Get the most festive cheer possible with our London Christmas Itinerary. London is magical over winter with its regal streets glowing in sparkling lights, cosy pubs gilded with Christmas cheer, artisanal local markets, and inspiring carol performances.

By: Paul Healy | Last Updated: | Comments & Questions

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.

Cosy ageing pubs are adorned with decorations they’ve had for decades. Grand department stores are dressed in the latest high-tech light displays. Royal palaces glow in winter fogginess.

Tiny laneways come alive with the hum of hidden Christmas markets.

On our itinerary, you’ll see the royal landmarks of London, visit some of the best museums in the world, wander local markets, see the best of the Christmas lights, try some of our favourite restaurants and enjoy the special festive activities the city puts on each year.   

We travel a lot for this blog, but we always make sure we’re back in London for Christmas; there’s just nowhere quite like it.

burlington arcade london at christmas

IN THIS GUIDE

HOW TO SPEND CHRISTMAS IN LONDON

Use these links to navigate to the sections in this article. Click the arrow in the bottom left to jump back to the top. Questions? Leave them in the comments.


DAY 1

Buckingham Palace | Westminster Abbey | London Eye | Trafalgar Square | National Gallery | Skate Somerset | Covent Garden

DAY 2

St Paul’s Cathedral | Tate Modern | Southbank Markets | Borough Market | The Shard | London Bridge Market

DAY 3

Natural History Museum | Harrods | Winter Wonderland | Christmas Lights Walk | Soho

DAY 4

Windsor Castle (or British Museum) | Notting Hill | Royal Albert Hall (or Kew Gardens)

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, plus some local gems that international visitors would enjoy.

London is a big city, and there are many ways to explore it over Christmas. We’ve put together an itinerary that collects the sights in each area without too much backtracking.

We have suggested times throughout this itinerary, but these are just a rough estimate of how long each activity should take.

new bond street christmas lights london itinerary
NEW BOND STREET LIGHTS

DAY 1

9:00 AM

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Start your London Christmas itinerary at Buckingham Palace.

Although it’s not open to visitors during winter, its location on the edges of the royal parks and at the top of The Mall makes it a great starting point.

The closest tube stations to Buckingham Palace are St James’s Park on the Circle and District Lines and Green Park on the Jubilee and Victoria Lines. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from both stations to the front of the palace.

buckingham palace
BUCKINGHAM PALACE

9:30 AM

HORSE GUARD’S PARADE

Next, walk down The Mall, then through St James’s Park towards Horse Guards Parade. If you manage a clear crips morning, this will be a lovely walk.

The building with the large archway is actually the official entrance to Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace.

The large parade ground you will walk through is where the Trooping of the Colour takes place, the annual military parade that marks the monarch’s birthday.

Two mounted cavalry troopers of The King’s Lifeguard are posted outside from 10 am to 4 pm daily, and it’s a great photo opportunity.

10:00 AM

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

After Horse Guard’s Parade, head over to Westminster Abbey.

It’s a fascinating place to visit any time of the year, but it’s even more special at Christmas.    

The grand nave, with its high vaulted ceilings and majestic columns, is awe-inspiring. But the main reason to go is the incredible amount of British history on display.

See the tombs of Henry VII, Elizabeth I and her sister Mary. Admire the King Henry VII Lady Chapel, one of the most beautiful spaces in the abbey.

Take a snap of the coronation chair used by British monarchs for the last 700 years.

At Christmas, you can attend a service free of charge; no booking is necessary. Check Westminster Abbey for the 2024 programme.

Westminster Abbey Skip-the-Line Tickets – If you are visiting outside a service, you need to pay for a ticket. Queues can be long, so we recommend booking skip-the-line tickets.

MIDDAY

LONDON EYE

After visiting Westminster Abbey, cross the Thames at Westminster Bridge and head to the London Eye. The ride takes 30 minutes and delivers unobstructed views of Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and The Shard.

London will be looking fabulous from this vantage point in winter.

