Christmas Eve in London has an atmosphere like no other; the city is absolutely buzzing with excitement. Shoppers run around trying to tick off the last few items on their Christmas list. And tourists look up in amazement at the Christmas lights strung along every street and corner in this historic city. Although some tourists wouldn’t even think of travelling during the holidays, for many who either don’t celebrate Christmas or love the excitement of visiting a new city during the holidays, Christmas Eve is one of the most exciting times of the year.
On Christmas Day, so many activities and sights are closed. Therefore, Christmas Eve is your last chance until after Boxing Day to get a full day of sightseeing done. Christmas Eve also offers unique opportunities to participate in local events that make you feel like you’re a part of the city’s holiday spirit. I was lucky enough to spend the entire holiday season in London last year, and I loved every second of it. And I wanted to share my favourite Christmas Eve (and day) recommendations for having a perfect Christmas celebration in London.
Christmas Eve in London is a hectic day of the year, so as many bookings as you can make in advance will help ensure you don’t miss out on the fun. But never pass up the chance to walk up and see if there have been any cancellations, especially at Christmas. You never know when someone’s plans will fall through, and you can swoop in to grab those opportunities.
To start your Perfect Christmas Eve in London, we need to grab a festive breakfast! As our second stop on the tour is located in Bloomsbury, one of the best places to start your morning is at Fortitude Bakehouse. Fortitude Bakehouse is one of the city’s finest artisanal bakeries tucked away in a charming corner of the city. Fortitude Bakehouse takes its craft seriously. Their bread, from sourdough to ciabatta, is made using traditional techniques, high-quality ingredients, and a dash of innovation. But it’s not just about the bread. Fortitude Bakehouse also boasts a delectable selection of pastries that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the taste buds. From flaky croissants to fruit-filled danishes, these sweet and savoury treats are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or an anytime snack.
At Christmas, you can try their festive specials like mince meat & frangipani tart and their famous chocolate & gingerbread custard morning bun!
After grabbing your sweet treats and a large coffee, take a walk east along Guilford Street, turning down Doughty Street towards the bright red door at #48. This old Georgian townhouse was the former London home of legendary author Charles Dickens. Today, it has been preserved and transformed into the Charles Dickens Museum.
Inside, the museum is dedicated to celebrating the life and work of the renowned Victorian novelist. Dickens lived with his family from 1837 to 1839. This was a significant period in Dickens’s life as he wrote several of his most famous works during his residence in this house, including Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby.
Visitors to the museum on Christmas Eve can take a guided tour of the meticulously restored and furnished rooms of the Dickens family home. And at Christmas, you’ll be in awe of Victoria’s Christmas decorations that cover the house. Holly garlands twist up the staircase, and red ribbons are tied on every little surface around the house.
The decor gives guests an idea of how Victorians would have been getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Just like many characters from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. On Christmas Eve Day, all guests to the house will receive a free mince pie and mulled wine (or soft drinks for the kids).
For lunch, take a walk along Grays Inn Road to find yourself at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese boasts a history that stretches back several centuries. The current building dates to 1667. The pub is known for its long association with literary and journalistic figures, and it has been a favoured haunt of many famous writers, including the one and only Charles Dickens. As well as Mark Twain and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The pub retains its historic and atmospheric charm with its low ceilings, wooden beams, dark wood panelling, and cozy, interconnected rooms. It offers a glimpse into the kind of taverns common in 17th-century London. One of the most striking features of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is its multiple fireplaces, which are especially inviting during the colder months.
While the pub doesn’t go all out with its decorations, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese incorporates traditional Christmas celebrations into its festive menu. Everything from chicken & apricot terrine, hand-carved turkey, or red onion and chestnut roast for vegetarians. Be sure to end it all with Christmas pudding for dessert.
From Fleet Street, walk west across the Strand toward Somerset House. The Duke of Somerset once owned the property, but today, the building is often used to host events centred around arts and education. At Christmas, the square in front of Somerset House is transformed into a giant fairytale-like ice skating rink. A massive 40-foot twinkling Christmas tree stands watch over the skaters.
Be sure to book tickets for skating, especially on Christmas Eve, well in advance. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to enjoy an iconic Christmas activity set in a beautiful historic London landmark. The best way to enjoy Christmas ever in London.
After all that skating, it’s time to warm up with some mulled wine, cider or hot chocolate. For this, we need to make our way across Waterloo Bridge to the Southbank Centre Winter Market. This traditional alpine-style Christmas market is made all the more atmospheric by its’ gorgeous location set along the famed Thames River. Plus, you also get stunning views of the London Eye above you as you peruse the goods in the market.
