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The Best Things To Do In London at Christmas
If you haven’t yet made plans or are looking for some added festive fun in the run-up to Christmas in London, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the best things to do in London during the Christmas period.
Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, meaning in positive news, we get the 26th off for Boxing Day and also the 27th as a bank holiday.
This is great news if you’re staying at home and digging into leftover Christmas dinner, however it means that many attractions may be closed on these days, so you’ll need to get in all your sightseeing and activities done in the week leading up to the big day.
There are some great things to do on Christmas Day itself if you’re just visiting and aren’t quite sure what to do with your day. Read on for the #NestorGuide for Christmas 2022!
Get your Christmas Market fix
If you haven’t yet made it to one of London’s many Christmas Markets, you have time to squeeze a few in before they’re gone for another year.
Some of our favourites are the beautiful Southbank riverside market and Fulham’s Christmas Garden Party, which will have a range of alpine bars and serve chocolate, cheese and wine options.
If you’re staying in one of our West London properties, there are also plenty of local stalls, pop-ups and fairs happening around Kensington and Notting Hill, where you can browse for handmade gifts by independent artists. Top tip: the food market on Portobello Road also has its own vegan area!
Enjoy Some Christmas Carols
Christmas doesn’t have to be all about shopping and sightseeing. Get in the festive spirit by heading to one of London’s many beautiful churches or even a concert venue to take part in some classic carol singing.
The biggest one this year is Carols at the Royal Albert Hall, just a short walk from Kensington, which will be accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and National Youth Choir. If you’re prepared to queue, there’s also a hugely popular free carol service at St. Pauls’s Cathedral.
Plenty of other concerts will also be free to attend, such as the All Souls Christmas Carols in Mayfair, where there will be free mince pies and mulled wine – just turn up and start singing!
Explore outdoors
London’s parks and gardens aren’t going anywhere, even on Christmas Day, so getting out into nature is one of the best things to do while you’re here. Although Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland takes up a huge section of the park, much of this royal park is left to explore. Check out Kensington Palace Gardens for a stroll or take a walk along the Serpentine.
If you happen to be staying in London for Christmas Day and are staying in West London, why not wrap up warm and watch the Peter Pan Cup in Hyde Park? The Serpentine Club swimmers will be racing along the river as part of a yearly tradition. Holland Park, just off Kensington High Street, will also be open for you to visit the pretty Japanese gardens; you can get a hot coffee from the café for a lovely wintery walk.
Meanwhile, in Mayfair, the stunning Ever After Garden has appeared, which is a collection of 10,000 glowing white roses has been created by the Royal Marsden Charity.
Explore London by bike
One of the best eco-friendly, sustainable ways to see the capital is by bike. You’ll combine getting warmed up with seeing the sights, and have the flexibility to go where you choose. There are lots of Santander bikes close to our West London properties which are inexpensive and easy to use.
If you happen to be staying for Christmas Day, this is one of the few ways to explore the city as there is no transport running. But with almost no people or cars on the streets of London, you can explore to your heart’s content and it’s the perfect time to get uninterrupted photos of London’s Christmas lights. You could also opt for an equally green e-scooter, if you’re not feeling active after a big Christmas dinner, there are lots offered by Byrd and Lime scattered across the city.
Catch a classic Christmas movie
In the summer, London excels at outdoor cinemas and in the winter, those same companies do a stellar job of creating winter wonderland immersive cinema experiences. The popular Luna Cinema is already set up in the stunning Kensington Palace, the former home of Queen Victoria, and will be showing festive favourites right up until 23rd December.
You can see Elf, The Holiday and controversially, Die Hard – there’s something feel-good for all ages. Just over the river in Wandsworth, the incredible Backyard Cinema has transformed into a winter fairy tale, covered in snow, real Christmas trees and a Polar Express; you can pull up a cushion, and enjoy a mulled wine and slice of pizza while watching Home Alone or Love Actually.
Have a festive Christmas dinner
A British Christmas dinner is something not to be missed, so if you’re here in December you’ll have the chance to try many different options. Right between Hammersmith and West Kensington, The Gate Hotel offers a fully sustainable and vegan/vegetarian menu.
For Christmas, you can try dishes such as Aubergine Schnitzel, or a delicious Cranberry Cheesecake. For vegans, one of London’s best 100% plant-based restaurants is Mildred’s, which has locations across the city. This year they’re hosting three-course Christmas dinners until 24th December, where you can tuck into a wild mushroom parfait, cauliflower cheese baubles and vegan cocktails!
Christmas with Nestor
Our cosy West London properties are the perfect home away from home if you’re visiting the capital this festive season. We’re based in the very heart of London, meaning you can enjoy the city’s amazing winter attractions just a short walk or cycle away.
In our apartments, you’ll find everything you need for the perfect stay; get your day started with a hot cup of coffee using our compostable coffee pods, or warm up after a long day of exploring in the cold with a hot bath using our recycled toiletries. We look forward to giving you a wonderful Christmas experience with Nestor.
To take advantage of our best rates, book directly on our site.