The queues can be very long, so it’s worth buying tickets in advance. You can get a Standard Ride Ticket or a Fast-Track Ticket, which allows you to skip part of the line. The fast-track ticket is around £20 more expensive.

SOUTH BANK CHRISTMAS MARKETS

Next, head along the river to the South Bank Christmas Market.

This small market has a few stalls selling regular Christmas goods, but it’s also a great place to eat out. Several British producers provide local cuisine each year.

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

merry go round on the south bank london christmas itinerary
SOUTH BANK AT CHRISTMAS

1:30 PM

TRAFALGAR SQUARE CHRISTMAS MARKET

Next, we suggest you head to the Trafalgar Square Christmas market, which is about a 15-minute walk back over the other side of the river.

It’s one of the busiest Christmas markets in London, so it’s a good idea to see it now before it gets too busy later in the afternoon.

The highlight is the giant Christmas Tree donated by Norway each year.

Christmas Market London

LUNCH

You could have lunch at the Trafalgar Square Christmas Market, where there are plenty of options.

Head to the Sherlock Holmes Pub for something quieter but just as festive. It’s a good-value traditional pub near Trafalgar Square with a great Christmas vibe.

3:00 PM

NATIONAL GALLERY OR NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

After lunch, visit either the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery, both of which are just off Trafalgar Square.

The National Portrait Gallery celebrates notable figures of history through portraits in both photographs and paintings. You’ll find contemporary tributes to modern personalities and paintings of historical figures from across the centuries.

The National Gallery has an extensive collection of European art from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Some of the most famous pieces include Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Virgin of the Rocks.”

It’s free to visit both the galleries.

5:00 PM

SKATE SOMERSET

SKATE at Somerset House is the best ice skating venue in London over Christmas.

The setting in front of the neoclassical building, decorated as a Christmas wonderland, is fantastic. They have regular DJs, a rink-side bar, chalet-inspired eating venues and boutique shopping.

Spaces can be reserved in advance at Somerset House, although you can just turn up as well.

ice skating in front of somerset house in london
SKATE Somerset

6:30 PM

COVENT GARDEN CHRISTMAS MARKET

Covent Garden is the perfect place to start winding down the first day of your London Christmas itinerary.

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 complete guide on Christmas in Covent Garden, which includes events, shows and restaurant recommendations.

7:30 PM

LEICESTER SQUARE

The Covent Garden / Leicester Square area is the heart of the West End. Performances generally start around 7:30 pm, so you’re now in the right place at the right time to catch a show.

We recommend checking out La Clique, an excellent adults-only burlesque show held in Leicester Square each year.

Alternatively, you could also see a London Pantomime, one of the unique ways you can spend Christmas in London. We list the best pantomimes in our Christmas in London guide.

If you don’t want to see a show tonight, you could spend the evening in Covent Garden or Leicester Square, having dinner, a festive cocktail, or just soaking up the atmosphere.

We have a guide about what you can do in Leicester Square over Christmas. This is one of the busiest areas in London, so it’s a good idea to book a restaurant in advance.  

DAY 2

9:30 AM

ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

Get an early start today and head straight to St Pauls Cathedral.

The beautiful interior is filled with monuments to key figures in British history and artworks, including paintings, sculptures and mosaics.

Downstairs, the crypt contains the tombs of Sir Christopher Wren and Horatio Nelson and a memorial to Florence Nightingale. There’s also an interesting museum about the church’s construction.

The highlight is the climb to the dome for those who are able. It’s 528 steps up to one of the most unique views in London.

The last time I went to St Paul’s, I walked straight in without queuing. However, it’s generally a good idea to book skip-the-line tickets.

11:30 AM

TATE MODERN

Directly across the river from St Paul’s, TATE Modern is one of the finest modern art galleries in London.

It houses the UK’s national modern and contemporary art collection in the converted Bankside Power Station.

The galleries contain famous works by Lichtenstein, Matisse and Picasso, plus a massive collection of sculptures, large-scale installations and plenty of other art forms at varying levels of accessibility.

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.

1:30 PM

SOUTHBANK & BOROUGH MARKET

Leaving the Tate, stroll along the south bank towards Borough Market.

Borough is 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.   

This is a great place to have lunch on day 2 of this Christmas itinerary.

borough market christmas 1
BOROUGH MARKET

3:30 PM

THE SHARD

Now is an excellent time to think about sunset drinks.

The Shard is just behind Borough Market. You could pay to go to the viewing deck; however, it’s around £30 per ticket. A better option is to have cocktails at one of the bars. Having two cocktails each won’t be cheaper, but at least you’ll get a drink.

Aqua Shard is a stylish restaurant on level 31. You can turn up and grab a drink at the bar, although you might not be guaranteed a window seat.

Alternatively, Gong, part of the Shangri-La Hotel, is a cool cocktail bar on level 51. You may need to book online to get access to the bar.

5:30 PM

LONDON BRIDGE MARKET

After sunset cocktails, head down to the Queen’s Walk to visit the Winter by the River Christmas Market.

It’s one of the most festive Christmas Markets in London. Most of the stalls are on either side of the entrance to Hays Galleria, which always looks stunning at Christmas time.

All the usual Christmas treats are available at the market, but the highlight is the fantastic riverside views.

After strolling through the market and exploring Hays Galleria, head towards Tower Bridge, which looks beautifully lit over Christmas. Cross the river on the bridge for your evening plans.

7:00 PM

DINNER

We highly recommend the Wagtail Winter Igloos for a special treat. It’s not cheap, but the location high above London and the outstanding food from the Wagtail kitchen make it a wonderful experience.

The other alternative we have for you is Coppa Club Igloos by Tower Bridge. The alpine-themed igloos are prepared for all weather and have stunning views.

DAY 3

10:00 AM

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

We suggest heading to the outstanding Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum for something slightly different from the Christmas festivities.

Mark and I do it every year. Tickets to the exhibition allow you to skip the queue and provide access to the rest of the Natural History Museum.

Buy tickets from the Natural History Museum website.

wildlife photographer christmas exhibition 2
WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER EXHIBITION

VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Alternatively, if you don’t feel like seeing the Wildlife Photographer exhibition, the Victoria & Albert Museum is right across the street.

The vast collection spans 5,000 years and offers a captivating journey through fashion, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and performance.

You could do both museums as they are so close, but it might make the rest of the day feel rushed.

11:30 PM

KNIGHTSBRIDGE & HARRODS

Going to Harrods is a must for your London Christmas itinerary, even just to stroll around and soak up the atmosphere.

Don’t miss the photo opportunity of the Harrods façade decked out in Christmas lights. We also recommend strolling through the food court.

On your walk from the museums through Knightsbridge to Harrods, you can stop at Gingerbread City, the sweetest festival in London. Discover a whole city constructed entirely from Gingerbread.

harrods store in london at christmas time
HARRODS

1:30 PM

LUNCH

We have a few different lunch options on the second day of this itinerary.

Firstly, you could head to the Cadogan Hotel for Afternoon Tea. The Michelin-starred experience is not cheap, but it’s one of the best afternoon teas in London. Over Christmas, they’ll put on a special treat.

The second option is to head into Mayfair for lunch. We recommend two choices: Mayfair 34, a beautiful restaurant with extravagant Christmas decorations, and the Guinea Grill, one of London’s most historic pubs.

Both restaurants are excellent and about a 30-minute walk from Harrods through a lovely part of residential London.

Our final option is to head to Winter Wonderland and eat there.

1:30 PM

WINTER WONDERLAND

From Harrods, it’s a 20-minute walk to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. If you decide not to have lunch at one of the options we mentioned above, you should be there around 1:30 p.m.

This is a good time to do Winter Wonderland because it can get very busy in the evening.

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.