Over 90 wooden chalets lined the edge of the Southbank, covered in a canopy of thousands of twinkle lights. At the edge of the market, a vintage carousel delights young and old as it spins around playing Christmas tunes.
Wandering the stalls here, you can find everything from festive indulgences to Christmas street food and handmade arts and crafts. My favourite stall was the unique map seller. Buying a vintage map of London feels like the perfect gift to bring home as a souvenir of your London travels. Winter classics like raclette, chocolate-covered marshmallow kisses, dutch pancakes, and even warm cheese toasties can be found as you stroll.
Walk back over the Golden Jubilee Bridge to the famous Trafalgar Square. Here, you’ll find another bustling Christmas market next to the National Gallery and Nelson’s Column. The location adds so much to the atmosphere and overall charm of the market. The market features a variety of stalls and vendors, offering a wide range of holiday-themed foods and gifts. You can find traditional Christmas decorations, ornaments, winter clothing items, funky jewellery and London souvenirs.
But we aren’t here for the market per se, but for the music. Every day in December there are carol performances between 4 pm and 8 pm. Over 40 carol groups gather here throughout the holiday season to bring festive cheer to the onlookers and raise money for charitable organizations. You see them out in full force on Christmas Eve, getting everyone excited for Christmas mornings.
If you are in the mood for something a little different but still a staunchly popular place in London to eat on Christmas Eve, head up the road to Dishoom Covent Garden. Dishoom is a series of restaurants known for their homage to the Irani cafés of Bombay. Stepping inside, you’ll be immediately enveloped in nostalgic décor that transports you to the bustling streets of Bombay. At Christmas, the restaurant is adorned with festive decorations, stars hanging from the ceiling and a glowing, warm, inviting atmosphere.
Dishoom offers a special Christmas Feast menu for the holiday season. This menu features a blend of traditional Indian flavours with a festive twist. Dishes include Turkey Raan (marinated and slow-cooked turkey leg infused with Indian spices and flavours), tenderstem broccoli, chilli sprouts, spiced cranberry chutney and Mince Pie Kulfi. Indian food is important to the fabric of London’s food scene, and Dishoom is one of the most iconic locations to try this cuisine.
After dinner, explore Covent Garden by heading to the old Covent Garden Market. This historic marketplace is steeped in centuries of tradition. But at Christmas time, it is one of the most festive centres in London. The market’s elegant Piazza, adorned with neoclassical architecture and lively street performances, is brimming with twinkle lights, Christmas trees, oversized wreaths and the smell of mulled wine emanating in the air.
Also, outside the Piazza, you’ll always find some special exhibitions. In years past, there was a special Frozen Christmas Village. And last year, Dolce and Gabanna set up a multicoloured light display that made for awe-inspiring photos!
Covent Garden’s Apple Market dates back to the 17th century when it was a bustling fruit and vegetable market. Today, it houses a crafts and antiques market. Walking inside, you will be overwhelmed by the fantastical giant silver and gold disco ornaments hanging from the ceiling. Creating a kaleidoscope of lights reflecting off every surface. Oversized mistletoe chandeliers also dangle above, inviting romantic Christmas kisses.
You’ll find the mammoth Covent Garden Christmas tree outside the Apple Market! This Christmas tree is the largest hand-picked tree in all of London. In addition to this, the tree was grown at the same tree farm where the Royal family gets their Christmas trees. So it’s perhaps the poshest tree in London as well! It takes organizers over 300 hours to decorate the tree. And they even used a cherry picker to get those baubles to the top.
The area outside near the Christmas Tree is where visitors can get the chance to see “snow” falling in London. The snow falls every hour on the hour, so arrive accordingly. Sure, it might be fake snow made of soap, but how everyone erupts with delights really is the cherry on top of Christmas Eve celebrations.
From Covent Garden, we’re going to take the scenic route towards Westminster via Piccadilly Street. Make your way west towards the famous Piccadilly Circus. Although this intersection is always one of the busiest in London, it’s worth stopping here to look up at Regent Street.
Named after King George, the Prince Regent who reigned over England from 1820 to 1830, this sweeping road features ornate facades and regal terraces, which make it a timeless icon of London’s urban magnificence. The Regent Street lights are my favourite Christmas light display in the whole city. Soaring above the passersby are these giant “spirits” with sparkling wings. Many people refer to these as angels, but they are, in fact, officially called the spirits of Regent Street.
The decorations were inspired by historic Christmas lights displayed initially on Regent Street that featured traditional angels playing trumpets. The illuminations were created with the input of the Crown since Regent Street is owned by the Royal Family, and they must approve everything. The spirits are made up of over 300,000 lights. Their golden 17-meter wingspan reaches across the entire length of the street. Watching over delighted shoppers. The lights glitter and flash, giving the effect of the fluttering wings. Almost as if they could simply take off at any moment.
