Christmas in London: The Best Things to Do (2026) from a Londoner

Spending Christmas in London in 2026? After years of Christmases in the city, these are the lights, markets, neighbourhoods, shows and festive London experiences I’d actually make time for — plus how I’d plan your days for the best Christmas in London ever, from a Londoner!

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Christmas in London makes me want to walk everywhere.

By mid-November, I’m more than keen to skip a quick Tube journey in favour of a very long walk to see Regent Street lit up, gawk at the displays at Fortnum & Mason, and by then I’m already halfway to Covent Garden so I may as well keep going.

It’s no secret that Christmas in London truly is one of the best places to spend the festive season in the world, which is exactly why you should do it right.

Given my 10 years of experiencing the season, I thought I’d put all my favourite bits together for your trip this Christmas.

Shall we?

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Best Things to Do for Christmas in London

1. Walk the Christmas Lights After Dark

If you only do one thing for Christmas in London, make it a long evening walk!

I like starting before it’s fully dark because you get to watch the streets change, and it is pretty magical if I do say so myself.

Regent Street has been decorating for Christmas since 1954, making it one of the oldest large-scale Christmas light traditions in Central London.

For your first time, I’d start around Oxford Street, head down Carnaby, loop onto Regent Street, cut across Piccadilly to Fortnum & Mason and Bond Street, then finish around Covent Garden.

Honestly, it’s a full Christmas evening in itself, but you can also add Winter Wonderland after too if you’re keen.

If you’d rather have someone guide you through the route, I’d choose the Christmas Lights Walking Tour, the Christmas Lights Bike Tour if you fancy covering more ground, or the Christmas Lights & Bites Tour if eating along the way (and out of the cold) is more your cup of tea.

Read More: Best Christmas Tours in London

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2. Spend an Evening in Covent Garden

For the most iconic festive stop in the city, make sure Covent Garden is on your list.

Between the West Piazza Christmas tree, the Market Building covered in oversized gold bells and baubles, and all the little surrounding streets, it’s one of the best places to see once London gets dark.

For 2026, Covent Garden’s Christmas season begins on 12 November with more than 300,000 lights across the neighbourhood and the return of its lush seven-week Theatre of Christmas programme.

I’d come while there’s still a little daylight, walk around the Piazza, disappear into Neal’s Yard and the surrounding Covent Garden streets, then come back through once everything is lit.

And because you’re in the West End already, it fits fabulously with a dinner and theatre show to end your evening.

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3. See Christmas at Kew

Although it’s not right in the smack of Central London Christmas buzz, a visit to Christmas at Kew is worth a day in itself.

I already love spending time at Kew Gardens, but the holiday season takes it to a whole other level, with light installations stretching through the gardens and the Temperate House putting on a show. Not to mention plenty of Christmas market stalls throughout the trail (and the odd Santa spotting).

The trail runs on selected dates from 13 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. And new for this year, 3 and 9 December are adult-only evenings.

If you’re going that far out, I suggest exploring the neighbourhood of Richmond and Kew Village before ending at Kew Gardens.

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4. Go Ice Skating at Somerset House

If I’m being honest with you, London has had plenty of festive ice rinks over the years, but if I can only choose one, I’m going to Somerset House.

Whilst here you’ll skate inside its eighteenth-century courtyard overlooking a brilliant Christmas tree (don’t worry, if your skating technique is mostly “try not to take anybody else down with me” you can hold onto the sides!).

Skate at Somerset House runs from 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027, with daytime sessions and evening Skate Lates.

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5. Decide if Winter Wonderland Is Your Kind of London Christmas

If you read any London at Christmas guide from someone who doesn’t live in London, they’ll always tell you to go to Winter Wonderland.

And I agree, only on certain conditions.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is enormous, noisy, busy and about as far away from a quiet little Christmas market as London can get.

But that’s exactly why plenty of people love it.

It started in 2007 as a much smaller open-air Christmas market and has since grown into one of London’s biggest seasonal events.

If you don’t mind the splurge and want rides, games, an ice rink, shows, Christmas market stalls, street food and festive bars all in one place, go.

If your idea of a good Christmas evening is walking pretty streets, looking in shop windows and eventually finding somewhere for wine, I’d spend that evening in Marylebone, Mayfair or Belgravia instead.

This year Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closing on Christmas Day. Just bear in mind that entry is timed and popular sessions sell out, so book your slot in advance!

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6–8. Choose Your London Christmas Market

I love Christmas markets in London for the food, atmosphere, and of course, the food. But the truth is you don’t need to cross London trying to collect them all.