4:00 PM

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WALK

Depending on whether you stopped for a fancy lunch around Knightsbridge / Mayfair or went to Winter Wonderland, now should be the right time to stroll through the Christmas Lights.

We suggest doing the first half of our Self-Guided Christmas Lights Walk.

From our walking route, you will see Selfridges, New Bond Street, Burlington Arcade, Regents Street, Carnaby and Piccadilly Circus via an easy-to-follow walking route. (Our walking route continues past Piccadilly Circus to Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden, which you visited on Day 1.)

The Christmas Lights in London are special, and it’s worth taking time to enjoy the displays. No city in Europe does the lights quite like London.

If you have more time, we have a complete guide to the best of London’s Christmas Lights.

6:30 PM

DINNER & DRINKS

Finish our Christmas Lights walk at Piccadilly, putting you in Soho for the evening. This is an excellent part of London to spend a night out.

We’d recommend The Nest Rooftop Bar for Christmassy drinks, which has a very festive atmosphere.

We spend a lot of time in Soho and consider it our local neighbourhood if such a thing exists in London. Here are our top Christmas dinner options.

Bob Bob Ricard is a cool restaurant with private booths and buttons that say “Press for Champagne.”

Old Compton Brasserie is an all-day dining venue with a vibrant Christmas atmosphere and a menu sourced from local produce.

Nessa Soho is a neighbourhood restaurant and bar that does classics well. We can also personally vouch for the quality of their negronis.

DAY 4

9:00 AM

WINDSOR CASTLE OR BRITISH MUSEUM

For the fourth day of your Christmas in London itinerary, we recommend either visiting Windsor Castle or the British Museum.

WINDSOR CASTLE OPTION

Windsor Castle becomes magical over winter, so it’s a great idea to visit it as part of your London Christmas itinerary. It’s the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and it has been home to British kings and queens for over 1,000 years.

It’s easy to get to Windsor from London. Direct trains leave from Paddington Station and only take 30 minutes.

The castle opens at 10 am, but we suggest leaving at 9 am to allow some time to get there when it opens.

You can book tickets in advance from the Royal Trust Collection website.

the great walk at windsor castle
WINDSOR CASTLE

BRITISH MUSEUM OPTION

The other option for this morning is to go to the British Museum.

The British Museum, the world’s first national museum to open to the public, contains artefacts of human history and culture from the last 2 million years. It’s the most-visited attraction in London.

It’s free to visit, but you can book a timed entry on the British Museum website if you would like to. Mark and I have always just turned up and never encountered a long queue.

glass atrium of the british museum london
BRITISH MUSEUM

2:00 PM

NOTTING HILL & PORTOBELLO ROAD

In the afternoon, we suggest exploring the Notting Hill Area. It’s a colourful neighbourhood, both physically and culturally, thanks to the pastel terrace houses and the diverse immigrant population.

If you go to Windsor Castle in the morning, you will return to London at Paddington Station. The heart of Notting Hill, Portobello Road, is a 30-minute walk from the station.

If you go to the British Museum, ride the Central Line on the Underground from Tottenham Court Road Station to Notting Hill Gate Station. This journey, including walking to the station, will take around 30 minutes.

We have a full guide on what to do in Notting Hill, but we recommend having a look around the market, checking out the boutiques, and grabbing lunch somewhere.

We also highly recommend popping into the Museum of Brands, which has a fascinating collection of memorabilia from Victorian times to today.

4:00 PM

CHURCHILL ARMS

From Notting Hill, walk over to the Churchill Arms in Kensington (around a 15-minute walk).

This fabulous old pub is covered in over 22,000 lights at Christmas. A steady stream of people will be collecting snaps of the wonderful corner building, but it’s also worth popping in for a very atmospheric pint.

Chruchill Arms Christmas Lights Notting Hill
CHURCHILL ARMS

DINNER

For this evening, we suggest getting tickets to the Carols at the Royal Albert Hall (more about that next). The performances start at 7:30 pm, so you may want to get dinner first.

From the Churchill Arms, it’s a 25-minute walk to the Royal Albert Hall, so you could have dinner there if the timing works for you. They have a Thai menu, which is really good.

Alternatively, you could walk towards the Royal Albert Hall and eat on the way.

Some suggestions between the Churchill Arms and the Royal Albert Hall are:

Origin Kensington—This is a fancy choice, but the food, which uses British ingredients, is wonderful, and they have lovely park views.

Dishoom Kensington—Dishoom is a chain restaurant that we wouldn’t normally recommend, but it serves very good Indian food and is conveniently located a short walk from Royal Albert Hall.

The Ivy Kensington—Since peaking in popularity with celebrities in the 1980s, there has been an explosion of Ivy restaurants across London. The brasserie in Kensington is a good choice for a quality dinner near the Royal Albert Hall.

7:30 PM

CAROLS AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL

After dinner, walk down to the Royal Albert Hall for the Christmas Carols.

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

It’s a fantastic experience and something we highly recommend.

Tickets need to be booked in advance on the Royal Albert Hall website.

ALTERNATIVE EVENING: KEW GARDENS

Instead of going to the Royal Albert Hall for the Christmas Carol Concert, you could head to Kew Gardens.

Over Christmas, the 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 create a rousing display.

Bop along to Christmas pop tunes or admire whimsical arrangements of classical songs.

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

To get to Kew Gardens, ride the District Line from the Notting Hill Gate underground station after visiting Portobello Road. You may need to change trains at Earl’s Court, so check Google Maps, which provides all the information for London underground journeys.

Timed entrance tickets need to be booked in advance for Christmas at Kew

There are plenty of great options for dinner at Kew Gardens.

GETTING AROUND LONDON

Most of the attractions in this guide are in a compact part of central London, and you should be able to walk most of the time. However, you will need to use London’s excellent public transport network at some point.

LONDON UNDERGROUND

The London Underground (also called The Tube) is the metro service. It’s very extensive and an excellent way to get around.

In the central areas where most of this Christmas itinerary occurs, Tube stations are rarely more than ten minutes’ walk apart. Tube services run every two or three minutes.

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

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 to admire the Christmas lights.

Buses are handy in a few places where the underground stations are a bit further away.

The best way to find out if you need the bus is to search for your destination in Google Maps and click the public transport option.

You can pay with contactless on all London buses.

London underground sign in front of the Regent Street Christmas lights

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 to 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 £8.50 per day or £42.70 per week, whichever is cheaper.

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 £15.90, compared with £8.50 for Contactless.

A weekly Travelcard for zones 1 and 2 is £42.70, so even if you met your Contactless cap daily for a week, Contactless would still be the same price or cheaper.

OYSTER CARDS

In London, getting an Oyster Card is also no longer necessary. The fare price is the same as paying by Contactless, but you need to pick up a physical card and pay a £7 non-refundable card fee.  

Additionally, Oyster cards are not used on some services on the Elizabeth Line.

Oyster cards are only worth it if you regularly purchase a weekly or monthly travel card, which most visitors to the city would not need.

WHAT TO BOOK IN ADVANCE FOR THIS ITINERARY?

As you probably know, London can get very busy during Christmas. With that in mind, here are the attractions, bars and restaurants you need to book in advance for this itinerary:

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

DAY 4

WHERE TO STAY IN LONDON?

We have a complete guide to the different neighbourhoods of London for your stay, including hotel recommendations. But here is a summary of the main areas that would be good for this itinerary.

  • Westminster – Westminster is great for sightseeing as it’s the main tourist region of London.
  • Soho – Soho is central and great for bars, restaurants and cafes.
  • Paddington – Paddington is a neighbourhood area with good transport links and slightly better value than other areas.
best christmas markets in london
KING’S CROSS CHRISTMAS MARKET

MORE GUIDES TO PLAN YOUR LONDON CHRISTMAS

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- Paul & Mark.