Walking along Picadilly, you’ll pass the iconic Fortnum & Mason department store. Fortnum & Mason goes all out on their Christmas displays during the holidays. Their award-winning window displays bring smiles to everyone passing them. They transform the facade into a giant advent calendar, each exterior window numbered from one to twenty-five, decorated with lush garlands and cheerful twinkle lights. As the month passes, the numbers are illuminated individually, like doors opening on a massive advent calendar.
Just across from Fortnum’s is Old Bond Street. Bond Street is home to some of the most prestigious and expensive shops like Tiffany & Co, Sotheby’s and Bonhams. The Christmas installations along Bond Street are made to look larger-than-life! Framing the entire street are these twinkling designs made to emulate peacock feathers.
The peacock feathers honour a group called the Bond Street Loungers, who, in 1820, became well-known for their fabulous fashions. They often wore expensive wigs and were seen strutting up and down Bond Street as if they owned it. They were also often called the “peacocks,” and the Christmas lights shine on to commemorate their daring fashions.
Above the intersections are these amazing crowns that incorporate those same peacock designs but so subtly that only those in the know will see them.
Many of the high-end shops on the street go ALL OUT. Cartier, Fenwick, Dior, Stellar McCartney and Ralph Lauren spend thousands on decking out this exterior facade for the holidays. Despite being some of London’s most expensive shops, you don’t need to spend a dime to enjoy their beautiful lighting displays.
Make your way down St. James’s Street, stopping in front of Lock & Co. Hatters and Berry Bros. & Rudd. These historic stops often have some of the best exterior Christmas displays; if they are still open, you should consider popping inside!
From St. James Street, walk along Marlborough Road, and cut through St James’s Park. St. James’s Park is situated in the City of Westminster, bounded by Buckingham Palace to the west, The Mall (a grand ceremonial avenue) to the north, Horse Guards to the east, and Birdcage Walk to the south. St. James’s Park has a rich history from the early 17th century. It was originally developed as a deer park for King James I. But later, it was transformed into a formal garden by King Charles II. The park has retained much of its historical layout and character to this day.
The park is known for its stunning landscape, featuring a large lake, tree-lined avenues, meadows, flowerbeds, and well-manicured lawns. Even in the winter, the lake is home to various waterfowl, including swans and ducks. Late at night, St. James’s Park is a great place for a leisurely walk as it is such a peaceful and contemplative place to wander on Christmas Eve.
Wile the night away and warm up before the evening Christmas service inside one of my favourite Westminster pubs, the Feathers. The Feathers Pub is a traditional British pub known for its classic British pub ambiance. Even on a cold day, you can find a warm and welcoming atmosphere inside.
The Christmas decor here is unrivalled. I love how the staff seem to get into the Christmas spirit and decorate every inch of the bar with festive baubles and twinkling Christmas trees. Having a Christmas Eve pint here feels like having a drink with friends, even if you’re travelling solo.
If you’re still hungry, consider ordering one of their award-winning hand-made meat pies. But at this time of night, the best thing to have is a perfectly poured cask ale, a glass of fine wine.
Even if you’re not religious, I highly recommend attending the Westminster Abbey Christmas Eve Service. Westminster Abbey has a rich history dating back centuries. Throughout the years, many important royal events have taken place here for coronations and funerals. Most recently, it was here that King Charles III was crowned. But every year, since its construction, there has been a Christmas Eve service.
The Christmas Eve services include singing Christmas hymns, music from the Abbey Choir, a sermon and Holy Communion. The service will last approximately an hour and a half. I didn’t participate in the communion, and you can absolutely sit this out if you prefer to attend the service more as on onlooker than a participant. But always remember to be respectful and remember no photos are allowed during services.
Booking is required in advance to get your tickets. Tickets are free, but you must book in advance as seating is limited. Tickets will be made available in mid-November. But every year, limited tickets are available on the day. If you don’t have an advanced ticket, arrive about an hour before the start of service and line up in the queue.
After the service, you’ll exit on the Christmas streets of London. All public transport will be shut down as the service runs after midnight. This includes buses, trams, London Underground and London Overground trains. Plan around this in advance, as you’ll either walk home, take a taxi or Uber, or hop on an electric scooter or bike rental. If your home base is closer to St. Paul’s Cathedral, you might consider attending their Christmas Eve service instead.
As the clock passes midnight, we bid farewell to our enchanting journey through the magical world of Christmas Eve in London. From the twinkling lights of Regent Street to the festive markets at Southbank, and the heartwarming carolers at Trafalgar Square, the city truly comes alive with the spirit of the season. We hope that our guide has illuminated the path to your perfect London Christmas Eve, full of joy, wonder, and unforgettable moments.
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