16 Christmas Things to Do in London
✨ Searching for the best Christmas things to do in London? Discover the best Christmas activities including things to do on Christmas Day in London and things to do on Boxing Day in London plus answers to FAQs.
If you’ll be in London during the second half of November, December or early January, then you’re probably going to be looking for Christmas things to do in London!
London is magical during the festive season. There are twinkling lights strung everywhere, markets pop up all over the city and Londoners and visitors alike get out and about to enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Visit London at Christmas you’ll discover it’s a different city to the one you may have already seen in summer.
Our round up of the best things to do in London at Christmas will help you plan the perfect festive visit! Christmas activities in London are held all over the capital so there’s something for everyone.
From festive lights, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland to Christmas Day and Boxing Day activities, here are 16 of the most awesome Christmas events in London to add to your itinerary.
8 of the best Christmas things to do in London
Marvel at London’s Christmas lights
- When: 4 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
- Where: all over London
- Open Christmas Day? Yes
- Open Boxing Day?Yes
You can see the Christmas lights in London from early November through to January. We think it’s one of the best Christmas attractions of London – and it’s free!
If you prefer to see the best spots and are short on time, you can book a guided tour of the best lights in the city.
Take a Christmas tour of London
- When: throughout December
- Where: all over London
- Open Christmas Day? Selected tours operate on 25th December
- Open Boxing Day? Selected tours operate on 25th December
There are lots of guided tours to take in London at Christmas including on the big day itself or Boxing Day (26th December). You can choose between walking tours, open-top bus trips, Christmas markets themed tours, Thames cruises and even church services.
Click here to read about 22 of the top London Christmas tours.
Head to the Southbank Winter Festival
- When: 3 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
- Where: Southbank
- Closest tube: Waterloo
- Open Christmas Day? No
- Open Boxing Day? Yes
There’s more to the Southbank Winter Festival than just a Christmas market. You can also expect twinkling lights, street performers, artworks and performances. It’s also a great place to try seasonal and street foods from around the world.
New for 2025 is Bar Humbug, a Bavarian style festive bar. It will feature live music, DJ sets and piano-led Christmas sing-a-longs that are guaranteed to get you in the festive mood.
Both the market and bar are free to enter and are open everyday from 11am – 10pm.
Visit Hogwarts in the Snow
- When: 15 November – 18 January
- Where: Harry Potter Studios
- Open Christmas Day? No
- Open Boxing Day?No
If you fancy a day out of the city, head to the Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios for Hogwarts in the Snow. The usual studio sets undergo a wintery transformation with lights and trees and the Great Hall is redecorated as the Yule Ball from ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.’
Enter Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland
- When: 14 November 2025 – 1 January 2026
- Where: Hyde Park
- Closest tube: Hyde Park Corner
- Open Christmas Day? No
- Open Boxing Day? Yes
- Note that Winter Wonderland will close on selected dates for the 2025 season so check in advance before visiting.
Every Christmas Hyde Park is transformed into a Winter Wonderland and it’s not to be missed! It has a magical festive atmosphere and is popular with Londoners of all ages.
The attraction offers fun fair rides for all ages, gift stalls, food and drink, ice skating, two circus shows, an ice kingdom and a Santa’s grotto. Adults can enjoy a drink in the ice bar or join an ice sculpting workshop.
Tickets should be booked online in advance here to avoid disappointment. Off Peak ticket entry is free but tickets are timed so if you want to stay all day you’ll need a standard entry ticket. You can pay for individual attractions once inside the park or purchase bundle packages online (which are cheaper than buying on the day).
There’s so much to see, eat and drink here that one visit may not be enough!
See the huge Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square
- When: throughout December
- Where: Trafalgar Square
- Closest tube: Charing Cross
- Open Christmas Day? Yes
- Open Boxing Day?Yes
Every year Norway kindly donates an enormous fir tree to the UK which is erected in Trafalgar Square in the centre of the capital. The 20 metres tall 50 year old tree is adorned with thousands of lights and visiting it is a tradition for London families.
Time your visit carefully and you may hear carol singers performing here too.
Enjoy Christmas at Kew
- When: 14 November – 4 January
- Where: Kew Gardens
- Closest tube: Richmond
- Open Christmas Day? No
- Open Boxing Day? Yes
Like Hyde Park, Kew Gardens are transformed at Christmas time. The lights and decorations are spectacular, and in the winter darkness the illuminations have an otherworldly feel.
Visitors follow a 2.4 km long trail packed with lights and displays which culminates in a magical fountain display in front of the Palm House.
Discover Christmas at Kew here.
Go to a Christmas show or pantomime
- When: November to January
- Where: West End
- Open Christmas Day? No
- Open Boxing Day? Yes
Seeing a show or a traditional British pantomime is among the top Christmas in London things to do. All sorts of performances are offered in the West End, around the Shaftesbury Avenue area and beyond.
If you’ve never been to a pantomime you should expect a musical, raucously fun retelling of a traditional fairy tale. Audience participation is expected!
The most sought-after tickets are often sold for Boxing Day performances but whenever you visit you’ll need to book well in advance for the best prices and seats.
4 Things to do in London on Christmas Day
As well as the best things to do in London at Christmas listed above there are some things that are best enjoyed on the big day itself. Of course, you could just spend the day enjoying the festive lights and wandering around the city when it’s quiet.
Book Christmas lunch at a London pub
You’ll have to plan well ahead for this one! Many pubs in Britain open for limited hours on Christmas Day to serve up an enormous festive feast. Expect roast turkey ‘with all the trimmings’ plus a starter and a pudding at least.
