Classic Christmas things to do in London (a local’s opinionated guide)

Christmas in London has a magic all its own—but one that can be easily overpowered by crowds and costliness. While the city transforms into a winter wonderland every year, the experience can quickly turn into an overcrowded, overpriced frenzy. Having spent nine Christmases in the London, I’ve learned that the key to truly enjoying the season isn’t about joining the hordes at commercialised events or paying for overhyped attractions. It’s about seeking out the quieter, more intimate moments—the places that still feel festive without draining your wallet or testing your patience.

In this guide, I’ll be sharing my personal, no-nonsense tips for a London Christmas done right. Forget the gimmicks and the chaos—let’s focus on simple, authentic holiday joy.

Christmas in Richmond, London

First: what avoid during Christmas in London

I love Christmas in London. It is truly special, and one of the most festive places in the world. London is so invested in Christmas that decorations start popping up by the end of October, and are in full swing by mid-November. The flip-side of this Christmas craze is that London really capitalises on the season. I don’t blame business owners or tourists for this — it’s to be expected! And so, this is my warning for you about what to expect.

Enormous crowds converge on central London during the Christmas season, usually around Regents and Oxford Streets, in order to see the lights. This can be overwhelming, even on a Wednesday evening — you have to be ready for crowds. Avoid Covent Garden station during this season — it’s too small to navigate through the crowds. I will share more information about quieter Christmas spots in London throughout this post.

There are also many gimmicky Christmas events dreamt up every year for extortionate prices. Igloos, snowglobes, tiny ice rinks on roofs, chalet themed beer gardens, Christmas markets selling mass-produced tat, and Winter Wonderland. I can understand the appeal of all these things, and in most cases it is mostly the ridiculous cost associated with them that puts me off. But I also prefer quieter areas and more authentic events, which there are plenty of in London. I will share my recommendations for these — read on.

Here’s what to do in London during Christmastime instead.

See London’s Christmas lights and decorations, especially the hidden gems

I am always so excited to see the Christmas light displays in London each year, and usually go on very long photo walks to capture them all. I have written a full guide to my preferred Christmas lights walking route in London here.

Covent Garden Christmas tree

The famous streets for Christmas lights

Regents Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, and Bond Street are the most popular spots for this. Regents Street is home to the ethereal gold angels that hover above the street each holiday season. These are truly beautiful and I highly recommend you see them. Oxford Street is highly underwhelming, and most certainly not work the crowds.

Carnaby Street is hit or miss, but you might as well pop by while you’re on Regents Street. They have different themes each year, and some become wonderful spectacles, like the sea life theme years ago, and others are a bit underwhelming. Have a look but be warned it will be busy.

Covent Garden is a Christmas classic with its giant tree and decorated market halls. It will be busy but is certainly worth visiting. If stopping by here, don’t miss nearby Seven Dials or Somerset House with the ice rink.

Bond Street is fun to walk down as it is lined with designer stores that produce their own themed lights and decorations each year. It’s usually not horrifically busy over here either. Don’t miss Royal Arcade and Burlington Arcade while you’re here. These charming shopping arcades are decked out at Christmas in a really classy way.

Incredible Christmas decorations at London department stores

Harrods is always dolled up for Christmas, and very busy inside. Worth having a look, especially if you’re in the neighbourhood of the V&A Museum.

Liberty London, the stunning Tudor-style building filled with impeccable brands, is also beautifully decorated each year. It’s just off Regents Street and Carnaby Street, so have a look while you’re there.

The true gem though is Fortnum & Mason, which sells gourmet food items and lots of Christmas baubles. Their window displays are imaginative and beautiful, and the facade of the shop turns into an advent calendar for the season. There are so many festive treats to buy inside and they make great gifts. If visiting, make sure to have a walk around the classic shops in St James, in particular the hidden courtyard with a fantastic tree, Pickering Place.

Hidden gems for Christmas decorations in London

Here are some of my favourite places that are slightly off the beaten path.

Neal’s Yard

The tiny, colourful courtyard is lit up during Christmastime and is the perfect place to eat. Homeslice Pizza is one of my favourite central London eateries (try the mushroom pizza) and St John’s Bakery is utterly gorgeous. You have to try their donuts, they are way better than Bread Ahead.

Seven Dials

This charming shopping area is always decked out in Christmas lights, so I always make sure to stop by, especially after visiting the British Museum. Seven Dials Market is a great place to get a casual bite to eat with a group.

Christmas decorations at Temple, London

Temple

My favourite hidden gem in London — Temple is an area of law offices, so is super quiet and historic to wander. Inner Temple Gardens is one of the best gardens in London, and only open to the public at weekday lunchtimes. Temple is decorated for Christmas with classic trees, wreaths, and simple lights. I really like taking visitors here, it’s so charming. Take care not to miss the beautiful stone carved entrance to Middle Temple Lane on the river side.

Somerset House

The only ice rink in London worth going to, but it’s nearly as good just watching the skaters pass by. A beautiful spot at all times of year, but especially when donned with the enormous Christmas tree and the colourful lights.

Somerset House is home to the Courtauld Gallery, one of my favourite small museums in London, so I highly suggest visiting to see Manet’s Bar at the Folies Bergere among other masterpieces. Toklas Bakery is around the corner, and is my favourite bakery in London, bound to have incredible festive treats.

Somerset House ice rink

St James and Pickering Place

As mentioned above, this historic and classic area is filled with shopfronts that will transport you back in time. Pickering Place is a small courtyard that features a beautifully decorated tree each year. Find it and it will feel like you’ve truly uncovered something hidden in London!

Mayfair shopping arcades

Don’t miss Royal Arcade and Burlington Arcade which both pack a punch for charming Christmas spots in London.

If you’d like an organised itinerary filled with these tips, check out my 1, 2, and 3 day Christmas in London itineraries.

Visit a Christmas house in London

Historic homes get dressed up for the holidays in period costume. Visiting stately homes at Christmas is one of my favourite things to do, but they aren’t always accessible from London. Lucky for us, there are several wonderful spots within reach of public transport.

Dennis Severs House

Spitalfields | £15-30

The Dennis Severs House is truly a one-of-a-kind marvel. Dennis Severs bought the house in 1979 and decided to reconstruct the interiors to represent the daily life of a Huguenot family who would have lived there since the 1700s.

At Christmastime the house takes on even more life, opening for Silent Nights and candlelit tours. Visits to the house are in silence, and photography is forbidden, leading one to feel as if they are stepping back in time. This is probably the most unique and magical Christmas house experience of all.

Ham House

Richmond | £12.50, free for National Trust/Art Fund members

Ham House decorates in Tudor style for Christmas, with the dining room decked out for a festive meal. The decorations are simple and natural, but brings lots of Christmas cheer. It’s a tradition for me to visit and I couldn’t love it more. Be sure to visit Petersham Nurseries while here, the Christmas displays are pretty magical. Christmas in Richmond in general is a very charming affair.

Museum of the Home

Hackney | Free

The Museum of the Home is a wonderful exploration of the role our homes play in our lives. One of the best parts of the museum are the Rooms Through Time, which present historical accurate rooms from different eras. During the holidays these rooms are decorated as they might have been in each decade, from the 1500s to the 1970s. Visiting the rooms is a holiday tradition for many in London.

Enjoy Christmas concerts and performances

From free and cheerful carol concerts to incredible productions like the Nutcracker, Christmas is the perfect time to enjoy music and theatre. Here are my recommendations.

Christmas Music

Carol Concerts

Visiting my first carol concert was one of the highlights of my first year in the UK. I studied at the Courtauld Institute, and our university carol concert was held at the tiny St. Mary le Strand church. Joining in singing carols with a huge group of strangers brought the unity and Christmas cheer that the season is all about.

There are many free and small carol concerts at local churches, so I suggest looking in to ones nearby. There are also much larger carol concerts or services around London, some ticketed and some free.

It’s even possible to visit St. Paul’s for free carol concerts, although those will require some queueing.

This is guide is super useful and Timeout will update it for this year:

Timeout - Christmas Carol Concerts in London

Royal Albert Hall

The sheer number of Christmas performances as the Royal Albert Hall is astonishing, and there is something for everyone, from classical music to Christmas movies like Home Alone in concert. Their Christmas Carols are interactive, and great fun to sing along.

Christmas Shows

The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House

The Christmas classic! These tickets sell out far in advance, but I’ve had luck before with rush tickets so it’s always worth checking.

A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

The moving and atmospheric Christmas Carol is another London classic that will sell out in advance.

Go on a winter pub walk in London

Brisk winter walks in the bright sunshine are one of my favourite things, and London has a multitude of vast parks that make the perfect setting for feeling like you’re wandering a countryside winter wonderland.

Even better, stop at a cosy London pub to warm up afterwards. Here are my suggestions:

• Richmond Park & the Plough, East Sheen

• Hampstead Heath & The Holly Bush

• Chiswick House, Chiswick Mall, & The Dove

• Hyde Park & The Churchill Arms

• Greenwich Park & The Prince of Greenwich

• Barnes Riverside and village & The White Hart

• Strand on the Green & The City Barge

Buy gifts at London’s beautiful independent shops

There are several incredible independent shops which decorate each year for Christmas in magical ways.

