The lead up to Christmas is one of the most beautiful times of the year to visit London, with the city bursting with festive spirit. As we get ready to celebrate yet another magical season, I’ve written this London Christmas Guide to help with your upcoming visit.
Between Christmas decorations and markets, festive events, and themed tours and activities, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do and see!
*Last updated on 15 January 2026.
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Is Christmas the best time to visit London?
Christmas in London is BIG! London is one of the best cities in the world to experience the lead up to Christmas, when the festive spirit is amped up to the max and with an infinite number of things to do and see.
In my opinion, the lead up to Christmas is one of the best times of the year to visit London, as it’s one of the seasons when the city truly comes alive. London weather around Christmas is cold, but not extremely so – and if you’re very lucky you might even catch some snow!
Now, because of its popularity during the holiday season, London does get very busy around Christmas.
If you’d like to avoid the crowds, my advice is to visit early in the season, around mid- to late-November, when many streets switch on the Christmas lights and the festive decorations are already up. Alternatively, the period after Christmas keeps all the decorations and most of the festive activities until early January, with fewer crowds.
London Christmas Guide: Christmas Things to Do in London in 2026
1. See the London Christmas Lights
London’s world-famous Christmas lights are one of the main things to see when visiting the city during the holiday season.
Fortunately, London’s holiday season is pretty long and the city starts decorating early – Oxford Street is usually the first street to switch on its lights at the start of November, and the lights and festive decorations stay up mostly until the end of the first week of January.
London Christmas Lights switch-on dates for 2026:
- Oxford Street Christmas Lights – TBC, early November
- Carnaby Street Christmas Lights – TBC, early November
- Regent Street Christmas Lights – TBC, early November
- St James’s Street Christmas Lights – TBC, early November
- Covent Garden Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Seven Dials Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Bond Street Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Merry Marylebone Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Old Spitalfields Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Ever After Garden at Grosvenor Square – TBC, mid-November to mid-December
- Christmas at Kew Gardens – TBC, mid-November to early January
- Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park – TBC, mid-November
- Chelsea Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Leadenhall Market Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Belgravia Christmas Lights – TBC, mid-November
- Greenwich Market Christmas Lights – TBC, late November
- Neverland at Kenwood House – TBC, late November to early January
- Fulham Palace Festive Lights – TBC, late November
- Festive Fun at Eltham Palace – TBC, late November to late December
- Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree – TBC, early December
There are a few ways to experience the Christmas lights in London, and what you pick may depend on your travel style, accessibility requirements, and whether this is your first visit to the city.
London Christmas Lights Walking Route (With Map!)
If you don’t have accessibility or mobility issues that prevent you from doing so, I would always recommend first-timers to do a London Christmas Light Walk.
Not only do you get plenty of time to admire and snap photos of the prettiest Christmas lights in London, but you also get to experience the heart of London’s Christmas spirit and some of its iconic streets.
I created the below map with a London Christmas Lights Walking Route that you can follow as a self-guide (zoom in to see it).
It starts in Oxford Street and ends in Covent Garden, passing by the most beautiful and Christmassy streets in London, like New Bond Street, Old Bond Street, and Regent Street. The map also includes all the best Christmas photo op spots, London Christmas Markets and Ice Rinks!
The walking route on the map takes 1-2 hours to complete, including plenty of time for breaks and photos!
London Christmas Lights Tours
If you’d rather opt for a guided tour of London along with sights of the city’s iconic Christmas lights (or if you or anyone you’re travelling with have mobility issues), there are many tour options – from London open top bus tours to black cab tours, guided walking tours, and more:
2. Visit London’s Christmas Markets and Ice Rinks
No Christmas trip in Europe is ever complete without exploring the Christmas Markets to sip some mulled wine, warm cider, or hot chocolate, and perusing through the many food stalls to warm up in the crisp, cold nights.
Plus, if you’re fond of ice skating, you can’t miss the city’s coolest ice rinks!
London has several Christmas Markets that your can visit, and they’re all marked in the London Christmas Guide Map shared in this article (click to jump!)
London Christmas Market dates for 2026:
- Christmas in Leicester Square – TBC, early November to early January
- Southbank Centre Winter Market – TBC, early November to late December
- Christmas in Trafalgar Square – TBC, early November to early January
- Covent Garden Christmas Market – TBC, mid-November to early January
- Old Spitalfields Christmas Market – TBC, mid-November to early January
- Winter by the River and Hay’s Galleria – TBC, mid-November to early January
- Greenwich Peninsula Christmas Market – TBC, late November to mid-January
- Kingston Christmas Market – TBC, mid-November to late December
- Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park – TBC, mid-November to early January
- Christmas at Leadenhall Market – TBC, select dates
- Chelsea Winter Village & Illuminations – TBC, late November to late December
- Novikov Christmas Market – TBC, late November
- Fulham Palace Christmas Fair – TBC, late November
- Kings Cross (Coal Drops Yard) Christmas Market – TBC, select dates
- Christmas at Borough Market – TBC, early December to early January
London Ice Rink dates for 2026:
- Ice Rink Canary Wharf – October 25, 2025 – February 22, 2026
- Skate Leicester Square – TBC, early November to early January
- Glide at Battersea Power Station – TBC, early November to early January
- Skate at Somerset House – TBC, mid-November to mid-January
- Ice Rink at Westfield White City – TBC, mid-November
- Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park – TBC, mid-November to early January
- Queen’s House Ice Rink – TBC, late November to early January
- Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink – TBC, late November to early January
- Festive Skate at Ally Pally Ice Rink – TBC, mid-December to early January
3. Chase London’s Christmas Decorations
London decorates for Christmas early, from the beginning of November – however, new façade and street decorations continue to pop up throughout the season leading up to Christmas. Walking around the city during this time is never boring!
Many shops, buildings, and cafes/pubs put up new Christmas decorations each year, and provide the perfect photo op for your travel memories! Some of the most popular spots include the façade of Annabel’s private member’s club, the adorable red car at KOYN restaurant, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods, the shops at New Bond Street, and The Churchill Arms – the most Christmassy pub in London!
I’ve marked all the best locations for Christmas decorations and photo spots in the London Christmas Guide Map shared in this article (click to jump!).
The map includes not only the most popular spots, but also some lesser-known Instagrammable streets and corners!
4. Enjoy a Christmas Afternoon Tea
From the list of quintessentially British experiences, enjoying an Afternoon Tea is certainly one of them.
Apart from being a must-do activity on any trip to London, Christmas-themed Afternoon Teas flourish across the city in November and December, making them extra-special during this time of the year!
There are Afternoon Tea options for all tastes and budgets. Smaller independent cafes offer Christmas-themed Afternoon Tea menus for more affordable prices, while some classic London hotels offer sets with extravagant decorations and flair.
Remember that experiences in London get booked up pretty quickly! Be sure to make a reservation well in advance of your visit to avoid disappointment.
The most iconic festive afternoon teas in London:
5. Enjoy a Meal or Drinks at London’s Christmas Restaurants and Winter Igloos
I’ll say it again, London turns into a festive wonderland during Christmas, and you can feel it everywhere – from the shops to the restaurants!
The most important thing to know about London restaurants is that they tend to get booked up. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance of your visit to guarantee your experience.
London’s Most Christmassy Restaurants, Bars, and Pubs:
London’s Best Winter Igloos:
6. More Magical Christmas Activities and Experiences in London
If the above list isn’t enough to satisfy your Christmas spirit, here’s a few festive experiences and activities you can do in London this winter:
- Visit Hogwarts in the Snow at the Warner Bros Studio Tour in London;
- Visit Buckingham Palace and marvel at its decorated festive interiors;
- See a London Christmas Show like The Nutcracker at The London Coliseum;
- Attend a Candlelight Concert in London;
- Listen to sing-along carols at the Royal Albert Hall;
- Watch a Christmas screening at the Rivoli Pop-up Cinema;
- Attend a Christmas concert such as The Southbank Centre;
- See Love Actually In Concert at Eventim Apollo;
- Watch (or take part in) the London Santa Run;
- See London’s Christmas Parade – The Santa Claus Parade;
- Attend a Christmas church service at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, or Southwark Cathedral;
- If you have kids, treat them to a visit to some of London’s toy shops like Hamley’s, Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾, or the LEGO Store;
- Take a day trip from London to some of the best Christmas markets in Bath, Birmingham, Manchester, Canterbury, Winchester, or Oxford.
Where to Stay: Hotels in London Near Christmas Markets
Don’t make the mistake of underestimating how large London is. Staying in the “wrong” part of London can mean long commutes to the areas you’re looking to visit.
To save you the hassle, I’ve compiled some hotel recommendations close to the various Christmas Markets, for all budgets:
Mid-Range ($$)
● The Z Hotel Tottenham Court Road
● The Z Hotel Strand
● The Z Hotel Trafalgar
Premium & Boutique ($$$)
● The Hoxton, Southwark
● AMANO Covent Garden
● The Academy
Luxury ($$$$)
● The Ritz
● The Connaught
● Claridge’s
London at Christmas FAQ
Last Thoughts
I hope this Christmas Guide helps you plan your next trip to London during the Christmas season, and making the most of it. I’m sure you’re going to love soaking up the festive spirit!
Feel free to let me know in the comments if you have questions regarding any part of this post, and I’ll do my best to help.
Visiting during other dates? Check out my London guides below:
Planning to visit London during Christmas season? Pin this post to save it for later!
