Traveling to London during the holidays has been one of my most favorite trips I have taken so far! The city is just so beautiful and there is truly so much to do. Even with spending a week in London, I still felt like we could’ve stayed longer, as there were some things we had on our list that we didn’t even get to! During Christmas, the city truly does turn into a festive wonderland. With all of the Christmas markets and over the top light displays at all of the department stores, spending the holidays in London is something anyone of any age can truly enjoy. Visiting London during Christmas should be on everyone’s bucket list and today I am going to share why!
London during Christmas
In this post, I will be sharing all the amazing reasons to visit London during Christmas. As well as some things to make sure to add to your list of things to do if you do go to London in December. I did a lot of research before our trip. So hopefully this will be helpful if you are planning a trip to London on your own, or even if you are a local who is looking for even more reasons to love the cit that you live in.
How is London during Christmas
Being that London as a whole is a major tourist travel destination, you can expect the Christmas season to be very busy! With many people traveling there, many tourist landmarks and major stores are filled with people taking pictures and enjoying the festivities around them. Knowing that it was going to be busy before we went, we mentally prepared for crowds. But it actually ended up being not that bad. As long as you are prepared (use a purse with a zipper, etc.) to be surrounded by others at most times it is a quick adjustment. Besides, most people around you are just as happy to be in London as you are!
The weather in London during Christmas can be expected to be just like it is around most of Europe during that time of year, wet and cold. As long as you pack correctly, it is actually not that bad! Just be sure to bring extra layers, gloves and a hat. Some days can be extremely windy and wet, as the rain comes and goes throughout the day. If you need help packing, I shared my packing list in a previous blog post, What to pack for London.
What to do in London during Christmas
London is filled with things to do, many of them being free such as the museums like Somerset House (you just need to book a ticket most times)! If you do run out of things to do in London, there are also many day trips you can take just a few hours away for a new experience. Sharing below some things to do in London that are must do’s during the Christmas time of year.
Visit all of the landmarks
There are so many landmarks to visit in London. Big Ben, Westminster Castle, Buckingham Palace, and St. Pauls Cathedral are all great places to see. Some of these you can also visit inside. Just make sure to get a ticket beforehand as they are busy during this time of the year. Don’t forget the London Eye, Trafalger Square and of course the Tower Bridge too!
Spend some nights roaming the Christmas Markets
My favorite part about Christmas in London is visiting all of the great Christmas markets! A great place to get unique gifts, the Christmas markets are such a fun activity. And there are many to choose from. Located all over the city, spend some time christmas shopping at them with a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate in hand!
Some of the larger Christmas markets even have ice skating rings, such as the small christmas market outside of Battersea power station!
Visit Winter Wonderland
Located in Hyde Park, winter wonder is a huge Christmas market filled with carnival rides and games, street food and Christmas market shopping! This is also a ticketed event, so you will want to get tickets beforehand. We went right when it got dark, around 6 and it was so much fun! It is fairly large, so expect to spend at least a hour there. Be sure to save some room to eat also, as there are a lot of food vendors there each with different types of foods to choose from.
Go on a bus tour
Want to take a break from walking? Catch a bus tour to get another view of the city. Since we took our little one on our trip with us, we did a bus tour more for toddlers, but there are so many to choose from! They have afternoon tea tours, where you can have some tea and cakes while you view the city. As well as the infamous London “hop on, hop off” red tour bus that you can get on and off of at any tourist landmark that you would like.
Try all of the different food halls & markets
Although London is not known for having the best food, there is a lot of options to choose from. Be sure to spend some time visiting the food market to try different cuisines. Borough Market and the food hall at Covent Garden were my two favorites. But again there are a lot to choose from!
..and of course go shopping
Last but not least, of course you have to go shopping in London during Christmas! Regent street Oxford street and Carnaby Street are some of my favorite areas to window shop. But I also recommend visiting all of the large department stores, like Harrods and Selfridges. While you are there, be sure to take a picture of all of the decorated Christmas trees and window displays too! They are so pretty and I have never seen anything like them before.
Another area that we visited while we were there was Canary Wharf. Up and coming, this area is a new part of London that has a lot of great restaurants and things to do. We actually spent one evening here. And went on a river igloo and had chocolate fondue which was such a fun experience.
Does it snow in London during Christmas?
Although it didn’t snow during our time in London, it for sure was cold so we were prepared. Since the weather can be a bit unpredictable during the time of year, it is best to pack as if it might snow, just in case.
Whether you are currently planning a trip to London or deciding where to visit during this Christmas season, London during Christmas is a place that I would highly recommend! Just be sure to make plans ahead of time, especially for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as most things book up very quickly or could be closed!
Still deciding if London during Christmas is right for you? Check out my blog post, reasons to visit Paris in December, to decide if Paris might be a better fit for you!
XO,
b