There’s no better place to savour a Christmas Day feast than in a proper British ‘boozer’. Your plate should be piled high with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, ‘pigs in blankets’ (tiny sausages wrapped in bacon) and lots of freshly-cooked vegetable side dishes including roast parsnips and Brussels sprouts.
The atmosphere is likely to be lively and friendly but if you want to join in, you’ll need to book in around September or earlier before all available spaces have gone.
Attend a Christmas Day service
Christmas Day services will be taking place all over London in the capital’s churches. Not least mighty St Paul’s Cathedral, of course. Check timings in advance, and bear in mind that some venues may require a booking. Wherever you go for a Christmas Day service or Midnight Mass, make sure you get there early and wrap up warm.
Walk through a Royal Park
The Royal (and other) Parks of London remain open during the festive period, so you can take a walk in any of those on Christmas Day. Pick between Regent’s Park near London Zoo, St James’s Park near the palaces, Greenwich Park south of the river or Richmond to the west.
Plus there’s Bushy Park, Hampstead Heath, Crystal Palace Park, Lee Valley, Victoria Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, Clapham Common, Battersea Park and more. Pick one near where you’re staying and off you go!
Watch the Peter Pan Cup Race
Though Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland is closed for the day on 25th December, you can witness another spectacle at the park. The Peter Pan Cup Race takes place every Christmas morning at the Serpentine Swimming Club. At 9 am, members take to the water to compete in a 100-yard race.
Only members can take part, so you’ll only be able to watch!
4 things to do in London on Boxing Day
On Boxing Day in London, many of the attractions, shops, and restaurants are open once more and activities will be operating again.
If you’re looking for something special, though, here are some of the best Christmas things to do in London on 26th December.
Dine out in festive style
If you aren’t prepared to pay the eye-watering prices demanded by many restaurants and pubs for a Christmas Day meal, book one for Boxing Day instead. It’s still popular and busy (so book ahead) but prices are much cheaper compared to Christmas Day!
Join a Boxing Day tradition
Seeing a show on Boxing Day itself is one of the ultimate things to do in London over Christmas. Snap up your tickets early and you could bag the best seats in the house!
Go ice skating with a view
There are lots of pop-up ice rinks in London over Christmas but some of them boast impressive back-drops.
Our top picks of ice rinks with a view in London are Hampton Court Palace, Somerset House, Queen’s House in Greenwich or Battersea Power Station.
Bag a bargain
The Christmas markets, small shops and major stores usually start their post-Christmas sales on Boxing Day. Start early if you want to avoid the crowds; Oxford Street will be particularly busy. Note that some shops stay shut on the 26th and start their sales on the 27th.
It’s one of the best times of year to grab a bargain as retailers clear their seasonal goods to make way for new stock.
Christmas things to do in London FAQs
Are London attractions, restaurants, pubs, museums and shops closed on Christmas Day?
- London attractions – While many attractions are closed on Christmas Day you will find London Royal parks are open and the perfect place for an after or pre-dinner stroll.
- Restaurants – Many restaurants are closed for Christmas Day. Check online if you have a particular restaurant in mind, and book in advance for Christmas Day dinner or lunch. There are often a few eateries open in Chinatown, near Leicester Square, however.
- Pubs – Some pubs are open for a few hours on Christmas Day around lunchtime, but then will close for the evening.
- Museums – Most London museums are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day including the British Museum, Imperial War Museum, V&A, National Maritime Museum and more.
- Shops – Closed.
Is public transport available on Christmas Day in London?
No public transport options run on Christmas Day. However, you can jump onto a Santander cycle, walk wherever you like or take a black cab. However, taxis will be limited and will charge higher fares.
It’s worth considering transport issues booking your London accommodation for Christmas.
Are London attractions, restaurants, pubs, museums and shops closed on Boxing Day?
- London attractions – Some attractions are closed on Boxing Day as well as Christmas Day, so do check before you travel.
- Restaurants – Some restaurants are also closed on Boxing Day. Check online if you have a particular restaurant in mind, and book in advance for a Boxing Day meal.
- Pubs – London pubs are normally open as usual on Boxing Day, but you’ll still need to book a table in advance if you want to dine there.
- Museums – Most London museums are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day including the British Museum, Imperial War Museum, V&A, National Maritime Museum and more.
- Shops – Some shops are closed on Boxing Day, while others fling open their doors once more. It depends on the retailer, so check in advance if there’s one you particularly want to visit.
Is public transport available on Boxing Day in London?
London buses, trams, and Underground and Overground trains operate a reduced service on Boxing Day. Note that public transport begins to slow down from early evening on Christmas Eve, and there will be no night bus services at all on the 24th or 25th.
Which Christmas things to do in London are for you?
There are so many things to do in London during the Christmas season! You can always find festive things to do in London when visiting the UK capital between mid to late November and the start of January.
If you’re planning to spend Christmas Day in London, then planning ahead is essential. The only transport options are costly black cabs, hire cycles where they’re available and walking. You will need to plan what to do, and where to stay, with that in mind.
Many attractions reopen from Boxing Day. Some museums, shops, restaurants and attractions stay closed so check beforehand if there’s somewhere special you want to go. Also bear in mind that though public transport is running, it’s not yet business as usual and a limited service will be in operation.
Which places to visit in London during Christmas are on your shortlist? Whatever it is, we know you’ll love all the Christmas places to visit in London just as much as we do.
⭐️ Everything You Need to Plan the Perfect London Trip
![Best Walking Tours of London [Themed and sightseeing options]](https://uktravelplanning.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Best-walking-tours-of-London-1-768x403.jpg)
