There is no city that does Christmas quite like London. From the middle of November the whole centre lights up: Regent Street strung with angels, Oxford Street glowing overhead, ice rinks appearing in the courtyards of palaces and museums, and the smell of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts drifting across the markets. Whether you are here for the festive shopping, the lights, the pantomime, or the carols in a candlelit cathedral, this is the complete guide to Christmas in London for 2026, with real dates, prices, and where to go.
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Table of contents
The Christmas lights (all free)
London's festive light displays are the free heart of Christmas in the city. They are switched on in early to mid-November and stay lit until early January. The best are all within walking distance of each other in the West End.
| Where | What to see | Nearest Tube |
|---|---|---|
| Regent Street | The famous "Spirit of Christmas" angels, the grandest display in London | Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus |
| Oxford Street | Hundreds of thousands of lights the length of the street | Oxford Circus, Bond Street |
| Carnaby Street | The most creative, themed installation, changes every year | Oxford Circus |
| Covent Garden | A giant Christmas tree, hand-crafted decorations, the Piazza aglow | Covent Garden |
| Bond Street | Elegant peacock-feather lights, the luxury shopping stretch | Bond Street, Green Park |
| Kew Gardens (Christmas at Kew) | A ticketed after-dark illuminated trail through the gardens | Kew Gardens (paid, book ahead) |
| Leadenhall Market | A vast tree under the Victorian arcade, quieter and beautiful | Bank, Monument |
The best Christmas markets in London
| Market | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Southbank Centre Winter Market | The best riverside market, chalets along the Thames with food, gifts, and mulled wine | South Bank, near the London Eye |
| Leicester Square Christmas | Market plus a Santa's grotto and festive attractions in the heart of the West End | Leicester Square |
| Greenwich Market | Covered artisan market, festive and less touristy | Greenwich |
| Winter Wonderland market | A huge Bavarian-style market inside Hyde Park (see below) | Hyde Park |
| Kingston & Christmas by the River | Riverside market at Kingston, family-friendly | Kingston (SW London) |
Ice skating in London
Outdoor ice rinks appear across London from mid-November, many in spectacular settings. Skating sessions typically cost £15 to £25 for adults and £11 to £18 for children, and last around 45 to 60 minutes. Book a slot online in advance, they sell out on weekends.
| Rink | The setting | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset House | The classic: a rink in an 18th-century courtyard with a giant tree | Adult ~£20 |
| Natural History Museum | Skate beside the Romanesque museum with the tree and lights | Adult ~£18–22 |
| Tower of London | Skate in the moat of the thousand-year-old fortress | Adult ~£18–20 |
| Hampton Court Palace | Skate in front of Henry VIII's Tudor palace | Adult ~£16–20 |
| Canary Wharf | The largest, among the skyscrapers, often covered | Adult ~£15–18 |
| Battersea Power Station / Skylight | Rooftop and riverside rinks with a view | Adult ~£18–24 |
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
The biggest Christmas event in London. Winter Wonderland takes over a large part of Hyde Park from mid-November to early January: a giant Bavarian Christmas market, a big wheel, an ice rink, fairground rides, the Magical Ice Kingdom, circus and ice shows, bars, and endless food stalls. Entry is free, but you must book a timed slot online in advance, and rides, shows, and attractions are paid individually (from around £5 to £10 a ride, more for the big shows). Go on a weekday afternoon to avoid the heaviest crowds. Budget for the rides and food, it adds up quickly for a family.
Christmas in London with kids
- Santa's grottos — the best are at Hamleys toy store, Harrods, Kew Gardens, and the garden centres. Book ahead, the good ones sell out by early December.
- Christmas at Kew — an after-dark illuminated trail through the botanic gardens, magical for children (ticketed, book early).
- London Zoo Christmas — festive lights trail among the animals.
- A pantomime — the great British Christmas tradition, silly and joyful, at the London Palladium and theatres across the city (see below).
- The Christmas lights and the big trees — Trafalgar Square's tree (a gift from Norway every year since 1947) and Covent Garden's giant tree are free family favourites.
Festive afternoon tea
A Christmas afternoon tea is one of London's great seasonal treats: mince pies, spiced cakes, festive sandwiches, and often a glass of champagne, served under the decorations at a grand hotel. Prices run from around £45 at a mid-range hotel to £90-plus at The Ritz, Claridge's, or Fortnum & Mason. Book four to six weeks ahead for December, the best slots go early.
Carols and Christmas services
Beyond the markets and the lights, London keeps the older heart of Christmas beautifully. The city's great churches and cathedrals hold some of the finest carol services and Christmas music in the world, and most are free to attend, a genuinely moving experience whatever your beliefs.
- St Paul's Cathedral — carol services and the great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services under Wren's dome, with the cathedral choir.
- Westminster Abbey — Nine Lessons and Carols and festival services in the thousand-year-old coronation church.
- Southwark Cathedral — intimate carol services near Borough Market.
- St Martin-in-the-Fields (Trafalgar Square) — famous for its carols by candlelight concerts, a favourite for a festive evening.
- Temple Church, St Bride's, and the Chapel Royal — smaller, historic, and beautiful.
The service of Nine Lessons and Carols, the traditional sequence of readings and carols, is held in churches across the city through December. Candlelit carol concerts at St Martin-in-the-Fields and other venues are ticketed and popular, so book ahead. For the free cathedral services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, arrive early, they fill up. It is the quiet, timeless side of a London Christmas, and for many the most memorable.
Christmas shopping in London
London is one of the world's great Christmas shopping cities. The department store windows alone are a free attraction: Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Liberty, and Harrods dress their windows spectacularly. For shopping itself: Oxford Street and Regent Street for the flagship stores, Covent Garden for gifts and independents, Liberty for luxury, Fortnum & Mason for festive hampers, and Bicester Village (an hour out) for designer outlets at a discount. Late-night shopping runs on Thursdays through December.
See the Christmas lights by private car
The most magical way to see London's Christmas lights is from a warm, comfortable car, gliding from Regent Street to Covent Garden to the Thames without the cold, the crowds, or the walking, especially with children or older relatives. In December, the illuminated-landmarks night tour naturally becomes a Christmas lights tour: the festive displays of the West End join the year-round icons of Tower Bridge, Big Ben, and the South Bank.
Chauffeurz Premium Services — Christmas lights private tour
See the best of London's festive lights and illuminated landmarks in the warmth of a private car, with photo stops and no crowds. In December, the London by Night private tour becomes the perfect Christmas lights tour, taking in Regent Street, Oxford Street, Covent Garden, and the Thames landmarks all aglow.
Priced per vehicle, so around £75 per person for a couple or £54 per person for a family of six, a warm, magical festive evening for the price of a couple of cocktails. Custom festive routes and Winter Wonderland drop-offs on request. WhatsApp booking.
New Year's Eve in London
London sees in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display over the Thames from the London Eye and the South Bank, set to music. The riverside viewing areas are ticketed (tickets go on sale in the autumn and sell out fast, around £15 to £20), and the surrounding streets are closed and very crowded. Alternatives: watch from a rooftop bar or restaurant with a river view (book months ahead), join a New Year's Eve Thames dinner cruise, or find a spot on higher ground like Primrose Hill or Greenwich Park. Public transport is free on New Year's Eve night in London, but extremely busy.
Frequently asked questions
Plan your festive London trip
For a warm, magical Christmas lights tour by private car, a festive shopping transfer, or an airport pickup to start your winter trip, Chauffeurz Premium Services offers fixed pricing, no surge charges, air-conditioned Mercedes vehicles, and WhatsApp booking for international visitors.
Clara Whitby is a London travel specialist and local insider at Welcome to London, passionate about uncovering hidden gems, neighbourhood guides, and the city’s best-kept secrets.
