It is fair to say that the city of London is responsible for many of the classic Christmas elements that the world recognises and loves. After all, it was the residents of the capital that first merged their midwinter feasts with the Christian celebration to mark Christ’s Mass with 12 full days of events and revelry. Henry VIII’s Westminster banquets through the centuries brought turkey from the New World to the table on Christmas Day and the majority of the picture book festivities one imagines, is a vivid picture of Victorian London, so well documented by the peerless Charles Dickens in his most famous work, A Christmas Carol. Even the humble Christmas tree, that is now perhaps the most identifiable seasonal icon of all, was first displayed in the UK at Windsor Castle, personally requested by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert.
All of this heritage and yuletide history make London a fantastic place to be over the holiday season. The spirit of Christmas can be found in events, happenings and activities all across the city in every area and neighbourhood.
Our guide to the best things to do in London at Christmas presents a collection of the very best to watch out for in 2025.
Christmas at Kew Gardens
The 300-acre Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in Richmond are a delightful attraction at any time of the year, with their exquisite 18th-century architecture of built environment and a world-class collection of over 50,000 living plants. Every year at Christmas, this unique landscape is transformed into a festival of light with the huge arboretum illuminated and themes, stories and ideas to marvel upon.
Visitors are guided on a meandering journey of approximately two miles that takes in some of the most impressive landmarks along the way. The imperious Temperate House that stands as the largest Victorian Glasshouse in the world and the Chinese Pagoda are perhaps the most eye-catching of all as they become part of this magical and immersive installation. Thousands of bulbs coalesce with striking laser displays and images projected across the water with choral music accompanying the view for a complete sensory feast that is equally well suited to the eyes of younger children and the hearts of older family members.
The spectacle runs from late November to early January, and it always pays to keep an eye on the forecast to avoid any potentially disruptive inclement weather. With such beauty in nature, combined with thrilling effects and a gentle activity, this is akin to a winter pilgrimage for the residents and visitors of the great city.
A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story
The Old Vic is a theatrical institution in London that has stood for over 200 years as a working playhouse with some of the greatest names in entertainment represented here at one time or another. Quite fitting then, that this is the home to a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, written by the award-winning hand of Jack Thorne. This is definitely one not to miss, with a new immersive structure that uses the layout and grandeur of the old building to stunning effect in an immersive way, with the audience almost becoming a character in the show itself. Bells will be tolling from the rafters and ghostly candlelight flickers as you are led through the incredible tale of greed and redemption in a new and immersive way. Live music of traditional carols is woven into the play with special effects and surprises bound to elicit screams of fear and tears of joy in equal measure. Watching this unfold with your family and friends just a stone’s throw from where it was actually written is quite a thrill too, although it is advised that the show is not appropriate for children under 10 years of age. Tickets are destined to disappear quickly, so acting fast to secure a spot is always the best course of action.
Skate at Somerset House
Somerset House holds a fascinating history that began with its creation as a riverside headquarters for the Royal Navy’s offices in 1776. It is a beautiful rendering of Palladian architecture that hulks over a huge courtyard surrounded by stone facades and statues in a perfectly stately manner. All of which adds to the romance and allure of a winter afternoon or evening spent gliding over a purpose-built ice rink with a 40-foot Christmas Tree rising over the skaters in shimmering lights. The distinguished Piccadilly grocer Fortnum & Mason, are in charge of several pop-up dining spaces to ensure that all tummies are as full and warm as the hearts that dance on the ice too. Mulled Champagne and fondue will be the order of the day, with a joyful alpine-inspired lodge also open to serve cocktails with accompaniment from live DJs that keep everything moving late into the night.
Skate runs from early November to mid-January, with walk-ups encouraged and skate hire always available. And if you are new to the ice, then private lessons can be booked in advance to make the most of this fleeting but fabulous event. A skate, a spin and a sip in such elegant surroundings will be difficult to match anywhere in the city this Christmas.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
The unmistakable majesty of this Royal Park has been part of the fabric of the city for hundreds of years. It represents a civic stage for London that makes itself available to the residents of the capital to use in recreation, commemoration and celebration throughout the calendar with impeccable style. In recent times, the Winter Wonderland has brought what seems like an entirely new neighbourhood to Hyde Park that sprawls across the eastern lawns between the landmarks of Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner. This is a festive carnival that young children will love, bouncing from ride to ride under a canopy of Christmas lights to the strains of live music in a joyful and magical way.
There are pockets of more refined and slightly older attractions to enjoy too, with champagne offered by bars sculpted entirely from ice and the wood fires of the Alpen Hotel open for a retreat into the soft leather seating of a mountain hideaway. Winter Wonderland has everything from acrobats to artisan crafts and cabaret to Christmas carols, open every day from mid-November to New Year’s Day. If you would prefer to avoid the main crowds, a midweek afternoon visit is the best bet, with plenty of time to appreciate everything on offer in a slightly more sedate manner.
Creating your very own advent calendar of activities for the festive period with the city of London as host is a great way to make the most of Christmas. Although, as you will undoubtedly experience, the sights of London in midwinter are often enough to spark happiness and joy in hearts all by themselves.
