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Contents
Your guide to Christmas in London 2024
Why spend Christmas in London
- London is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations all year round, but Christmas is definitely ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ to visit the city.
- London paints the perfect picture of Christmas with brightly lit-up streets, festive decorations, fleeting snow, and bustling crowds.
- The city has many events happening around the holiday season including Christmas markets, plays, musicals, ballet performances, and much more.
- All landmarks and monuments across the city are decked up for Christmas with red, green, and golden-colored decor and festive lighting displays that are quite a sight.
- London lets you experience a traditional Christmas with tree-lighting events, Christmas carols, seasonal delicacies, and more.
Top 15 things to do on Christmas in London
Visit the Winter Wonderland London at Hyde Park
Head to Winter Wonderland London for the city's best festivities. Often called the ultimate Christmas destination, it offers various as an open-air market, rides, an ice skating rink, shows, food, and drinks.
What to do:
- Grab great discounts at the Christmas market.
- Try ice-sculpting workshops, sing at Justin’s Christmas Singalong, or go to Zippos Christmas Circus.
Admire the Christmas light displays
The city of London is brilliantly lit and decorated with fairy lights, Christmas decor, massive festive light displays, and flashy laser beams. It is quite an experience to glance at the fairy-light-lit shop windows, awe-striking light displays, and decorated monuments.
Unmissable light displays:
- Oxford Street
- Regent Street
- Covent Garden
- Bond Street
Visit Christmas markets in London
Walk around arrays of little wooden chalets and pop-up stalls lit with fairy lights, marvel at the Christmas balls and décor, enjoy the fairs, carnivals, and kids’ rides, and grab some great shopping deals and festive gifts at these markets.
Must-visit Christmas markets in London:
Go ice-skating
Ice rinks across the city are decorated, and some even turned into festive fairs during this time of the year. The numerous temporary and permanent rinks are sure to gift a fun day to visitors of all ages.
Best spots for ice skating:
Attend Christmas concerts
Ring in the festive bells with Christmas special concerts and live musical performances across London. Popular singers come over to perform their best seasonal favorites and entertain locals and tourists alike. So make sure to book your seats before they run out!
Best concerts in London:
Watch Christmas plays and ballet performances
Plays and ballet performances get a festive edge this holiday season. Join world-class performers as they dance and recite traditional Christmas stories. Book tickets for your favorite shows before they run out!
Popular Christmas plays and ballet:
Book Christmas show tickets
Listen to live Christmas carols
Live carol singings happen all across London throughout the Christmas season. Bring in the festive cheer by listening to traditional Christmas songs sung by professional singers, orchestras, church choirs, school groups, and more.
London's best Christmas carols:
Attend Christmas special musicals
While world-famous shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, and Les Miserables play regularly at various venues across London, there are some Christmas special stories playing only during the festive season.
Popular Christmas musicals:
Book tickets for musicals in London
Celebrate Christmas at theme parks
Create a memorable Christmas for your kids with a family trip to any of London's incredible amusement parks. Enjoy the Christmas special shows and festivities at Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND, Shrek's Adventure, Peppa Pig World, and more, while in London during the festive season.
Best amusement parks in London:
Book tickets to theme parks in London
Meet your favorite characters
London is home to plenty of movie-themed parks and museums that offer meet-and-greet sessions with some of your favorite TV characters and celebrities, hosting special events throughout the holiday season - making it the best time to visit them!
Meet TV characters:
Experience magic with Harry Potter
Have a magical Christmas at the Warner Brothers' Studios with a guided tour of the Harry Potter Studio. Celebrate Christmas at Hogwarts in the Snow, have a private dinner, and more.
What to do:
- Dance at the Yule Ball
- Watch the first snow at the Forbidden Forest and Diagon Alley
- Visit the decorated Gryffindor Common Room
- Learn the filmmaking tricks of the movies
Take a Christmas special bus tour
Taking a Christmas bus tour is one of the best ways of experiencing the Christmas that London offers. Ride across the lit-up streets on a bus, admire the city landmarks, marvel at the decorations, and visit the best festive spots. Hop-on hop-off bus tours are even better to explore at your own pace.
Christmas special bus tours:
- Christmas Lights Bus Tour London
- Christmas Lights Tour with Live Guide
- Christmas Lights Night Tour
- Classic Christmas Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
Walk around London
London's most famous attractions and monuments such as Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Wembley Stadium look all the more spectacular during Christmas. Walk along the festive streets of London with an audio guide and be a part of the city's Christmas scene.
