Christmas in London
Your cultural agenda for December 2026
From light-festooned shopfronts and imaginative window displays to ice-skating, crisp winter walks or cosy afternoon teas, London’s offering pulls out the stops during the festive season. A touch of careful planning means that you can avoid the crowds and experience the full magic of a city that celebrates Christmas like no other.
Belgravia Winter Market
22 November
Festive shopping, winter treats, sparkling lights and Christmas music - find it all at this pretty neighbourhood market just a fifteen-minute walk from Knightsbridge Hotel. Running the length of Belgravia’s Elizabeth Street, this year’s winter market, on 22 November, features chalet-style stalls full of treasures from a host of makers, artists and craftspeople, including hand-poured candles by Rachel Vosper, ceramics from Studio Pottery and shearling accessories from Dlux.
Elizabeth Street, Belgravia, London SW1W
Tour London's Festive Window Displays
mid-november - december
This is the time of year when the city’s most beloved department stores, from Harrods to Harvey Nichols, go all out on their window displays. In the West End, head to Selfridges and Liberty London – the former known for its immersive displays from enchanted forests to food-themed wonderlands; the latter for its artistic, craft-led displays and its fourth-floor Christmas shop. Carry on to Bond Street to catch its upscale decorations, including Cartier's gift-wrapped flagship store, stopping at Ralph’s coffee, part of Ralph Lauren’s store, for a warming hot chocolate. Stroll across to Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly, celebrated for its advent calendar-style façade and its heritage window scenes. From there, hop on the Tube at Green Park to take in the contemporary displays at Harvey Nichols and the twinkling lights of Harrods, both in Knightsbridge. Aim for a dusk tour for maximum impact.
Christmas Carols at Southwark Cathedral
18 november - 25 december
Music and seasonal spirit abound each year at one of the city’s most historic cathedrals, whose earliest roots are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Located close to Borough Market, it is renowned for its annual programme of festive music, from classical works such as Bach’s Christmas Oratorio to live Christmas movie soundtracks, or carols by candlelight, interspersed with seasonal readings by celebrity guests.
Southwark Cathedral London Bridge London SE1 9DA
The Fire Garden at Ham Yard Hotel
12 November - 23 December
From mid-November until Christmas, the hidden roof terrace at Ham Yard Hotel transforms into a warming Fire Garden, thanks to cosy seating, blankets, hot water bottles and a generous open fire. Go old-school with a cream-topped hot chocolate and s’mores to toast over the fire pit, or opt for an invigorating cocktail, from a Smoky Gimlet to a Clementine Collins. A choice of wood-fired skillets, including pigs in blankets and roast scallops with kimchi butter, completes the winter scene.
One Ham Yard, London, W1D 7DT
Catch a Christmas Ballet
December - January
Little is more festive than a performance of The Nutcracker, an annual favourite for young and old alike. The English National Ballet’s production transports audiences on a magical adventure with sumptuous sets, imaginative costumes and enchanting ensemble and solo performances, all set to Tchaikovsky’s score.
For something equally transformative, yet crisply contemporary, try Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, a fabled tale that’s set on the streets of London during the Second World War.
The London Coliseum: St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4ES
Sadler's Wells: Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4TN
Christmas Shopping at Fortnum & Mason
NOVEMBER & dECEMBER
Despite its traditional neo-Georgian façade, this Piccadilly treasure has been at the forefront of innovation for more than three centuries. It began life selling candle wax salvaged from Queen Anne’s household to the public, and the Scotch egg is said to have been born here in 1738. More than a century ago, Fortnum’s introduced Heinz baked beans to the capital; today, the store keeps beehives on its roof and collaborates with small-scale artisans.
But it’s at Christmas that this crimson-carpeted department store truly comes into its own, with a festive atmosphere and seasonal produce that make perfect gifts: think colourful tins of hot chocolate, jams, teas, festive crackers and classic wicker hampers. Ham Yard Hotel is just a short stroll away, making it an ideal base for a festive shopping trip.
181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER
A Festive Afternoon Tea
2 December - 31st December
A classic British pastime gets a festive twist at Brumus in Haymarket Hotel with its London Calling Afternoon Tea, which blends a centuries-old tradition with a celebration of the capital. Inspired by some of the city’s best-known sights, from Big Ben to the London Eye, the sweet treats have been given extra Christmas sparkle, alongside classic finger sandwiches, scones, clotted cream and jam. An illustrated self-guided tour, which guests can follow online, then invites guests to stroll out and see the landmarks in the flesh.
1 Suffolk Place, London, SW1Y 4HX
Experience a Traditional British Pantomime
NOVEMBER - JANuary
Once a Boxing Day fixture and now a long-running symbol of the season, the city’s pantomime tradition took its modern shape in Victorian times, though its roots stretch much farther, to Italy’s 16th-century street theatre, Commedia dell’arte, where stock characters including Harlequin and Columbine were brought to life on stage. Known for outlandish costumes, improvisation, celebrity appearances, broad comedy and audience participation, British pantomime, with favourites such as Jack and the Beanstalk, Peter Pan and Dick Whittington, has become a festive art form, especially beloved by children.
See lavish productions in the West End, such as Cinderella at the London Palladium, a short walk from Refuel Restaurant at The Soho Hotel; or head to the city’s neighbourhood theatres, from Wimbledon to Greenwich, for a more intimate experience.
Cinderella at The London Palladium | 5 December 2026 - 10 January 2027
Peter Pan at The New Wimbledon Theatre | 5 December 2026 - 3 January 2027
Jack and the Beanstalk at Greenwich Theatre | 27 November 2026 - 10 January 2027
Ice Skating at Somerset House
11 november 2026 - 10 january 2027
In recent years, skating in front of this Thames-side, Georgian former palace has become almost as legendary as a visit to The Rink at New York’s Rockefeller Center – a must-do for Londoners and visitors alike. The cultural centre’s ice rink is a seasonal highlight, presided over by a 40ft tree, with hot chocolate, festive food and shopping on tap.
A 12-minute walk from Covent Garden Hotel, why not make a festive day of it? Start with a leisurely lunch at Brasserie Max, then spend the afternoon Christmas shopping, taking in the charm of Seven Dials before heading to Covent Garden's iconic piazza. Don't miss the decorations in the Apple Market before making your way to Somerset House for an evening skate as dusk falls.
Christmas at Kew
13 November 2026 - 3 January 2027
Each winter, one of London’s largest botanical gardens turns into a festival of light. The UNESCO World Heritage site transforms into a colourful trail, filled with music and light thanks to colour tunnels, immersive soundscapes, impressive installations, street food and a fairground. Perfect for families, but also offering dedicated adult-only evenings for more peaceful strolls. From dusk until 10pm.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE