A Magical London Christmas Itinerary For 4 Days (+ Map)

Looking for the best London Christmas Itinerary? Our guide features the top Christmas attractions in London, along with cosy pubs, local markets, and a day-by-day breakdown of how to see it all.

December is a great time to visit London. The glow of festive lights over grand boulevards and tiny laneways gives the city a magical feel.

However, there’s so much to do that it’s hard to know how to fit it all in, which is where this itinerary can help.

We’ve put together a plan that visits royal landmarks, some of the best museums, interesting local markets, and London’s famous Christmas lights, plus much, much more.

Read this together with our guide to the best things to do at Christmas in London and you’ll be armed with all you need to know for a festive Christmas in the capital.

ABOUT THIS ITINERARY

Mark and I have lived in London for many years, so this itinerary is a detailed walkthrough of what we think visitors to London would like to see over Christmas.

We have included as many main attractions as possible in 4 days, along with some local gems that we hope international visitors will also enjoy.

This itinerary has been carefully designed to allow you to see the sights in each area without excessive backtracking. For the most part, you’ll be able to walk between sights; we’ve noted where public transport is necessary.

It’s impossible to fit everything into four days, so some major sights—like St Paul’s and the National Gallery—are best saved for another visit. Read our 4-day London itinerary if you plan on making a return trip.

We have also included times throughout this guide. These times are approximate, helping you gauge how long it takes to travel between attractions.

WHAT TO BOOK IN ADVANCE?

London can get very busy during Christmas, so it really pays to book ahead for the things you really want to see and experience. We have summarised all the things you might want to book in advance to follow this itinerary.

MAP: LONDON CHRISTMAS

We have added all the Christmas locations we suggest in this guide to the map below. This will help you get your bearings when planning and it gives you an overview of how the days fit together.

USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.  

LONDON CHRISTMAS ITINERARY

So here is the itinerary in full, with each day mapped out in detail.

DAY 1: WESTMINSTER & THE WEST END

It’s fair to say that the first day of this itinerary is focused on the main tourist attractions you’ll want to visit to get the Christmas in London vibe.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE (9 AM)

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the UK sovereign and the working headquarters of King Charles. It’s a great place to start your London Christmas itinerary.

Although it’s not open to visitors during the winter, it’s located on the edges of the royal parks and at the top of The Mall, making it a great introduction to just how regal London looks at Christmas time.

To get here, take the underground to St James’s Park Station on the Circle and District Lines, or Green Park Station on the Jubilee and Victoria Lines. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the front of the palace from both stations.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD // If you want to see the changing of the guard, it leaves St James’s Palace at 10:43 am and marches up The Mall to Buckingham Palace on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

ST JAMES’S PARK & HORSE GUARDS PARADE (10 AM)

After visiting Buckingham Palace, stroll through the beautiful St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade.

St James’s Park is the oldest of the 8 royal parks in London. From the Blue Bridge, you can capture an iconic picture of Buckingham Palace. Facing the other direction, you’ll get Horseguards Parade and Whitehall, which is what we captured in the photo below.

Horseguards Parade is a ceremonial parade ground and one of the largest open spaces in London.

Two mounted cavalry troopers of The King’s Lifeguard are posted outside from 10 am to 4 pm daily. You are welcome to take photos, but make sure you maintain a respectable distance.

WHITEHALL & DOWNING STREET (10:30 AM)

After the Churchill War Rooms, head back through Horse Guards Parade and turn right at Whitehall to have a quick walk past Downing Street.

Downing Street is the home of the British Prime Minister. You can’t get very close, but you can peer between the gates and almost make out the famous number 10 on the black door.  

WESTMINSTER ABBEY (11 AM)

Continue on to Westminster Square and check out the statues of Churchill and other world leaders. The square also has great views of Westminster Palace and Big Ben.

Then it’s time to visit Westminster Abbey.

We highly recommend visiting Westminster Abbey any time of year, but at Christmas it’s especially magical.

There are services and concerts you can attend free of charge (check the Westminster Abbey website for details); however, it may not be possible to fit them into your schedule.

It’s also not possible to wander around many of the abbey’s most important monuments when you visit for a service. Here are some of the things to see inside:

• The tombs of Henry VII, Elizabeth I, and her sister Mary – possibly the most important figures in British royal history.
• Poets’ Corner, where you’ll find graves or memorials to famous writers, including William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.
• The Coronation Chair, which has been used for over 700 years, is also worth locating.
• King Henry VII Lady Chapel – one of the most beautiful spaces in the abbey.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY TICKETS // Timed entry tickets need to be booked in advance for Westminster Abbey to avoid the long queues.

SOUTH BANK CHRISTMAS MARKETS (1 PM)

After visiting the Abbey, walk over Westminster Bridge to the South Bank, which has one of the best Christmas Markets in London.

This small market has a few stalls selling regular Christmas trinkets, but it’s also a great place to eat out. Each year, British producers set up stalls in the market so you can sample some local delicacies. It’s a great stop for lunch on this itinerary.

The Southbank Centre runs a Winter Festival, which includes Christmas shows, pop-up bars, art exhibitions, and many free events. 

LONDON EYE // Just along the South Bank from the markets, you’ll pass the London Eye. It’s very touristy, expensive, and the queues can be astonishing. If it’s something you want to do, the fast-track ticket allows you to avoid some of the queues, but the standard ticket is around £20 cheaper.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE CHRISTMAS MARKET (4 PM)

Next, make your way across the Golden Jubilee Bridge and head to the Trafalgar Square Christmas market, which is about a 15-minute walk back over the other side of the river.

Trafalgar Square is one of the most iconic public spaces in London. It’s named after the Battle of Trafalgar, an important naval victory in 1805. The leader of the victory, Admiral Lord Nelson, is immortalised on the 169-foot column in the centre of the square.

From the square, you have wonderful views of central London.

The Christmas Market here is lovely but very busy. Given the iconic location, it’s worth battling the crowds for a little while to soak up the atmosphere here.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT // If you wanted to escape the crowds, you could attend Carols by Candelight at St Martin-in-the-Fields, which takes place at 4 PM on selected days throughout December.

SKATE SOMERSET (5 PM)

From Trafalgar Square, walk over to Somerset House (around 12 minutes).

There are several ice skating rinks in London over winter; we have included them on our Christmas events list guide, but SKATE at Somerset House is the best.

The setting in front of the neoclassical building, decorated as a Christmas wonderland, couldn’t be more magical.

Each year, Skate Somerset hosts a series of fantastic events called Skate Lates. For 2025, there will be guest DJs, Blondies, Kitchen, art installations by Harold Offeh and Shelter Boutique, a vintage store with proceeds going to homelessness charities.

It’s a good idea to book tickets in advance at somersethouse.org.uk.

COVENT GARDEN & LEICESTER SQUARE (7 PM)

From Somerset House, it’s a short walk up to Covent Garden. If ice skating isn’t your thing, you could spend more time around Covent Garden, which goes all out at Christmas.

It’s one of the most festive places in the city, with a 60-foot Christmas Tree sparkling with 30,000 lights and an iconic market building decorated with 40 gigantic bells and baubles.

There are heated alfresco dining spaces, mulled wine stations, great restaurants and shopping.

You’ll be able to find plenty of places for dinner, but we have a comprehensive guide to Christmas in Covent Garden, which includes events, shows, and restaurant recommendations.

Leicester Square is a short walk from Covent Garden, and these two areas are the heart of the West End.

If you’re not good with crowds, Leicester Square is probably not the place for you. It gets absolutely crammed at Christmas.

However, there are a few good reasons to be here in the evening over Christmas.

Firstly, you could see a Pantomime, the most British of Christmas events. For 2025, Sleeping Beauty will be running at the London Palladium from December 6, 2025, to January 11, 2026. The Palladium is a 15-minute walk from Leicester Square.

Secondly, as an alternative to ice skating at Somerset House, Leicester Square is setting up an ice skating rink for the first time in 2025. It will run from November 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

The other great thing to do in Leicester Square is La Clique, an excellent adults-only burlesque production.

To stay up to date, check out our guide to Leicester Square over Christmas.

DAY 2: LONDON BRIDGE & BOROUGH

Day 2 of our itinerary includes some more big sights, including Tower Bridge and Borough Market, with a few local experiences to collect along the way.

TOWER OF LONDON (9 AM)

The Tower of London is an imposing fortress on the North Bank of the Thames, which has played a pivotal role in British history.

It has a very festive atmosphere at Christmas time, with Christmas lights, special performances, and displays that showcase how the royal family celebrated Christmas.

The highlight is the Treasury, which contains the Crown Jewels, some of the world’s most valuable and historic royal jewellery and regalia.

If you decide to get a guided tour, keep in mind that only Accredited Guides or Blue Badge guides are allowed inside the tower.

TOWER OF LONDON TICKETS // It’s a good idea to book timed tickets in advance, which allows you to skip the line at the ticket desk. However, there may still be a queue to get through security, so it’s a good idea to go as early as possible.

LONDON BRIDGE WINTER BY THE RIVER (11 AM)

Leaving the Tower of London, stroll over the iconic Tower Bridge to the South Bank for Winter by the River.

Winter by the River is one of the most scenic Christmas Markets in London. It’s located on the Queen’s Walk between Tower Bridge and London Bridge, and the setting couldn’t be more London!

Walk through the market, but make sure you make a stop at Hay’s Galleria. This Grade II listed warehouse has been converted into a covered arcade, which is absolutely magical at Christmas.

BOROUGH MARKET (12:30 PM)

Borough Market is just a short walk from Hay’s Galleria, and it’s the perfect place to be around lunchtime.

It’s one of the best markets in London any time of the year, but at Christmas, it’s extra special. It’s a great place to stock up on interesting food-related Christmas gifts, with hundreds of local suppliers selling their products.

Some of our favourite places to eat in and around the market are:

• Arabica Bar & Kitchen – Sample Middle Eastern small plates and mezze.
• Padella – Amazing hand-rolled pasta.
• Berenjak – Persian stews, kebabs and sharing dishes.  
• Mallow – Excellent plant-based restaurant.  
• BAO Borough – Taiwanese street food.

Over the winter, Borough Market is open from 10 AM to 5 PM (Monday to Friday); 9 AM to 5 PM (Saturday); 10 AM to 4 PM (Sunday). However, they have different hours in the lead up to Christmas:

TATE MODERN (2:30 PM)

After Borough Market, follow Bankside, the pedestrianised footpath along the banks of the Thames, towards the Tate Modern.

On the way, you’ll pass the Shakespeare Globe – A realistic recreation of the Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599 and housed many of Shakespeare’s original plays.

A few minutes later, you’ll come to the Tate Modern, which houses the UK’s national collection of modern and contemporary art in the converted Bankside Power Station.

Some of the most famous pieces in the gallery are: the Seagram Murals by Mark Rothko, Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso and Metamorphosis of Narcissus by Salvador Dalí.

Don’t miss the views from the café on level 10, which offers a great view of all the Christmas festivities along the south bank and St Paul’s Cathedral across the river.

THE SHARD (3:30 PM)

Depending on how long you spent looking around the Tate, it should be around the right time for sunset drinks at the Shard.

You could book tickets for View From The Shard, which gives you 360-degree views of the city from the 72nd floor of one of London’s most iconic buildings. This is an excellent experience if you want uninterrupted views of London from the highest level.

However, if you are more interested in the overall experience rather than the views alone, you could book one of the cocktail bars for a memorable Christmas sundowner.

Aqua Shard is a stylish restaurant on level 31. They accept walk-ins, but you are not guaranteed a window seat. You can book a table online, but only for lunch, dinner or afternoon tea. We have always just turned up around this time of day and never had a problem getting a good seat.

