Famous department stores decorated in festive bling, twinkling lights draped above the streets as bright red double-decker buses pass by and sparkling Christmas trees of every size are plentiful. Wine is mulling, chestnuts are roasting and a rosy-cheeked, white-bearded Santa seems to be everywhere at once — how does he do that? — there really is no place like London at Christmas. Yes, the shops are crowded and yes, it is overly commercialised but there’s a buzz in the air, smiles beam at the sight of so many fairy lights and ripples of laughter ring out from the pop-up ice rinks that appear each year around the city. The excitement grows as the countdown to Christmas begins. Don’t be a Scrooge, pop on your Christmas jumper and enjoy my top ten things to do at Christmas in London.

UPDATE 2020: While most (but not all) of the attractions listed in this post are out of doors, where it is easier to socially distance. they may still be impacted by restrictions. Please check with the venue’s own website before visiting and please check and adhere to all local restrictions.

This post is brought to you in association with Rohan, the outdoor and travel clothing specialist. Some links in this article are affiliate links which means if you click on them and go on to make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no cost to you. Find out more about affiliate links.

 

Top ten things to do at Christmas in London

1. Window shop at luxury department stores

London is home to a number of well-loved high-end department stores, most notably Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges, all of which look fabulous decorated in their Christmas bling. It’s worth visiting them just to see their festive window displays. Be sure to pop inside too, even if it’s just to window shop. Harrods is one of my favourites to explore. You can marvel at the gifts you might be buying for someone who has everything, but you may also spot a bargain or two (my cat loves her Harrods food bowls, which I picked up with 50% off a few years ago).

 

 

2. Enjoy Covent Garden

I love visiting Covent Garden any time of year, with its colourful street performances and a mix of independent shops and quirky stalls, as well as a few well-known high street stores. At Christmas, however, with over-sized silver baubles and gigantic mistletoe hanging from the ceiling, it’s particularly enchanting. There’s such a festive atmosphere here, with the smell of roasting chestnuts and mulled wine drifting through the air, and the giant Christmas tree always looks splendid. It’s a great place for picking up unique Christmas gifts too. And I still love these giant red baubles from a few years ago, I hope they bring them back again one year. The Christmas lights will be turned on in Covent Garden on 12th November 2019.

 

 

3. Explore Winter Wonderland

I’ve visited Winter Wonderland, in London’s Hyde Park, a number of times and always enjoy it. Each year it seems to get bigger and bigger. This year it opens from Thursday 21 November 2019 and ends on Sunday 5 January 2020, from 10 am to 10 pm.

In the Bavarian Village, there’s a fabulous range of gifts, crafts, food and drink in traditional wooden cabins. There are live shows, over 100 funfair rides, and the biggest outdoor ice rink in the UK. Entry to Hyde Park and Winter Wonderland is free, however, a number of events and attractions are ticketed and pre-booking is advisable for these.

You can see more pictures from my previous visits and find out how to get there as well as other tips and advice in my article London’s Winter Wonderland.

 

4. Discover Kew Gardens at Christmas

The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew after-dark festival, when the Gardens are lit up with thousands of lights and laser beams, runs from Wednesday 20 November 2019 to Sunday 5 January 2020. This year the winter trail through the Gardens is bigger than ever and with spiced cider, hot chocolate, toasted marshmallows and more, you’re sure not to go hungry or thirsty!

For more information visit, Christmas at Kew. You can also read about my visit in spring, Kew Gardens.

Image courtesy of The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, credit: Jeff Eden

 

5.  Visit the Winter Festival at Southbank Centre

Throughout the year the Southbank Centre hosts a huge range of music and arts events, so whatever time of year you visit it’s worth checking what’s going on. From Friday 8 November 2019 to Sunday 5 January 2020, twinkling lights will line the south bank of the Thames, with a huge Christmas tree outside the centre, as well as wooden chalets selling Christmas gifts and crafts, German sausages and other festive treats. With a view of the city skyline, it’s also a lovely spot for a romantic walk along the River Thames.

 

 

6. Take a spin on the ice

As Christmas in London draws near, ice rinks pop up all over the city. The one pictured below is in Winter Wonderland but it’s grown a lot in size since then!

