Much like New York City, Christmas in London is a magical time. If you are spending any part of your Christmas holiday in London, you may not be familiar with all that there is to do during this time of year. Regardless of how long or short your stay in London for Christmas, there are some great things to do in London at Christmas that you can add to your itinerary.
London’s West End lights up with Christmas lights that you can venture out and see for free, or just the cost of a Tube ride. Harrods also lights up it’s store. Lights go up each year in mid-November. For more on London Christmas light displays, see Where To See Holiday Light Displays In London, England UK.
Harrods with Christmas decoration, London UK by beatbull
Do a little ice skating at one of London’s outdoor skating rings. The rinks open every year in mid-November and remain open until mid-January. Also see Christmas In London – Holiday Ice Skating Rinks.
See the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree. Much like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City, the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is a large, lit up Christmas tree. The lights go on each year on the first Thursday of December. And the tree stays up until January 6th.
Get a photo with Santa at one of the department stores in London. Both Harrods and Selfridges feature a Santa’s Grotto where you can meet Father Christmas from late November until December 24th each year.
Go to a Christmas market in London. You’ll find Christmas markets and fairs that spring up all over the city during this time of year. But the Cologne Christmas Market on the South Bank is the one you won’t want to miss. Its usually open until December 23rd each year. Also see Christmas at Covent Garden in London, England UK.
See ‘The Nutcracker.’ It doesn’t matter what city you are in; you can usually find ‘The Nutcracker’ being put on at Christmas. In London, the English National Ballet carries on the tradition from mid-December through mid-January.
Attend the Great Christmas Pudding Race. Each December the Great Christmas Pudding Race happens on a Saturday. In it, contestants dress up fancy and race around Covent Garden Christmas pudding on a plate – and of course there are obstacles. It’s all good fun in the name of charity.
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