Christmas in London: Tips for London in December 2026
Planning Christmas in London or a trip to London in December? Then you’re in the right place! We spent a long weekend with 3 nights in London to see the festive lights up close. In this post, you’ll find out what to see beyond the Christmas decorations like the glowing angels on Regent Street, where to stay, and how to spend 3 days in London. You’ll also find all the key dates for 2026.
Christmas in London 2026: When Does It Start?
One of the most important questions when planning: when do the London Christmas lights 2026 go on? If you want to visit London before Christmas, you’re in luck, because the season starts early:
As of October 2026, based on the organizers’ official websites.
💡 Tip: If you visit in the second half of November or early December, you’ll get the full festive atmosphere with fewer crowds than right before the holidays.
Day 1: King’s Cross, Harry Potter & Coal Drops Yard
Once we arrived at the airport, the city center was easy to reach by train. We started the day with a train ride to Liverpool Street and breakfast at Grind. The café was quite busy, so a reservation can make sense. A walk gave us our first feel for the city, and we continued toward King’s Cross Station. Harry Potter fans, take note: at the station, you’ll find the world-famous Platform 9 ¾, a huge Christmas tree, and a Harry Potter souvenir shop. However, this is mainly a tourist attraction, and you need to queue and pay for a photo at the platform. From the side, you can at least get a free photo just of the platform as you can see below.
After that we went to Coal Drops Yard which offers many cafés, shops, and bars. We visited at midday, but we’d recommend going in the evening, as it’s likely livelier then. After a stop at the cozy café Notes, we checked into our accommodation The York and ended the evening at Flat Iron. We highly recommend the steak there. If you want to be sure of a table, make a reservation.
Our accommodation was near King’s Cross Station, so well connected, but not very central, as we always relied on the train to get around. On the plus side, it was more affordable compared to other options. We noticed it was no longer available on Booking.com, so we’ve listed some alternatives for every budget below.
Day 2: Top London Sights, Christmas Markets & Christmas at Kew
We started our second day with a croissant and coffee at Blank Street before heading to Piccadilly Circus. We strolled through the city, getting a feel for bustling London. Of course, sights like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey were on the list. Near Westminster Abbey, you’ll also find the Supreme Court and St. Margaret’s Churchyard, both impressive for their architecture. From there, we walked toward Elizabeth Tower and the London Eye. A ride on the London Eye costs £29/person online (about €34), which felt a bit expensive to us and the queue was long as well. There’s also the option to buy fast track tickets online for £49/person (about €57), allowing you to skip the regular line and save up to 60 minutes of waiting time.
While wandering through the city, we discovered the Southbank Centre Winter Market, which was a hidden gem for us with its many food stalls and pop-up bars. The small Christmas market is open every day from early November to early January (2026: November 2 to January 4) and is a great alternative to the relatively expensive restaurants.
Covent Garden, Leicester Square & the Regent Street Angels
Afterwards, we wanted to explore some Christmas highlights in London, starting with Covent Garden. It’s beautifully decorated, both indoors and outdoors, during the winter season. If you stroll from there toward the Theatre District and St. Martin’s Lane, you’ll find more beautifully decorated streets, cafés, and restaurants. We then walked toward Leicester Square, where there’s another Christmas market full of different stalls, plenty of food, and mulled wine. This market also runs every year from early November to early January. We finished the evening wandering down Coventry Street, which is also decorated for Christmas, and made a stop at another Harry Potter store.
One of our highlights of the second day was Piccadilly Circus, where you’ll find Regent Street with its famous Christmas angels, which look especially magical in the evening lighting up the city. But beautiful Christmas lights aren’t just found there: head to the Soho District, for example to Carnaby Street, to see the famous Carnaby Universe, which illuminates the street at night. There, we took a break at Shoryu Ramen. The restaurant and its ramen are highly recommended, though we had to wait a long time for a table. If you can plan ahead, we recommend making a reservation to save yourself the long wait.
