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This lively city, with its completely different districts, still fascinates us! We’ve visited it three times over Christmas, and it’s undoubtedly our favorite time to visit London.
So, if you’re planning to visit London at Christmas, check out our travel blog for tips on how to make your stay a success: things to see in London, things to do, the best Christmas decorations and lights to see, and our best places to eat and sleep in London!
We were particularly impressed by the level of Christmas decorations in London. You’ll be instantly immersed in the Christmas atmosphere, believe us! In our opinion, London is one of the best destinations to enjoy Christmas decorations!
Covent Garden Market is fully decorated with garlands and Christmas trees. You’ll also find a huge fir tree on the forecourt! It’s quite a friendly neighborhood, and the shopping street next to the market will amaze you with its Christmas-dressed storefronts and fully illuminated facades.
If you want to visit London at Christmas, we recommend you start your stroll here!
Covent Garden
London’s Christmas lights are installed from mid-November and come on at 5.30pm. These are the city’s biggest Christmas decorations, and you’ll also find a number of small decorated covered galleries. A quick visit to Piccadilly Circus, and you’re ready to feast your eyes!
London at Christmas
Carnaby Street decorations were among our favorites in the British capital! They’re particularly creative and cheerful.
Take a stroll through Soho and across Carnaby Street to the Liberty department store, where you can discover their floor entirely dedicated to Christmas. We think it’s a must for your Christmas weekend in London!
The pretty district of Soho has been one of our favorites on our many trips to London. From Chinatown to Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square, get ready to be amazed.
This lively district of London is decorated and lit up for Christmas on every street. If you’re looking for a nice place to eat in the area, don’t miss the Kingly Court.
Not far from Piccadilly Circus, don’t miss New Bond Street. To do so, we recommend targeting the Ralph Lauren café. Here you’ll find magnificent decorations and Christmas trees.
Not far from here, don’t miss Fortnum & Mason and the Assouline house, which we’ll talk about a little further down the article.
If you want to discover London at Christmas, don’t miss the Mayfair district and the decorations at the Koyn restaurant. Here you’ll find beautifully decorated streets and a beautiful car customized in Christmas colors. It’s one of our favorite rides!
We round off our selection of the best places to see in London this Christmas with the famous London Bridge. We recommend a bite to eat in the igloos at Club Coppa, before or after your stroll along London Bridge. During the Christmas season, you can visit the bridge’s Christmas market.
igloos at club coppa
Whether or not you want to bring home a few presents from London, a tour of London’s department stores is an institution. At Christmas time, they often have a section devoted to Christmas tree decorations and gift ideas, to suit all budgets. Here’s our selection of London’s must-visit department stores this Christmas:
So, when you’re in London, a visit to one of these department stores to admire the windows and decorations is a great idea!
Of course, when you visit London, you’ll want to visit the city’s must-sees: Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Madame Tussauds!
But if you come to London over the Christmas period, take the opportunity to discover the wonderful Christmas markets, created every year in every corner of the city. Stroll through the fragrant aisles of the ephemeral villages of wooden chalets to find small gifts, taste a local specialty or simply soak up the Christmas atmosphere.
Here are the different Christmas markets in London:
They open around mid-November and close either around December 24 or early January, depending on the market.
Well, if that isn’t the epitome of a Christmas movie… A visit to one of London’s many ice rinks is a must-do activity during your Christmas stay in London! Choose from one of London’s many ephemeral ice rinks:
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Yes, as we said, London knows how to celebrate Christmas like nowhere else! Here you can discover a huge Christmas funfair, the famous Winter Wonderland. Let’s take a tour of London’s attractions!
You’ll find it right in the heart of Hyde Park, and you’ll be able to admire some squirrels along the way. Of London’s many parks, Hyde Park remains our favorite. Nearby, discover the Mayfair district and Portobello Road with its antique market!
For those who want to take in more attractions and cultural sights, we recommend the London Pass, which offers preferential rates for the duration of your stay.
Hyde Park
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you probably already know that the film studios are just outside London. Visiting the Harry Potter studios is a way of immersing yourself completely in the world of the books and films, discovering XXL sets, costumes and all the secrets of filming.
