‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’, particularly at the HAC! Looking for the perfect London Christmas party venue to host your work get-together? You’ve certainly come to the right place!
This year we’re delighted to announce that our Christmas party theme is ‘Victorian circus’. So, roll up, roll up to the corporate Christmas party of the season, packed with Victorian Christmas traditions and festivities, it will surely be a night to remember.
With a new approach to working habits, people have been travelling to the office, and by extension to London, much less. This may well be the first time some people will have travelled to the capital for a little while, so what a great opportunity to explore the city at this time of year. There are so many landmark and iconic things happening around London at Christmas so guests who are travelling to the city for their corporate Christmas party can make it a trip to remember as they wander the streets of London and take in all the festivities on offer.
So many of the popular traditions at Christmas are derived from the Victorians, with a heavy European influence. So many of these traditions are still practised today, taking pride of place as Christmas staples throughout the country. As guests head to London to celebrate another successful work year, here are a few of our favourite Victorian Christmas traditions to do whilst they’re visiting the capital.
Christmas tree decorating
Originally a German tradition, bought to England by Prince Albert during his marriage to Queen Victoria, putting up and decorating a Christmas tree inside the home is a tradition long associated with the Victorian period. Previously adorned with candles, sweets, candied fruits, and despite the fire hazard, candles, and heavily decorated Christmas trees have become a staple throughout homes around the world each year.
London is renowned for having some beautifully decorated trees around the city at Christmas time. Guests can make the most of the festivities as they wander around the streets and find some of London’s most iconic trees. Tell your guests to meander over to Trafalgar Square for the most impressive and famous Christmas tree in London. If that’s not enough, Covent Garden and Leadenhall Market are both popular for their beautiful Christmas trees each year.
It doesn’t just stop at Christmas trees; people flock to London every year just to see the Christmas lights hung around the city! As your guests enjoy some Christmas shopping and wander the iconic streets of London, they can experience some of the world’s most impressive and creative Christmas lights. Lights are put up almost everywhere in the city, but some of the most iconic would have to be Oxford Street and Regent Street, perfect for a little bit of last-minute Christmas shopping too!
Ice skating on the Thames
Whilst skating on the Thames itself is no longer a practised tradition as the Thames hasn’t frozen over properly since the early 1800s, ice skating has become a staple winter activity on the Christmas calendar and a must-do for guests travelling to the city this Christmas.
Unfortunately, there’s unlikely to be anywhere as iconic as the river Thames, however, there are still plenty of landmark or historical event venues where you can go and ice skate the day away. The Tower of London (which also happens to be right next to the Thames) sets up a beautiful rink every year, right on the moat with the iconic Tower epitomising British history creating a remarkable backdrop. If your guest's trip to London is fleeting but they still want to pack in as much London-at-Christmas as they can, then the Tower of London is well connected via tube to make getting around even easier.
If they have more time, then Hampton Court Palace must be on the list! Nestled on the grounds of Henry VIII’s Tudor home, the ice rink at Hampton Court sets the scene for a stunning winter wonderland experience.
A Christmas Carol
For many, Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, but for others, it can be a challenging time.
Who has read the famous Christmas novel by Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’? Or perhaps you’ve seen one of the many dramatized film adaptations? Whether you have or not, the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, set in the Victorian era, is a Christmas story central to modern-day celebrations. Whilst A Christmas Carol is a work of fiction, it led to the popular Christmas tradition of giving back and being grateful for what you have.
Nowadays the tradition still stands, with many people seeing Christmas as the perfect opportunity to support those less fortunate by volunteering their time or possessions to give back to the community. As guests head to the city to celebrate their corporate Christmas party, they may be looking for something a little more meaningful to do with their stay in the capital.
There are tonnes of wonderful charities looking for volunteers around this time of year, so there’s plenty to choose from. Whether that’s volunteering at a homeless shelter, handing out hot meals at a soup kitchen, or donating some unused or unwanted items to children’s homes so they can experience the joy of unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning, there is little more fulfilling than supporting those less fortunate. The gift of giving back has become a long-standing tradition at Christmas, perfect for any guests looking to do something more meaningful with their time in London.
Traditional Festive Treats
The Victorian era was a period of fascinating new food, and this was no exception at Christmas. With the influence of European styles infiltrating the English festivities, new food, sweets, and cakes started to crop up as a staple on dining tables and they’re still around today.
Plum pudding, now more commonly known as Christmas pudding or figgy pudding, was a very popular dish served at Christmas. Some families even baked a silver coin into the desert and the person who received the slice containing the coin was supposed to be destined for wealth and riches. Alongside this, the Victorians had an affinity for sweets and candies like sugar plums or Nesselrode pudding, a popular European desert containing chestnuts, lemon peel, and dried cherries.
As guests tour the city and all it has to offer at this time of year, a trip to one of the traditional Christmas markets is a must to sample some of the traditional sweets and treats the Victorians loved. Not only can you try some of these popular delicacies, or sip on some classic Christmas drinks like mulled wine, hot gin punch, or wassail punch, but you can experience everything that Christmas has to offer with music, fairground games, and market stalls.
There are countless amazing Christmas markets all over the city, so guests can choose which one they want to go to, based on the location of their company's Christmas party. If you need a few ideas then Coven Garden Christmas Village, Borough Market, or Leicester Square Christmas Market are all hugely popular year on year, with plenty of stalls selling traditional Victorian treats and drinks to catapult you back in time.
2022 Christmas Parties at The HAC
Like what you read and interested in bringing even more of the Victorian festivities to your corporate Christmas party this year? Our Victorian circus-themed Christmas party in the Prince Consort Rooms is an experience like no other! Set in our historic London events venue, guests will be transported back in time to the 19th Century for a truly memorable historic Christmas celebration. To find out more about our Christmas party packages, or to book a showround of our stunning venue, then get in touch with our dedicated events team via email at