Evening Highlight: Christmas at Kew Gardens
To finish the day, we took the train to Kew Gardens. Every year, from around mid-November to early January, the Christmas at Kew exhibition lights up the entire park with different illuminations, decorations, and light displays. Along the circular route, there are also food and mulled wine stalls. We paid £34 (about €39) per person back then, and for 2026 tickets start at £25.50 (about €30), depending on the date and time. It’s especially popular on weekends. It’s best to buy tickets in advance for your preferred time slot. Tickets can be conveniently purchased online on the Kew Gardens website. We were lucky to get tickets via Ticketswap, but these are often more expensive and there’s no guarantee of availability for your desired time slot.
There are three different entrances, and depending on how and where you arrive, you should choose the right one. For trains or buses, the Elizabeth Gate is recommended, for the Underground the Victoria Gate, and for cars the Brentford Gate (parking must be booked in advance). More important information can be found directly on the Kew Gardens website.
Is Christmas at Kew Worth It?
The illuminated walk was a lovely evening activity, but we personally felt the price, with almost €80 for two people, was quite high for “just” a decorated and illuminated park (drinks and extras are not included). Additionally, reaching the gardens can be a bit tiring during a short stay, as it’s located outside central London.
Day 3: Winter by the River, Tower Bridge & Bond Street
We started our last day near London Bridge at Queenswalk, where we headed to Winter by the River. This is a popular Christmas market along the Thames, located between the two famous bridges, London Bridge and Tower Bridge. This market runs daily from mid-November, featuring a wide variety of stalls with food, mulled wine, and crafts, making it the perfect place to stroll.
Afterwards, you can visit Tower Bridge. You can either examine it from the outside, like we did, or explore it from the inside. Adult tickets start at £18/person (about €21) and can be purchased online, for example on the Tower Bridge website. The same site also offers “quieter time” tickets for a less crowded visit, costing the same but not always available. If you cross the bridge from the side of the Christmas market, you reach the Tower of London, a historic castle and UNESCO World Heritage site. You can tour it inside or, like us, just view it from the outside. Adult tickets start at £38/person (about €44).
From the Tower of London, you can walk to the famous Leadenhall Market, a covered market with boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Some scenes from Harry Potter were filmed here. Nearby, you’ll also find the Bank of England. From there, we took one of the iconic, red double-decker buses toward Goodge Street. A double-decker bus ride in London is definitely worth it, as it’s a great way to see the city without walking and to take in a lot along the way.
We tried PaStation: a small, charming restaurant that feels more like a fast-casual spot, where pasta is practically produced on an assembly line. We loved the cozy atmosphere and affordable food. If you’re in the area it’s worth a stop for a quick lunch. Afterwards, we headed to London Mayfair, mainly for strolling and admiring the spectacular Christmas decorations and illuminated luxury shops on Bond Street in the evening. We ended our last night with a delicious Neapolitan pizza at Pizza Pilgrims. Reservations are recommended here as well.
Is London Worth Visiting at Christmas? Our Honest Take
There is so much to see and do in London. During the Christmas season, the city and its neighborhoods light up with countless decorations and there’s something to discover around every corner. However, it can get very cold in winter, and a city trip, for us, always involves a lot of walking, exploring, and activities which isn’t ideal in colder weather. Our days were very full, and by the end, we felt quite overwhelmed by all the sights, experiences, and the kilometers we walked, sometimes up to 25 km per day. With more time, fewer activities and by using public transport, such as buses, you can definitely enjoy London in a more relaxed way.
Looking for more festive city trips? Check out how we spent Christmas in Paris.
London Christmas Tips 2026: Plan Your Trip
Where to Eat in London: Our Restaurant Picks
Best Cafés for Breakfast in London
Christmas Markets & Food Markets in London
London in December: Weather, the Tube & Holidays
Where to Stay in London: Hotels for Every Budget
Accommodations in London are rather expensive. The more central the location, the more expensive. Since our accommodation wasn’t particularly central, and we therefore spent a lot of time on public transport and walking, we recommend staying in central London. Especially for the weekends in December, it’s worth booking your flight and hotel early. Please note that some of the budget options are outside the city center. We tried to find accommodation in London for every budget: