10 ways to celebrate Christmas in London

If you are in London for Christmas, you must witness the spectacular illuminations that light up the city. An array of Christmas lights is displayed right from Oxford Street to Trafalgar Square and the top of The Shard– London. A few of the popular streets to see the lights are – light garlands at Regent Street, London’s tallest LED Tree at Winterfest, the charming lights of Belgravia, a lovely assortment of lights at Kew Gardens, to name a few. You can explore these sights by using London Hop On Hop Off services.

Grab gifts for your loved ones for Christmas, explore delightful street cuisines, and much more at London’s popular Christmas markets. Experience festive fun at Leicester Square and shop across an array of crafts and treats. Head to the Eccleston Yards Christmas Market and soak up the live music while you sip on a glass of mulled wine. Cross items on your shopping list by heading to Greenwich Market and exploring fashion, crafts, art, and more. Venture across the stalls at the Canopy Market while enjoying live jazz.

What better way to start the celebration than at one of London’s seasonal ice-skating rinks? Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London is a perfect location to celebrate a fun-filled Christmas wrapped with an array of activities. Placed under a canopy of twinkly lights, the ice rink is built around the Victorian bandstand and is functional from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The music by the bandstand gives the perfect mood to skate around and have fun. These rinks have a café or bar attached where you can tuck into for a hot chocolate and watch all the action.

As Christmas rolls closer, London’s brunch scene can’t be ignored. Here are a few of our picks on London’s best Christmas menus, at some of the top restaurants in the city.

• Ping Pong, Soho – A lively brunch with a casual offering of dim sum all day.
  Menu highlight: Warm dim sum alongside free-flowing fizz, cocktails, or beers.
• Farmacy, Notting Hill – Cleanse your system by heading to the plant-based Farmacy restaurant.
  Menu highlight: Omelette, choco-chip waffles served with nutella, loaded tacos with roasted mushrooms.
• Bar Elba, Waterloo – You can gear up for an event with Bar Elba’s bottomless brunch.
  Menu highlight: Smashed avocado, delicious burgers, and molten mac ‘n’ cheese.
• Darcie & May Green, Paddington – Enjoy a brunch while you float on a boat!
  Menu highlight: Crushed avocado on toast and an indulgent banana bread sandwich.
• Radio Rooftop, Covent Garden – Indulge in a festive brunch 10 stories above the bustling streets of London.
  Menu highlight: Turkey eggs and a lobster sandwich served with sweet potato fries.

Christmas at Kew is worth a view! The Kew Gardens display a trail of lights, shining across the ground and getting you into the Christmas mood. You will be mesmerized by the sparkling waterside reflections adding color to the trees and also by the panoramic display of the Palm House. Satisfy those taste buds by trying lip-smacking food available on the street for the ultimate Christmas eve. The Christmas in Kew Gardens will be until 7 January 2024. Use our detailed guide on Kew Garden entrances to get in and around with ease.

Hop onto the festive mode with an evening of carols at St. Paul’s Cathedral on 23 & 24 December, 2023. The London landmark is full of concerts and events and culminates with world-famous carol services which are ticketed. You can experience an atmosphere filled with carollers in the vicinity working on their vocal cords and check out Es Devlin's 'Come Home Again' installation at the Tate Modern Garden (near the cathedral), housing drawings of 243 at-risk species, designed for tourists.

Hours: 23 December 2023, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Flowing through the heart of central London, the River Thames provides a beautiful backdrop to the city’s skyline with famous landmarks. The Thames River cruise will pass through a few of London’s top icons such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Southbank, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the London Bridge, Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, and so much more, lining the dramatic shores of River Thames. Get awestruck this Christmas with the best!

If you aren’t able to visit the whole of London during Christmas, you can get a breathtaking unparalleled view of some of the famous landmarks of London from the London Eye. You can admire Windsor Castle, catch a glorious view of the River Thames and the Shard monument. Right from the Houses of Parliament to the great Buckingham Palace and more of the cityscape, you get to see it all from the top.

Opening Hours: 11:00 AM - 06:00 PM daily, except on 25th December.

Escape the city bustle of London during Christmas by heading to the cultural town of Warwick and witnessing historical sites like no other. Take a 90 min drive from London to Bath and explore the Georgian town and learn about the heritage and their international spa outposts. Enjoy the Christmas magic at a castle in Kent or soak into British culture by indulging in great British food and their history, in Windsor.

Book your London to Bath Day Trip tickets here!

The Christmas celebration is incomplete till you treat yourself and your loved ones to the best Christmas West End Shows. Watching a show at the West End during December adds to great Christmas theatre. You can enjoy a dramatic age-old family favorite like The Snowman or relive a holiday classic like White Christmas. Tickle that funny bone by watching Shakespeare’s The Comedy Of Errors or head to watch A Christmas Carol Show in West End, London. Book your tickets now and let the festive fun begin!