Things to do in London for Christmas
17 December 2025
London at Christmas feels like a film set come to life: twinkling lights over historic streets, markets in leafy squares, carols drifting from old churches.
It is one of the best places in Europe if you are wondering what to do for Christmas, whether you love shopping, culture, food or simply wandering and looking at the lights.
Getting there is easy too. Many travellers land at Stansted Airport and head straight into the city with Flibco, which runs convenient shuttle buses between Stansted and central London.
Instead of stressing about traffic or parking, you can relax and start planning the things to do in London for Christmas that appeal most to you. From ice skating to cosy festive dinners, you will find plenty of festive activities that suit every kind of trip.
FAMILIES & KIDS
If you’re travelling with little ones and wondering about things to do in London for Christmas with kids, you’re in the right city.
London goes all-in on family magic in December, from toy-shop adventures to twinkling ice rinks and storybook shows, so you can easily fill a long weekend (or more) with festive fun.
Meet Father Christmas at Hamleys or in Winter Wonderland
Meeting Father Christmas is often top of the list. At Hamleys on Regent Street, the world-famous Santa’s Grotto turns the toy store into a mini North Pole, with games, elves and a special gift for each child (but be aware: tickets usually need to be booked well in advance as they sell out quickly!).
Over in Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Santa Land is home to London’s largest free grotto: children can queue to see Santa, explore gentle rides, and even say hello to Mrs Claus on the balcony, with an interactive Elves Workshop and kid-friendly Jingle Bell Bistro adding to the fun.
Go Ice skating in Winter Wonderland or at Battersea Power Station
Ice skating is another classic family activity and one of the most magical things to do in London for kids at Christmas.
The much-loved Natural History Museum rink has now closed for good, but there are plenty of other places to glide under the Christmas lights. At Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, the open-air rink (usually running from around 20 November to 1 January) wraps around a Victorian bandstand and is surrounded by fairground rides and food stalls, so you can mix skating with hot chocolate stops.
For a big “wow” moment, Glide at Battersea Power Station offers riverside skating beneath one of London’s most iconic buildings, typically open into early January, with a huge Christmas tree and even a skate trail.
You can also lace up your skates at:
- Westfield London
- Somerset House
- Canary Wharf (often running right through to late February)
- Hampton Court Palace
- the Queen’s House in Greenwich
Winter Funland at Olympia
giving you lots of options depending on where you’re staying and how often you want to get back on the ice.
Enjoy a Christmas pantomime at London Palladium
For some theatrical fun, a Christmas pantomime is almost a rite of passage for families. These joyful, slightly chaotic shows mix fairy-tale plots with slapstick comedy, songs and plenty of audience participation: your kids will probably be shouting “He’s behind you!” before the interval.
Each year, big productions run across London, from the star-studded Sleeping Beauty pantomime at the London Palladium to family favourites like Aladdin or Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric Hammersmith, and Cinderella at Hackney Empire.
If you’re planning your own list of things to do in London for Christmas as a family, checking the current panto listings is a great place to start.
See how Christmas was celebrated in the past at the Museum
For a calmer day, the Museum of the Home in Hoxton (formerly the Geffrye Museum) offers a beautiful, educational way to step into “Christmas past”.
Its annual Winter Past exhibition decorates a series of period rooms to show how winter and the festive season have been celebrated from the 1600s to the present day: think cosy Victorian parlours, mid-century living rooms and glimpses of Christmas future.
It is usually free, making it one of the most relaxed and budget-friendly things to do in London for kids at Christmas if you want a break from queues and crowds.
FOR COUPLES & ROMANTIC OUTINGS
For love doves, London in December is all about twinkling lights, river views and slow walks through historic streets.
Have a romantic dinner at Coppa Club’s by Tower Bridge or at Daphne’s in Chelsea
If you are planning things to do in London at Christmas for couples, Coppa Club’s famous igloos by Tower Bridge are hard to beat.
These private, heated domes sit right on the Thames with blankets, fairy lights and uninterrupted views of the skyline, so even a simple dinner feels like a special occasion. They are extremely popular in winter, so you will want to book well in advance.
If you prefer a traditional restaurant setting, London’s Christmas-decorated dining rooms are a dream for date night.
Daphne’s in Chelsea turns its interiors into a glowing Italian winter fantasy, with baubles, foliage and fairy lights hanging from the ceiling above white-clothed tables.
In Mayfair, Sketch transforms its townhouse into an immersive festive installation each year; in 2025, the “Art of Après” décor turns the space into a chic alpine escape, perfect if you love dramatic interiors and a touch of theatre with your meal.
Enjoy a cocktail at The Churchill Arms in Kensington
For something more relaxed, you could also head to The Churchill Arms in Kensington, often dubbed London’s most Christmassy pub, where the exterior is smothered in Christmas trees and lights and the inside is warm, busy and full of character.
These make wonderfully atmospheric Christmas things to do in London for adults who want great food and a festive backdrop.
Jump on a Christmas Cruise on the river Thames
A Thames Christmas cruise adds another layer of romance.
