, Tooting, Balham and Streatham.
For each one you'll find prices, ages and booking details, so you can quickly see what suits your family.
We've also included free outings, simple activities to try at home and a few tips for festive trips with little ones, from the team at Lucky Beans.
Christmas events at a glance
Event | Area | Date | Cost | Ages | Booking |
Norbury | TBC (late Nov in past years) | TBC | All ages | Not needed (past years) | |
Balham | TBC (30 Nov in 2025) | Free | All ages | Not needed | |
Tooting | TBC (4 Dec in 2025) | Free | All ages | Not needed | |
Streatham | Sun 6 Dec 2026 | Donation; children free (past years) | All ages | Not needed (past years) | |
Balham | Sun 13 Dec 2026 | Free entry; grotto TBC | TBC with venue | Grotto only | |
Streatham | TBC (13 Dec in 2025) | Under-5s £5.15 (2025) | All ages | Advised | |
Balham | Mon 14 Dec 2026 | £14 | 0 to 3 years | Required |
Christmas activities in Norbury
St Philip's Church Christmas Fair
Date not yet confirmed for 2026. In previous years this has been held on a Saturday in late November, from 11am to 3pm.
Venue: St Philip's Church hall, Beech Road, Norbury, SW16 4NW
What's on: stalls, raffle and tombola, a dance display, refreshments and Santa's grotto
Price: to be confirmed
Ages: all the family
Setting: indoors (church hall)
Booking: not required in previous years
Details: St Philip's Norbury Christmas Fair on A Church Near You
Christmas activities in Tooting
Tooting Christmas market and tree lights switch-on, St Nicholas Church
Date not yet confirmed for 2026. In 2025 it ran on Thursday 4 December, 4pm to 8pm, with the switch-on at 4.30pm.
Venue: St Nicholas Church grounds, Church Lane, Tooting, SW17 9PP
What's on: outdoor Christmas market, performances from local schools, live music and the Christmas tree lights switch-on
Price: free entry
Ages: all the family
Setting: outdoors, so wrap up warm
Booking: not required
Details: Wandsworth Council Christmas events (2026 listings expected in November)
Christmas activities in Balham
Adventure Babies Christmas Special
Monday 14 December 2026. A Christmas sensory story session with extra sparkly sensory trays, lights and props. It's a lovely chance for festive photos too.
Venue: The Regent, Chestnut Grove, Balham (near Balham station)
Times: 10.15am mixed-age class (0 to 3 years); 11.15am and 12.15pm classes for newborns and non-mobile babies (0 to 1 year)
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: £14
Setting: indoors, with on-street parking nearby
Booking: required, online
The Bedford Christmas Market
Sunday 13 December 2026, 11am to 5pm. A festive makers' market in The Bedford's Ballroom, with live music and a visit from Santa.
Venue: The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW12 9HD (nearest station: Balham)
What's on: local makers' stalls, the Crib Notes Choir at 2.30pm and 3.30pm, and Santa at 3pm
Price: free entry, no ticket needed
Santa's grotto: pre-booked spots only (price to be confirmed)
Setting: indoors
Booking: not needed for the market; book ahead for the grotto
Details and grotto booking: The Bedford Christmas Market on DesignMyNight
Balham Christmas lights switch-on
Date not yet confirmed for 2026. In 2025 it was held on Sunday 30 November, 1pm to 5pm, with the switch-on at 5pm.
Venue: Bedford Hill, Balham
What's on: singing from local schools and choirs, then the lights switch-on
Price: free
Setting: outdoors
Booking: not required
Details: Wandsworth Council Christmas events
Christmas activities in Streatham
Streatham Rookery Christmas Fair & Market
Sunday 6 December 2026 (times to be confirmed; 11am to 4pm in previous years). A much-loved fair in the Rookery gardens on Streatham Common, run by the Streatham Common Co-operative.
Venue: The Rookery, Covington Way, Streatham Common, SW16 3BX
What's on in previous years: craft and gift stalls, food, live music, marshmallow toasting and Santa's grotto
Price: previously a donation for adults, with children free (to be confirmed for 2026)
Setting: outdoors in the gardens; some steps, with paths throughout
Booking: not required in previous years
Details: Streatham Common Co-operative events
Streatham Christmas Ice Show
Date not yet confirmed for 2026. In 2025 it ran on Saturday 13 December, 6pm to 8pm. As an evening show, it may suit older preschoolers best.
Venue: Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre, 390 Streatham High Road, SW16 6HX
What's on: a festive ice-skating show by local skaters
Price in 2025: under-5s £5.15, children £12.35, adults £15.45, family ticket £46.25
Setting: indoors, rinkside seating
Booking: advised, as the 2025 show sold out
Tickets and details: Streatham Christmas Ice Show on Active Lambeth (you can register interest for 2026)
Free festive outings and activities at home
Some of the nicest Christmas moments with under-fives cost nothing at all.
Free outings
Christmas lights walk: an early-evening stroll along your local high street once the lights are up. It gets dark around 4pm in December, so you can fit this in before bedtime.
Winter walks on the commons: Streatham Common, Tooting Common and Norbury Park are good for spotting robins, frosty leaves and pine cones.
Library story times: many local libraries run festive rhyme and story sessions. Check your library's events page in December.
Simple activities at home
Festive sensory basket (babies and young toddlers): large, safe items such as big pine cones, soft fabric scraps and a jingle-bell shaker sealed tightly in a clear bottle. Always supervise.
Paper chains and handprint cards (toddlers): chunky crayons, stickers and pre-cut paper strips.
Salt dough decorations (preschoolers): mix, roll, cut with cookie cutters and paint once dry. Adults handle the oven.
Christmas songs and movement: a dance-and-freeze game to favourite festive songs.
Tips for Christmas outings with under-fives
Go early: markets and fairs are calmest in the first hour, before queues build at the grotto.
Plan around naps: one outing a day is plenty for most little ones.
Layer up: many events are outdoors, so bring hats, gloves and a blanket for the buggy.
Check buggy access: churches and older venues may have steps, so a carrier can be easier.
Bring ear defenders: live music and crowds can be loud for babies.
Have a quiet exit plan: it's fine to leave early if your child is overwhelmed.
Christmas Ideas for Young Children
One of the wonderful things about South West London is the abundance of green spaces perfect for family outings.
With places such as Tooting Common, Streatham Common, Rookery Gardens and Norbury Park, there are plenty of places to visit this season.
This Christmas, why not embrace the forest school approach and create your own nature-inspired festive adventures with kids' Christmas crafting?
DIY Nature-Led Christmas Activities
Take a basket and collect natural treasures like pine cones, interesting twigs, and evergreen sprigs that you can use for Christmas crafts at home; excellent for older toddlers.
Pine Cone Decorations – Simply add string or ribbon to collected pine cones for instant tree decorations. For extra sparkle, children can glue on small pom-poms or paint the tips white for a snowy effect.
Nature Wreaths – Use a cardboard ring (cut from a cereal box) as a base and help children glue on their collected evergreens, twigs, and berries. It's an excellent fine-motor activity that creates a unique decoration.
Twig Stars – Gather straight twigs of similar length and help children arrange them into star shapes, secured with string or glue. These look beautiful hanging in windows or on a tree.
For babies and young toddlers, create a sensory basket filled with safe, natural items collected on your walks – smooth stones, large pine cones, soft moss (dried), and interesting leaves. The different textures and weights provide wonderful sensory exploration.
Look out for winter birds such as Robins, Goldfinches, or even Sparrowhawks. Maybe some of their feathers can be found floating around that children could collect.
Examine frost patterns on cold mornings. You may even want to place some of the natural items you found in a bowl of water, add in some glitter for extra winter sparkle, place it in the freezer overnight and see how it sparkles in the sunlight.
How Lucky Beans uses Forest School to Celebrate the Festive Time
At Lucky Beans, our forest school approach doesn't take a break for Christmas – in fact, it becomes even more relevant.
We believe that connecting children with nature during winter helps them understand seasonal change, resilience, and the beauty of the quieter months.
Activities of our forest school Christmas fun at nursery may include:
Observing how trees and plants adapt to winter
Learning about animals preparing for the cold season
Creating winter-inspired art using mixed materials
Developing independence through dressing appropriately for outdoor play in cold weather
Building appreciation for the natural world in all seasons
We encourage families to continue this learning at home by planning your own festive outdoor adventures.
Even short trips to local green spaces after nursery hours or at weekends can provide valuable learning experiences about nature in winter time and create lasting memories
Christmas at Lucky Beans
At Lucky Beans, the festive season is about wonder, warmth and learning through play. Outdoor time and nature-led activities run through our days all year, and winter brings plenty to explore.
Join Us This Christmas
Want to see what's happening at Lucky Beans this Christmas?
We'd love to welcome you and your family.
Whether you're already part of our nursery community or considering joining us, this is a wonderful time to visit and experience our approach to early years education.
Book a tour to see our indoor and outdoor learning spaces decorated for the season, ask us about our festive events, and discover how your little one could be part of the Lucky Beans family.
You can also follow us on social media for regular updates, photos from our Christmas celebrations, and inspiration for festive activities you can try at home.
This Christmas, let's celebrate the wonder of childhood together, embracing both the magic of the season and the beauty of nature, right here in South West London. From all of us at Lucky Beans, we wish you and your families a joyful, peaceful, and magical festive season.
Contact Lucky Beans today to learn more about our festive plans and early years provision in South West London. We can't wait to share the Christmas magic with you!
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