Best Festive Things to Do in London for Christmas (2024)

London is one of the best places for Christmas. Some Christmas Lights and Markets already begin in early to mid November and they last until the first week of January, which is almost 2 months of festive season in the city! In this blog post I am bringing you the best things to do in London for Christmas, from where to see the Christmas Lights, which markets to visit to some of the best shows and activities you can do! 🤩

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See Christmas Lights and Decorations

The best out of all things to do for Christmas in London is definitely to see all the Christmas lights and decorations that lit up the city during the festive season! What’s even better is that you can do this for free!

My favourite Christmas spots in London are Regent Street, Old Bond & New Bond Streets and Oxford Street, Covent Garden and Mayfair (especially Annabel’s Mayfair that each year has a different theme for their display.).

Just keep in mind that all these places will be VERY crowded, especially on weekends 2-3 weeks before Christmas! If possible, try to visit on a working day, especially Monday to experience fewer crowds. I was even able to enjoy all these popular places in peace. Plus I got amazing photos too as you can see in the article below. 😉

📖 Read my Most Instagrammable Christmas Spots in London (+Google Maps) blog post for the ultimate list of all the best Christmas spots in London. As a Local who has been living in London for the past 6y, I’ve got you covered!

While walking around London to see all the Christmas lights and decorations is super enjoyable and easy (though you’ll make a lot of steps in a day!), you can also join a Christmas Lights by Night Open-Top Bus Tour for a different, yet affordable experience.

Have Fun at Winter Wonderland

During the Christmas season I need to go at least once to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. The best way to describe it is to say it’s a huge Christmas market and fun park perfect for both kids and adults. My favourite part is the Bavarian Village which really transports you to traditional German Christmas Markets. There, you’ll eat the best Bavarian sausage, sauerkraut and drink the best mulled wine, German beer and/or hot chocolate.

I recommend you to do at least one of the fun rides there. I did the Giant Wheel which gives you a beautiful 360 degrees view of Winter Wonderland and Hyde Park. For adventurers out here, I recommend Munich Looping which was made famous at Oktoberfest. It is the world’s largest transportable roller coaster and one of our most popular, flying you through five sky-high loops.

💡For the full list of activities and things to do, the best is to check their official website where you can also purchase the tickets. Since covid-19 it has become mandatory to buy the entrance tickets to limit the amount of people entering. I would recommend you to buy the tickets ASAP, especially if you’d like to visit Winter Wonderland over the weekend as they get sold out quickly!

Visit Christmas Markets

The reason why I didn’t include Winter Wonderland with other Christmas Markets in London is because they’re not the same for me. Winter Wonderland is a combination of activities where you can easily spend a full day. Whereas other Christmas Markets are rather small and they keep a traditional sense. They are a perfect place to rest, have something to eat and drink and do some shopping if you like.

Visit Harry Potter Studio Tour – Hogwarts in the Snow

Hogwarts in the Snow is a must activity for all the Harry Potter fans out here! 🤩

While visiting the Warner Bros Studio is always fun, it is a particularly amazing experience during Christmas because the whole studio gets decorated and themed to match the festive spirit.

💡Hogwarts in the Snow is running from 16th of November 2024 to 19th of January 2025.

👉 While you can buy the tickets directly at their website, you can also join a tour that will take care of your transport to the Studio because it’s in Watford, Zone 7 of London.

Unfortunately it is not that straightforward to get there (involves at least 1 change, depending on from where you’re travelling). Also, direct tickets get sold out easily and months in advance (especially for the best time slots), so if you’re booking at last minute or you don’t want to start your day at 7 am already, the tour is the most optimal solution! Funnily enough, the prices are pretty much similar to the direct ticket + transport option, so you’re definitely not losing any money!

🫶 If you see the reviews, the tour has 4.5 stars out of 20k reviews, so you’re guaranteed a magical experience!

So what makes the Studio even more special for Christmas? The Great Hall is decorated with Christmas trees for the ultimate Christmas vibe. As you explore the Studios, you will also see the original Christmas sets made for the movies. The Forbidden Forest will be covered in snow, while the Diagon Alley will be filled with Christmas shops.