The other option is Gǒng, part of the Shangri-La Hotel. This is a very sophisticated cocktail bar on level 51, and you can book a spot at the bar for drinks. They have a £30 per person minimum spend.

SADLER’S WELLS (6 PM)

Tonight, we’d recommend heading over to Sadler’s Wells for the Matthew Bourne ballet. Even if you’re not a big fan of ballet (which we are not), this contemporary ballet is visually stunning and one of the best ways to dip your toes into dance.

Matthew Bourne stages a winter production each year, and it’s something we rarely miss.

The 2025 season will see a return of one of his most popular productions, The Red Shoes, the story of an aspiring ballerina faced with a choice between her career and romance.

Performances run from 2 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, and tickets can be purchased online via the Sadler’s Wells website.

The show starts at 7:30 PM, which means you may have a bit of time after leaving the Shard. You would either have a bite to eat at Exmouth Market or find a restaurant near the theatre. Here are some suggestions.

• Niche – An incredible gluten-free restaurant just a few minutes walk from the theatre.
• The Gate – Indian and Iraqi-inspired vegetarian dishes.
• Afghan Kitchen – Hearty homestyle Afghan cooking.

GETTING THERE // To get to Sadler’s Well, catch the tube from London Bridge to Angel. The theatre is a 10-minute walk from Angel station. Use the TfL GO App to help you plan your journeys in London.

DAY 3: KENSINGTON & SOHO

For the 3rd day, we start with something less Christmassy, then continue to Winter Wonderland and the central London lights – about as Christmassy as it gets!

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM (10 AM)

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is not particularly Christmassy, but it is one of our favourite things to do over the Christmas period.

In fact, it probably makes a nice contrast to the usual festive activities.

The exhibition features 100 incredible images from the natural world, organised by categories including animal portraits, photojournalism, and behaviour.

It’s a powerful exhibition with jaw-dropping photography and stories of a planet under pressure.

The exhibition runs from 17 October 2025 to 12 July 2026, and timed-entry tickets must be booked in advance on the National History Museum website. 

LUNCH IN SOUTH KENSINGTON (12 PM)

After the Wildlife Photographer Exhibition, it’s time to grab lunch in South Kensington.

Walk down Exhibition Road towards South Kensington tube station and you’ll find plenty of places to try for lunch.

As we’re heading to Harrods next, a good option is Daphne’s, an Italian Restaurant which does Christmas decorations in a big way.

HARRODS & HARVEY NICHOLS (2:30 PM)

After lunch, continue on to Harrods to catch the famous façade decked out in Christmas lights. It’s a great place for Christmas shopping, but we usually head straight to the food hall, which is excellent.

Harvey Nicholas is another grand department store worth checking out at Christmas. They have wonderful window displays with a whimsical, fantasy vibe.

WINTER WONDERLAND (3:30 PM)

From Harrods, it’s a 20-minute walk to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.

This is a good time to visit Winter Wonderland, as it can get very busy in the evening, and there may be long delays to get in.

Essentially, it’s a theme-park-style Christmas event with rides, ice skating, Christmas stalls, and plenty of food and drink options.

Entry is free during off-peak times, but online bookings are required for all entries.

Winter Wonderland is running from 14 November 2025 to 5 January 2026.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WALK (5:30 PM)

Leaving Winter Wonderland, you are at the top of Oxford Street, which is a great place to start our Self-Guided Christmas Lights Walk.

Our walking route takes you past all the highlights of London’s Christmas Lights, including New Bond Street, Burlington Arcade, Regent Street, and Piccadilly Circus via an easy-to-follow walking route.

If you have time to see more of the lights while in London, we cover all of them in our guide to the best of London’s Christmas Lights. This includes some that are located outside the central area, making them more challenging to incorporate into this 4-day itinerary.

SOHO (7 PM)

Our Central London Christmas Lights walk finishes around Piccadilly, putting you in Soho for the evening. This is an excellent part of London to spend a night out.

Soho has a rich bohemian heritage with everything from vintage shops to Michelin-starred restaurants. Small streets are packed with traditional pubs, cafes and restaurants.

