London in December could also be wet or uncooked however when the solar units within the late afternoon, the lights glitter and you may really feel the magic of Christmas within the air. Like most massive cities, London affords cosmopolitan, big-city attraction, however in the course of the holidays it nonetheless incorporates among the attraction of conventional European villages. There are so many enjoyable issues to do in London at Christmas, however in case you are visiting it’s arduous to suit all of them in so I wished to share among the highlights.
We visited London in December simply earlier than Christmas and thought it was an ideal time to see the sights and seize the vacation spirit. Since it was the week earlier than Christmas, we discovered low-cost flights (~$500 per particular person) and higher availability at London motels.
Our days have been stuffed with visiting the sights…Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, the British Museum, and the whole lot Harry Potter. But we additionally made time to squeeze in some particular vacation occasions and meals. I imply, if we’re visiting London for Christmas, it’s a should, proper?
While there may be a lot to do in London (see my 7-day London itinerary for how one can match all of it in), be sure you go away yourselves time to get pleasure from a few of what makes London at Christmas so particular.
Things to do in London at Christmas
1. Play all Day at Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland takes over a big a part of Hyde Park in Central London from mid-November by means of early January. It actually is one thing you’ll be able to’t miss in case you are visiting London at Christmas. Winter Wonderland is a mash-up of fairground rides with meals stalls, reveals, and a few terrific Christmas markets.
Tickets are actually required to get into this big vacation pageant and have to be booked prematurely. During off-peak hours, entrance is free however will value you £5-7.5 for entry throughout peak hours. But for those who spend £25 on rides and points of interest, your entrance charge will likely be free.
To get in, you’ll need to enter by means of a safety gate so to streamline the method, go away your bag on the resort and solely convey your pockets and cellular phone.
You might want to pay to journey any of the rides and to participate in experiences like ice skating, Christmas reveals, and rides on the Giant Wheel (a enjoyable different to the favored London Eye.) Many of those particular actions ebook up early, particularly in case you are visiting on the weekend. I’d extremely suggest reserving these tickets prematurely once you reserve your tickets!
Inside Winter Wonderland you can find a magical ice kingdom, an actual ice slide, ice sculpting workshops, circus reveals, and so many rides from curler coasters to the family-friendly Santaland practice.
If you wish to store, there may be additionally a Christmas market inside the Winter Wonderland. The Angels Christmas Market additionally affords over 100 charming picket chalets packed filled with distinctive presents, handmade Christmas decorations, and tempting culinary delights.
There are many beer halls and meals stands all through the park, permitting you to heat up with mulled wine, sizzling chocolate, bratwurst, and different conventional meals.
If you intend forward, you can too ebook reservations at Bar Ice (the place the whole lot is product of ice). There are even big tipis at Thor’s or you’ll be able to heat up on the Fire Pit bar.
I’d suggest visiting within the late afternoon to be able to get your bearings and discover whereas it’s nonetheless mild out and never as chilly, however keep when the solar units and in addition see the pageant lit up in all of its glory. Just make certain to bundle up!
2. Shop Traditional Christmas Markets
If you don’t get your fill of the Christmas markets at Winter Wonderland, head throughout the Thames to the Southbank Centre Winter Festival. Here you can find free and ticketed occasions, reveals, household leisure, festive meals, glittering lights, and a standard Christmas Market from early November by means of early January. You can even discover market stalls providing distinctive presents and artisan crafts.
You can simply spend the complete day on the South Bank between the Borough Market, Globe Theater, Tate Modern, the London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure! London, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, and a lot extra. Or, you’ll be able to end off a go to to the Tower of London with a stroll throughout Tower Bridge to the Christmas Market on the opposite facet.
If you stroll from the Southbank Centre in the direction of Tower Bridge, you’ll come to Christmas by the River at London Bridge. You can catch stunning views of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The market options handmade crafts, specialty meals, and steaming cups of mulled wine.