Go Ice Skating

Okay, I tried it once in Canary Wharf, because I don’t know how to do it, but I always wanted to try. Nevertheless, I am not the most sporty person you’ll find here, so for me it was a once in a lifetime kinda thing before I break my legs lol. 🙈

However, if you’re NOT clumsy like me, this is actually a pretty fun activity, especially because you get to ice skate at some of the most popular and beautiful London spots.

Sadly, the most beautiful ice rink at the Natural History Museum (photo below) has closed permanently.

See a Christmas Show

What’s Christmas in London if you don’t see at least one Christmas Show? London’s West End is a world-renowned place for theatre culture with some of the best musicals, plays and pantomimes you’d find anywhere. It’s on par with NYC’s Broadway.

I was so happy to finally see the Nutcracker by the English National Ballet. It was such a nice and magical experience, I cannot recommend it more. 🫶

📖 Read my 11 Best Christmas Shows in London (2024) blog post for a more comprehensive overview of best Christmas shows this year.

Do the Christmas Shopping

Ever since 2020 most of us have gotten used to the comfort of online shopping, but not doing physical Christmas shopping in some of the best department stores in London is such a mistake. And I don’t mean spending some crazy amount of money on luxurious things. Even an advent calendar or a perfume or a book will do it. It’s really an experience of its own.

The best shop for Christmas shopping is undoubtedly Fortnum and Mason. It’s anyway on my list of most instagrammable Christmas spots in London, so you should check it either way. Outside it gets decorated as a huge advent calendar and inside is as if you stepped into a Christmas fairytale.

Experience Christmas Dining & Check The Best Bars in London

Every place in London tries to become festive and magical for Christmas, so it can become a hype on social media and draw visitors to themselves. And some of them really nailed it!

Have an Igloo Dining Experience

The reason why I didn’t include this on the list above but separately is because an igloo dining is such an unique experience.

Listen to the Christmas Carols & Concerts

Apart from seeing a Christmas show, you can also go to the Christmas carols & concerts in the city. It’s a truly magical setup, especially when it’s in the church.

📖 Read my 11 Best Christmas Shows in London (2024) blog post for a more comprehensive overview of best Christmas shows this year.

Attend a Christmas Mass

If you’re of Christian religion or you simply want to experience a Christmas Mass as a new cultural experience, I recommend you to attend a mass at either Westminster Abbey or St Paul’s Cathedral (for the Church of England) or Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic).

Walk the Kew Gardens Christmas Light Trail

Kew Gardens are always nice to visit, especially on a beautiful sunny day. However, they get particularly magical during Christmas. The whole trail will take approximately 75 minutes and is 2.6km (1.6m) long.

⭐️ Christmas at Kew runs from 13 November 2024 to 05 January 2025.
Tickets get sold out easily, so make sure to buy them in advance.

Visit London’s Giant Christmas Trees

The biggest Christmas tree in London is in Covent Garden. It is 18m (60ft) tall and has about 30,000 lights on it! While it’s pretty impressive to see it, my favourite Christmas tree in London is at the Hays Gallery. The one at Trafalgar Square is pretty cool too. Harry Potter fans will love the one at the Leadenhall Market too (a filming location).

Go on a Christmas Day Cruise Lunch

If you happen to be in London for Christmas, you will quickly get to realise that most of the things DON’T work on Christmas Day. So, aside from walking around the city and trying to warm up in some pubs and restaurants that do work, why not have a Christmas Day Lunch on a Cruise? A perfect way of celebrating Christmas: a combination of good food and great views.

🫶 This cruise gets sold out quickly, so buy your tickets in advance.

Where to Stay in London for Christmas

The best areas to stay in London for Christmas are these neighbourhoods in central London: Covent Garden, Soho and Mayfair. That way you are not spending neither time nor money on the public transport because most of the things are within a walking distance.

📖 If you’re all for the good views from your hotel room, check my Top 11 London Hotels with the Best Views (All Budgets!) and 6 Best Hotels with Amazing Views of Tower Bridge in London blog posts.

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