Petersham Nurseries

This is the poshest garden centre in the world and home to a few stunning restaurants. The shop is a wonderland of beautiful objects, and gets decked out for Christmas to sell its pretty decorations. Petersham Nurseries is near Ham House in Richmond, an area well worth spending a Christmas day out in.

Choosing Keeping

This beautiful stationary shop in Seven Dials is one of my favourite shops in London. Their Christmas displays are phenomenal and it’s such a good place to find a gift for a loved one.

Columbia Road

Columbia Road in East London is known for its weekly flower market (which I highly recommend visiting). But when the market isn’t on, it is still a shopping destination as it is lined with dozens of authentic and beautiful independent shops. Some of my favourites on this road include Straw, In Habit and In Bloom.

More wonderful London shops to visit at Christmas

• Folka

• Mason & Painter

• Penreath & Hall

• Couverture & the Garbstore

• Labour & Wait

• Muirshin Durkin

• Daunt Books

• Townhouse (Spitalfields)

For more info, see my more detailed guide to London’s beautiful shops.

The best London neighbourhoods to visit during Christmastime

And as a bonus, these will help you avoid the crowds.

I’m about to mention many of the places previously recommended throughout the post, but here I am organising them by neighbourhood, which I hope will help you discover charming Christmas corners you wouldn’t ordinarily find in London.

Richmond

Simply the best neighbourhood in London, full stop! Richmond is so charming during Christmastime with the classic houses dressed up with their decorations and the beautiful shopfronts all lit up. Don’t miss Ham House’s historic decor while here, nor Petersham Nurseries’ magical Christmas shop. If you’re lucky, like I was a few years ago, you may even see Richmond in the snow!

I live locally so have lots of content about Richmond. Check out my Richmond guide for my perfect walking route and more tips.

The Strand

The Strand is very central but always magically quieter than its next-door neighbour, Covent Garden. As mentioned throughout the post, Temple is one of my favourite areas at Christmastime (and all year round). Toklas Bakery can’t be missed, and Somerset House is a must-see during the festive season in London.

East London

Columbia Road

Stop by during the week and you’ll be able to wander the quiet street of beautiful independent shops. The Museum of the Home is just up the road, with its Christmas decorations through the decades on display each year.

Hackney

Broadway Market is another thriving street of independent shops in East London, and on Saturdays over 70 stalls set up shop. There’s a lot of food stalls but also many independent artisans here, perfect for Christmas shopping. There’s also so many amazing bakeries in East London, many in or near Hackney. I recommend the following bakeries for cosy festive treats:

• Forno

• Yeast Bakery

• E5 Bakehouse

• The Snapery East

Borough Market/Bermondsey

Bermondsey is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in London (Bermondsey guide) and is near Borough Market. The market will be very busy during the holiday season, but I had to throw it in because there are so many good festive foods to try there. The pork sandwich at Black Pig is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, and their Christmas sandwich is a special thing indeed.

Just a note about Christmas sandwiches because I am obsessed with them — they are a very British thing and worth trying. I personally love the one at Pret and it’s a cheap way to try a Christmas classic.

While at Borough Market, it is very much worth exploring Bermondsey. Especially if there on a Saturday, so you can visit Maltby Street Market, a quieter and even more fun food market to visit (and don’t miss St John’s donuts just behind the market).

Bermondsey is also a great area for art, so stop into the White Cube or Kristin Hjellejgerde galleries to see what’s on.

Mayfair and St James’s

You’d be surprised how quiet some of the streets of London’s swanky Mayfair can be during the Christmas season. Bond Street will obviously be a bit busier, but well worth exploring for the Christmas lights.

Annabel’s is a private club in Mayfair, but usually has fun Christmas decorations on the facade. Do swing by to have a look.

There’s usually a Christmas tree near the Connaught on Mount Street, and the nearby Audley Public House is a great pub for art lovers.

St James’s has lots of classic Christmas decorations, especially in the secret courtyard called Pickering Place.

Maison Assouline is a really amazing bookshop worth visiting anytime, but is extra cute at Christmas.

My final (opinionated) thoughts about Christmas in London

I wrote this post because I truly love Christmas in London, and the oversaturated and overcommercialised content about the season is exhausting. I wanted to share my personal insights as a London local and hopefully help tourists or other Londoners to enjoy a quieter side of the season without feeling like you’ve missed the Christmas highlights.

Please let me know if you have any questions or want some advice. I’m really happy to help!

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