Christmas in London: Things to See and Do at Christmas

Christmas in London: London Lights, Winter Wonderland, Christmas Markets and Events:

Christmas Lights in London

There’s plenty to see and do in London on any given day of the year, but at Christmas time when the temperature takes a dive, visitors to London are in for a treat. Christmas lights, carols, beautifully decorated Christmas stores bursting with temptations, Christmas street parades, Christmas markets and ice skating rinks all add to the attractions of Christmas in London.

Christmas Lights

It’s fairy lights and Christmas decorations that give a place a fairyland feel at Christmas and London is well lit up during the festive period. From November you can enjoy London’s Christmas lights in famous streets such as Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby Street and South Molton Street. For street lighting dates, see HERE.

Special Christmas Tours

An even more special and fun thing to do is to let Santa Claus guide you around on a Christmas Eve Lights Tour in London.  Or, you can also see the highlights of London on a Christmas Morning London Panoramic Tour or enjoy Christmas Day in a London Vintage Bus.

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

There are Christmas trees in squares all over London, but the Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square is special. Each year since 1947 Norway has given a Christmas tree to London. This is in gratitude of the support that Britain gave Norway during the Second World War. Each year the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree lighting takes place with a ceremony, together with carols in the square throughout the Christmas period.

Ice Skating

Ice skating is one of the favourite pastimes at winter and all over London ice skating rinks pop up. From the historical venues like Somerset House and Hampton Court Palace to more modern venues like Canary Wharf and London Eye, you won’t have to travel too far to find an ice skating rink.

Photo Courtesy of Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

This is an annual event when London’s beautiful Hyde Park transforms itself into a Winter Wonderland with fun rides, loads of entertainment, London’s biggest open-air ice skating rink, and a German Christmas market with stalls selling all kinds of Christmas handicrafts, gifts and festive foods.

Christmas Markets

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the chance to indulge in festive treats. London’s famous markets like Borough Market, Portobello Market, Camden Market, etc. are a great places to visit at Christmas time and stock up on Christmas treats.

Things to Do at Christmas

Whilst Londoners are dashing about on Christmas Eve doing their last-minute Christmas shopping, visitors to London may wish to escape the shopping frenzy and take a tour perhaps to Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath or Leeds Castle, Canterbury and Dover.

And on Christmas Day, whilst the streets of London may be quieter, there are still a lot that visitors in London can do. You can feast on a traditional Christmas lunch whilst enjoying the sights of London on a Christmas Day River Thames lunch cruise, or go further afield and enjoy a Christmas Lunch in the Cotswolds.  For the full list of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tours, see Here.

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