You’ll also find ice rinks at the Natural History Museum, The Tower of London and Canary Wharf but there are plenty more dotted around the city.

 

7. See the giant Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square

Each year, a spectacular 25-metre (82-foot) Christmas tree is donated by the city of Oslo to the people of Britain in thanks for their assistance to Norway during World War II. The tree is erected in the centre of Trafalgar Square and decorated by hundreds of lights. This year the lights will be turned on at 6 pm on Thursday 5th December 2019. In the lead-up to Christmas in London, numerous choirs sing carols around the tree from Monday 9th to Tuesday 24th December 2019. Performances take place from 4 to 9 pm on weekdays, and from 2 to 7 pm at weekends.

 

8. Visit Hogwarts in the Snow

Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, is some way out of London but it’s well worth the effort to get there. Harry Potter fans will love it at any time of year but at Christmas it’s even more magical, with the giant model of Hogwarts (the actual model used in the filming) covered in snow and the Great Hall laid out for a Christmas Feast. See Hogwarts in the Snow from 16th November 2019 to 26th January 2020.

You can find buy ticket price and transfer from London here, The Making of Harry Potter and private transfers here. Find more Harry Potter tours and walks in London here.

Read more about my first visit (I’ve been back a couple of times since!) here, Hovering Hogwarts.

 

9. Catch a Christmas show

Christmas in London’s theatreland isn’t limited to the great British tradition of pantomime. There are comic adult-only shows, seasonal ballets (most notably two productions of The Nutcracker), musicals, plays and extravaganzas. The most popular shows, such as The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker get sold out well in advance with tickets going on sale early in the new year.

Image courtesy of the Royal Opera House, credit: Tristram Kenton

 

10. See the Christmas Lights

There are numerous streets with fabulous Christmas displays and a good way to discover the best of them is through a walking tour. See the route I took, along with more of my pictures, here; Where to find the best Christmas lights in London. If you don’t have time to see them all make sure you don’t miss Regents Street (from 14th November 2019) and Oxford Street (from 21st November).

Another great alternative to walking is joining this tour of London’s Christmas Lights in a Vintage Open Top Bus.

 

Where to stay to enjoy Christmas in London

Whether you are looking for luxury hotels in central London or have a more modest budget, London has it all, from elegant hotels that feel like you stepped back in time to the golden age of travel to comfy modern hostels and, of course, we now also have AirBnBs.

I recently stayed in a Point A hotel for the first time. There are six in London with rooms from £54. Mine was in Kings Cross, which is the most expensive at £85, however, it’s just a few minutes’ walk from St Pancras International as well as Kings Cross national and underground stations. It was basic but had everything I needed (including a good shower), and was spotlessly clean. And I felt very safe there as a lone female traveller in London. Plus, if you join the A List, you’ll get 10% off.

 

Where to eat in London

They say you can find almost every cuisine in the world in London. You couldn’t be more spoilt for choice. Here are a few of my favourites…

 

In Chinatown, I love the Orient London, right next to the Chinese gate, for their fabulous range of dim sum, or for a quick snack it has to be the Bun House in Greek Street, Soho. For a business lunch or a night out with friends I head to Social Wine and Tapas in Marylebone. For fish ‘n’ chips my choice is any branch of Poppies. My favourite food market is Borough Market – don’t miss the scallops from Shellseekers.

To get a real taste for London, this food walking tour really hits the spot, Eating London.

What to wear in London at Christmas

The weather can vary greatly, with glorious sunny days not unheard of, but winters in London are more typically cold and often wet. The average high in December and January is 9°C (48°F) and the average low is 5°C (41°F). However, it’s not uncommon to have freezing temperatures and snow is a possibility. Be sure to pack a warm hat, scarf and gloves and a waterproof winter coat.

Explore England beyond London

It would be a crime to visit England and not see any of the country beyond London. There are some fabulous places within easy reach that make perfect day trips. A few of my favourites include the historic city of Bath, the seaside town of Brighton, Arundel Castle and the New Forest or South Downs National Parks. Whether you hire a car or use public transport you’ll get a taste of the English countryside along the way. Both options can be expensive so do your homework first to find the more budget-friendly ways to travel around England.