At Christmas time, all the studios are transformed in the “Hogwarts at Christmas” spirit, and it’s well worth it. From the redecorated Great Hall with its huge Christmas trees to the fake snow that’s projected outside, you’d think you were there.
Our favorite neighborhoods in London, to discover all year round, but also at Christmas. The amazing thing about London is the diversity of scenery, atmosphere and culture in the different districts.
This famous district is a must-see in London! We love it for its iconic, colorful street art. Although very touristy, this incredible neighborhood is a mix of quirky stalls, sneaker stores, rock looks and souvenirs where you could browse for hours.
You’ll want to visit the different market aisles, which are all very different: Camden Lock Market, Camden Lock Village, Inverness Market and Stables Market.
The Street Food Market is worth a visit for its multicultural stalls, where you can sample everything from burgers and the famous Fish & Chips to Indian dishes and bubble waffles! Take a stroll along the banks of the Regent’s Canal, which are almost at odds with the rest of Camden, and very soothing indeed.
You’ll also want to stop by Cyberdog, a completely offbeat, futuristic store where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another world.
The famous Notting Hill district is well worth a visit. Try to go during the week to avoid the crowds of tourists, so you can enjoy the pretty alleys of colorful houses in peace.
Don’t hesitate to get lost in the neighborhood, as some streets are packed with tourists, while others, just as charming, are completely deserted!
This iconic London square is a must-see at least once. With its huge screens and pretty luxury stores, its London-style buildings and its amateur singers, you’ll quickly be won over.
We love it here, even though we’re just passing through! This is also where you’ll find many of the Christmas decorations and lights.
Just off Piccadilly Circus, discover the pretty district of Soho. As lively as ever, whatever the time of year, you’ll discover Chinatown and its tempting smells of Asian cuisine.
Also nearby is Soho Square, where you can take a breather. In this district, there’s a constant bustle of bars, restaurants, theaters and cinemas that bring Soho to life. It’s also London’s gay district. Take a stroll down to Carnaby Street to admire the superb Christmas illuminations and enjoy a shopping spree.
Soho
It’s impossible to visit London without admiring Big Ben. The monument has been restored to its former glory after years of renovation, and you can’t afford to miss it.
The London Eye wheel is another London landmark well worth seeing all year round, but especially over Christmas. A great illumination where the bravest will venture for a superb view of the city. Afterwards, take a trip on the River Thames!
Accommodation in the English capital, London, is generally overpriced, yet the quality isn’t always up to scratch…
It’s also difficult to find the right compromise between sleeping in central London and staying a little further away. During our various stays in London, we’ve had the opportunity to try out a number of addresses, and you’ll find our favorites below!
When we’re only staying in London for a few days, we like to be able to sleep in the center of the city, so as not to waste time on public transport and to do as much as possible on foot.
This hotel is ideally located, right next to Piccadilly Circus, in a super lively area. Ideal for going to see a musical one evening and then walking home, for example. The rooms are quite small, but for a few nights’ stay, it’s enough!
This really is the hotel par excellence! The CitizenM chain of boutique hotels has a real charm about it, and all the furnishings are carefully chosen.
The one in London is located in a very arty area, very close to the Tate Modern and Borough Market. So you’ll be close to the center without being in the hustle and bustle of the hypercenter. If you’re looking for a colorful, designer, high-tech hotel, this is the place for you!
Whatever your choice, don’t forget to bring your international passport to visit London. Since leaving Europe, it is no longer possible to reach England with just your French identity card.
The London Underground is very well served, safe and clean. The only drawback is that it’s not cheap! We advise you to take an Oyster card, a real convenience for the duration of your stay. Visit the whole of London by tube! Numerous Tube stations take you right across the city, from St James’s to Waterloo.
And for those staying a little further afield, at the far end of the city in Shoreditch or even further afield, such as Greenwich, trains run regularly until late, even allowing you to hang out in London pubs quite late.
We hope that the tips and good addresses on our travel blog will help you organize your Christmas celebrations in London.
You can also follow our daily adventures on Instagram 🙂
Clem & Alex
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