The ultimate guide to Christmas events in London 2025

Christmas in London is truly an extraordinary experience you must witness. The city transforms into a spectacular festive landscape, shining brighter than ever with dazzling lights, charming markets, and abundant festive cheer. This guide highlights the best Christmas events in London to make your 2025 trip unforgettable.

Why visit London during Christmas

London Christmas lights display with "Christmas is calling" sign on Oxford Street.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland entrance with festive lights and attractions in London.
Fudge varieties on display at Southbank Centre Food Market, London street food.
Two people toasting inside a snow-covered dome at the Up At The O2 Christmas experience.
Family ice skating together at an outdoor rink.
Family enjoying Christmas decorations at Legoland London.
1/6

Experience spectacular light displays

London at Christmas time is world-famous for its light installations and elaborate shop window displays, especially along Regent Street and Oxford Street.

Enjoy the UK's largest festive festival

Experience the return of Winter Wonderland London, the city's massive Christmas festival in Hyde Park, offering ice skating, fairground rides, and food stalls.

Explore historic festive markets

The city hosts numerous charming markets, from the traditional atmosphere of Covent Garden Christmas to the Southbank Centre Winter Market, perfect for Christmas shopping in London.

Unique attractions with a festive twist

Popular spots like the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London and Up at The O2 often host special Christmas events in London.

Iconic ice skating locations

Glide on the ice at rinks set against historic backdrops like Somerset House or Hampton Court Palace, a quintessential part of Christmas activities in London.

Group holiday fun

London offers many Christmas group activities, from themed pub crawls to festive masterclasses, perfect for celebrating with friends or family.

Top Christmas events & things to do

Christmas in London - Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Explore Winter Wonderland London

The return of Winter Wonderland London in Hyde Park is the biggest of all Christmas events London, running from mid-November 2025 to early January 2026. This vast festival is a must-see, featuring the UK's largest open-air ice rink, thrilling rides, circus shows, and the Magical Ice Kingdom—a truly grand-scale immersive Christmas experience in London.

London street with Christmas lights and black cab during holiday season tour.

Tour the dazzling Christmas light displays

Taking a dedicated trip to see the lights along Oxford Street, Regent Street, and the Canary Wharf Christmas area is one of the best things to do in London at Christmas. Many organised tours offer a comfortable way to see them all. This is a top choice for a Christmas night out in London.

Book Christmas Lights bus tours
Christmas in London - Christmas Concerts

Attend Christmas concerts & choirs

Immerse yourself in the classic sounds of the season. London’s historic venues, from the Royal Albert Hall to magnificent cathedrals like St Paul’s, host world-class Christmas concerts, carols, and choir performances, offering a sophisticated and heartwarming seasonal experience.

Neon sign for Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap in London's West End during Christmas

See a classic West End Christmas show

Attending a holiday-themed show, whether it's a classic ballet or a festive musical, is a perfect way to experience the Christmas activities in London. The West End theatres host many special seasonal performances and pantomimes, including the 'Nutcracker', 'Elf!', 'The Snowman', 'A Christmas Carol', 'Maddie Moate's Very Curious Christmas', and 'Christmas Carol Goes Wrong'.

Book Christmas show tickets
Hogwarts castle model covered in snow, showcasing Christmas at Hogwarts.

Immersive Christmas experiences

London is the capital of themed fun, offering a unique immersive Christmas experience. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London transforms the sets of the Harry Potter films with a festive makeover, including the Great Hall decorated for the Yule Ball and a snow-covered Hogwarts castle model for its Hogwarts in the Snow event. Wundrful World of Christmas is an interactive experience at Borough Yards that transports you to the North Pole with live actors and mixed reality elements.

About Hogwarts in the Snow
Christmas in London - Walking tours in London

Enjoy a serene Christmas Day on a London stroll

While many major attractions close, a quiet walk through the city on Christmas Day in London offers a peaceful experience. Consider walking along the River Thames or through a royal park like Richmond Park. Things to do in London on Christmas Day are limited, but the atmosphere is unbeatable.

Traditional Christmas afternoon tea with sandwiches, pastries, and champagne on a wooden table.

Festive Afternoon Tea experience

Indulging in a festive afternoon tea is a luxurious Christmas celebration in London. Many grand hotels transform their menus for the season, including The Ritz, with carols, festive décor, and a classic menu; Claridge's & The Savoy; The Langham; and Bustronome London, allowing you to see the lights while dining.

Book The Snowman Afternon Tea bus tour
Guests at Legoland Windsor posing by a large LEGO Christmas tree.

Visit popular attractions for unique Christmas events

Experience the city’s major landmarks, such as LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort, The Shard, or the London Eye, which often have special holiday-themed displays or events. These offer unique Christmas in London things to do beyond the typical tourist visits.

Christmas in London tickets
Friends toasting with wine on a Thames River Christmas lunch cruise in London.

Indulge in a Christmas lunch in London experience

Reserving a special Christmas lunch in London is a festive tradition. Many restaurants across the city, particularly in Mayfair or Soho, offer fixed-price menus for Christmas Day in London and throughout the holiday season.

Book Thames Christmas lunch party cruise
Red drink in an ice glass at an ice bar.

Spend the day with loved ones

For groups of friends, family, or colleagues, London offers excellent Christmas group activities, like dining at the Ice Bar & Igloo. Venues like Junkyard Golf Club often introduce special Christmas-themed courses and cocktails. Join an organised tour or self-guided route that stops at festively decorated pubs like The Churchill Arms. Or try a festive cocktail-making or gingerbread house decorating class for a fun, hands-on activity.

Book Up at The O2 Snow Globe climbs

London Christmas lights: Unmissable festive locations

Oxford Street in London adorned with Christmas lights and bustling evening traffic.

Oxford Street

Dates: Nov 3, 2025–Jan 5, 2026

A dazzling, sophisticated canopy of over 5,000 warm-toned, energy-efficient LED stars stretches across the entire shopping street.

Covent Garden Christmas scene with decorated trees, large bells, and a festive sleigh.
Trafalgar Square at night with Christmas tree and fountains, London, England.
Carnaby Street illuminated with vibrant Christmas lights in London.
Double-decker bus touring London Christmas lights on Regent Street.

Your guide to essential London Christmas markets

Amusement ride with colorful lights at Christmas funfair in Winter Wonderland, London.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Dates: Nov 14, 2025–Jan 1, 2026

The biggest and most popular destination, featuring a massive, self-contained festival area including rides, ice rinks, shows, and a huge Bavarian market.

Rooftop garden with plants and seating at South Bank Centre, London.

South Bank Centre

Dates: Nov 3, 2025–Jan 4, 2026

Hosts a popular, alpine-style Winter Market along the Thames, featuring picturesque wooden huts, international street food, and spectacular riverside views.

Covent Garden Christmas scene with decorated trees, large bells, and a festive sleigh.

Covent Garden

Dates: Nov 12, 2025–Jan 3, 2026

Known for its spectacular festive decorations, giant Christmas tree, and artisanal stalls set beneath the iconic golden bells of the historic piazza.

Crowded Leicester Square street scene in London with illuminated signs and historic buildings.

Leicester Square

Dates: Nov 1, 2025–Jan 4, 2026

A compact, central market featuring traditional wooden chalets, festive food, drinks, and a Spiegeltent hosting seasonal shows and cabarets.

Tower Bridge illuminated at night with snow falling, London in January.

London Bridge (Winter by the River)

Dates: Nov 13, 2025–Jan 4, 2026

Offers one of the most atmospheric settings, with stalls lining the path along the River Thames, providing views of Tower Bridge and the city skyline.

About Winter by the River
Borough Market entrance with visitors exploring food stalls in London.

Borough Market

Dates: Dec 1, 2025–Dec 31, 2025

London's famed foodie market transforms into a Christmas haven for high-quality seasonal produce, gourmet ingredients, and mulled wine.

Cutty Sark ship adorned with Christmas lights in Greenwich, London.

Greenwich

Dates: Nov 22, 2025–Dec 24, 2025

A traditional covered market that extends its festive focus with unique handmade crafts, a charming light-switch-on event, and diverse street food.

Trafalgar Square at night with Christmas tree and fountains, London, England.

Trafalgar Square

Dates: Nov 9, 2025–Jan 2, 2026

A cosy festive market located beneath the official Norwegian Christmas tree, offering handicrafts and seasonal refreshments in the heart of London.

Outdoor seating with festive lights and decorations at Old Spitalfields Market, London during Christmas.

Old Spitalfields

Dates: Nov 13, 2025–Jan 1, 2026

The historic Victorian market hosts designers and craftspeople selling original gifts, with special Christmas Shopping Lates accompanied by festive music.

Carousel spinning at Christmas Market in Kingston Upon Thames during winter holiday.

Kingston

Dates: Nov 13, 2025–Dec 28, 2025

Features a charming German-style traditional market square complete with Bavarian curling lanes, bratwurst, and traditional handmade goods (popular outside the centre).

King's Cross Station facade with clock tower, London, bustling with people.

King's Cross (Coal Drops Yard)

Dates: Nov 22, 2025–Dec 22, 2025

A boutique market set beneath the stunning Victorian arches of Coal Drops Yard, specialising in high-end, independent designer goods.

Crowds enjoying food and shopping at Camden Market by the canal in London.

Camden Market

Dates: Dec 6, 2025 onwards

The famously eclectic market becomes festive with unique traders, themed installations, and an array of global street food stalls.

Columbia Road

Columbia Road

Dates: Nov 26, Dec 3, Dec 10, and Dec 17, 2025

While famous for its Sunday flower market, it holds special, atmospheric Christmas shopping evenings with unique independent boutiques and festive cheer.

Vendor selling colorful macarons at a Christmas market stall in Paris.

Chelsea Physic Garden

Dates: Nov 27, 2025–Nov 30, 2025

Offers a more tranquil, exclusive market environment focused on luxury gifts, artisan goods, and delicious food inside a beautiful historic walled garden (often weekend-only).

Visitors observing a white horse in harness at the Royal Mews stables.

Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace

Dates: Nov 14, 2025–Jan 5, 2026

Hosting its first-ever Christmas pop-up offering unique gifts and exclusive items from the Royal Collection, set against the backdrop of the palace's historic working stables.

About the Royal Mews pop-up shop

London’s most photographed Christmas trees

Trafalgar Square at night with Christmas tree and fountains, London, England.

Trafalgar Square

The historical and political centrepiece, gifted annually by Norway, is decorated simply with traditional vertical strings of white lights.

Christmas tree with colorful red balls, star ornaments, and astronaut decorations.
Covent Garden Christmas scene with decorated trees, large bells, and a festive sleigh.
St Pancras railway station's Victorian Gothic architecture in London.
Festive Christmas tree with lights in central London street at night.

London's top Christmas ice skating rinks

Ice skating at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Home to the largest outdoor ice rink in the UK, surrounded by the Victorian bandstand and illuminated by over 100,000 twinkling lights.

Ice skaters at Somerset House in London with historic building in background.

Somerset House

The quintessential London movie-set rink, set within the neoclassical courtyard with a towering Christmas tree and popular DJ-soundtracked 'Skate Lates’.

Battersea Power Station with Lift 109, London, against a cloudy sky.

Glide at Battersea Power Station

An incredibly photogenic rink consisting of three interconnected rinks, offering Thames views and set against the illuminated, iconic Power Station backdrop.

Children ice skating at Alexandra Palace Ice Rink in London.

Ice Rink Canary Wharf

London's longest-running rink (Oct–Feb) with a roof and a metropolitan vibe, allowing skaters to glide beneath the towering skyscrapers.

Hampton Court Palace illuminated at night behind ice rink in London.

