Today I want to share about the best Christmas day trips from London. From cities and towns with famous Christmas markets to medieval castles with Christmas-themed events and activities, there are a lot of great winter day trips from London you can take during the festive season. Whether you love snowy chalets selling handmade gifts or an outdoor winter wonderland, there’s something for you.
Best Christmas Day Trips from London
The best Christmas day trips from London range from urban centers to towns and places in the countryside. Some are home to famous British Christmas markets, while others are known for British Christmas food or festive seasonal events.
Whatever your interests, these winter day trips from London are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
1. York Christmas Day Trip
York tops my list of the best Christmas day trips from London. This city in the north of England is famous for its markets, of which there are many dotted throughout the center.
I once took a York day trip to discover the top York Christmas markets, and I was impressed by the size and variety of the city’s offerings.
Beyond markets, York’s shops and restaurants are full of Christmas cheer. From decorations on facades to special foods and drinks like mince pies and mulled wine, there’s a lot to get excited about here.
The city is also home to Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, an annual winter experience featuring the north of England’s largest outdoor ice skating rink, a vintage funfair, a Santa’s Grotto, and an alpine cafe. It’s a great place to get into the Yuletide spirit.
2. Bath Christmas Day Trip
Bath is next on my list of the best Christmas day trips from London. The city is stunning at any time of year, but it really comes alive with markets and magic during the festive season. A Bath day trip is a great way to take it all in.
Bath has a lot of unique events and markets on offer during the season.
There’s an independent Bath artisan market in Queen Square, traditional Christmas celebrations around the Abbey Quarter, and an illumination trail of the city’s iconic heritage buildings.
There are also festive market stalls in Kingston Parade and Abbey Green, a Victorian carousel outside the Roman Baths, and lots of street performances and carol singing. Most years there’s a big Christmas market in the city center, too.
Additionally, many of the best independent shops in Bath go all-out for Christmas. From outdoor lights adorning the streets to twinkling ones inside the stores, the decorations are top-notch.
The seasonal goods on offer in the shops make perfect Christmas gifts for family, friends, colleagues, and other important people in your life, too.
3. Birmingham Christmas Day Trip
Next on my list of the best Christmas day trips from London is Birmingham. One of the best cities in England, this Midlands powerhouse is packed with Christmas markets and other festive fun throughout the Yuletide season.
I once took a day trip to visit the Birmingham Christmas markets and I loved everything from the gift-laden chalets to the sizzling sausages and other seasonal fare on offer.
From the lights on New Street to the carols in Victoria Square, there’s always a lot going on.
For ice skaters, the Ice Skate Birmingham rink in Centenary Square is a great place to glide through the winter air. The views of it from the contemporary Library of Birmingham are great, too.
4. Canterbury Christmas Day Trip
Canterbury is another of the best Christmas day trips from London. This city in Kent is known for being home to Canterbury Cathedral, which is one of the most important churches in the UK.
It puts on everything from the Cathedral Carol Service to the Christmas Eve Choral Evensong with Carols and the Christmas Day Sung Eucharist with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Outside the cathedral, a day trip to Canterbury is a great way to take in the the city’s Christmas festivities.
The Canterbury Christmas market in Whitefriars Shopping Centre and St George’s St features festive chalets rife with gifts and seasonal food and drinks. There’s also a Visit Santa experience for children and a Santa Paws experience for dogs.
Add to that live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon during the season, and there’s a lot to love about a Christmas day trip from London to Canterbury.
5. Windsor Castle Christmas Day Trip
Windsor Castle is next on my list of the best Christmas day trips from London. One of the most famous castles near London, it’s not only a great place to get into all things royal, but also a fun place to immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit.
That’s because Windsor Castle has beautiful Christmas decorations. From the special exhibitions to the festive garlands and twinkling lights throughout the halls, it’s magnificent to see.
The piece de resistance is the huge Christmas tree in St George’s Hall. It’s decorated with beautiful ornaments and lights.
There are other Christmas trees dotted throughout the State Rooms, including the Semi-State Rooms, which are only open to visitors in the winter.
There are also special events on at Windsor Castle during the Christmas season.
From themed activities around the castle to arts and crafts workshops and festive storytelling in the State Apartments, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on a Christmas day trip to Windsor Castle.
6. Exeter Christmas Day Trip
Exeter is another of the best Christmas day trips from London. Down in Devon, this cathedral city in the UK comes alive with seasonal festivities in the winter.
One of the best is the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market on Cathedral Green. It features a labyrinth of winding lanes lined with chalets packed with handmade gifts, Christmas foods and drinks, and seasonal decorations. There’s live entertainment, too.
Exeter Cathedral itself does a lot as well. It hosts carol services, concerts, events, and tours throughout the run-up to Christmas.
Elsewhere in the city, there are twinkling lights, festive decorations, and Christmas trees in Princesshay and Roman Walk. Shops and restaurants are decked out in seasonal decor, and there are pop-up markets and bars throughout the city center.
7. Hever Castle Christmas Day Trip
Last on my list of the best Christmas day trips from London is Hever Castle. This moated beauty in Kent dives deep into the Christmas spirit each year, offering visitors a range of festive activities to choose from.
Hever Castle has a themed Christmas Trail visitors can follow, a festive fairground with rides, Christmas gifts and food in the shops and restaurants, a Santa’s Grotto, and a magical Christmas Light Trail experience around the gardens and lake.
Inside the castle, there are traditionally decorated rooms, warm log fires, and bright Christmas trees galore. They bring the interiors alive with festive atmosphere and eye-catching surprises.
Best Christmas Day Trips from London
I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of Christmas day trips from London and that it’s inspired you to get out and discover some of the best places to visit in the UK in winter. I’m sure they’ll help you get into the seasonal spirit as much as they’ve helped me.
If you want to travel further afield, the Scotland has a lot of great options as well. There are plenty of fun things to do in Edinburgh at Christmas, and cities like Glasgow and Inverness have markets and more. Happy travels!
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