10 Distinctive Festive Issues to do in London at Christmas

London within the chilly, gray depths of winter may not be everybody’s thought of the proper journey vacation spot. However London across the holidays? Properly, that is one thing else fully. London at Christmas is absolute magic, and I would encourage you to expertise it at the very least as soon as in your life when you can!

Within the weeks main as much as Christmas, London transforms right into a metropolis of twinkling lights, mulled wine stands, and cheery store home windows. Pop-up markets seem, theaters placed on vacation classics, and you’ll’t flip a nook with out coming throughout some form of festive show. Add to this all the comfy pubs, historic websites, and afternoon teas that London is already recognized for, and also you get a really wonderful vacation journey vacation spot.

Final December, I headed to the UK for 10 days, spending 1 week simply in London to be able to take in all of the festive vibes I presumably might. And the festive vibes have been positively vibing!

I went Christmas light-looking, had themed afternoon teas, noticed vacation exhibits, shopped in any respect the well-known shops and markets, plus tons extra. I simply crammed up my time in London *simply* doing Christmassy issues!

10 Christmas issues to do in London

Of all of the issues I did throughout my vacation journey, these are those I believe are the most effective and most unusual issues to do in London at Christmas. (And sure I personally did each single considered one of these myself!)

1. See all of the Christmas lights

London is well-known for going all-out with its Christmas lights and decor, so you may positively wish to spend a while light-looking across the metropolis. And, for the reason that days are quick in December (it tends to get darkish in London round 4 pm!), meaning there’s loads of time to do it!

There are a number of essential methods to see numerous Christmas lights and decor in London. These embrace:

1. Happening a tour – In the event you’re overwhelmed on the considered discovering all the most effective lights by yourself, then you definately would possibly wish to think about occurring a Christmas lights tour. You are able to do this by bus in an open-top bus (this nighttime bus tour is the preferred one, and has a reside information), or you possibly can attempt a strolling tour like this one (I did this one final 12 months), or this one that has a silent disco side with Christmas tunes. All of those choices will provide help to see numerous lights in a single go!
2. Using the general public bus – If you wish to save a bit of cash and see lights by yourself time, you possibly can rise up shut and private with the lights on Oxford Road and Regent Road by using considered one of London’s double-decker public buses. The 139 line is the most effective one for this, and most of the people will let you know to get on it on the BZ cease (Orchard Road / Selfridges cease) going in the direction of Waterloo. However when you get on right here, it may be crowded and also you doubtless will not have an opportunity of sitting up entrance for the most effective views. In order for you that entrance row seat, get on additional up the road – I received on at a cease on Park Street (nonetheless the 139 in the direction of Waterloo) and had my choose of seats.
   • To journey buses in London, you solely should “faucet in” with a bank card whenever you board, so they might not be simpler to journey! Use an app like Google Maps or Citymapper to examine bus occasions, although this one runs about each quarter-hour.
3. Simply wandering round on foot – And naturally you possibly can simply put collectively a listing of must-see spots and go to all of them by yourself on foot, too. Lots of the greatest gentle shows are in Soho, Mayfair, Marylebone, and Covent Backyard, that are all shut to 1 one other.

If you are going to go on the lookout for Christmas lights and shows at night time by yourself, listed here are a few of my favourite spots:

• Regent Road for the angels (essentially the most iconic avenue in London at Christmas)
• Oxford Road for the celebs and Selfridges home windows
• New Bond and Previous Bond streets for the designer retailer shows like those at Cartier and Dior
• Carnaby Road (although I wasn’t tremendous impressed by it final 12 months)
• Apple Market in Covent Backyard
• The outside of iconic purchasing facilities like Harrods and Fortnum & Mason
• Burlington Arcade
• Ever After Backyard in Duke of York Sq. (an attractive discipline of lighted roses devoted to family members misplaced to most cancers)
• Annabel’s (exterior solely, as it is a personal membership)

2. Covent Backyard at Christmas

Covent Backyard is likely one of the most festive London neighborhoods at Christmas, and I extremely advocate planning to spend at the very least a number of hours right here one night.

A essential spotlight is visiting the Apple Market, which at all times has unimaginable Christmas decor alongside all of the purchasing and eating choices. You may additionally discover pop-up Christmas bars, mulled wine stands, and even heated out of doors patios right here across the holidays.

Exterior the Apple Market, Covent Backyard places up a big Christmas tree decked out in twinkling lights. You may usually discover buskers performing round this tree, and in December you possibly can catch “snow” falling on the tree each hour! (It is actual, man-made snow, and often begins across the first weekend in December.)

Close by, I additionally extremely advocate visiting the Seven Dials Market, which is a classy meals corridor that is considered one of my favourite spots to go for a fast meal. At Christmas, there are reside musical performances, decorations, and likewise indoor “snow flurries” a pair occasions per night.

3. Go to Christmas markets

Look, I will be trustworthy with you right here: London’s Christmas markets do in no way evaluate to the markets you may discover elsewhere in Europe (ahem, like in Germany). BUT, I nonetheless assume they’re value trying out when you’re in London for Christmas.

One of the best Christmas markets in London are:

• Leicester Sq. market – This free Christmas market was my favourite, as a result of it provides essentially the most “German Christmas market” vibes with little picket chalets serving up sizzling meals and mulled drinks. I received a mulled gin drink and roasted some marshmallows right here one night, and it was enjoyable!
• Trafalgar Sq. market – The small market at Trafalgar Sq. can be properly value a go to, with extra food and drinks stalls, plus good views and the well-known Christmas tree (extra on this additional down in my put up).
• Southbank Centre Winter Market – Stretched out alongside the South Financial institution of the Thames between the London Eye and Waterloo Bridge, this “market” is absolutely only a assortment of vendor stalls dressed up with some lights. However you may discover numerous meals, drink, and purchasing choices right here.
• Winter by the River – Extra pop-up stalls alongside the Thames, however this time on the Queens Stroll between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Additionally pop into Hay’s Galleria, the place final 12 months that they had a enjoyable chalet-style mulled wine bar.
• Hyde Park Winter Wonderland – Lastly, Hyde Park places on a Christmas competition and “market,” although this one is much less market and extra carnival rides and video games, plus fair-style meals stalls. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is ticketed, and locals usually say they do not assume it is value going. However possibly you may wish to choose for your self!

London’s everlasting markets additionally dress up for the vacations and serve up Christmas treats. Should-visit spots are:

• Leadenhall Market – I like this market any time of 12 months, however at Christmas they put up a beautiful Christmas tree and have some pop-up drinks stands along with all the standard eating places.
• Borough Market – This widespread meals market underneath London Bridge is a should for any journey to London, however at Christmas you possibly can anticipate finding festive decor plus many particular meals choices for the vacations. (The vacation sandwich at The Black Pig at all times attracts crowds.)
• Previous Spitalfields Market – Within the East Finish, Previous Spitalfields can be value a go to for all of the purchasing and meals.

4. See the Trafalgar Sq. tree

I discussed this earlier, however I wish to be sure to know the total story of London’s most (in)well-known Christmas tree, which tends to go viral on-line yearly for all of the flawed causes.

The massive reside Christmas tree in Trafalgar Sq. is London’s official Christmas tree, and the lighting of it in December annually kicks off the vacation season in London.

The tree is shipped from Norway annually as a unbroken thank-you reward to London for taking within the king and authorities of Norway once they needed to flee throughout WWII. The tree is embellished in a minimalist Norwegian fashion with low-energy lights annually – which makes it look a bit naked, however I actually love the story and sentiment behind this.

5. Go to a festive afternoon tea

You KNOW I like an excellent afternoon tea in London, and lots of locations go excessive across the holidays to supply lovely festive teas.

Final 12 months, I booked the Festive Afternoon Tea at TING, the restaurant contained in the Shangri-La resort at The Shard. It is a very fancy (and fairly expensive) afternoon tea, however the meals and repair have been unimaginable, AND you get superior skyline views throughout London. I loved my vacation treats with a view down in the direction of the Thames and Tower Bridge!

Some locations to search for holiday-themed afternoon teas in London embrace:

And if you wish to mix a vacation bus tour with a themed afternoon tea, try B-Bakery bus tours, that are so enjoyable! They’ve a number of vacation choices annually, together with kid-friendly tea excursions (click on on December to see all of the choices).

(Simply word that the majority of those spots will not open up bookings for his or her festive afternoon teas till October or November on the earliest!)

6. See a vacation present at Royal Albert Corridor

Once I was first contemplating a Christmas journey to London, I went to take a look at the vacation choices at Royal Albert Corridor, hoping I would possibly discover a Christmas live performance that will characteristic organist Anna Lapwood (if you have not seen any of her movies on-line, go discover them!).

I didn’t discover such a live performance providing that will work for me, however what I discovered as an alternative was a complete bunch of enjoyable vacation choices. I ended up reserving Dwelling Alone in Live performance, which I believe they provide yearly. Mainly they present the film, and the orchestra performs the music reside. It was a lot enjoyable!

I added on a pre-show afternoon tea at Coda Restaurant inside Royal Albert Corridor, which ended up being considered one of my favourite afternoon teas. The tea was frivolously holiday-themed, and the meals was SO GOOD. This makes for a very nice afternoon or night out when you do tea and a live performance.

Take a look at Royal Albert Corridor’s full Christmas lineup here.

7. Go to a Pantomime or different present

Talking of vacation exhibits, it’s also possible to go see numerous vacation stage exhibits round London in December. However when you’re gong so as to add this to your itinerary, I extremely, extremely advocate going to see a Pantomime.

A pantomime, or “panto” as they’re mostly referred to as, is a really British custom. On the floor, a pantomime is a play often primarily based on a widely known fairy story (the one I noticed final 12 months was Robin Hood), however in actuality it is extra of a range present with singing, dancing, bawdy jokes, at the very least one character in drag, and little or no precise plot.

The viewers often will get concerned within the present, too, and there are over-the-top costumes and units. It is all very foolish, however VERY enjoyable – you may snicker rather a lot!

Probably the most over-the-top panto in London is often carried out annually on the historic London Palladium, so you possibly can’t go flawed reserving that one. Julian Clary is at all times the star right here, popping out in outfits that solely get extra outrageous because the present goes on.

8. Go ice skating

The Thames could not freeze over within the winter, however there are nonetheless locations in London to go ice skating. My favourite advice is the ice rink at Somerset Home, which is totally lovely and surrounded by spots to seize a sizzling drink.

Different enjoyable choices embrace the rink at Battersea Energy Station, and the rink inside Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

9. Do some Christmas purchasing

You may most likely wish to do some Christmas purchasing in London, and there are in fact tons of choices! And I am not speaking concerning the chain shops alongside Oxford Road.

I extremely advocate visiting at the very least one or two of London’s iconic shops, that are at all times decked out in vacation decor and enjoyable reward concepts. One of the best ones are:

• Fortnum & Mason
• Harrods
• Selfridges
• Liberty

And you may additionally wish to store – window or in any other case – on the designer shops alongside New Bond and Previous Bond streets. Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Dior are all recognized for his or her unimaginable vacation shows.

10. Go to Kew Gardens

I am placing Kew Gardens final on this listing not as a result of the Christmas at Kew gentle shows aren’t value seeing, however somewhat as a result of tickets for this occasion are likely to promote out in a short time annually!

In the event you plan forward and are in a position to snag a ticket, although, you may comply with a lightweight path by the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew to see immersive shows and installations. It is actually lovely, and well worth the admission value.

Tickets go on sale in January annually (so sure, virtually a full 12 months prematurely!), and the favored days/occasions do promote out properly earlier than the occasion begins in November. So if you wish to go, you may must ebook tickets early – here’s the ticket page.

Bonus: Hampton Courtroom Palace Festive Fayre

Since I spent per week in London at Christmas, I made a decision to dedicate in the future to a festive day journey. And whereas there are many good choices, I ultimately settled on a day journey out to Hampton Courtroom Palace for the Festive Fayre.

Hampton Courtroom Palace is a former royal palace, most famously the favourite dwelling of Henry VIII. And whereas the palace and its gardens/grounds are value a go to on their very own, annually they host a Festive Fayre over two weekends in December (often the primary 2 weekends of the month). Since I used to be in London at the moment, I made a decision to go!

Together with having the ability to discover the fort and numerous flats the place you may discover costumed interpreters and be capable to hear medieval vacation music, in addition they placed on a Christmas market over these two weekends, with 100+ native distributors promoting every little thing from hand-made items to meals.

I had a scrumptious lunch and a vegan sizzling chocolate (lactose-intolerant individuals will perceive how thrilling that was!), and did some purchasing from a number of the most unusual stalls. The seller tents are unfold out throughout the palace courtyards and even into the gardens, which is absolutely cool.

Your ticket will get you into the palace/grounds plus the market (pre-booking required), after which there’s additionally an ice rink outdoors for an extra price. You’ll be able to spend about half the day on this journey after which be again in London earlier than it will get darkish.

London at Christmas map

Here is a map of all the key Christmassy spots I like to recommend seeing/visiting round London. To avoid wasting this map so you should utilize it later, click on on the star ⭑ subsequent to the map’s title. To make use of it, open Google Maps in your cellphone, click on “Saved,” then click on “Maps.”

When to go to London for the vacations

The query of “when to go to London at Christmas” would possibly sound foolish, however I’ll reply it anyway. *Some* of the vacation occasions in London (just like the Kew Gardens gentle present, and most of the vacation afternoon teas) do begin within the second half of November. However MOST vacation issues do not kick off till the primary weekend in December.

I might say the most effective time to be in London to absorb all the vacation issues is in mid-December. Right now, all of the Christmas decor will probably be up, and there would be the largest variety of Christmas exhibits and occasions to see/expertise.

You CAN go to London within the week between Christmas and New 12 months’s, as most of the vacation issues proceed operating into early January. Bear in mind, although, that many issues will shut on the vacations themselves.

I went to London the primary 10 days of December, and located it to be an excellent time to be there whereas nonetheless having the ability to be dwelling for the Christmas vacation itself.

Climate in London in December

By way of what to put on for a Christmas journey to London, I would positively prep for cold and damp climate – but it surely may not be as chilly as you are anticipating! London would not are likely to get snow or actually frigid temperatures (particularly not in December), although it may be humid, which might make it really feel colder.

The common excessive in London in December is 47°F (8°C), with a median low round 40°F (4°C). (Although after I was there, the excessive every day was nearer to 50°F (10°C), and I used to be truly feeling too heat in my heavy wool coat!)

It is going to doubtless be cloudy, and rain/fog/sleet is definitely doable, so I positively advocate waterproof footwear/boots and an umbrella. I didn’t deliver heavy winter garments on my journey since I am from a spot that is a lot colder than London within the winter.

Most days I wore both denims or corduroy pants with a long-sleeved prime or gentle sweater, or a gown with wool leggings beneath. For footwear, I introduced a pair of leather-based sneakers and a few leather-based chelsea boots. And I topped every little thing with an extended wool coat. I did additionally deliver a hat, scarf, and gloves and a few further layers for colder nights, although I believe I solely used them as soon as!

Have I satisfied you to plan a Christmas journey to London?

Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her dwelling base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey by the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!