Spending a festive Christmas in London England
Thinking of spending Christmas in London? London really is a magical place at Christmas time. I lived in London for over 10 years and spent many a Christmas in London and had to show my husband just how beautiful the City can be when fully dressed for Christmas.
Celebrating Christmas in London is a magical experience filled with festive cheer and dazzling lights. The city comes alive with sparkling decorations, bustling Christmas markets like those in Hyde Park and Southbank, and iconic landmarks such as Trafalgar Square adorned with a towering tree gifted by Norway.
Shoppers crowd Oxford Street and Covent Garden for seasonal sales and holiday displays which means if you hate crowds – don’t go. Ice-skating rinks pop up at Somerset House and the Natural History Museum, carol singers fill the air with traditional hymns, and theaters host fantastic performances like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, and you can’t miss a Panto (pantomime) if you have kids with you. From sipping mulled wine by a cozy pub fire to enjoying a winter stroll along the Thames, London offers a perfect blend of tradition and excitement during the holiday season.
Because British weather is so changeable at this time of year we double-checked the weather forecast so as to know what to wear in London during our visit. We were smart enough to bring a small umbrella with us as yes it did rain.
Beautiful London Christmas lights
The lights in most great cities like London and Dublin are something to behold. The light displays in London create a festive atmosphere and really help put you in the holiday spirit.
If you are flying into London to celebrate the season getting from Heathrow to London is not complicated, but you may want some inside London information before you get here.
Get a bird’s eye view of London and its Christmas lights on the London Eye
Oxford Street
The Oxford Street Christmas lights are traditionally switched on by a lineup of popular celebrities who come out to meet the crowds at the start of Christmas. The Oxford Street lights are usually the first ones turned on in London and virtually every shop on Oxford Street has a gorgeous Christmas window and many of the stores hang thousands of lights themselves to deck out the area.
Regent Street
The spirit of Christmas sparkles and glows on Regent Street; this amazing shopping road is the home of luxury and designer shopping at its best. From Liberty’s of London to H&M Regent Street has it all. The Christmas display includes over 300,000 lights and switches on early November. The street closes to traffic and a celebrity switches on the lights as bands, choirs and Santa all perform for the crowds.
Duke of York Square
In the Chelsea, area and check out the Duke of York Square with its magnificent tree and lights glowing all over Chelsea. The lights here go on around the middle of November with a full day of family activities planned by the Council before the lights go on at 5 pm.
Carnaby Street
The Carnaby Christmas lights were the highlight of our visit to London. This area picks a different theme for the lights every year and are without a doubt the most unusual Christmas decorations and lights in London.
A few of the many things to do in London at Christmas
Admire London’s Great Christmas tree
The biggest, grandest tree in London in Trafalgar Square is a giant Norwegian spruce, has been an annual gift to the people of Britain since 1947. The tree is 25 metres tall (around 80 feet) and has around 900 light bulbs set around the branches. The tree was donated by Norway in recognition of Britain’s support to Norway during the Second World War. The tree is traditionally decorated in Norwegian style which is very simple and rustic using natural materials. The lighting of the tree takes place on December 1st.
Christmas Shopping in London
In December 1882: The New York Times commented on the streets in the West End being more than usually crowded, the shops and stores full of ‘wonders of nature and art, sweetmeats and fruits from every clime, toys and magic surprises of all imaginable shapes and inventions.
Oxford Street is not just one of London’s best shopping areas; it is one of the world’s best. If you can’t find the perfect gift here, you’ve probably got no chance at all.
One of my favourite things to do in London at this time of year is to hit the foodhalls where my foodie self can indulge in all sorts of treats. Harrod’s and Fortnum & Mason’s food halls each have some of the finest ingredients in the world from smoked salmon to incredible Scotch Eggs. Each foodhall decorates with the finest of Christmas baubles and offers some amazing dishes to take home or gifts to present to family and friends.
I purchase macarons (even if I don’t really like them) for friends and have found many a unique gift. Of course I’ve always loved the window displays which seem to get more magnificient every year.
Head to London’s Winter Wonderland
An annual event in Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is only a must-do if you have never been to a fair. The Angels market area has loads of tat for you to buy, but really don’t waste your money. Created from over 500 tones of ice and snow, The Magical Ice Kingdom is filled to the brim with awe-inspiring snow and ice sculptures, but it’s expensive and I have to admit not a great deal of fun unless you are young and enjoy knocking back many pints of beer.
There’s a giant Ferris wheel with glittering lights which looks very pretty at night, The Nutcracker on Ice, the Ice Bar, specialty shows and entertainment galore.
