Christmas is one of the best times of year in London. In anticipation, today I bring you A Lady in London’s guide to the 9 highlights of Christmas in London.
Highlights of Christmas in London
There are a lot of great things to do in London at Christmas, from taking in the seasonal decorations to visiting the Christmas markets.
Whether you prefer indoor fun or outdoor, lights or performances, there’s something to entertain you in the UK capital this festive season.
1. Christmas Markets in London
One of the best ways to enjoy the Christmas season is go to the markets. The Christmas markets in London get bigger and more impressive each year, drawing locals and visitors from all over the world.
Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland extravaganza is one of the best. It fills the area by Hyde Park Corner with chalets, carnival rides, and ice skating every winter.
The South Bank also offers visitors everything from a traditional Christmas market to a cider lodge each winter. Festive performances, concerts, and entertainment take place throughout the season.
And that’s to say nothing of the markets in Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, London Bridge, King’s Cross, and Richmond.
2. Christmas Lights in London
Another of the highlights of Christmas in London is the lights. Britain gets dark early in winter, but the bright Christmas lights in London offer shiny substitutes for those of us that miss the sun.
The famous lights on Carnaby Street, Oxford Street, and Regent Street are some of the most admired, but if you want something more local, there are great ones in places like Hatton Garden and Shepherd Market.
For a really local neighborhood celebration, head to Hampstead High Street. The annual Christmas festival takes place there each year and is a fun way to get into the seasonal spirit.
3. Ice Skating in London
London’s ice skating rinks are a winter tradition, and no list of the highlights of Christmas in London would be complete without mentioning them.
The famous ice skating rink at Somerset House is one of the most beautiful, and the ice skating rink at Battersea Power Station is another favorite. More rinks pop up every year, so there’s no shortage of choice.
4. Christmas Theater in London
Another of the highlights of Christmas in London is the city’s theater scene. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is an integral part of the winter season in London, and there are lots of other festive plays and musicals to see.
For those that want something a little different, a pantomime is just the thing. All across the city, comedy fun takes to the stage in a British tradition that brings the season alive each year.
5. Christmas Afternoon Teas in London
I’m a big fan of afternoon tea, and there are some lovely Christmas afternoon teas in London each year.
In Knightsbridge, there are special Christmas afternoon teas at the Mandarin Oriental and other hotels that feature seasonal sweet treats.
Over on Park Lane, the annual Christmas afternoon tea at The Dorchester offers festive decor and live choirs performing.
Near Trafalgar Square, the Christmas afternoon tea at The Corinthia includes seasonal foods and drinks in a festive take on the tradition.
6. Carol Concerts in London
Traditional carols are as much a part of Christmas in London as the monarch’s annual speech, and London has no shortage of places to hear and sing them. Getting involved is a highlight of Christmas in London for many people.
From the historic Royal Albert Hall to the holy walls of St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, many of the city’s most beautiful venues hold carol concerts during the Christmas season.
And that’s to say nothing of the outdoor carol concerts. Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden are favorites of mine, but there are lots of other places to stumble upon Christmas carol performances in the city.
7. Christmas Events at London Hotels and Museums
Many of London’s famous hotels and museums shelter us from the cold during the Christmas season. Their events are highlights of Christmas in London.
In Bloomsbury, The Montague on the Gardens’ Ski Lodge hosts Christmas drinks and nibbles each year. And in Rotherhithe, events like alternative Christmas feasts take place at venues like the Brunel Museum.
8. Christmas Wreaths in London
One of my favorite unofficial highlights of the Christmas season in London is the wreaths that decorate doors on houses across the city.
Nowhere else in the world have I seen such creative and elaborate designs on Christmas wreaths, and every winter I make sure to look out for the best of them while walking through London’s neighborhoods.
My favorites are in Belgravia, where seemingly every door is decked with a festive wreath for the season.
9. Santa in London
If you believe in Santa, you’re in luck. There are Santa’s grotto installations in places like Chelsea’s Duke of York Square to entertain kids of all ages.
They’re fun ways to get into the seasonal spirit with little ones, and nice displays to bring the winter alive for the rest of us.
London Christmas Highlights
So there you have it. 9 highlights of Christmas in London. I hope this guide has gotten you as excited about this season as I am. Happy Christmas!
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38 Comments on Lady’s 9 Highlights of Christmas in London
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Looks perfect!:)
Thanks! Christmastime in London is amazing!
Oh My God! This post got me so excited for Christmas! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You’re welcome!
Last year I was in London on the weekend that Winter Wonderland opened; I went there and had an anxiety attack – WAAAAAAAY too many people in one place. I cured myself with a lot of extra strong mulled wine 🙂
My favorite part of Christmas London is all the lights on Oxford street’s shopping stretch and the smaller streets just off of it. Especially the shiny peacocks!
I also want to say a general thanks to your blog – I just came back from yet another week in London, and, having been there before as a tourist for 10 days and then for several work trips since and thus having checked off most touristy musts, I now rely on your blog for ideas on what to do, see and eat in London. This time around I got inspiration from your lists of markets (went to Portabello Rd on Saturday), parks (ran into a pack of deer in Richmond) and waterfront pubs (crawled a few in the Southwark area). And I already cant wait to go back!
Thanks so much! I’m glad you’ve found inspiration from my blog!
This takes me back to our trip during the Christmas season last year. So beautiful and so much fun!
Nice! Yeah, it’s a really amazing time to be in London!
Hi, I just wondered where the second and third pictures are of?
Thanks!
Winter Wonderland! It’s definitely worth a visit!
Thank you! I’m heading down in mid-December so will do!
You’re welcome! Have a great time!
Wonderful post! I was in London last year for the Christmas season and beyond…and have been there for four other Xmas seasons. It is killing me not being there this year…London does the season so well. I especially love the concerts – one at Royal Albert Hall last year brought me to tears it was so beautiful and St Martins in the Field has some lovely ones as well. I always have to go and see the Nutcracker too. I haven’t had a Christmas tea though – just a lovely Christmas dinner at the Cafe in the Crypt at ST Martin’s. Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories…already dreaming of Christmas in London next year!
Thanks! It sounds like you’ve done a lot of the best things during the Christmas season!
Take me back to London now!
Last week when I was still there I got to see the preparations: Carnaby and Oxford Streets were ready, and even Christmas songs were already playing at the stores, it already felt like Christmas.
I hope to be in London for Christmas one of these years! For now, I am getting excited about the Christmas Markets here in Germany 🙂
Lovely pictures as always!
I’m glad you got to see some of the preparations! Hopefully you can come back sometime for Christmas!
England does Christmas SO well, I love it all. I got to go to a Christmas themed afternoon tea last year in London and it was amazing, I wish I was there to go to more!
That’s great! I bet it was amazing. Afternoon tea is so lovely!
I love that festive feeling when the whole city prepares for Christmas! Personally I find Winter Wonderland far too crowded for my liking but I love Christmas afternoon tea and really want to finally go and listen to a London carol concert.
Yeah! I like going to Winter Wonderland during the day on weekdays since it’s much less crowded, but it’s hard for anyone that can’t get away during those hours!
We have experienced a very mild Autumn in Germany too. And as much as I love this season, I’m so looking forward to Christmas! Sadly, this year I won’t make it to London and I’m reallly sad about it because I think London is one of the best places to enjoy the Christmas spirit!
That’s too bad you won’t be able to come to London this year during the Christmas season! I hope you enjoy it in Germany. They always do a good job with Christmas, too!
Christmas lights make everything bearable! It gets so dark so early we need something cheery. They also help me to navigate in the dark to wherever I left my mulled wine 😉
Haha, I like that!
I’ve also been looking forward to winter now that I’ve been living in Europe for a while. The Christmas season here is just magical! London’s market looks especially colorful and I hope to experience it in person one day!
I hope you can experience Christmas in London sometime!
It’s lovely now that the Christmas lights have mainly been lit – the ones in Mount Street are being switched on this Thursday. Looking forward to some hot chocolate and ice skating too!
That sounds great!
I love some properly good Christmas themed posts – always gets me in the festive mood! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sam K. Francis
You’re welcome! Enjoy the season!
I love Marlybone christmas lights turning on and even the Leadenhall Market, simple but nice. And I’ll be taking my son to meet with Santa at the Duke of York Square this year again, lovely santa last year
That’s great! I will have to check out Leadenhall Market. I haven’t been there at Christmas. It sounds lovely!
Great list!! Another I would suggest would be Christmas at Kew gardens. It should be opening next week.
Thanks!
This post made me so excited for the holiday season! I’m currently studying abroad in London and I’m really enjoying all of the decorations that have popped up within the month of November. Unfortunately, I leave about five days before Christmas, so I don’t get to fully experience the holidays in London. I guess my fellow classmates and I will have to make the most out of the holiday season while we’re here!
Great Post!!
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the season before you have to leave London!
I love to spend winters in London. The Marlybone Christmas lights, Ice Skating at Somerset House, Christmas Market all these activities make me excited for the coming Christmas. Thanks for sharing such a lovely post with us & Merry Christmas.
Yeah, those are all great elements of Christmas in London! I love the Marylebone Christmas lights, too!