London in Winter: 12 Fantastic Things to Do
Wondering what to do in London in winter? Here are my 12 favourite things to do, from festive favourites to top attractions.
If you live in the UK or are planning on visiting the UK in the winter months, I highly recommend a trip to London.
London is one of my favourite UK destinations and I’m fairly sure that everyone who comes here has London on their bucket list. Which makes sense since there’s always so much going on!
You can explore fantastic Christmas Markets, visit some of the best attractions but with a festive twist, and see many of London’s top sights without the summer crowds.
In my opinion, the winter is a fantastic time to explore London – just make sure you bring your umbrella! If you’re heading to London this winter, here are 12 of the best things to do!
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1. Visit Leicester Square
Leicester Square is fantastic in winter. This is the home of one of the most well-known Christmas Markets in England. On top of that, it’s a hotspot for theatre-goers and you’ll find some fabulous restaurants here.
For me, it also takes me back to my childhood. My favourite memory from Leicester Square is going to M&M World! And this is definitely a great thing to do in winter if you love chocolate and festive vibes!
Aside from that, it’s also the home of the Leicester Square Christmas Market, which is also such a great atmosphere if you visit London at Christmas!
2. Go on a Christmas Lights Tour
Speaking of visiting in December, if there’s one thing I love about London in winter, it’s the Christmas decorations. There are so many fantastic decorations in London, from the gorgeous lights on Carnaby Street to the festive vibes at King’s Cross Station.
If you decide to explore the Christmas Lights in London, I highly recommend going on a Christmas lights tour of all the most beautiful festive spots in the city.
For this, you could actually start at Leicester Square and do a loop around Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street, Regent Street, and Carnaby Street, then head back to Leicester Square for a glass of mulled wine at the Christmas Market. Or, go on a longer tour like the one below to see more.
3. Admire the Decorations at Covent Garden
About 10 minutes on foot from Leicester Square, you’ll find Covent Garden. This is one of the most impressive places to visit in London in winter as you’ll find some of the best decorations in the city here.
There’s usually a giant Christmas tree, lots of baubles hung from the inside of the covered market, Christmas stalls and a market inside, and so many other hidden gems.
I’ve seen a Santa’s sleigh in Covent Garden before and a huge reindeer model. Not to mention, there always seems to be a street performer or artist here putting on a show.
It’s worth simply having a wander around and seeing what you can find.
4. Visit Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park
This is one of my favourite things to do in London in winter. Winter Wonderland is so much fun! It’s typically held from the middle of November until the start of January and is effectively like a giant winter theme park!
You’ll find festive roller coasters and rides, a huge ice rink and lots of stalls selling Christmas Market food including German-style delights like Bratwurst and pretzels. You’ll also find craft beers, festive cocktails, and so much more.
This used to be a free-to-enter attraction but now there is a small charge to get in. Plus, all of the attractions are chargeable and food and drink aren’t cheap. So, it’s definitely not ideal if you’re visiting London on a budget.
But, it’s such a fun day out that, so long as you budget for it, you’ll have a fantastic time.
5. Go to a West End Show
There’s something so special about the theatre in winter and one of my favourite London winter attractions is the West End.
There are a lot of great shows during the winter season. Not just typical theatre performances, but comedy shows, cheesy pantomimes, and even ice skating shows.
Another of my favourite experiences from when I was younger was seeing Wicked in the theatre in January.
I remember being bundled up under a coat against the cold and running from the train station to the theatre. Buying hot chocolate and watching the show unfold. Then afterwards, we got hot churros and melted chocolate from a street stall nearby and went to a restaurant for dinner.
It was amazing and I highly recommend the theatre to anyone who comes to London.
6. Admire the Department Stores
This is something I’ve only done recently in London thanks to a little inspiration I saw on Instagram. But London’s department stores put on a show during the winter months. Some of the stores have winter displays that rival many of the Christmas Lights across London.
You’ll find things like old-fashioned cars dressed up for Christmas, shop windows themed like a giant advent calendar, shops where every inch of the walls are covered with lights and more.
A few of my favourite department stores’ winter displays are Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges, and Liberty London.
7. Visit one of London’s Free Museums
Many of the best free things to do in London can also be enjoyed in winter. The best of these is easily the museums. London has over 50 free museums and many of them are some of the best attractions in the entire city.
The British Museum is well worth a visit in the winter months, as is the famous Natural History Museum in Kensington and the Tate Modern.
Not only are the museums a fantastic thing to do in the city, but they are also a good way to escape the cold and the rain because, let’s face it, London’s winter weather can be unpredictable!
8. Eat Food and drink Hot Chocolate at Borough Market
One of the things I love most about London markets in winter is the abundance of cosy foods that you just don’t get in the summer months. Okay some you do get in summer, but they’re just so much better in winter.
For instance, have you ever had a Yorkshire pudding wrap? If not, I seriously recommend it!
Both Borough Market and Camden Market are the best places to find all of these goodies because there are so many different stalls and so much variety.
You’ll also find hot churros with melted chocolate, the most delicious and creamy hot chocolates, loaded fries, noodles topped with crispy belly pork and so much more. And you can eat it all in little glass domes in the market courtyard. Delicious!
9. Explore the Hidden Gems in London
If you love finding secret spots in the big city, winter is the time to do it. London’s hidden gems are worth visiting any time of year, but there’s a kind of serene beauty to those places when they’re completely empty and covered in a light dusting of frost.
Admittedly, word has gotten out about a few of these places now. But they’re still quite empty in the winter months, which definitely makes them better.
A few of my favourite secret spots in London include St Dunstan’s in the East, Little Venice and the canals, and the beautiful Holland Park.
10. Go Shopping On Oxford Street
If you’re a bit of a shopaholic, you’ll love London in winter. The stores are beautifully decorated, full of fun, and usually have plenty of discounts around the winter season.
Not only do you have Christmas deals, but you have the Black Friday Sales in November and the Boxing Day Sales in January. So, no matter what time in winter you visit, you’re fairly likely to come across a good deal!
Plus, there are so many places to go shopping in London. You can visit the department stores I previously mentioned, head to Oxford Street to browse the over 300 stores there, or head to a shopping centre like Westfield.
If you’re spending a few days in London and really love to shop, you could even go on a day trip outside the city to Bicester Village. Located just 1.5 hours away near Oxford, this is full of outlet stores with fantastic discounts on designer gear.
11. Admire the Views from one of London’s Viewpoints
Many of the best viewpoints in London are not just worth visiting in the summer months.
If you get lucky and miss all the rain and clouds, then you might just see some gorgeous views over London in winter. Especially in the Christmas season when the city is extra lit up.
Some of the best viewpoints include the view from the Shard, the London Eye, and the views from Tower Bridge. However, you can also see some stunning free views, such as the skyline from Primrose Hill or the Sky Garden.
12. Visit the Harry Potter Studios
If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you absolutely have to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in winter. Admittedly, they aren’t in the centre of the city, however, they are without a doubt one of the top day trips from London and are super easy to reach.
From London, it takes an hour by car to get there. Alternatively, you can take the train from Euston Station which takes an hour and 20 minutes. The studio also offers a shuttle service from Watford Junction, which takes just 15 minutes and is included in your ticket.
Once you’re there, you can really admire the magic of the Wizarding World. Walk through magical film sets, see the Great Hall covered with festive decorations, see the miniature Hogwarts dusted with snow, and walk down a Christmassy Diagon Alley.
It is a magical time to visit and, whether or not you love the films, you’re sure to fall in love with the detail and effort that went into these film sets. I recommend booking this well in advance because they sell out over 6 months in advance.
✅ I recommend booking tickets for the Warner Bros Studio Tour in advance
Is it worth visiting London in winter?
Yes, in my opinion, it’s 100% worth visiting London in winter. It’s one of the most magical places to spend Christmas in Europe and one of the best places to see the New Year. Trust me, we’ve spent New Year in London 3 times – it’s fab!
Even outside of the Christmas season, there’s so much to do. We spent 4 days in London in winter and loved it!
All of London’s top attractions are just as good in the winter months. You can explore Westminster, cruise the Thames, explore Tower Bridge, Visit Buckingham Palace, and so much more. Plus, you likely won’t have quite as many crowds as you would in summer.
So, whether you’re looking for the best city break in December or you want a quiet weekend away in January, I hope this article has helped you plan your winter trip to London.
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