Best walking tours:
- Royal London Tour With Changing of the Guard
- Harry Potter Walking Tours
- Christmas Lights Walking Tour London
- The Charles Dickens Christmas Carol Walk
Cruise over the River Thames
Taking a cruise over the Thames River is a must-do activity on any trip to London, especially during the Christmas season. Enjoy the views of London's skyline, decorated and lit up for the season, while cruising safely on a boat operated by the city's most reliable Bateaux London and Thames Clippers.
Best Thames River cruises:
- Ultimate London Experience Speedboat Tour
- 2-Day Unlimited Thames River Cruise
- Lunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner Cruises
- Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
Go shopping
Christmas is one of the best times to go shopping in London. With winter sales, Christmas markets, and holiday gifts galore, you are sure to find some great deals and bargains. It’s an added delight to see fairy-lit shop windows and the grand lighting displays along these shopping streets.
Best festive shopping spots:
- Covent Garden and Seven Dials
- Mayfair & St. James’
- Oxford Street & Regent Street
- Carnaby
Plan your Christmas in London
Getting around
Where to eat
Where to stay
Tips for celebrating
No public transport services will operate on Christmas Day. This includes the Tube, buses, trams, river buses, cable cars, and National Rail services.
Alternatives:
- Santander cycles: London's bicycle hire scheme is available 24/7, including Christmas Day. You can find docking stations across the city.
- Electric scooter rentals: Some boroughs in London offer electric scooter rental trials, which may be available on Christmas Day. Check the availability and regulations for your specific borough.
- Taxis and private hire services: Taxis and private hire services like Uber will be available on Christmas Day. Be prepared for higher fares and potential delays due to increased demand.
- The Hare & Billet: Whether you’re getting together with friends, family, or colleagues, this cozy pub is the perfect place to host your festive lunch or dinner. Choose from a variety of options for your starters, mains, and desserts for this 3-course meal.
- Covent Garden: Try Christmas Pudding at the Ivy Market Grill, Roast Goose at Cora Pearl, a 4-course or 8-course Christmas meal at Pivot Bar & Bistro, the ‘Christmas in Love’ Afternoon Tea at Mariage Frères, or dark chocolate yule logs and clementine tarts at Brasserie Max.
- Smith & Wollensky: Have a 4-course Christmas meal at Smith & Wollensky, with classics like roast turkey, pigs in a blanket, braised lamb shanks, beef-fat roast potatoes, and Old Irish Christmas pudding.
- The Savoy: The Savoy has several dining establishments where you can try various meals, including Amuse-Bouche and Christmas Pudding at the Savoy Lounge, or try lobster or venison at Restaurant 1890 by Gordan Ramsey.
- Budget hotels: Safestay London Kensington Holland Park (from £31), Travelodge London Brent Cross (from £34), Premier Inn London Hendon (The Hyde) Hotel (from £42)
- Mid-range hotels: London House Hotel (from £108), Hyatt Place London City East (from £127), Strand Palace (from £133)
- Luxury hotels: The Grand (from £201), London Marriott Hotel Regents Park (from £222), Hilton London Hyde Park (from £249)
- London is a popular tourist destination, and it can get very crowded during the Christmas season. Be prepared for long lines and waiting times at popular attractions.
- You will likely encounter queues at many of the Christmas markets and attractions. Be patient and allow extra time for your journey.
- London can get very cold in the winter, so be sure to pack warm clothes. You may also want to pack an umbrella, as it can rain frequently.
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Frequently Asked Questions about celebrating Christmas in London
Is Christmas a good time to visit London?
Christmas is one of the best times to visit London. The festive season paints a picturesque white Christmas with massive lighting displays, festive Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, fairs, great shopping deals, and maybe some snow.
What is the weather like at Christmas in London?
London during December is generally chilly with average temperatures ranging from 4°C to 9°C. The skies are generally overcast with around 9 days of rain and some snowfall at times.
Is London crowded at Christmas?
Christmas time is the peak tourist season in London. Book your tickets well in advance to get the best deals and ensure attendance at your favorite shows.
What’s open in London on Christmas?
Most of London shuts down on Christmas Day. All large shops, shopping malls, offices, services, public transport, etc. remain closed for Christmas. Apart from hotels and fancy restaurants serving Christmas lunches and dinners, most local convenience stores, some bars, restaurants, and cafes would be open.
What should I eat in London on Christmas?
Christmas pudding, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and Bavarian beer are some of the must-try seasonal favorites in London.
What are some Christmas traditions in London?
Christmas traditions in London include watching public Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, visiting Christmas markets and the Winter Wonderland, going ice skating, and attending Christmas special plays, musicals, ballets, carols, and movie screenings.