Take in a Christmas service
If you are spending Christmas in London and you may want to celebrate the festive season with Advent and Christmas in the historic St Paul’s Cathedral. Sir Christopher Wren’s famous church plays host to a series of musical events and traditional services over the Christmas period. Hear celebrity readings at A Celebration of Christmas, sing along to Christmas favourites with Family Carols, enjoy a traditional Christmas Carol Service, and attend the Midnight or Christmas Day Eucharist. (Most events are free).
You can wander over to Trafalgar Square and listed to traditional carols underneath the giant Christmas tree.
Christmas is a religious holiday for many so if you feel like attending some lovely services like Midnight Mass there are plenty of options to choose from, including the traditional service at St Martin’s In The Field just off Trafalgar Square. There’s an afternoon service on Christmas Eve followed by carols at 6.30 pm and the service at 11.30 pm. Or you could head for Westminster Abbey, with carols at 4 pm and service at 11.30 pm.
Enjoy performances at the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall has been the home of Christmas in London for over 150 years. Each year the program is full of heart-warming live events to be enjoyed with your loved ones. There’s something for everyone, from Christmas carols to traditional concerts, drag shows, jazz, gospel and so much more.
Shop at London’s Christmas Markets
The thing I love about being in the UK is the opportunity to visit all the Christmas markets in Europe. Most Christmas Markets are free entry although some do have specialty rides and entertainment that are ticketed. Most London Markets like Leather Lane or Borough Market will also be decorated for Christmas and you will find many a fine gift to choose from or better yet some amazing food. There is a lot to choose from when spending Christmas in London here are a few of the best and they all tend to open in late November or early December.
One of the most well-known Christmas markets is the Southbank Centre Winter Market. This market has those popular wooden chalets lining the riverside outside the Southbank Centre with festive food, handmade crafts and lots of gift ideas.
Christmas Market at Tate Modern is just down the way from Southbank. There are more wooden chalets; there are handmade decorations, jewellery, wooden toys and much more.
East London has a similar event in Hackney with Winterville where there’s an ice rink, circus, pantomime, comedy and even crazy golf. The Christmas market has more of the wooden chalets selling cool stocking fillers. Plus there’s the Pop Shop too with independent designers selling their wares. And The Bizarre Bazaar is described as a “Vaudeville-Victorian marketplace and veritable emporium” if you love Steam punk this is the place to shop.
Greenwich Market is good all year round but it turns festive after the Christmas lights are switched on by late November. There are over 100 stalls in the covered market selling crafts, jewellery, fashion, antiques and more, as well as festive street food and drinks too.
Christmas by the River market held in what is now called the London Bridge City, sandwiched between the iconic London Bridge and Tower Bridge. with the most beautiful views of tower bridge. It’s small, but mighty, and has everything you need: chocolate-covered strawberries, an Alpine-themed bar, hand-knitted mittens and cute London-themed baubles.
For another chance to buy direct from the makers, head to the Royal College of Art Christmas Fete where you will find some incredible artistic pieces at very reasonable prices. This indoor market is in the RCA’s students’ union and has handmade gift ideas from current and former students.
Christmas in Leicester Square transforms the centre of bustling London into a wonderland including traditional Christmas markets with hand-crafted goods and delicious food and drinks, a Santa’s Grotto where children will be able to meet the man himself. To be honest this market was really disappointing with not much to see and basic cheap souvenirs for sale we bought a plastic cup of strawberries with chocolate sauce for £10 a total disappointment and we should have known it wasn’t strawberry season.
Covent Garden Christmas Market: The Christmas season officially starts in Covent Garden around the 12th of November when the Switch On Event takes place.
On display is the Covent Garden’s iconic 55-foot British-grown handpicked Christmas tree, decorated with over 30,000 lights, and the neighbourhood is transformed into a winter wonderland glittering with 115,000 lights across the historic piazza and its adjoining streets.
Go for a Christmas Pub Crawl
A London pub crawl at Christmas is sure fire to have huge fun at Christmas time. Traditional taverns like The Churchill Arms in Kensington dazzle with thousands of decorations, while historic spots like The George Inn near Borough Market serve hearty winter ales by candlelight.
Carol singers and crackling fireplaces add to the merry atmosphere, and with every stop, you’re greeted with warmth, laughter, and maybe even a mince pie.
Christmas Toy Parade
Hamley’s Christmas toy parade on Regent Street is a huge part of London at Christmas time. Hamley’s is considered the finest toy shop in the world. The parade usually takes place in late November or early December on London’s Regent Street which is made traffic-free. This incredible parade must be one of the best in the world and seeing the children’s faces light up is the perfect Christmas present.