Hampton Court Palace

A spectacular rink where you can glide under the stars against the dramatic Tudor façade of Henry VIII’s centuries-old historic palace.

Christmas at Hampton Court Palace
Ice skating at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland in London.

The Queen's House, Greenwich

Offers a fairytale skating experience on a UNESCO World Heritage site, with views across Greenwich Park and the illuminated Canary Wharf skyline.

Children ice skating in Krakow during New Year celebrations.

Skate Leicester Square

A new and highly central open-air rink for 2025, located right in the middle of the Christmas market, surrounded by lights and festive cabins.

Young woman tying laces on ice skates at an ice rink.

Alexandra Palace

London's largest permanent indoor rink, offering spectacular views of the city skyline from its hilltop location, with dedicated festive sessions.

Christmas light display shaped like a tree with a star at Kew Gardens.

Kew Gardens

Features a seasonal, magical rink alongside the hugely popular "Christmas at Kew" illuminated trail, requiring separate tickets for a combined experience.

Christmas at Kew
Ice skaters on an indoor rink in Singapore.

Winter Funland at Olympia

The heart of a major indoor festive attraction, offering a large rink, fairground rides, and a circus under one heated roof.

Ice skaters enjoying Christmas in Athens with festive lights and a tree in the background.

Westfield (Shepherd's Bush/Stratford)

Rinks occasionally feature at these shopping centres, offering a convenient, often covered skating break near retail outlets.

Your perfect Christmas itinerary

  • Morning: Visit St Paul’s Cathedral for a festive service or view.
  • Afternoon: Immerse yourself in the Southbank Centre Winter Market for lunch and unique artisan goods.
  • Evening: Head to Hyde Park for Winter Wonderland London, focusing on the rides and Bavarian Village.
  • Morning: Explore the high-end windows of Harrods and Selfridges.
  • Afternoon: Indulge in a festive afternoon tea at The Ritz or Claridge’s.
  • Evening: Enjoy the self-guided Christmas Lights Walking Tour, focusing on Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Carnaby Street.
  • Morning: Skate at the iconic Somerset House Ice Rink.
  • Afternoon: Explore the decorations and street performers at Covent Garden Christmas and visit the Buckingham Palace’s festive pop-up shop.
  • Evening: See a classic West End Christmas show or panto. Consider an immersive Christmas experience, like Backyard Cinema or the Wundrful World of Christmas.
  • Morning: Visit the traditional Greenwich Market for last-minute gifts.
  • Afternoon: Find the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree and attend a carol service in the square or at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
  • Evening: Enjoy a pre-booked, special Christmas Eve dinner in London at a quality restaurant before relaxing for the big day.

London's top festive shopping destinations

London double-decker bus passing Harrods adorned with Christmas lights at night.

Harrods

The world's most iconic luxury store, famous for its grand, spectacular, and highly anticipated window displays and the exclusive Christmas Grotto.

Selfridges department store in London illuminated at night with festive lights.

Selfridges

The retail innovator is known for its wildly imaginative and often dramatic Christmas window schemes, drawing massive crowds to Oxford Street.

Shoppers walking at Oxford Circus in London with shopping bags.

Fortnum & Mason

The quintessential store for luxury British food, tea, and gourmet hampers, with its façade transforming into a majestic, animated Advent Calendar.

Woman window shopping for watches in London.

New Bond Street

The ultimate destination for high-end designer labels, where every flagship store from Cartier to Chanel competes with glamorous, sophisticated light displays.

Child browsing toys in a London store.

Liberty

The charming mock-Tudor department store, celebrated for its unique fabrics, artisanal Christmas decorations, and wonderfully curated independent-style gifts.

Person browsing handbags in a London store.

Carnaby Street

A vibrant hub for unique fashion and independent brands, famed for its highly creative, artistic, and often themed light installations that set the mood for shopping.

A person shopping near the Empire State Building during a guided tour in New York City.

Burlington Arcade

A beautifully preserved, elegant covered walkway offering a historic atmosphere and high-end niche boutiques, perfect for refined gift hunting.

Hand selecting an umbrella in a London shop.

Marylebone Village

Offers a chic, village-like atmosphere with a curated mix of independent boutiques and luxury brands, known for its pleasant, community-focused lights.

Person browsing books in a busy bookshop.

Hatchards Bookshop

Britain's oldest bookshop provides a cosy, traditional Christmas shopping haven, specialising in beautiful hardbacks and gift editions near Piccadilly.

Shopping at a London market, browsing colorful clothes on a rack.

Richmond

A charming West London suburb offering high-street shops and independent boutiques along the Thames, providing a relaxed, non-Central London festive shopping experience.

Two women smiling and holding shopping bags outside a store.

Camden Passage

A beautiful, cobbled pedestrian street in Islington known for its antiques, independent homeware shops, and unique vintage finds, perfect for one-of-a-kind gifts.

Best places to stay in London at Christmas

Many luxury hotels transform into winter wonderlands with designer trees, incredible decorations, and festive packages:

Luxury hotel room with king-size bed, modern decor, and large window.

For classic opulence

The Ritz, Claridge's, The Connaught, and The Savoy are famous for their extravagant décor, iconic Christmas trees, and exclusive seasonal events. These are ideal for those seeking the ultimate traditional luxury experience.

Mid-range hotel room with double bed, bedside lamps, and seating area.

For West End access

The Langham and The Dorchester offer prime locations near key shopping streets and theatres, making them perfect bases for Christmas events and London and West End shows.

Budget-friendly hotel room with double bed, modern decor, and large window.

For boutique festive charm

The Ned and Kimpton Fitzroy offer stylish, unique festive experiences in beautiful buildings, often featuring lively Christmas bars and dining.

Luxury hotel room with elegant sofa, floral decor, and ornate furnishings.

Near Southbank

The Mandarin Oriental and The Berkeley provide sophisticated stays near Hyde Park and the Southbank, ideal for accessing the Winter Wonderland and riverside markets.

Frequently asked questions about Christmas events in London

Is Christmas a good time to visit London?

Absolutely. London during Christmas time is exceptional. The city is decorated beautifully, and the sheer number of Christmas events in London makes it a memorable time to visit.

What is the weather like during Christmas?

Christmas in London is typically cold, with average temperatures around 4–7°C (39–45°F). While snow is rare, expect crisp air and the possibility of rain. Pack warm layers.

Are attractions open on Christmas Day in London?

Most major attractions, including museums, are closed on Christmas Day in London. However, public parks are open, and limited dining and entertainment options are available, though they require advance booking. Public transport is also severely limited.

Where can I experience the best Christmas lights?

The most famous light displays are on Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street. Also, the Canary Wharf Christmas area and Covent Garden Christmas are known for their spectacular decorations.

Should I pre-book tickets for Christmas activities in London?

Yes, it is highly recommended to pre-book tickets for all major Christmas events in London and attractions, especially for popular seasonal experiences like Winter Wonderland and West End shows.

How early should I book tickets for Christmas events in London?

For popular Christmas events in London, like West End shows, The Nutcracker ballet, Winter Wonderland attractions, and festive afternoon teas, you should book at least 1–3 months in advance, especially for weekend and Christmas week dates.

Are there free things to do in London at Christmas?

Yes, some of the best things to do in London at Christmas are free, including enjoying the Christmas lights displays, visiting the magnificent trees at Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, and attending outdoor carol singing events.

Where can I find a traditional Christmas lunch in London?

You must book well in advance for a traditional Christmas lunch in London. High-end hotels like The Ritz, Claridge's, and The Dorchester, as well as many classic gastropubs, offer special fixed-price menus.

Is the London Underground (Tube) running on Christmas Day?

No, the London Underground does not run on Christmas Day in London. There is also no Overground, DLR, or Trams. A limited bus service typically runs. Plan to walk or use taxis/pre-booked private transport.