Published 2026-09-21 by the Rushxo team. More guides.
Short answer: London does Christmas properly: five weeks of lights from Oxford Street to Covent Garden, a dozen ice rinks, markets on the South Bank and in Hyde Park, light trails at Kew and Hampton Court, and the loudest pantomime in the country at the Palladium. This guide groups it all by area so you can do each part in an evening, and tells you where a car helps and where your feet are faster.
| Area | What you will see | Best time |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford Street and Regent Street | The big two: Regent Street's Spirit of Christmas angels and Oxford Street's stars, from early November to early January | Weekday 16:30 to 18:30 |
| Carnaby and Bond Street | The most photographed installations in the West End, a few minutes from Oxford Circus | Any evening |
| Covent Garden | Giant tree, mistletoe chandeliers, carol singers in the piazza | Weekday evenings; weekends are packed |
| Trafalgar Square | The Norwegian tree, lit on Thursday 3 December 2026, carols most evenings | After 17:00 |
| Kew Gardens | Christmas at Kew light trail, 13 November to 3 January, around £61 adult | Timed slots from 16:40; book early |
| Hampton Court Palace | Winter Palace and ice rink, late November to 3 January | Combine with the rink |
The West End lights are a walk, not a drive: the streets are pedestrianised or gridlocked in the evening, and Oxford Street's 2026 pedestrianisation makes that even more true. Kew and Hampton Court are the opposite: both are awkward by public transport after dark, and both are 30 to 40 minutes from Heathrow, so a Kew transfer or lights and markets transfer is the sensible way to do them, especially with children.
Hampton Court Palace (20 November to 3 January, about £17 to £25) is the prettiest. Winter Wonderland's rink is the biggest (£20 to £32). Somerset House and Canary Wharf are the easiest to reach from central hotels. All sell timed slots and the weekend evening slots go first; a Tuesday or Wednesday at 18:00 is easy to book and far quieter.
The London Palladium's Cinderella (5 December to 10 January, £35 to £195) with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders is the big one; Hackney Empire's Jack and the Beanstalk (21 November to 31 December, £15 to £55) is the one Londoners would send you to. Add carols at St Martin-in-the-Fields or the Royal Albert Hall and, if you have small children, one of the West End's Christmas family shows. See A Christmas Carol in London for the classic.
Winter is afternoon tea season: the Savoy's Thames Foyer, Ting at the Shard for the view, Fortnum & Mason's Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, and Claridge's for the most festive room in London. Book two to four weeks ahead in December. For something warmer and cheaper, a Sunday roast in a proper pub, or a guided pub walk with tastings, fills a cold afternoon better than another museum. Love and London's winter list is a good starting point for both.
Southbank Centre Winter Market (free entry, early November to early January), Hyde Park Winter Wonderland's Bavarian village, Leicester Square's Christmas market, Greenwich Market and Kingston's market are the reliable ones. Most open from mid November.
Hampton Court Palace (20 Nov to 3 Jan, about £17 to £25), Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park (about £20 to £32), Somerset House, the Natural History Museum's replacement rink at Battersea Power Station, and Canary Wharf. Book timed slots; weekend evenings sell out.
On foot from Oxford Circus: Regent Street, Carnaby, Bond Street and Covent Garden are all within 20 minutes' walk. Go after 16:30 when it is dark but before 19:00 when the pavements are busiest. A car is only useful for the out-of-town light trails at Kew and Hampton Court.
Yes, if you plan for short days and closed transport on 25 December. The lights, markets, pantomime and festive afternoon teas are among the best in Europe, and the first half of December has all of it with lower hotel prices.
Fixed-price cars for the lights, Kew, the party and the airport. No holiday surcharge.
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