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! 🤩
Heads up! Some links in this blog are affiliates. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, I only recommend stuff I’ve tested or trust. Your support keeps this blog going—thanks a bunch!
Short on time? Here are my top recommendations:
- Wise – currency exchange
- Treehouse Hotel – best value for money
- Nutcracker – London Coliseum – best Christmas show
- Winter Wonderland Tickets
- Christmas Lights by Night Open-Top Bus Tour – best Christmas tour
- Hogwarts in Snow – for Harry Potter fans
- Christmas by Candlelight – best Christmas carols
📲 STAY CONNECTED: Use my Airalo code AIRALOESIM10 for 10% discount for any existing user up to 20,000 times, yes, you read it right!! 🤩 If you’re a new user, then use my Airalo discount code of 15% NEWTOAIRALO15 and afterwards use the 10% discount for any future packages. 🙂 My codes are valid until December 31st 2024.
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.
Here’s a list of the best Christmas Markets in London:
- Southbank Centre Christmas Market (my favourite)
- Christmas by the River at London Bridge & Tower Bridge (my 2nd favourite)
- Christmas Market at Trafalgar Square (very small and can get easily crowded)
- Christmas Market at Leicester Square (the most popular one)
- Christmas Market at Covent Garden (super cute and magical)
- Christmas Market at Sloane Square and Duke of York Square in Chelsea (less known, local vibes)
- Christmas Market at Borough Market
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.
The most popular and best ice rinks for you to try are:
- Somerset House
- Winter Wonderland
- Canary Wharf
- Queen’s House in Greenwich
- Glide at Battersea Power Station
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. 🫶
Other recommended Christmas Shows:
It’s based on Charles Dickens’s classic A Christmas Carol.
Based on Howard Pyle’s Robin Hood, this Christmas pantomime show is running for a limited time.
Based on Raymond Briggs’s The Snowman, this beautiful musical is coming back to West End for the 27th year.
Film in concert is one of the best experiences you can have in London. I watched all 3 parts of Lord of The Rings and I still get goosebumps. Home Alone is on my bucket list too!
📖 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.
Other great department stores for Christmas shopping in London:
- Harrods
- Selfridges
- Liberty London
- Hamleys
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!
Here’s a list of the best restaurants & bars in London for Christmas:
- The Ritz London – for the Christmas Afternoon Tea Experience
- Sketch London – Michelin restaurant with special Christmas menus in a whimsical setting
- 34 Mayfair – ever since they had 14,000 bubbles in 2020, this restaurant has become a symbol of the best Christmas restaurants in London
- Daphne’s – gorgeous ceiling decorations
- Duck & Waffle – great views, special Christmas and New Year’s Eve menus
- Clos Maggiore – one of the most romantic Christmas restaurants
- Petersham Nurseries – festive garden restaurant with seasonal menus
- The Ivy Chelsea Garden – especially gorgeous outside
- The Churchill Arms – most beautiful pub
- Miracle at Henrietta – true Christmas fairytale bar
- Mr Fogg’s Tavern – traditional Christmas ambience
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.
Here’s a list of the best igloo dining experiences in London:
- Coppa Club at Tower Bridge – the best and most popular one
- Aviary London – rooftop bar with luxurious igloos
- Skylight Tobacco Dock – igloo dining and ice skating on the rooftop
- The Sipping Room – in Canary Wharf with local vibes
- Jimmy’s Lodge – riverside igloos at Southbank
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.
Here’s the list of best Christmas carols & concerts in London:
📖 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.
Here are my top 3 choices:
It’s in Covent Garden, and the Miracle Bar is there, so as a guest I am sure you can have drinks there more easily than others!
Nothing says Christmas better than The Ritz in London. It’s luxurious and classy and reminds me a lot of the Plaza Hotel in NYC. So if you’d like to have your Home Alone British Version Moment, this is the place.
I keep saying, this hotel is the best value for money. It’s on Oxford Street and doesn’t break a bank, but still keeps you close to all the important sights and locations in London.
Read my other London blog posts:
📍Like this post? Pin it!