Growing up, every Christmas Eve my family would pile in the car, blast Christmas music, and drive around for a few hours looking at all the twinkling lights. This magic never got old, and I still love venturing out and enjoying all the beautiful lights and displays across different cities of the world. Here are the best things to do in London during this Christmas season!
See The Lights
You’ll find Christmas lights on a quite a few streets in London, but let me save you the time and give you the absolute best places to look:
BOND STREET
A ritzy street lined with luxury brands all decked out for the holidays. Grab a coffee at Ralph’s and enjoy the display just across the street at Cartier and Chanel. The perfect street to enjoy decorations and catch up on some last minute Christmas shopping!
REGENT STREET
You’ve probably seen this one on Instagram already – it’s the famous street with the angels suspended overhead. It’s an absolute gorgeous display!
Oxford Street
Oxford and Regent Street actually intersect, so make sure you see both!
Carnaby
A more eccentric version of Christmas lights, with a different theme each year!
Take a Christmas Bus Tour
If you want to see all the lights from the top of classic red double decker bus, you can book a guided tour here! This is especially great if it’s your first time in London, as the guides have plenty of interesting stories and tidbits about the city!
Covent Garden
Head to Covent Garden for fantastic Christmas decorations, a huge tree, and tons of shopping and entertainment. Take a photo with Santa’s Sleigh, go ice skating, or stop by the Chalet popup for an alpine-themed cocktail! You can even have a white Christmas here – from the 6th of December to the 31st, a snow machine pumps out snow flurries every hour from midday to 9pm. Explore all the things to do in Covent Garden here.
Have a Drink in an Igloo
You can find a few igloo spots around the city for a drink, as it’s becoming an increasingly popular activity. We visited the Grey Goose Igloos at Aviary, and it was such a fun experience with fantastic service and delicious cocktails!
You can also book an igloo at Coppa Club, or Vintry and Mercer! Wherever you decide, I highly recommend making reservations ahead of time as these igloos tend to book up quickly.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
If you’re traveling with kids (or just want to feel like a kid again), check out the Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park! You can find all kinds of winter activities – ice skating, carnival rides, ice bars, etc. Check out their website for a full list of all their offerings, and to book a ticket!
Have Dinner at Daphne's
Daphne’s decks out their dining room with beautiful ornaments for the holiday season, and their fireplace just adds the perfect cozy touch! Not to mention, the food is divine.
See Christmas Displays at the Shops
Head over to Harrods and Fortnum and Mason for a beautifully festive holiday display! Bonus: finish up your Christmas shopping while you’re here!
Take a Day Trip to Bath
Despite having visited several large cities, I’m not really that fond of big cities. So my favorite thing I did in London was actually leave London to take an hour and a half train to Bath, a small town with incredible history. (My full guide to Bath is coming soon)!
Bath has a beautiful Christmas market absolutely filled to the brim with local vendors. You’ll find handmade Christmas decor, home goods, and plenty of food and drink. The market is situated right around the Bath Abbey as well, making for a beautiful backdrop as you peruse the stands. You can also pop into the Roman Baths for a bit of ancient history as well!
NOTE | I highly recommend purchasing your train ticket to Bath ahead of time and reserving a seat. If you don’t, you are basically guaranteed to stand the entire journey.