If you’re doing a Christmas day on the Thames, I’d look at the winter programme at the Southbank Centre for a beautiful central location and seasonal food, performances and markets around South Bank from November.

For something that still feels like a London market when the Christmas decorations come down, I really like Greenwich Market. Its 2026 festive season starts with the Lantern Parade and Christmas lights switch-on on 18 November, and you can easily turn it into a whole day around Greenwich.

Then there’s Leadenhall Market, which has been part of the City since the 14th century. Come December, it adds its iconic Christmas tree, lights and independent festive stalls, making it one of the most local-and-loved places to be come the season.

Read More: Christmas Markets in London 2026: 15 Best Markets, Dates & Locations

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9–14. Book a Christmas Show or Pantomime

For a Christmas in London activity that feels very British, I’d highly consider seeing a pantomime, or at least booking a proper Christmas show.

If you’re visiting from outside the UK, a pantomime, or panto, as they call it, is a wonderfully over-the-top British theatre tradition usually based on a familiar fairy tale, with big costumes, songs, slapstick comedy, topical jokes and lots of audience participation (i.e. shouting things like “He’s behind you!”).

Pantomime has roots in 16th-century Italian commedia dell’arte, but developed into its distinctly British form over the following centuries, and is a huge part of British family Christmas today.

If you’re staying in south or south-west London, I’d look at Richmond Theatre‘s Jack and the Beanstalk from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.

Otherwise, over at New Wimbledon Theatre, Peter Pan runs from 5 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, starring Jessie Wallace.

If panto isn’t quite your thing, there are plenty more traditional Christmas shows too.

A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic runs from 10 November 2026 to 9 January 2027, with Giles Terera playing Ebenezer Scrooge.

For a grander music night, I’d also look at Royal Albert Hall. Sir John Rutter’s Christmas Celebration is there on 4 December 2026 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Bach Choir, with seasonal music and sing-along carols conducted by Sir John Rutter himself.

Later in December there’s also Carols with the Royal Choral Society and Carols at the Royal Albert Hall if you want the full huge-choir, Christmas-carols-in-one-of-London’s-most-beautiful-venues experience.

And if you want something less traditional, LUMINISCENCE at Westminster Cathedral uses 360° projections, live choir and orchestral music and narration to tell the story of London inside the cathedral. Quite the Christmas treat!

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15–17. See Christmas Carols in London

London has plenty of Christmas concerts, but listening to Christmas carols in some of the city’s most iconic monuments is a must.

The Choir of Westminster Abbey performs its Christmas concert on 19 December 2026, continuing a choral tradition at the Abbey that goes back centuries.

St Paul’s Cathedral also holds Christmas Carol Services on 23 and 24 December, with its cathedral choir singing the traditional Lessons and Carols service.

And for something wonderfully simple, stop at Trafalgar Square in December. The Christmas tree there has been given by the people of Norway every year since 1947 as thanks for Britain’s support during the Second World War. Choirs sing beneath it all throughout December.

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18–19. Have a Proper Christmas Afternoon Tea

Personally, I love an afternoon tea, so Christmas certainly isn’t the season I’m suddenly going to show restraint.

If you want the grand London version, go to The Ritz.

The hotel’s Christmas Afternoon Tea runs from 14 November 2026 to 5 January 2027, with Christmas cakes, mince pies, scones, sandwiches and carols from The Ritz choir. It’s £120 per adult and £79 per child, so this is absolutely the splurge option, but if you’ve ever wanted to see The Ritz dressed for Christmas, this is the time I’d do it.

If you want something much more playful, I’ve personally done and loved Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Sightseeing Bus Tour.

You’ll have afternoon tea on a Routemaster while Christmas in London goes past your windows. It’s brilliant and runs from 11 November to 5 January.

If it were me, I’d choose The Ritz for a special occasion and Brigit’s if you want your afternoon tea to double as sightseeing.

For more options, use my guide to the best afternoon teas in London.

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20–23. Go Christmas Shopping Without Spending the Whole Day on Oxford Street

It simply can’t be Christmas in London without a bit of shopping.

For the season (and every season) I’d absolutely look inside Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Liberty London and Harrods, even if you don’t plan on leaving with very much.

Personally, I like to do it as a little Christmas shop crawl, starting with Selfridges in Marylebone, then going on to Liberty and Carnaby Street in Soho, and Harrods in Knightsbridge.

Read More: Best Christmas Shops in London 2026: Where to Go Christmas Shopping

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24. See Hogwarts in the Snow

If Harry Potter was already going to end up somewhere in your Christmas in London itinerary, I’d highly suggest doing the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

Come winter, it transforms into ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’, dressing the original film sets for Christmas, including the Great Hall and the Hogwarts castle model.

Fair warning, it’s just outside of London, so the experience takes a good part of the day once you include getting there and back.

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25. Spend a Festive Day at Hampton Court Palace

If you want your Christmas day to feel rather royal, make time for a visit to Hampton Court Palace.

Henry VIII turned Hampton Court into one of the great centres of Tudor royal life, meaning you can spend most of the day inside a genuinely important historic palace before adding the seasonal bits on the outside.

For 2026, the Winter Palace runs from 28 November to 3 January, while the Festive Fayre takes over the Great Fountain Garden on 4–6 and 11–13 December with more than 100 artisan producers.

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London Neighbourhoods I Love Exploring at Christmas

One thing I absolutely love about Christmas in London is that the whole city essentially turns into its own little Winter Wonderland, so I absolutely would be leading you astray if I told you just to visit Covent Garden and a few ticketed attractions.

Instead, do as the locals do: pick a London neighbourhood and see what December has done to it.

26. Marylebone

Marylebone is probably where I’d send you if Central London Christmas sounds appealing but Oxford Street on a Saturday afternoon absolutely does not.

Walk Marylebone High Street, pop into the independent shops, get lunch or coffee and then continue down towards Regent Street once it gets dark.

A Very Merry Marylebone Christmas takes place on 11 November 2026, with the lights switching on at 6pm.

This is also why I like The Welbeck as a Christmas base because you can effortlessly walk into the big festive sights and retreat back to Marylebone afterwards.

27. Mayfair + Belgravia

Mayfair and Belgravia are where I’d go if you want your London Christmas to feel a little more polished.

Mayfair gives you Bond Street, Fortnum & Mason and some of the city’s most over-the-top shop fronts. Belgravia gives you smaller streets, boutiques and places like the fabulous Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street.

I’d start around Mayfair in the late afternoon, then walk south into Belgravia once you’ve had enough of the bigger shopping streets.

28. Chelsea + South Kensington

I like Chelsea at Christmas because you can make the whole thing feel like a normal London day that happens to be December.

Walk King’s Road and Pavilion Road, have lunch around Sloane Square, then continue towards South Kensington for the museums or an evening at the Royal Albert Hall.

29. Kensington + The Churchill Arms

And if you’re anywhere around Kensington in December, I’d absolutely make a detour past The Churchill Arms.

The pub dates back to the 18th century and is already famous for covering itself in flowers for much of the year, but at Christmas those are replaced with an almost absurd number of Christmas trees and lights. The tradition started with just 10 trees more than 30 years ago and became one of the pub’s signatures.

I’d walk over, take in the exterior and then actually go inside for a drink (or quite randomly—Thai food!).

30. South Bank

South Bank is my pick when I want a Christmas walk down the river.

Walk from Westminster towards the Southbank Centre, browse the winter stalls, keep going along the Thames and you can eventually carry on towards London Bridge if your feet are still cooperating.

This one works particularly well before a show at The Old Vic or an evening around Waterloo too.

31. Greenwich

Greenwich is the one I’d choose if you’ve already done Central London at Christmas.

Head south-east to visit its stunning market, historic centre and Royal Greenwich, then have lunch or stay into the evening for a pub dinner at Trafalgar Tavern.

And if you’re here on 18 November 2026, be sure to see the annual Greenwich Lantern Parade and Christmas Lights Switch-On (it’ll start at the Old Royal Naval College, go through Cutty Sark Gardens and end at Greenwich Market!).

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Christmas Day Trips From London

32. Bath at Christmas

If you’re only in London for three or four days, I wouldn’t leave it. There’s already far too much Christmas in London to squeeze into three or four days!

But if you’re in the UK for a week or longer, Bath at Christmas is the perfect festive day trip.

The Georgian centre is compact enough to properly enjoy (and walk) in a day, with independent shops, beautiful streets and a completely different Christmas atmosphere from Central London.

Read More: Christmas in Bath: The Perfect Festive Weekend Itinerary

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Where to Stay in London at Christmas

The Welbeck, Marylebone

Christmas is one of the times I care even more than usual about where your London hotel is.

You’ll probably be walking more, staying out after dark and working around a few timed bookings, so being able to stroll back to your hotel room after dinner rather than face 45 minutes of Tube changes is quite the gift.