Here are a few suggestions:

• The Nest Rooftop Bar (£££) – A great rooftop bar for Christmassy drinks.
• Bob Bob Ricard (£££££) – A stylish restaurant with private booths and buttons that say “Press for Champagne.”
• Old Compton Brasserie (££) – An all-day dining venue with a vibrant Christmas atmosphere.
• Barrafina (££££) – Authentic Spanish tapas in a contemporary setting. Whenever people ask about our favourite restaurant in London, Barrafina is always the first place to spring to mind.
• Kiln (££££) – A Thai barbecue restaurant with an open kitchen and counter seating, specialising in northern Thai flavours. Their claypot noodles are superb.
• Berner’s Tavern (£££££) – Superb British cooking, using high-quality seasonal produce in a grand dining hall. This is a high-end night out.
• Nessa Soho (££££) – A neighbourhood restaurant and bar that does classics well.

DAY 4: BRITISH MUSEUM & CAMDEN MARKET

For day 4, we have taken the pace a little slower, allowing some extra time for you to explore Camden Market a little longer if you wish. There are also two different options for the evening.

BRITISH MUSEUM (10 AM)

Although it’s not Christmassy, you can’t come to London for 4 days without visiting the British Museum.

It contains important artefacts of human history and culture dating back to the last 2 million years, and it was the first museum in the world to open to the public.

Highlights include the Egyptian mummies, the Parthenon Sculptures and the Rosetta Stone.

The museum is free to enter; however, the entry queue directs you to payment terminals, allowing you to leave a voluntary donation if you wish. It’s a sneaky way to get a donation, but rest assured, the museum is free.

This tour of the British Museum, led by a qualified art historian, provides a fascinating and in-depth walk through the museum. The guide gave a balanced take on the controversies surrounding the museum and its collection, which was interesting to hear.

CAMDEN MARKET (12:30 PM)

After the British Museum, jump on the tube at Tottenham Court Road and get off at Camden Town station to spend the afternoon exploring Camden Market.

Camden Market is the largest in London, and at Christmas time, there is a host of festive things to do, including ice skating, live music and choirs, craft workshops, Santa’s grotto and much more.

You could easily spend the rest of the day at Camden, shopping, having lunch and soaking up the atmosphere.

We have some additional information on our Camden Park walk guide, which includes details about the various markets, suggestions for where to eat, and a lovely walk along the Regent’s Canal, if you have the time.

For the final evening of this itinerary, we have two options for you to consider. The first is the Christmas Light trail at Kew Gardens, and the second is Carols at Royal Albert Hall.

KEW GARDENS (OPTION 1: 5 PM)

Over Christmas, the Kew Gardens are transformed into a winter trail that brings the spirit of the festive season to life. As you move through the gardens on a set trail, an incredible sound and light show creates a rousing display.

The highlight is the Temperate House, which is the canvas for a high-tech sound and light spectacular.

To get to Kew Gardens from Camden, take the underground from Camden Town station to Kew Gardens station. The whole journey will take around 1 hour.

You need to buy timed entrance tickets in advance for Christmas at Kew. Select the Victoria Gate tickets when purchasing if you plan to arrive by tube.

There are numerous excellent options for dinner at Kew Gardens.

CAROLS AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL (OPTION 1: 7:30 PM)

The second option for the final evening is to attend Carols at the Royal Albert Hall – the one Christmas event in London that Mark and I look forward to the most.

In spectacular surroundings, you’ll enjoy one of the finest sing-along carol events of the season. The event features the Royal Choral Society, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a special appearance by the British Imperial Military Band, and solo performers.

Carols at the Royal Albert Hall run from 14 December 2025 to 24 December 2025, and tickets must be booked in advance on the Royal Albert Hall website.

Depending on when you leave Camden, you may want to have dinner near the Royal Albert Hall before or after the carols. Here are some suggestions:

• Origin Kensington (££££) – This is a fancy choice, but the food, which uses British ingredients, is excellent.
• Dishoom Kensington (££) – There are several Dishoom restaurants in London, but the Kensington outpost is conveniently located a short walk from the Royal Albert Hall.
• The Ivy Kensington (££££) – A solid choice for a quality dinner near the Royal Albert Hall.
• Churchill Arms (££) – A local pub in Kensington that does Christmas in an epic way. They also have fantastic Thai Food.

PLANNING & LOGISTICS

WHERE TO STAY?

We have a complete guide to the different neighbourhoods of London, which includes recommendations on where to stay. But here is a summary of the main areas:

WESTMINSTER

Westminster is an excellent choice for the Christmas period, as it’s right in the centre of the main sights. It lacks the neighbourhood feel of other areas, but you can find some surprisingly good hotels.

• The Goring (£££) – The Goring has an elegant style with a large private garden, smartly decked doormen and a Michelin-star restaurant.
• Luna & Simone Hotel (£) – This modern, clean, and comfortable family-run hotel is conveniently located near Victoria bus and train stations.
• The Guardsman (££) – This boutique hotel feels like a sophisticated private members’ club on the edge of St James’s Park.

SOHO

Soho has a bohemian feel and excellent bars, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a great base if you plan on enjoying London’s nightlife, and many of the Christmas markets are within easy walking distance.

• Z Hotel Strand (£) – It’s not easy to find decent-value hotels near the West End, but Z Hotels has a few, with the pick being on The Strand.
• Hazlitt’s (££) – In the heart of Soho, I’ve walked past this hotel many times and never knew it was there. It oozes old-world charm across four Georgian townhouses with a wood-panelled library, leather-bound books, and antique furniture.
• L’Oscar (£££)—Located on the north-eastern corner of Covent Garden, this exquisitely designed boutique hotel is opulently decorated in a style that evokes 1920s glam and Studio 54. 

PADDINGTON

Paddington is slightly out of the centre, but it has excellent transport links. You can be in Soho within 15 minutes, and you’ll find some of the best value accommodation here.  

• The Hayden (££) – A cool pub with well-priced rooms just a few minutes’ walk from Hyde Park and the boutiques of Westbourne Grove.
• Kensington Gardens Hotel (£) – There are lots of good-value hotels near Paddington, but this 2-star hotel is one of the best.

GETTING AROUND

Many of the Christmas events are located in a compact area of central London, and we have designed this itinerary to allow you to walk between the sights as much as possible.

Nevertheless, to see everything, you’ll need to use public transport or taxis. Here is a quick rundown on how to use public transport in London.

LONDON UNDERGROUND

The London Underground (also known as the Tube) is a very extensive and excellent way to get around. In central areas, tube stations are rarely more than ten minutes’ walk apart, and tubes run every 2 or 3 minutes.

You can simply pay with contactless as you walk through the gates or buy a prepaid Travelcard. (More about this later).

The tube runs from around 5 AM to just after midnight. There is a 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday nights on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines.

TFL GO APP // Download the Transport for London GO App, which has a handy tube map and journey planner.

LONDON BUSES

London Buses are slower than the tube for getting around, but the views are great, especially if you nab the front seat on the top deck.

Buses are convenient to use in areas where underground stations are a bit further away. In this itinerary, buses are only really needed to get to Brick Lane, but you could also use them to cut down a bit of walking.

Use the TFL Go App to plan your bus journey, or simply use Google Maps.

You can pay with contactless on all London buses. Just tap the card reader when you get on.

PAY-AS-YOU-GO CAPS & TRAVELCARDS

The best way to pay for public transport in London is to use Contactless. You pay by tapping a physical card or phone against the barriers, and the gates will open automatically.

Contactless payment is available on all London buses and Underground Stations.

Contactless payments are automatically capped daily and weekly. So, no matter how many trips you make, you’ll pay a maximum of £8.90 per day or £44.70 per week, whichever is cheaper.

If you only use buses, the daily cap is £5.25.

The other way to pay is via a Travelcard. Travelcards need to be purchased in advance for the zones you want to travel on. For this itinerary, you only need Zones 1 and Zones 2.  

However, due to the daily price caps, the Travelcard is more expensive than using Contactless. A 1-Day Travelcard for Zones 1 and 2 is currently £16.60, compared with £8.90 for Contactless.

A weekly Travelcard for zones 1 and 2 is £44.70, so even if you met your Contactless cap daily for a week, Contactless would still be the same price or cheaper.

BIKES & E-BIKES

There are shared bikes all across London, which can be a convenient and fun way to travel short distances.

Forest—Forest is the cheapest e-bike and the only one with a zero-emissions fleet. It offers 10 minutes free every day, then 19p per minute after that.

Santander Bikes—This is the official bike provider from Transport for London. They have hundreds of docking stations all over the city. A day pass gives you an unlimited number of 30-minute journeys for £3, or you can hire them for £1.65 for 30 minutes.

TAXI & UBER

Yes, Uber is still a thing in London. In our experience, it’s not as reliable as it once was, but it’s still much more cost-effective than getting a black cab.  

Black cabs are more expensive, but they’re an iconic way to travel in London. You can hail a black cab from the street and expect to put the world to rights on your journey.

We rarely get a taxi or Uber in London these days. We would only bother if we were coming home after midnight, or there was a tube strike!

GETTING TO LONDON FROM THE AIRPORT

London has three main airports serving the city for transatlantic arrivals, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

Each has an express train service to get you into central London swiftly, so it doesn’t really matter which one you use, but Heathrow is the closest to central London.

FROM HEATHROW

From Heathrow, you can take the Heathrow Express.

It’s one of the most expensive train journeys in the UK, but it only takes 15 minutes. If you book up to 60 days in advance, you get a discount, and it’s also cheaper if you book multiple tickets.

You can purchase tickets on the train, but it’s cheaper to book online, even if you do so on your phone when you get to the airport.

The other and more affordable option from Heathrow is to catch the Elizabeth Line. Currently, the Elizabeth Line’s fare from Heathrow to London Paddington is £12.80. You can pay using contactless.

The cheapest way to travel from Heathrow to Central London is via the Piccadilly Line. The journey takes around 55 minutes, and the fare is £5.50 if you use contactless payment.

To be honest, we never use the Piccadilly Line from Heathrow anymore. The Elizabeth Line is quicker, much more spacious, and comfortable. It’s well worth the extra £7.

HEATHROW TERMINALS // There are 5 terminals at Heathrow. You can use the free train service to get between them.

FROM GATWICK

The most convenient way to travel from Gatwick to London is by taking the Gatwick Express, which takes approximately 30 minutes to reach London Victoria.

Like the Heathrow Express, it’s one of the pricier options, but you get discounts for booking in advance and multiple tickets. You can purchase tickets on the train, but it’s cheaper to book online.

FROM STANSTED

From Stansted, the fastest option is the Stansted Express. This takes around 35-50 minutes to reach Liverpool Street Station. It’s expensive but direct, and like other airport express services, you get discounts for advance booking and multiple tickets.

The budget-friendly alternative is the National Express bus service to Victoria Coach Station. The journey takes around 55-75 minutes, depending on traffic, but it’s significantly cheaper than the train. You can pay contactless or book online.

MORE GUIDES TO PLAN YOUR LONDON CHRISTMAS

• To plan your trip, start with our 4-day London Christmas Itinerary, a day-by-day walking plan.
• To book your accommodation, read our guide to the best neighbourhoods in London which includes our hotel recommendations.
• Hit the festive spirit with our guide to the best London Christmas Markets.
• Here are all the best places to see the London Christmas lights.
• Our bumper guide to Christmas in London has the best events and things to do.
• Read our guide to Christmas Day in London to see what’s open.
• Soak up the atmosphere with Christmas in Covent Garden.
• Find the best bars, restaurants, igloos and more in our London Christmas guide.
• Take our self-guided walking tour of the London Christmas lights.
• See what’s on in Leicester Square for Christmas.