Christmas in London brings centuries of holiday tradition to life each year, with glowing light trails, riverside markets, historic palaces, festive theater, and carols that echo through some of the city’s most famous landmarks. If you’re dreaming of mulled wine by the Thames or a classic British pantomime, here are the best things to do in London at Christmas for 2026!
The Best Christmas Events in London This Holiday Season
From royal parks to West End stages, London offers holiday experiences unlike anywhere else in the world. Here are the top Christmas events the British capital has to offer this year!
1. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland — London
Photo Credit: PWR Events | Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Now in its 18th season, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the biggest Christmas event in the United Kingdom, filling the royal park with more than 100 rides and attractions, Bavarian style beer halls, a sprawling Christmas market, and the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink circling a Victorian bandstand. Families can easily spend an afternoon and evening here riding the Giant Wheel over the Serpentine, browsing wooden chalets for ornaments, and warming up with mulled wine and bratwurst.
- Dates: November 19th, 2026 - January 3rd, 2027 (closed Christmas Day)
- Admission: Ticketed; Timed entry tickets; rides and skating are ticketed separately
- Street Address: Hyde Park, London W2 2UH
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: No (assistance dogs only)
- Parking: No onsite parking; book a garage in Mayfair or Bayswater, or take the Tube to Marble Arch or Hyde Park Corner
- Website: https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/
Insider Tip: November weekdays are the cheapest and calmest time to visit, and entry tickets must be booked online by midnight the day before you go.
2. Christmas at Kew — Richmond
London’s most beloved Christmas light trail returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens with a freshly designed route and new installations for 2026. After dark, the historic glasshouses and towering trees glow in color as you wander past illuminated tunnels and sparkling lakeside displays, with a visit from Father Christmas along the way. New this year, adults only evenings on December 3rd and 9th offer a quieter, grown up way to experience the trail.
- Dates: November 13th, 2026 - January 3rd, 2027 (closed November 16th, 23rd, and 28th, and Christmas Day)
- Admission: Ticketed; children under 4 are free; prices vary by date
- Street Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: No (assistance dogs only)
- Parking: Limited parking must be booked with your ticket; public transport is strongly encouraged
- Website: https://www.kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/christmas
Insider Tip: Late November and early December weeknights carry off peak pricing and noticeably thinner crowds than the weekends before Christmas.
3. Skate at Somerset House — London
Photo Credit: Chloe Hashemi | Somerset House Press Office
Few ice rinks in the world can match the setting of Skate at Somerset House, where a towering Christmas tree anchors the grand neoclassical courtyard just off the Strand. Between sessions, warm up with alpine comfort food at The Chalet or browse seasonal gift shops. Entry to the courtyard is free, so even non-skaters can soak up the holiday atmosphere.
- Dates: November 11th, 2026 - January 10th, 2027
- Admission: Free courtyard entry; Ticketed skating experience
- Street Address: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
- Kid-Friendly: Yes, with weekend morning skate school, relaxed sessions, and wheelchair skating sessions
- Pet-Friendly: No
- Parking: No onsite parking; Temple and Covent Garden Tube stations are a short walk away
- Website: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/skate-somerset-house
Insider Tip: Families should aim for a weekday morning, while couples will love the evening Skate Lates sessions with live DJs.
4. Glide at Battersea Power Station — London
Skating doesn’t get much more photogenic than Glide, London’s only riverside ice rink, set beneath the iconic white chimneys of Battersea Power Station. Three interconnected rinks and a scenic skate trail wind around a 30 foot Christmas tree, and a vintage fairground adds old fashioned fun nearby. The surrounding neighborhood is packed with more than 100 shops, bars, and restaurants, so it’s easy to turn a skating session into a full holiday outing.
- Dates: November 6th, 2026 - January 3rd, 2027
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Battersea Power Station, Circus Road West, London SW11 8BZ
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: No
- Parking: Paid parking at Battersea Power Station; the Battersea Power Station Tube stop is steps away
- Website: https://glidebatterseapowerstation.co.uk/
Insider Tip: After skating, ride the Chimney Lift to the top of the power station for 360 degree views across the Thames.
5. Winter Palace and Festive Fayre at Hampton Court Palace — East Molesey
Henry VIII’s palace goes all in for Christmas with Winter Palace, a brand new immersive experience for 2026 where mythical creatures gather for a Christmas Beast Ball inside the historic halls. On two December weekends, the Festive Fayre fills the palace gardens with more than 100 artisan food and gift producers, plus music on the bandstand. An outdoor ice rink in front of the Tudor facade completes one of the most memorable Christmas day trips near London.
- Dates: November 28th, 2026 - January 3rd, 2027 (Festive Fayre December 4th - 6th and 11th - 13th, 2026)
- Admission: Winter Palace is included with timed palace admission (off peak weekday adults about £29); the Festive Fayre is included on fayre dates, and ice skating is ticketed separately
- Street Address: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: No (assistance dogs only)
- Parking: Paid parking near the palace, or take the train from Waterloo to Hampton Court station
- Website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/whats-on/hampton-court-palace-festive-fayre/
Insider Tip: Visit on a Festive Fayre day to get the palace, the market, and the Winter Palace experience on a single ticket.
6. Carols at the Royal Albert Hall — London
Photo Credit: © Jim Ross | Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall has been celebrating Christmas for 150 years, and its carol concerts remain one of the most cherished holiday traditions in Britain. Fifteen performances over the final six days before Christmas bring thousands of voices together under the famous domed ceiling for traditional and modern carols. Earlier in December, the 200 voice Royal Choral Society, which has sung at the Hall every Christmas since 1872, returns for its own festive concert on December 7th.
- Dates: December 19th - 24th, 2026
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: No
- Parking: Very limited nearby parking; South Kensington is the closest Tube station
- Website: https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2026/carols-at-the-royal-albert-hall
Insider Tip: Several performances are already sold out, so book now and look at the morning shows, which tend to have the best remaining availability.
7. A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic — London
Celebrating its tenth Christmas season, Matthew Warchus’ production of A Christmas Carol, adapted by Jack Thorne, has become as much a London holiday tradition as mince pies and mulled wine. The staging pulls audiences right into Scrooge’s redemption with live carols, handbell music, and a few delicious surprises along the way. It’s the perfect evening of Dickens in the city where he wrote the story.
- Dates: November 12th, 2026 - January 9th, 2027
- Admission: From about £16, depending on seat and date
- Street Address: The Old Vic, 103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB
- Kid-Friendly: Yes, recommended for ages 8 and up
- Pet-Friendly: No
- Parking: Limited street parking; Waterloo station is a five minute walk
- Website: https://www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/a-christmas-carol-2026/
Insider Tip: Preview performances from November 12th - 23rd let you catch the show before the December rush drives up prices and demand.
8. Nutcracker by English National Ballet — London
English National Ballet brings its acclaimed Nutcracker back to the London Coliseum with more than 100 dancers and musicians. Tchaikovsky’s beloved score is performed live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic at every show, as Clara sets off on a fantastical Christmas Eve adventure. Matinees on select days make this an easy addition to a holiday sightseeing itinerary.
- Dates: December 17th, 2026 - January 10th, 2027
- Admission: Ticketed
- Street Address: London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES
- Kid-Friendly: Yes, recommended for ages 5 and up (under 5s admitted only at the Family Friendly performance)
- Pet-Friendly: No
- Parking: No onsite parking; Charing Cross and Leicester Square stations are nearby
- Website: https://www.ballet.org.uk/production/nutcracker/
Insider Tip: Trafalgar Square and its famous Norwegian Christmas tree are just around the corner, so plan a stroll before or after the show.
9. Southbank Centre Winter Market — London
The first London Christmas market to open each season, the Southbank Centre Winter Market lines the Thames with alpine style chalets and twinkling lights. Shoppers can browse independent makers for jewelry, ornaments, and stocking stuffers, then graze on international street food, churros, and hot chocolate with views of Big Ben and the London Eye. Entry is free, and the riverside walkway makes it easy to explore at your own pace.
- Dates: November 2nd, 2026 - January 4th, 2027 (closed December 25th and 31st)
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: Queen’s Walk, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Limited paid parking nearby; Waterloo and Embankment stations are closest
- Website: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/activity/winter-market/
Insider Tip: A weekday afternoon visit is far calmer than a weekend evening, and the walk across the Golden Jubilee Bridges delivers some of the best skyline photos in the city.
10. Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market — Winchester
About an hour by train from London Waterloo, the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market is widely considered one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. Roughly 128 German style wooden chalets fill the cathedral grounds with handpicked artisans, seasonal food, and one of a kind gifts, all framed by the soaring medieval cathedral. It’s an ideal day trip for travelers who want a traditional English Christmas market away from the city crowds.
- Dates: November 20th - December 22nd, 2026
- Admission: Free
- Street Address: Winchester Cathedral, The Close, Winchester SO23 9LS
- Kid-Friendly: Yes
- Pet-Friendly: Yes, on a leash
- Parking: Use Winchester’s park and ride service, or take the train from London Waterloo
- Website: https://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/events/event-winchester-cathedral-christmas-market-24
Insider Tip: The market stays open until 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays, when the chalets and cathedral look their best after dark, but weekdays are much less crowded.
Explore More Christmas Events Near You
Christmas in London is just one stop on the season's biggest map. If you're looking for more Christmas events near you or planning a holiday trip in the states, check out our Christmas City Guides to find the best festivals, markets, concerts, and parades happening closest to you.
