The ultimate guide to Christmas events in London 2025
Christmas in London is truly an extraordinary experience you must witness. The city transforms into a spectacular festive landscape, shining brighter than ever with dazzling lights, charming markets, and abundant festive cheer. This guide highlights the best Christmas events in London to make your 2025 trip unforgettable.
Top Christmas events & things to do
Your guide to essential London Christmas markets
London's top Christmas ice skating rinks
Your perfect Christmas itinerary
Morning: Visit St Paul’s Cathedral for a festive service or view.
Afternoon: Immerse yourself in the Southbank Centre Winter Market for lunch and unique artisan goods.
Evening: Head to Hyde Park for Winter Wonderland London, focusing on the rides and Bavarian Village.
Morning: Explore the high-end windows of Harrods and Selfridges.
Afternoon: Indulge in a festive afternoon tea at The Ritz or Claridge’s.
Evening: Enjoy the self-guided Christmas Lights Walking Tour, focusing on Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Carnaby Street.
Morning: Skate at the iconic Somerset House Ice Rink.
Afternoon: Explore the decorations and street performers at Covent Garden Christmas and visit the Buckingham Palace’s festive pop-up shop.
Evening: See a classic West End Christmas show or panto. Consider an immersive Christmas experience, like Backyard Cinema or the Wundrful World of Christmas.
Morning: Visit the traditional Greenwich Market for last-minute gifts.
Afternoon: Find the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree and attend a carol service in the square or at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Evening: Enjoy a pre-booked, special Christmas Eve dinner in London at a quality restaurant before relaxing for the big day.
London's top festive shopping destinations
Best places to stay in London at Christmas
Many luxury hotels transform into winter wonderlands with designer trees, incredible decorations, and festive packages:
Frequently asked questions about Christmas events in London
Absolutely. London during Christmas time is exceptional. The city is decorated beautifully, and the sheer number of Christmas events in London makes it a memorable time to visit.
Christmas in London is typically cold, with average temperatures around 4–7°C (39–45°F). While snow is rare, expect crisp air and the possibility of rain. Pack warm layers.
Most major attractions, including museums, are closed on Christmas Day in London. However, public parks are open, and limited dining and entertainment options are available, though they require advance booking. Public transport is also severely limited.
The most famous light displays are on Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street. Also, the Canary Wharf Christmas area and Covent Garden Christmas are known for their spectacular decorations.
Yes, it is highly recommended to pre-book tickets for all major Christmas events in London and attractions, especially for popular seasonal experiences like Winter Wonderland and West End shows.
For popular Christmas events in London, like West End shows, The Nutcracker ballet, Winter Wonderland attractions, and festive afternoon teas, you should book at least 1–3 months in advance, especially for weekend and Christmas week dates.
Yes, some of the best things to do in London at Christmas are free, including enjoying the Christmas lights displays, visiting the magnificent trees at Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, and attending outdoor carol singing events.
You must book well in advance for a traditional Christmas lunch in London. High-end hotels like The Ritz, Claridge's, and The Dorchester, as well as many classic gastropubs, offer special fixed-price menus.
No, the London Underground does not run on Christmas Day in London. There is also no Overground, DLR, or Trams. A limited bus service typically runs. Plan to walk or use taxis/pre-booked private transport.
Why visit London during Christmas
London Christmas lights: Unmissable festive locations
London’s most photographed Christmas trees
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Experience spectacular light displays
London at Christmas time is world-famous for its light installations and elaborate shop window displays, especially along Regent Street and Oxford Street.
Enjoy the UK's largest festive festival
Experience the return of Winter Wonderland London, the city's massive Christmas festival in Hyde Park, offering ice skating, fairground rides, and food stalls.
Explore historic festive markets
The city hosts numerous charming markets, from the traditional atmosphere of Covent Garden Christmas to the Southbank Centre Winter Market, perfect for Christmas shopping in London.
Unique attractions with a festive twist
Popular spots like the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and Up at The O2 often host special Christmas events in London.
Iconic ice skating locations
Glide on the ice at rinks set against historic backdrops like Somerset House or Hampton Court Palace, a quintessential part of Christmas activities in London.
Group holiday fun
London offers many Christmas group activities, from themed pub crawls to festive masterclasses, perfect for celebrating with friends or family.
Oxford Street
Dates: Nov 3, 2025–Jan 5, 2026
A dazzling, sophisticated canopy of over 5,000 warm-toned, energy-efficient LED stars stretches across the entire shopping street.
Trafalgar Square
The historical and political centrepiece, gifted annually by Norway, is decorated simply with traditional vertical strings of white lights.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Dates: Nov 14, 2025–Jan 1, 2026
The biggest and most popular destination, featuring a massive, self-contained festival area including rides, ice rinks, shows, and a huge Bavarian market.
South Bank Centre
Dates: Nov 3, 2025–Jan 4, 2026
Hosts a popular, alpine-style Winter Market along the Thames, featuring picturesque wooden huts, international street food, and spectacular riverside views.
Covent Garden
Dates: Nov 12, 2025–Jan 3, 2026
Known for its spectacular festive decorations, giant Christmas tree, and artisanal stalls set beneath the iconic golden bells of the historic piazza.
Leicester Square
Dates: Nov 1, 2025–Jan 4, 2026
A compact, central market featuring traditional wooden chalets, festive food, drinks, and a Spiegeltent hosting seasonal shows and cabarets.
London Bridge (Winter by the River)
Dates: Nov 13, 2025–Jan 4, 2026
Offers one of the most atmospheric settings, with stalls lining the path along the River Thames, providing views of Tower Bridge and the city skyline.
London's famed foodie market transforms into a Christmas haven for high-quality seasonal produce, gourmet ingredients, and mulled wine.
Greenwich
Dates: Nov 22, 2025–Dec 24, 2025
A traditional covered market that extends its festive focus with unique handmade crafts, a charming light-switch-on event, and diverse street food.
Trafalgar Square
Dates: Nov 9, 2025–Jan 2, 2026
A cosy festive market located beneath the official Norwegian Christmas tree, offering handicrafts and seasonal refreshments in the heart of London.
Old Spitalfields
Dates: Nov 13, 2025–Jan 1, 2026
The historic Victorian market hosts designers and craftspeople selling original gifts, with special Christmas Shopping Lates accompanied by festive music.
Kingston
Dates: Nov 13, 2025–Dec 28, 2025
Features a charming German-style traditional market square complete with Bavarian curling lanes, bratwurst, and traditional handmade goods (popular outside the centre).
King's Cross (Coal Drops Yard)
Dates: Nov 22, 2025–Dec 22, 2025
A boutique market set beneath the stunning Victorian arches of Coal Drops Yard, specialising in high-end, independent designer goods.
Camden Market
Dates: Dec 6, 2025 onwards
The famously eclectic market becomes festive with unique traders, themed installations, and an array of global street food stalls.
Columbia Road
Dates: Nov 26, Dec 3, Dec 10, and Dec 17, 2025
While famous for its Sunday flower market, it holds special, atmospheric Christmas shopping evenings with unique independent boutiques and festive cheer.
Chelsea Physic Garden
Dates: Nov 27, 2025–Nov 30, 2025
Offers a more tranquil, exclusive market environment focused on luxury gifts, artisan goods, and delicious food inside a beautiful historic walled garden (often weekend-only).
Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace
Dates: Nov 14, 2025–Jan 5, 2026
Hosting its first-ever Christmas pop-up offering unique gifts and exclusive items from the Royal Collection, set against the backdrop of the palace's historic working stables.
Home to the largest outdoor ice rink in the UK, surrounded by the Victorian bandstand and illuminated by over 100,000 twinkling lights.
Somerset House
The quintessential London movie-set rink, set within the neoclassical courtyard with a towering Christmas tree and popular DJ-soundtracked 'Skate Lates’.
Glide at Battersea Power Station
An incredibly photogenic rink consisting of three interconnected rinks, offering Thames views and set against the illuminated, iconic Power Station backdrop.
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
London's longest-running rink (Oct–Feb) with a roof and a metropolitan vibe, allowing skaters to glide beneath the towering skyscrapers.
Hampton Court Palace
A spectacular rink where you can glide under the stars against the dramatic Tudor façade of Henry VIII’s centuries-old historic palace.
Offers a fairytale skating experience on a UNESCO World Heritage site, with views across Greenwich Park and the illuminated Canary Wharf skyline.
Skate Leicester Square
A new and highly central open-air rink for 2025, located right in the middle of the Christmas market, surrounded by lights and festive cabins.
Alexandra Palace
London's largest permanent indoor rink, offering spectacular views of the city skyline from its hilltop location, with dedicated festive sessions.
Kew Gardens
Features a seasonal, magical rink alongside the hugely popular "Christmas at Kew" illuminated trail, requiring separate tickets for a combined experience.
The heart of a major indoor festive attraction, offering a large rink, fairground rides, and a circus under one heated roof.
Westfield (Shepherd's Bush/Stratford)
Rinks occasionally feature at these shopping centres, offering a convenient, often covered skating break near retail outlets.
Harrods
The world's most iconic luxury store, famous for its grand, spectacular, and highly anticipated window displays and the exclusive Christmas Grotto.
Selfridges
The retail innovator is known for its wildly imaginative and often dramatic Christmas window schemes, drawing massive crowds to Oxford Street.
Fortnum & Mason
The quintessential store for luxury British food, tea, and gourmet hampers, with its façade transforming into a majestic, animated Advent Calendar.
