Christmas has arrived in London, and if you read the previous post London at Christmas, you will know that this special time of year arrives in London loaded with hundreds of things to do. Forget about the cold and sign up to this list of Christmas plans that will make your Christmas in London an unrivalled experience:
1 Christmas in Leicester Square
One of the liveliest spots in the capital, full of superstores such as Lego Store or M&S World, theatres such as the Apollo Theatre, and several cinemas, every Christmas it turns into a dreamy Christmas world. This year, Christmas in Leicester Square offers a wide variety of activities for all ages: Christmas markets, where you can find the best deals on handmade items, as well as food and drink stalls from all over the world, Santa’s Grotto for the enjoyment of the little ones and even fabulous circus shows such as Le Cliqué.
Date: From 8 November to 5 January (Closed on Christmas Day)
Opening hours: 12pm to 10pm Mon-Fri, 10am to 10pm Sat-Sun
Place: Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA
2 Hogwarts in the snow, Harry Potter Warner Studio
London is without a doubt the city in which to feel more truly the magic of the Harry Potter phenomenon. In the post Harry Potter in London we told you about the unmissable places where you can feel part of the literary saga for a moment. One of these places is Warner Bros Studios, the Harry Potter recording studio.
At Christmas, anyone visiting the iconic school of magic can enjoy the transformation of the castle into its Christmas version. The Great Hall has a magical festive banquet, the common rooms fill with the most original magical decorations, and everything is covered in snow and Christmas ornaments.
Where? Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR
Price: From £47.00. Book from here.
Opening hours: Every day from 9:00 to 20:00.
3 Skylight rooftop
Skylight is one of the best terraces/rooftops in London. Not only for the unbeatable views of the city skyline, but because it also offers much more in terms of entertainment. One of this year's novelties is an ice rink up in the heights. Did you know it is the only ice rink in Europe set hundreds of metres above the ground?
Throughout the Christmas season there are also a number of Christmas events and parties you can't miss: a Christmas tree decorating party, Christmas karaoke and more are just some of the things you can do on this popular terrace.
Best of all, Skylight is fully equipped for the dreaded London weather: heaters, «cabins», blankets, covered areas and everything you need to forget you are outdoors in the middle of a London Christmas.
Where? Tobacco Dock, Pennington St entrance, St Katharine’s & Wapping, London E1W 2SF
Price: Entry is free
Christmas is synonymous with gatherings, dinners and festive meals. And how could it be otherwise, at Christmas in London most restaurants dress up for the occasion and offer the most sumptuous Christmas dishes. If this year it falls to you to organise the Christmas dinner, or you need suggestions for places to get together and celebrate, here are some recommendations:
-The Trading House: a perfect atmosphere for any kind of celebration, including live music and a special menu. Take a look at their Christmas offer here.
-Karma Sactum Soho Hotel: One of the coolest hotels in the (already cool) Soho, it offers a «Free Flow Menu» this Christmas. You can see its menu here.
-Aquavit: this Nordic restaurant is a good option for company dinners as it has several rooms and all the amenities for before, during and after a Christmas party. You can find more info here.
-Hard Rock Café (Picadilly Circus): Hard Rock Café is a legendary restaurant, world famous for its music and shows, so why not celebrate your Christmas dinner at its restaurant in central London?. Here is their list of Christmas events.
-Circus London: Circus London is one of the most famous restaurants in Covent Garden for its dinner and drinks offer and, of course, its cabaret show. Here is their special Christmas programme.
-Dirty Bones: The Dirty Bones chain has restaurants in several parts of London such as Kensington, Carnaby, Soho and Shoreditch. Its Christmas programme includes rooms for group dinners and party rooms.
-London in the Sky: A unique experience in London. A table suspended more than 100m above the ground with views over the whole city. Here is everything about the experience and how to book.
In the previous post I tell you about the most famous streets where you can delight in a light show at Christmas in London. However, at this time of year in London there are many more lesser-known corners where you can enjoy the most spectacular Christmas decorations:
Seven Dials
Just a few steps from Covent Garden is Seven Dials square. The adjoining streets are full of unconventional shops, as well as lively cafés, the new Seven Markets and the charming Neils Yard.
From mid-November the whole area is decorated with illuminated stars and all kinds of Christmas ornaments.
Southbank
The Southbank walk from Waterloo is one of our favourite areas of London. The area is full of life at any time of year, but at this time, with the trees along the banks of the River Thames lit by hundreds of bulbs, it undoubtedly has a magical charm.
6 Hot chocolate in the most Instagrammable cafés in London
Finding a downside to Christmas in London is hard, though there is one…the cold! However, it is also part of London's Christmas charm and best of all there are many ways to ease the low temperatures (While you update your Instagram page along the way):
ELAN
Where?
Market Place - Brompton Road - Park Lane - Selfridges London
Daisy Green Collection
Where?
Marylebone - 0 Seymour St, Marylebone, London W1H 7HX
Fabrique Bakery
Where?
Hoxton- Holborn- Covent Garden- Seven Dials
Appestat
Where?
Angel- 102 Islington High St, The Angel, London N1 8EG-
The Coffee Yar
Where?
Camden - 83 Parkway, Camden, London, NW1 7PP-
The most legendary garden in London: Chelsea Physic Garden. The gardens sit on the banks of the River Thames, and since 1673 it has been the place where the monks of the order of the Apothecaries have grown their medicinal plants. The garden has more than 5000 different species of plants, including edible, medicinal and plants from all over the world. (To find out more about Chelsea Physic Garden don't miss the post on 20 things to SEE in London).
As you would expect, the gardens also host Christmas, offering plenty of Christmas events such as their famous Christmas fair or wreath-making workshops. You can sign up to the various events here.
8 Cinema at The Luna Winter Cinema
A new open-air cinema experience has arrived in London. This time the chosen venue is the charming Kensington Palace (which, after housing the sovereign queen for more than 300 years, now opens its doors to the film-loving public). And not only that: for a week the most typical Christmas films will be shown, such as Love Actually or Home Alone.
Where? Kesignton Palace Pavillion
Price: 18.50 pounds.
Dates: From 15 to 22 December
9 Cocktails in an Igloo
Summer is behind us, when we recommended the best London rooftops in which to enjoy the good summer weather. However, good news!, going for a drink on a rooftop is still one of the coolest things to do in London despite the cold.
Some of the best rooftops in the city manage the perfect metamorphosis from summer to winter, such as the Aviary terrace in East London, which has igloos for the Christmas/winter season, (YES! IGLOOS!) so you can enjoy a cocktail with atmosphere and views of the city without freezing.
Where? 22-25 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1DX
As you would expect from London's Royal Gardens, Kew Gardens is without a doubt one of the most wonderful visits that can be made in the city. At any time of year there is plenty to see and do in the gardens, though at Christmas, without doubt, its charm knows no bounds.
What those who come to Christmas at Kew, find is an impressive Christmas lighting: both in its greenhouses or glasshouses, and in the rest of the attractions in the gardens. But not only that: lasers and coloured lights on every tree, bonfires for toasting marshmallows, stalls where you can get a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate and even dance and acrobatic shows.
It is a thoroughly recommended outing for children and adults that promises to be one of the events of Christmas in London.
More things to do in London
-If you want more ideas on how to spend Christmas in London, don't miss the previous post with the best plans in London at Christmas.
-If you want recommendations for enjoying a typical English meal you can see it here.
-One of the best posts, with the top 10 things to do here.
-How to get to London by plane: all the information about the London airports.
Written by Raquel Rozada, IG: raquelrtis
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