Christmas Gardens
Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair Experience the delights of the Chelsea Physic Garden Christmas Fair, this fair gives you a rare chance to see the gardens in the midst of winter. The fair hosts over 100 exhibitors and they will be showcasing a range of handcrafted and designed products from Jewellery to contemporary crafts and foods. This fair does have an entry fee which goes to support the garden.
Christmas Ice Skating
Take in the dramatic surroundings as you glide around the 1,000-year-old Tower of London dry moat. The Tower of London ice offers ice skating in the setting of the historic London landmark. The Tower itself is sparkled with hundreds of tiny starry lights and when you need to warm up after skating you can visit the Eis Haus pop up bar, made entirely of ice of course. Or check out the Dip-Dunk lodge for fondue.
Natural History Museum Skate: You can skate in a magical winter haven in the heart of the city at the Natural History Museum’s open-air ice rink. The spectacular 950-square-metre (10,225-square-feet) rink is nestled in front of the iconic South Kensington museum and surrounded by 76,000 glittering fairy lights. Visit the museum’s Café Bar for winter warmers, and watch the skaters glide on the ice from the cafe’s balcony.
Alexandra Palace Ice Rink is an ideal place for a festive skate – not least because it’s indoors so you don’t have to rely on the weather to ensure a skating session. The biggest (it has a total capacity of 1,250) and the best permanent ice rink in London, the grand indoor rink is open all year round and offers a range of other activities, such as ice hockey and figure skating classes.
Somerset House Rink: The grand 18th-century courtyard of Somerset House makes for a spectacular backdrop for one of the most popular ice rinks in town. Skating around under the 40-foot Christmas tree with a hot toddy to keep out seasonal chills is one of London’s most appealing winter rituals – and a superb way to ease you into the festive spirit.
Hampton Court Palace Rink: The striking Tudor facade of Hampton Court Palace provides a majestic backdrop to this popular open-air ice rink. Located on the west front of Henry VIII’s historic home, the ice rink – measuring more than 1,000 metres square – affords sweeping views of its breathtaking architecture. The palace itself is adorned with festive decorations at this time of year and it’s worth leaving extra time to take a look inside or explore the maze.
Unique London Christmas activities
The Great Xmas Pudding Race
Cheer on the festively dressed teams as they race around an obstacle course without dropping the puddings, at London’s 38th annual Great Christmas Pudding Race in Covent Garden.
Watch teams of six battle it out for the highly sought-after Christmas Pudding Trophy and all proceeds are in aid of Cancer Research UK.
Christmas at Kew Gardens
Christmas at Kew Gardens is a spectacular annual event where the iconic gardens in London are transformed into a winter wonderland. You can stroll through a dazzling mile-long trail adorned with over a million twinkling lights, festive installations, and immersive projections.
Highlights include a beautifully lit cathedral of light, an enchanting fire garden, and a series of vibrant light shows set to music.
Go for a dip in the Serpentine
Temperatures may be sub-zero on Christmas Day, but a bracing dip in the Serpentine in Hyde Park has been a festive tradition since 1864 for members of the Serpentine Swimming Club – and with other swimming events happening around the country there’s no reason why you can’t join in.
Celebrating Christmas in London where to eat and drink
Visiting London and wandering around at Christmas time we noticed many venues had clear dome igloos set for dinner and drinks and some fabulous Christmassy locations to sip a cocktail, ice skate, have an afternoon tea or shop. These are some of the best in London to celebrate Christmas.
Willows On The Roof: Located on the rooftop of John Lewis on Oxford Street, Willows on The Roof provides the ultimate sanctuary from the mayhem of shopping. Fingers crossed they are back with the dome igloos for winter dining and cocktails in.
Glide at Battersea Power Station: Glide at Battersea Power Station offers unrivalled views of the Thames as you skate around three interconnecting rinks surrounded by twinkling lights and a spectacular 30ft Christmas tree. After your skate session, hit the The Glass House where you can warm up with a hot chocolate or something a bit stronger.
Afternoon Tea at the Ritz: Celebrate Christmas in London and indulge in the Ritz’s afternoon tea experience, which generally runs from mid-November to the end of December and includes a special Christmas Day experience. It takes place in the Palm Court, offering a festive twist on traditional afternoon tea with carol singing by the Ritz choir. On Christmas Day, Father Christmas makes appearances during specific sittings.
Spending Christmas in London is a truly magical experience. The city comes alive with festive cheer, with famous landmarks like Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are adorned with twinkling lights. It is an evening of incredible views, sparkling lights and I just love strolling through the enchanting Christmas markets in Hyde Park or along the Southbank of the River Thames.
The city’s world-class theatres offer spectacular holiday-themed shows, and ice skating any London Rink is a joy. With the chance of snow dusting the city, London at Christmas is a picture-perfect winter wonderland that captures the essence of the holiday season in a truly British way.
