Christmas in London

The Christmas season is a special time for everyone, but London makes it something very special. The city is transformed into a winter wonderland with lights, markets, ice skating rinks and cozy pubs. London ensures that you will have a real Christmas experience in the city. In this blog, I will tell you all about what London has to offer during the holidays and why it is definitely worth visiting the city during Christmas.

London has several light shows during the holidays. The most famous light show is on ‘Oxford Street’ where giant illuminated Christmas decorations can be seen. You can also enjoy the light shows from at ‘Regent Street’ and ‘Carnaby Street’ and each show offers their own theme, making everything unique to see.

Christmas Markets

London has several Christmas markets combining the tradition of Christmas with modern Christmas. The biggest Christmas market is “Winter Wonderland” in Hyde Park. This is a festival with cozy Christmas stalls and delicious food. There are also several carnival rides and a huge ice skating rink. You can enjoy British food here, such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, but you can also enjoy German bratwurst and mulled wine.

If you want to go to a quieter Christmas market, the “Southbank Christmas Market” is recommended. This Christmas market overlooks the Thames and the London Eye and is a lot smaller than the Christmas market in Hyde Park. You can enjoy refreshments here and the market offers many handmade gifts that you can buy.

Skating

Ice skating is a real Christmas tradition and in London there are several places where you can ice skate. The most famous is ‘Somerset House‘ where you skate with super beautiful 18th century buildings around you.

At the ‘Tower of London‘ you can also skate with a medieval castle in the background. Finally, you can skate at ‘Hampton Court Palace‘ where you will skate next to Henry VIII’s palace. All of these places are incredibly beautiful for skating while also giving you a glimpse into London’s history.

Shopping

London packs big during Christmas shopping. In the big stores like ‘Harrods‘ and ‘Selfridges‘ everything is decorated with Christmas decorations and there is a large assortment of Christmas gifts. Harrods is known for its Christmas department, where you can buy both gifts and decorations.

There are also several boutiques where you can shop well. ‘Covent Garden‘ and ‘Soho‘ are places where you can buy unique items. Covent Garden is fun to visit because they sell giant Christmas trees, as well as large reindeer, Santa Claus and much more. If you want to buy handmade items, this is definitely the place to do so.

Theaters

London’s theaters host performances every year during the holidays. There are classic ballet performances like “The Nutcracker”, as well as modern Christmas performances like “West End”. This is a fun experience to go to when you are in the city.

London during Christmas is a unique experience with all the things you can do in the city. The city is incredibly beautifully lit and offers so many fun activities for young and old alike. Are you curious about the sights of London? Then do the SmartWalk London that tells you all about the city! You can walk the tour by yourself and take breaks whenever you want.

Merry Christmas!