Christmas in London: the guide to fun Christmas markets and more!

Bucket List Christmas Destination: Yourlbb's Guide to Celebrating Christmas in London

Celebrating Christmas in another city is so much fun! To really get into the Christmas spirit, I created a Christmas guide with the best things to do in London during the holidays. Every neighborhood is beautifully decorated with lights and Christmas trees. Whether you're staying in trendy East London, Soho, or the Southbank, the hotels are all extra cozy around the holidays. During my last trip to London, I stayed on the beautiful Southbank at Mercure London BridgeA lovely design hotel right behind the Tate Modern and only a 10-minute walk from Borough Market!

To London by train!

Did you know that you can reach the heart of London by train in just over 4,5 hours? I went for the first time with NS International I traveled from Amsterdam to London. Highly recommended! First, I took the Thalys to Brussels and then the Eurostar train from Brussels to London. Traveling Business Class is extra special. You get a glass of bubbly and a leisurely lunch or dinner during the trip. I was served a delicious rabbit leg cooked in Belgian beer. Yum! It's wonderful to relax during the trip with a magazine or watch a series on your laptop or iPad.

If you book early and keep an eye on the deals, you can get a ticket from just €59 one-way. An added bonus: you don't have to worry about luggage restrictions. From St. Pancras station, you can reach your hotel in no time by Tube! Also great: your Eurostar ticket gets you discounts at various museums.

Shopping and Window Shopping! | Christmas in London Guide 

Shopping in London is the best during the holidays. If you ask me, there's nowhere better than London for Christmas shopping, and it's truly an experience everyone should experience at least once. You can visit the famous shopping streets like Oxford Street, Bond Street, and Regent Street. The windows of the major department stores are incredibly beautiful. I could stare at them for hours! A must-see is, of course, the classic Harrods in South Kensington. The shoe department at Harrods isn't called shoe heaven for nothing ;-). For Christmas lovers, Harrods is worth a visit from the end of summer, as the Christmas department is usually set up at the end of August. The windows at Selfridges on Oxford Street are also stunning. Selfridges also has a huge Christmas department, which is often a bit cheaper than Harrods.

Whenever I'm in London, I always pop into Liberty Department Store. It's a unique building, and it's just as beautifully decorated. And wherever you go in these beautiful department stores, there's festive Christmas music playing. All the lights and the festive atmosphere give the city an almost magical feel. Especially when it gets dark outside and the Christmas lights on Oxford and Regent Street come on!

Other great shopping areas include Seven Dials near Covent Garden, where you'll find boutiques with major brands. Then, walk along Carnaby Street (loads of great shops!) to Soho for a bite to eat at one of the hotspots.

Tip: You can take advantage of big discounts on Boxing Day, which takes place on November 26th and when shops open extra early.

The city's best Christmas markets | Christmas in London guide

In December, London boasts a wealth of charming Christmas markets. Most remain open until early January. So even if you're in London between Christmas and New Year's, you can still enjoy these markets for food and drinks. Besides weekly markets like Sunday Up Market, Broadway Market, Borough Market, and Old Spitalfields Market, there are also special Christmas markets.

These are the best Christmas markets in London that you don't want to miss:
There's a small Christmas market on the Southbank near the Tate Modern. It's a nice place to wander over if you're near the museum.
– Around the Southbank Center and the London Eye Winter Festival A super large and very cozy Christmas market. Tip: go for a cider at the cider house!
– This year's hipster Christmas market is Winterville In Victoria Park in North London, it's like a parade, but with a Christmas atmosphere. This is the place to go for delicious food and drinks. There are also various performances and attractions for kids. Winterville even has an ice skating rink!

Christmas Food & Drinks | Christmas in London Guide

London offers some of the best food and drink! If you're visiting during the Christmas holidays, it's a good idea to make reservations at a nice restaurant. During the day, Borough Market is a great place to visit. They sell such delicious products! After a visit to Borough Market, it's a great idea to enjoy some hot chocolate at Rabot 1745. They have the best hot chocolate in London!

For drinks this Christmas, head to the Queen of Hoxton rooftop terrace. There's a giant teepee and a fire pit where you can roast your own marshmallows. Fun!

London Christmas Lights Tour: On Foot, by Bike or by Bus

There are several places in London where Christmas is celebrated in style, and how much fun would it be to visit as many of them as possible? You can do so with the Christmas Lights Walking Tour, which takes you past beautiful Christmas lights and cozy Christmas markets in London, and discovers the origins of Scrooge and Santa Claus. You can also do this tour by bike, a three-hour ride past various markets and hotspots, such as Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, the Harrods window displays, and Covent Garden.

Finally, you can also take the Christmas Lights Tour by bus. This tour takes you around central London on the famous red double-decker bus, lasting approximately 75 to 90 minutes. During the tour, a guide will tell you about London's sights and highlights.

Harry Potter Studios with Hogwarts in Christmas spirit

Harry Potter is a popular phenomenon, especially in London. This holiday season, you can experience a true "Harry Christmas" with the studio tour called "Hogwarts in the Snow." You can visit your favorite Harry Potter sets, each decorated with Christmas trees, mistletoe, and wreaths. Several interesting film secrets will also be revealed. The studio tour is open from November 11, 2023, to January 14, 2024.

Also fun to do during the holidays! | Christmas in London guide 

As much as I love trendy places and the latest hotspots, I'm a sucker for Christmas. And I also love classics. An afternoon at the Tate Modern or Victoria & Albert Museum for a great exhibition. The V&A Museum is soon hosting an exhibition about Alexander McQueen!

Another London classic is the London Eye. If you've never been on it, you definitely should. Afterward, enjoy a meal and drinks at the Winter Festival Christmas market.

Go ice skating in London around the holidays at the chic Somerset House. You might have seen it in the movies! You can skate there for an hour until late at night. Super romantic!

Most beautiful Christmas trees in London

During the Christmas season, beautifully decorated Christmas trees are displayed in all sorts of places in London. Covent Garden is a bit touristy, but incredibly atmospheric at Christmas. Take a photo under the enormous tree as a souvenir of your wonderful Christmas trip! Covent Garden also boasts the largest Christmas tree, reaching eighteen meters tall and adorned with over 115.000 lights.

You can also enjoy various light shows featuring Christmas trees on the Kew Garden trail, and in Coal Drops Yard, the central Christmas tree has an après-ski theme. At Battersea Power Station, a nine-meter-high ice-skating rink is even built around the Christmas tree every year. And you can't miss the Christmas tree at Leadenhall Market, which features a market based on Harry Potter's Diagon Alley.

Merry Christmas and Have Fun in London Baby!

Do you also want to travel to London with NS International? Book your ticket directly here.
PS: you can find more nice addresses in my London Little Black BookA city guide with the best restaurants, shops, and fun things to do during a weekend getaway.

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