Christmas in London is when the metropolis becomes a winter wonderland full of colours and light to join the New Year celebrations. Londoners simply make the months of December and January the most magical time of the year to visit London.
In December, London’s shopping streets are lit up with Christmas lights and stores and malls are packed with people shopping for Christmas and New Year’s gifts. The main winter holiday center in London is Trafalgar Square. On Christmas day in London, people gather around the biggest Christmas tree in the city and sing Christmas carols.
During your trip to London in December, you can experience some of your favorite London seasonal activities, and take part in the many festivities available. Shop for handmade gifts and festive treats at charming Christmas markets or go skating on one of the many fantastic ice rinks that are dotted all over the capital. Take the kids to meet Santa in Santa’s Magical Grotto. Enjoy Christmas concerts, and watch an abundance of ballet and family shows.
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Christmas in London – Celebrations & Festivities
Go to a winter wonderland in Hyde Park, one of the biggest and most famous Christmas experiences in London. In Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, you can go ice skating, visit arcades full of toys and sweets, and enjoy festive shows from November 22 to January 6.
Enjoy winter activities such as Christmas markets, festive displays, and seasonal food sold along the river and at the Southbank Centre Winter Festival from December 8 to January 6.
Attend the Leicester Square Christmas Festival, located in London’s West End from November 9 to January 5. Go to London’s Greenwich Winter Festival offering skating, live music, Christmas shopping, and lots of activities for all ages. Join the lights, music, and colours of the famous Kew Botanic Gardens for an unforgettable Christmas in London from November 22 to January 5, or go behind the scenes of the Harry Potter series and the iconic Hogwarts Christmas collection from November 17 to January 27.
Boxing Day and Christmas in London
December 25th and 26th, which are Christmas Day and Boxing Day respectively, are public holidays in London. There are many things you can do among which, the following can be mentioned:
- Get up early to watch the Serpentine Swimming Club race in the icy waters of Hyde Park Lake for the Peter Pan Cup early in the morning on December 25.
- During Boxing Day and the January sales, you can find great deals on electronics and fashion from December 26 onwards.
- On December 25 and 26 in London, you can participate in city tours or go skating.
New Year’s Eve in London
The famous New Year’s fireworks in London are held every year on December 31 at the Coca-Cola London Eye (London’s largest Ferris Wheel). Book your tickets in advance to secure your spot at this popular London event. There are also many other things to do in London at Christmas, such as going to family shows, skating, and having lunch by the old river.
To travel to London during Christmas time, it is a good idea to get things started at least one month in advance. You can visit Eligasht Booking Platform to take care of your ticket and accommodation hassle-free and enjoy discounts on plane tickets to London and book hotels at the best price possible.
How to Spend Christmas in London?
From special Christmas markets, and Christmas Eve shopping, to magnificent skating rinks, dreamy parties, and spectacular illuminations, everything makes Christmas in London a memorable experience.
If you’re planning a day trip to London, England, or just feel like you need a memorable Christmas celebration, get to know some of the best things to do at Christmas in London in this section of the guide.
Breathe in the spirit of Christmas in London on a magical journey with plans of shopping in the best stores, visiting traditional markets, ice skating, Christmas shows, and city lights.
Early Shopping at Christmas in London
Step out early in the morning to get to one of the most popular Christmas shopping spots in the West End in time. While you choose your gifts, you will be amazed by the seasonal displays and the Christmas decorations on Oxford Street and the surrounding areas such as Regent and Bond. You can visit the independent boutiques in Connaught Village to buy luxury items too.
London’s most famous department stores, Selfridges and Liberty, both host special Christmas sales. At Selfridges, you’ll find baubles decorated with the British flag and of course many other Christmas items, and at Liberty, you can buy traditional wreaths and colorful cracker biscuits. Hamleys, on Regent Street, offers an amazing variety of toys on sale. In the famous Topshop store in Oxford Circus, you can buy the latest fashion.
Ready to have lunch? Pay a visit to St Christopher’s Place. You will find more than 20 restaurants and coffee shops in this area which is located next to Oxford Street. Another suggestion is to visit Kingly Court in Carnaby and enjoy delicious food from around the world. If you don’t mind spending a lot on expensive menus, top your day with an English high tea in one of London’s luxury restaurants or beautiful hotels some of which offer special Christmas-themed teas. If you’re looking for a bite while walking, cross the river to grab a hot, tasty meal from one of the tempting stalls at Borough Market.
Afternoon Christmas Markets & Santa Claus
After lunch, it’s time to stroll along the spectacular River Thames, where you can feast on toasted acorns and enjoy Christmas decorations along the way. In the center of Southbank, look for interesting gifts among the wooden houses in the Christmas markets. Kids can drop off letters they want to send to the North Pole when they visit Santa at Hamleys Toy Store or meet Santa at the Rainforest Coffee Shop.
Night Christmas Shows & Roller Skating
After dark, head to the beautiful Covent Garden, an area that turns into a winter shelter during Christmas celebrations; See the giant Christmas tree in the famous Piazza or watch the Christmas lights twinkling in Covent Garden before finding something to eat. You will have many choices for dinner. The Opera Quarter and St Martin’s Courtyard in Covent Garden are full of a variety of restaurants.
If you’re looking for something more exciting, put on your warm clothes, grab your skates and start ice skating on one of London’s glamorous outdoor skating rinks under the lights of its magnificent buildings. Important London landmarks include Somerset House, the Natural History Museum, and the Tower of London. For a complete Christmas experience, take a spin at the Winter Wonderland skating rink in London’s Hyde Park. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious sausage sandwich in the Bavarian Village and wander around the Christmas market to breathe in the spirit of Christmas in London.
Wrapping Up
If you think that winter is not a good time to travel to England, think again. In December, the city of London becomes a living fairy tale. The city is decorated with coloured lights and you can see people Christmas shopping everywhere. People gather around the biggest Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square and sing Christmas carols. You can go to the many concerts held, visit Hyde Park Wonderland, or see the famous Coca-Cola London Eye fireworks. Christmas in London is an unforgettable memory indeed.