New Bond Street
The ultimate destination for high-end designer labels, where every flagship store from Cartier to Chanel competes with glamorous, sophisticated light displays.
Liberty
The charming mock-Tudor department store, celebrated for its unique fabrics, artisanal Christmas decorations, and wonderfully curated independent-style gifts.
Carnaby Street
A vibrant hub for unique fashion and independent brands, famed for its highly creative, artistic, and often themed light installations that set the mood for shopping.
Burlington Arcade
A beautifully preserved, elegant covered walkway offering a historic atmosphere and high-end niche boutiques, perfect for refined gift hunting.
Marylebone Village
Offers a chic, village-like atmosphere with a curated mix of independent boutiques and luxury brands, known for its pleasant, community-focused lights.
Hatchards Bookshop
Britain's oldest bookshop provides a cosy, traditional Christmas shopping haven, specialising in beautiful hardbacks and gift editions near Piccadilly.
Richmond
A charming West London suburb offering high-street shops and independent boutiques along the Thames, providing a relaxed, non-Central London festive shopping experience.
Camden Passage
A beautiful, cobbled pedestrian street in Islington known for its antiques, independent homeware shops, and unique vintage finds, perfect for one-of-a-kind gifts.
For classic opulence
The Ritz, Claridge's, The Connaught, and The Savoy are famous for their extravagant décor, iconic Christmas trees, and exclusive seasonal events. These are ideal for those seeking the ultimate traditional luxury experience.
For West End access
The Langham and The Dorchester offer prime locations near key shopping streets and theatres, making them perfect bases for Christmas events and London and West End shows.
For boutique festive charm
The Ned and Kimpton Fitzroy offer stylish, unique festive experiences in beautiful buildings, often featuring lively Christmas bars and dining.
Near Southbank
The Mandarin Oriental and The Berkeley provide sophisticated stays near Hyde Park and the Southbank, ideal for accessing the Winter Wonderland and riverside markets.
Explore Winter Wonderland London
The return of Winter Wonderland London in Hyde Park is the biggest of all Christmas events London, running from mid-November 2025 to early January 2026. This vast festival is a must-see, featuring the UK's largest open-air ice rink, thrilling rides, circus shows, and the Magical Ice Kingdom—a truly grand-scale immersive Christmas experience in London.
Tour the dazzling Christmas light displays
Taking a dedicated trip to see the lights along Oxford Street, Regent Street, and the Canary Wharf Christmas area is one of the best things to do in London at Christmas. Many organised tours offer a comfortable way to see them all. This is a top choice for a Christmas night out in London.
Immerse yourself in the classic sounds of the season. London’s historic venues, from the Royal Albert Hall to magnificent cathedrals like St Paul’s, host world-class Christmas concerts, carols, and choir performances, offering a sophisticated and heartwarming seasonal experience.
See a classic West End Christmas show
Attending a holiday-themed show, whether it's a classic ballet or a festive musical, is a perfect way to experience the Christmas activities in London. The West End theatres host many special seasonal performances and pantomimes, including the 'Nutcracker', 'Elf!', 'The Snowman', 'A Christmas Carol', 'Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas', and 'Christmas Carol Goes Wrong'.
London is the capital of themed fun, offering a unique immersive Christmas experience. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London transforms the sets of the Harry Potter films with a festive makeover, including the Great Hall decorated for the Yule Ball and a snow-covered Hogwarts castle model for its Hogwarts in the Snow event. Wundrful World of Christmas is an interactive experience at Borough Yards that transports you to the North Pole with live actors and mixed reality elements.
While many major attractions close, a quiet walk through the city on Christmas Day in London offers a peaceful experience. Consider walking along the River Thames or through a royal park like Richmond Park. Things to do in London on Christmas Day are limited, but the atmosphere is unbeatable.
Visit popular attractions for unique Christmas events
Experience the city’s major landmarks, such as LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, The Shard, or the London Eye, which often have special holiday-themed displays or events. These offer unique Christmas in London things to do beyond the typical tourist visits.
Reserving a special Christmas lunch in London is a festive tradition. Many restaurants across the city, particularly in Mayfair or Soho, offer fixed-price menus for Christmas Day in London and throughout the holiday season.
Indulging in a festive afternoon tea is a luxurious Christmas celebration in London. Many grand hotels transform their menus for the season, including The Ritz, with carols, festive décor, and a classic menu; Claridge's & The Savoy; The Langham; and Bustronome London, allowing you to see the lights while dining.
Spend the day with loved ones
For groups of friends, family, or colleagues, London offers excellent Christmas group activities, like dining at the Ice Bar & Igloo. Venues like Junkyard Golf Club often introduce special Christmas-themed courses and cocktails. Join an organised tour or self-guided route that stops at festively decorated pubs like The Churchill Arms. Or try a festive cocktail-making or gingerbread house decorating class for a fun, hands-on activity.