For the West End, I’d look at The Resident Covent Garden. You’ll have Covent Garden, Soho and plenty of theatre within an easy walk.

For somewhere central but a little calmer, I like The Welbeck in Marylebone, particularly if you want Oxford Street, Regent Street and Hyde Park nearby without sleeping right in the middle of the West End.

I’ve compared plenty more in my Best Christmas Hotels in London guide.

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My Top Travel Tips for Christmas in London

🌙 Time your Christmas exploring for day and night. I’d personally save museums, shops and neighbourhood wandering for daylight, then start your Christmas lights plans from late afternoon once London begins to light up.

🎟️ Book London’s big Christmas experiences ahead. Christmas at Kew, Somerset House skating, Christmas shows, Hogwarts in the Snow, Winter Wonderland and any special Christmas meals are the things I’d sort ahead of your trip. Regent Street will still be there if lunch runs long!

👢 Plan to explore plenty of London on foot. Christmas is one of my favourite times to get between Central London neighbourhoods on foot rather than disappearing onto the Tube every few stops—just wear shoes or boots you can genuinely walk in for 2+ hours.

🎄 Expect the most famous Christmas spots to be busy. Covent Garden and Regent Street are popular for a reason. If you can visit on a weekday, brilliant. Otherwise, embrace the Christmas crowds and keep it moving!

🎅🏽 Make a separate plan for Christmas Day. If you’re here on 25 December, most major attractions and shops close and London’s usual public transport doesn’t operate, so use my Christmas Day in London guide to do it right.

🧥 Pack for a cold and potentially rainy London. Long-term December averages sit at roughly 4–9°C, so I’d prioritise a proper coat, layers, comfortable shoes and something rain-friendly before worrying about whether London will deliver a white Christmas. Speaking of… does it snow in London?

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Final Thoughts on Christmas in London

I love London all year, but Christmas gives me a very good excuse to enjoy the city to the fullest.

I’ll walk instead of taking the Tube because Regent Street is all lit up. I’ll make an afternoon out of tea at The Ritz. I’ll wander around Marylebone with no particular plan and somehow end up gawking at Christmas windows in Mayfair an hour later.

On that note, absolutely book the big Christmas experience you’re properly excited about.

But don’t forget to leave some room for walking around, popping into somewhere that looks lovely and actually enjoying London in December. It truly is one of the best times of the year.

Have the best Christmas in London!

Happy Londoning,

Candace x

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Christmas in London FAQs

Is it worth going to London at Christmas?

Absolutely. Christmas is one of my favourite times to experience London if you like lights, theatre, winter walks, markets, shopping and festive food. With that said, the trade-off is bigger crowds and generally higher hotel prices, especially as you get closer to Christmas.

What is the most Christmassy place in London?

Without question, I’d say Covent Garden. The whole area is soaked to the brim in decor. You’ll get a huge Christmas tree, grand festive displays in the Market Building, lights, shops, restaurants and the West End around you, so it’s 100% worth visiting for your trip. For Christmas lights specifically, Regent Street is still my first choice.

When does Christmas in London start and end in 2026?

London starts feeling properly festive from early to mid-November. In 2026, major events begin between 11 and 19 November, while plenty continue into early January—including Christmas at Kew, Winter Wonderland, A Christmas Carol and Somerset House skating.

Which streets have the best Christmas lights in London?

For your first Christmas in London, I’d prioritise Regent Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby and Bond Street, then continue through Mayfair and towards Covent Garden.

If you’d rather have someone else handle the route, compare my best Christmas light tours in London.

Is Christmas in London good with kids?

Yes. Christmas at Kew, Winter Wonderland, Hogwarts in the Snow, festive theatre, afternoon tea buses and plenty of London’s markets work brilliantly for families. I’ve put the family-specific ideas together in my Christmas in London with kids guide.

What is the weather like in London at Christmas?

Cold, often damp and dark fairly early. Long-term December averages are roughly 4–9°C, although individual days can be colder or warmer. Bring layers, a proper coat and comfortable shoes because you’ll probably end up walking far more than you planned.

Is London open on Christmas Day?

Not in the usual way. Most shops and major attractions close on 25 December and London’s normal public transport doesn’t run. Some restaurants, hotels, churches, parks and organised experiences remain open, but I’d plan the day separately using my Christmas Day in London guide.

What should I book in advance for Christmas in London?

I’d book your hotel first, followed by Christmas at Kew, Somerset House skating, popular Christmas shows, Hogwarts in the Snow, Winter Wonderland if you want to go, and any Christmas afternoon tea or special meal you’d be gutted to miss.

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