Several operators run seasonal sailings where you can sip mulled wine, enjoy mince pies and watch landmarks like Big Ben, the London Eye and Tower Bridge glide by, all reflected in the dark winter water.
Back on dry land, skating at Somerset House is one of the best festive activities in London as a couple.
From 12 November 2025 to 11 January 2026, the ice rink fills the neoclassical courtyard, framed by a towering Christmas tree, DJ-led Skate Lates sessions and cosy food and drink stalls.
Evening sessions under the lights feel especially romantic, with the historic buildings glowing around you as you glide across the ice together.
Join a candlelit Christmas service at St Paul’s
To end the night on a quieter, more reflective note, you can join one of the candlelit Christmas services at St Paul’s Cathedral.
In 2025, the programme includes Family Carols on 20 December and the main Christmas Carol Services at 4pm on 23 and 24 December, all free but ticketed via a ballot system.
The soaring dome, the Cathedral choir and the glow of candles create a deeply atmospheric setting, so if you are planning what to do for Christmas in London as a couple, this peaceful, uplifting moment often feels like the perfect way to capture the true spirit of the season.
THINGS TO DO FOR FREE AT CHRISTMAS IN LONDON
If you are looking for free things to do in London for Christmas, the city’s streets and squares are your best friend.
Some of the most beautiful festive experiences do not cost a penny, especially if you love lights and decorations.
Admire Christmas lights and festive streets
Start with a wander through Oxford Street, Regent Street, Carnaby and Bond Street, where huge overhead displays, angel lights and colourful installations turn shopping streets into open-air galleries.
From there, you can drift towards Seven Dials, Marylebone Village and Belgravia for slightly quieter but equally photogenic displays, or head to the South Bank and Battersea Power Station for riverfront views and sparkling façades.
An evening Christmas-lights walk is one of the easiest things to do in London for free at Christmas, especially if you simply take your time and stop for photos whenever something catches your eye.
Take a stroll around Covent Garden
Covent Garden is another must-see. Its giant tree, oversized baubles, bells and bows fill the piazza and market halls, and there are often pop-ups, performances and photo spots to enjoy without spending anything at all.
Did you know that in London you can find some of the best Christmas Markets in Europe?
Marvel at the spruce in Trafalgar Square
Finally, make room on your list of things to do in London for Christmas in 2025 for Trafalgar Square.
Here, a towering Norwegian spruce - a yearly gift from Oslo - stands at the centre of the square, surrounded by carol singers raising money for charity and street performers entertaining the crowds.
It is a simple but quintessentially London way to end a festive evening, and a reminder that some of the best things to do in London for Christmas are completely free.
FUN THINGS TO DO
If you are hunting for fun things to do in London for Christmas, there is no shortage of playful, slightly over-the-top experiences to try.
Join a Harry Potter Christmas-themed walking tour
Harry Potter fans can join a Christmas-themed walking tour that threads its way past filming locations and atmospheric streets dressed in lights. Some operators even combine filming spots with festive bus rides, like the Lumos Christmas Lights Bus Tour, which takes you past iconic London sights while you solve quizzes and spot places from the films.
Go to Miracle at Henrietta for a holiday cocktail
For something more grown-up, head to Miracle at Henrietta, a pop-up Christmas cocktail bar just off Covent Garden.
Expect kitsch decorations, twinkling lights, seasonal playlists and a menu of playful holiday cocktails served in festive glassware: it is one of the most gloriously over-the-top Christmas bars in the city, and perfect if you and your friends love a bit of sparkle.
Join a vintage Routemaster Christmas lights tour
A vintage Routemaster Christmas lights tour is another brilliant way to see the city.
You climb aboard a restored 1960s bus decked out with tinsel and garlands, then trundle past Oxford Street, Regent Street, Trafalgar Square and more while a guide points out the best displays. Some tours even include afternoon tea or festive nibbles on board, turning a simple journey into a nostalgic Christmas outing.
Book a Christmas wreath-making workshop
If you fancy getting hands-on, book a Christmas wreath-making or gingerbread-decorating workshop.
Floristry schools and studios across the city, from McQueens Flower School in Mayfair to Botanique Workshop in Islington, Chelsea Physic Garden and cosy studios in East London, run seasonal classes where you create your own door wreath or iced biscuits to take home.
It is one of those Christmas things to do in London for adults that feels both creative and relaxing: you leave with something beautiful, a new skill, and probably a few pine needles still stuck in your jumper.
Kids with Santa image credits: gpointstudio via freepik.com
Winder Wonderland ice-skating image credits: chatirygirl via flickr.com
Coppa Clubs' image credits: Dennis Henge via flickr.com
Tower Bridge by night image credits: bryan… via flickr.com
Oxford Street lights image credits: ashustravels22 via flikr.com
Trafalgar Square Christmas tree image credits: Croydon Clicker via flickr.com
Christmas cocktail image credits: StockSnap from Pixabay
Banner image credits: lookstudio via flickr.com