You may also discover different Christmas Markets round London together with these at Borough Market, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square.
3. Ice Skating
When the rain stops, it’s time to strap on the skates and head to one of many many ice skating rinks round London. Sadly the rink by the Tower of London is now closed, however there are nonetheless many out of doors ice rinks round London together with Hampton Court Palace, Canary Wharf, Somerset House, Skylight Ice Rink on the rooftop of Tobacco Dock, Queen’s House Ice Rink in Greenwich, and Glide on the Battersea Power Station. Of course, you can too add ice skating to your checklist of issues to expertise at Winter Wonderland!
4. See the Christmas Decorations
One of the issues we loved essentially the most about visiting London at Christmas was the tasteful and festive vacation decorations making the streets glitter and glimmer. Regent Street began this custom in 1954 and its “Spirit of Christmas” shows are spectacular with sweeping canopies of sunshine that run from Langham Place all the best way to Waterloo Place on the southern finish of Regent Street St James’s. This is a good space to stroll round when visiting London at Christmas.
After strolling alongside Regent Street, you should definitely additionally see the brightly coloured decorations alongside Bond Street, the place the peacock feathers are actually being changed by a royal theme. The show pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II with 93,652 LEDs that function 4 monumental crowns at key junctions on Bond Street, impressed by The Imperial State Crown.
Oxford Street’s mild show of 5,000 dangling stars change on in early November, however beginning in 2022 they may solely keep on from 3 pm to 11 pm due to vitality prices. The shows throughout this busy buying thoroughfare are additionally now centered on sustainability, utilizing 300,000 LED mild bulbs and recycled plastic, making them 75 p.c extra environment friendly than conventional bulbs.
We additionally appreciated popping into the retailers in Convent Garden and the Burlington Arcade to see the lights and draping of evergreen garlands displaying off the festive spirit.
If you might be in search of an enormous Christmas tree or Hannukah Menorah, you can find these in Trafalgar Square.
5. Visit the Shops
The children will love visiting Hamleys, one of many largest toy shops on the earth. Floor after flooring affords delights for all ages. Even although some toys could be discovered wherever, there are additionally specialty keepsakes, like Hadley’s personal stuffed teddy bears.
Fortnum and Mason is a feast for the eyes and the stomach. This is the place you’ll be able to order and ship a few of its well-known vacation hampers. They will be stuffed with no matter specialty meals and delicacies you need.
When you might be performed buying, you should definitely additionally cease into the ice cream store for ice cream sundaes. Or, decide up some goodies or stunning marzipan candies on the primary flooring.
And in fact, Harrods is a must-visit it doesn’t matter what time of yr. But seeing this block-size division retailer draped in twinkling lights is one thing particular. Kids will get pleasure from assembly the life-size Harrod Bears.
Bonus: Blenheim Palace
We didn’t get to go to on our go to however Christmas at Blenheim Palace appears to be like magical! There is an illuminated mild path, superbly embellished staterooms, classic fairground rides, and an “Alice in the Palace” expertise.
Tips for Visiting London at Christmas
- Visit per week or two earlier than Christmas to keep away from the most important crowds.
- Read my ideas for planning your London itinerary
- Find out how a lot a journey to London prices and create your trip price range
- Be ready for visitors jams from supply vehicles dropping off vacation packages so plan on utilizing the Tube and Heathrow Express as an alternative.
- When utilizing the Tube, keep away from rush hour when it’s most crowded.
- Make a reservation for a vacation meal the place they provide conventional Christmas Poppers and Crowns — it’s a particular expertise!
- Visit the Harry Potter Tour on the Warner Brothers Studio to see Hogwarts as it’s embellished for Christmas (see my information for all of the Harry Potter points of interest in London.)
- Use the London Pass to economize for those who plan to go to most of the widespread essential points of interest.
- Dress in heat layers and you should definitely pack rain boots and an extended, waterproof jacket
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