Christmas in London - festive lights, flavors and experiences

I have a special connection with London. My sister lives in England, in Portsmouth, so I travel to the UK several times a year, and we usually meet in London. This gave me time to get to know this huge city better, but that's not the point.

When I first visited here as a child, I had a strange feeling: a strange sense of homeliness, as if I had once lived here. This has remained ever since, I love London, and every time I arrive it feels a little like I am going home. I cannot explain this connection. Even though I do not like the climate, the heavy rain, the strong wind, the fact that it feels like winter even in spring; yet, despite all the negatives, London is not a destination for me, but a “third home”, I am always happy to go.

Traveling to London at Christmas is unlike any other time of year: the city is bathed in lights, the streets are filled with the scent of mulled wine, and the shop windows themselves are works of art. In December, the British capital is a festive wonderland, where days are all about shopping and exploring, and nights are all about dazzling light shows.

If you bring lots of warm clothes, it's worth paying for an evening bus tour that specializes in Christmas lights. I booked this on GetYourGuide, and it's brutally cold sitting on top of the double-decker bus, but it's worth it because it's an incredible experience to glide under the beautiful lights.

If you're looking for a gastronomic adventure, Koyn's elegant yet vibrant restaurant is a perfect blend of modern Japanese cuisine and London luxury. The moment you arrive is an experience: a car decorated with Christmas lights and decorations is parked in front of the restaurant, making every passerby stop for a photo - as if a holiday postcard had come to life. For this reason, it's worth visiting even if you don't like Japanese food. A short walk from here is the legendary Annabel's private club, whose Christmas decorations are beyond imagination: the facade of the building dazzles you with a new festive installation every year.

It's also worth taking a stroll downtown: New Bond Street is a festive parade of luxury brands at this time of year. The windows of Dior and Chanel are decorated in a fairytale style at Christmas, which is a sight in itself.

I think it's also worth stopping by Fortnum & Mason, where you can find some great gift ideas if you want to buy a few small things. Here too, you can expect different, special decorations every year.

Nearby, the elegant, covered walkway of the Burlington Arcade awaits with small jewelry shops and artisan watchmakers, beautifully decorated every year, but the facade of the Harrods department store is also worth seeing, with each department creating its own little Christmas world inside.

After shopping, it's a good idea to stop by the Churchill Arms pub, which is famous for its floral decorations all year round, but at Christmas it is bathed in light - thousands of bulbs and decorations cover the building.

During the Christmas season, Covent Garden also turns into a real winter fairy tale, where the huge Christmas tree, floating in a flood of lights, and the arcades decorated with shining balls and fir trees, put every visitor in a festive mood. You can sip hot chocolate or fragrant mulled wine next to the tree in the square and admire the Christmas lights, take photos with the sleigh decorated every year, while live performances by street musicians or choirs make the atmosphere even more magical. Due to the meticulously crafted decoration and the intimate, yet sparkling atmosphere, Covent Garden is an unmissable stop for London's festive experiences at this time. It is also worth trying the strawberries dipped in chocolate: a special street food, which for me always adds a little to the festive mood. “Equipped” with this delicacy, I usually go for a walk in the area and look at the Christmas decorations on the surrounding houses and shops.

As night falls, the streets of London come to life. Carnaby Street's colorful, annually changing installations never fail to amaze visitors, while the romantic lights of St Martin's Lane create a more tranquil atmosphere.

No Christmas in London would be complete without the Ever After Garden in Grosvenor Square, which dazzles with over twenty thousand white, shimmering roses. Each flower commemorates a person: visitors can leave a rose in memory of their loved ones in exchange for a donation. This special sight symbolizes love, remembrance and the power of charity, and thus carries a deeper message amidst the Christmas lights.

The huge, glowing angel figures on Regent Street and the elaborate light decorations on Bond Street are among the city's most famous Christmas attractions - walking among them is a festive treat.

The Leicester Square Christmas Market is a classic: artisan gifts, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and stage performances await visitors. Smaller markets on the Southbank and Greenwich offer hot cider and the smell of sweets in a cozy, riverside setting.

The Christmas attraction at Kew Gardens is not to be missed. The world-famous botanical garden welcomes visitors in the evenings with light installations, a laser show moving to music and colorful compositions reflecting over the lakes. The bright lights of the palm house and the festive atmosphere of the garden turn the evening into a real fairy tale. All this is accompanied by the food and drink offer known from Christmas markets, so you can combine your walk in Kew with a quick and easy dinner and mulled wine.

I bought the ticket in advance on the garden website, so I received detailed information about the program in the form of a newsletter. It is worth considering that Kew is quite far from the central parts of the city, it took me about 40 minutes by Uber from Leicester Square, and the driver sped through the whole of Kensington… so it could be much longer.

The festive experience ends with Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, where a Ferris wheel, ice rink, amusement park rides and Christmas food stalls bring the best of the fairground fun – all in one huge festive festival. It is definitely worth buying your ticket in advance, well in advance of your chosen date, and you should also factor in the queues, as the event is huge every year. There is a sector-based admission system, so be aware of this, and some programs also need to be added to your ticket in advance.

I was really looking forward to getting here one day, and it was a really great experience, well worth it. If you can, try snow fun and ice sculpture too!

I hope I managed to show you that London is truly a magical destination in December, and that you too will want to travel here during the holiday season to experience this fantastic atmosphere!