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Christmas in London
Discover our complete London at Christmas guide and experience the city in all its festive finery. From twinkling London Christmas lights and charming Christmas markets to seasonal treats and holiday events.
Discover Christmas in London with Eurostar
London is a city that dazzles year-round, but in winter, it truly sparkles. Explore the city’s famous London Christmas lights and wander through enchanting London Christmas markets, enjoying festive activities and seasonal cheer at every turn.
Winter Wonderland will also return to Hyde Park this year from 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026. It's the biggest outdoor ice-skating rink in the UK, with festive attractions and stalls that are perfect for some Christmas shopping.
Travel in style on Eurostar, with direct trains from Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels.
There’s no shortage of things to do in London at Christmas. From late October, mistletoe and mince pies start appearing in shops and cafés, but by mid-November, the city is in full festive swing. London Christmas lights are officially switched on, department stores like Liberty and Selfridges reveal their spectacular seasonal window displays, and locals can’t get enough of Christmas sandwiches.
Things to do in London at Christmas
Looking to do some Christmas shopping in London or simply want to soak up the season's festive spirit? London's many Christmas markets and beautifully decorated shopping streets are where it's at.
Apple Market
Christmas at Apple Market in Covent Garden is one of the most popular tourist sites, even locals who usually avoid the throngs of Covent Garden can’t resist the Apple Market’s pull.
When? Christmas lights and markets from mid-November 2025
How much does it cost? Free
Nearest tube station? Covent Garden
Christmas at Kew
If you thought your Christmas party outfit was a showstopper, wait until you check out Kew Gardens’ seasonal makeover. A mile-long twinkling trail leads visitors past 27 botanic-themed illuminated installations, including kaleidoscopic projections and a chorus of ‘singing trees’.
When? from 14 November 2025 to 6 January 2026
How much does it cost? Between £21.50 and £28
Nearest tube station: Kew Gardens
Southbank Centre Winter Festival
The Thames’ cultural hub throws a neon-lit Noël celebration with a Nordic twist this year, with pop-ups, shows and performances by the river. Looking to heat things up? Don’t miss the rooftop Finnish sauna in the Queen Elizabeth Roof Gardens.
When? From the end of October 2025 to early January 2026.
How much does it cost? Free
Nearest tube station: Embankment, Waterloo
Regent Street
The biggest retail players along this Central London stretch embrace the Yuletide spirit, as the street goes traffic-tree for its grand Christmas lights launch. You might even spot a minor British celebrity or two...
When? From early November 2025
How much does it cost? Free
Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus
Winter Wonderland
Yes, it’s slightly cheesy, but there’s a reason why this Hyde Park stalwart is London’s largest festive fiesta. It’s been helping even the grumpiest of Grinches get into the Christmas groove with a winning formula of alpine-themed bars, ice-skating rinks, and raucous rides.
When? 14 November 2025 to 1 January 2026
How much does it cost? Between £5 and £7.50
Nearest tube station: Victoria, Bond Street, Knightsbridge
Tate Modern Christmas Market
This Thameside powerhouse knows how to put on a buzzed-about art show, but it’s also a secret mecca for festive gift-gatherers. Join them in the gallery’s forecourt each December to browse its cutesy stalls and pick up quirky stocking-fillers.
From mid-November to end of December 2025
Traditional Christmas food to try
Every Londoner has some kind of festive food fixation, from mince pies to the ultimate ‘Christmas sarnie’ (that’s a sandwich) – the subject of many a heated lunchtime debate
Mince pies
Thankfully, these don’t involve beef mince. Instead, these traditional, sweet-pastry pies are stuffed with a sticky, spiced mix called ‘mincement’; dried fruit, nuts, finely-chopped apple, and sometimes a soupçon of brandy.
Christmas sandwiches
Nothing gets Londoners salivating at this time of year more than a turkey sandwich. Traditionally made from Christmas Day-dinner leftovers, they’re now on sale from mid-November. Various cafés and chains battle for supremacy, adding more and more festive fillings, from bacon and sage stuffing to cranberry sauce and Brussel sprouts.
Pigs in blankets
Not to be taken literally, ‘pigs in blankets’ is the affectionate term for an ever-popular seasonal side-dish: small sausages wrapped in bacon, and baked until they’re extra crispy.
Christmas pudding
Forget your mother’s advice of never playing with your food. The traditional end to any British Christmas dinner, this dessert made from dried food and spices is aged for a month before being served at the table, doused in brandy and set on fire.
Cheap tickets to London
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