Your Complete Guide to London in December

UPDATED JULY 2024
By Ian Packham
Shopping in December lets visitors enjoy the Christmas lights

If you thought London was a city solely for the summer months, think again. Because London in December sees the British capital at probably its most colorful of the year. Few can avoid getting in the Christmas spirit, before turning their attention to the south bank of the River Thames and the nation’s foremost fireworks display to bring in the New Year in style.

With all that in mind, here’s your complete guide to what’s going on in London in December, so you don’t miss a thing.

Shop till you drop

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Forget what you’ve seen in the movies, you’ll need to be lucky to encounter any snowfall in London at Christmas. With average December lows of 5°C, snowmen are more likely in February. But this takes nothing away from the Christmas atmosphere, which sweeps across the capital’s streets and storefronts from the end of November.

From Abbey Road to Lambeth Palace, Carnaby Street to St Katharine Docks, London’s sidewalks are bright with an array of lights, adding a further attraction to the window displays of shops big and small.

Not too far away, London’s largest Christmas tree – an annual gift from the Norwegian capital topping out at around 20 meters high – takes center stage in Trafalgar Square. Christmas markets occupy other well-known spaces, including Leicester Square and the riverbank in front of Tower Bridge and City Hall, where last minute gifts and traditional festive treats jostle for attention.

Never one to rest on its laurels, as soon as the big day is over, the focus moves to the Boxing Day sales of December 26, which has been a date to circle in the diary long before the advent of Black Friday. Aim to get there before sun up for the very best deals.

Enjoy the capital’s historic attractions in a new way

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Even if you’ve visited London before, December offers many new experiences at some of the city’s most famous sites. The UNESCO-enshrined Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew puts on a dazzling display of lights and colorful projected images every evening from dusk.

Hyde Park becomes the location of a huge combined fun fair and Christmas market, perhaps best taken in from its dedicated observation wheel. Alternatively, you might prefer to cheer on the brave souls who take part in the Peter Pan Cup. A swimming competition in Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake, it has taken place on Christmas Day since 1864 in one of the capital’s stranger traditions.

If you prefer your water even colder, look no further than the temporary outdoor ice rinks that appear at many of London’s most-loved attractions during December. Kensington’s Natural History Museum, The Strand’s Somerset House and even Hampton Court Palace provide extraordinary backdrops to a quick spin on the ice followed by a warming mug of hot chocolate.

Experience the UK’s top Christmas events

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Christmas in London sees Christopher Wren’s masterwork, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the thousand-year-old Westminster Abbey both present a series of traditional carol services which fill their august spaces with stunning vocals. The Royal Albert Hall has an equally impressive program of concerts, ranging from Christmas classics played by big bands to performances of Handel’s Messiah.

Heading to a ballet performance is another popular London December tradition. Shows with winter themes such as The Nutcracker grace the stages of several major theaters, and are bound to bring back a sense of childhood glee. For an altogether less-serious evening out, it has to be a panto performance, filled with slap-stick comedy, audience participation and men dressed in drag.

But don’t be misled by the brash colors and fairy-tale plots, there’s serious acting going on here, with everyone from Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings’ Gandalf) to Hollywood ‘giant’ Mickey Rooney having taken to the pantomime stage. Oh no they didn’t – oh yes they did!

But when it comes to events in London in December, few can compete with the capital’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Launched from barges on the Thames and the 32 pods of the London Eye, the display takes eight technicians a week to wire up the seven tons of explosives needed for the 10-minute show. Dazzling audiences since its inception in the year 2000, it can be enjoyed from various high points around the city, as well as the river bank and the comfort of sofas in well-heated bars just about everywhere.

Eat, drink and be merry

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With 60-plus Michelin star restaurants at your fingertips, London’s food scene takes some beating. Even if your budget doesn’t quite stretch to beef aged for 90 days in Himalayan salt chambers and desserts decorated with 24-carat gold leaf, you’ll still find plenty of choice.

Don’t get caught out though – many restaurants (and attractions) close their doors on Christmas Day to give their staff a well-earned rest. Even those that do open – and Chinatown is always a good bet – get booked up early and can be difficult to reach without London’s usual transportation options, which also cease for the day.

Roast turkey has been the Christmas Day meal of choice since at least the time of Henry VIII, and will be served with ‘all the trimmings’. These include Brussel sprouts, honey-roasted parsnips, sage and onion stuffing, pigs in blankets (that’s sausages wrapped in bacon) and roasted potatoes.

Traditionally made with suet, Christmas pudding is another must try, being loaded with dried fruits, spices and a liberal quantity of alcohol before being served with hot custard (crème anglais). You’ll find mince pies (which are nothing to do with ground beef) dusted in icing sugar and on display at pretty much every bakery, café and supermarket in the capital in December.

Many Brits, Londoners included, then head out for a post-meal walk, which may involve a stop off at a local pub. Whether they’re open or not will largely depend on where you’re located – central London takes on the air of a ghost town on December 25. Those on popular walking routes are more likely to be open than those on streets like The Strand, although probably for no more than a few hours in the afternoon. Hotel bars are likely to remain open for longer.

Save on London December attraction admission

Admission to many of London’s top attractions and activities can be enjoyed at a reduced rate with Go City. Our Explorer Pass includes admission to a range of London attractions, while giving you the flexibility to do what you want, when you want, without having to make any decisions beforehand. If London’s December weather lets you down, there’s no need to rearrange the plans for your entire stay. In fact, with Go City you don’t need a plan at all.

Ian Packham
Go City Travel Expert

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Friends exploring London together
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Things to do in Shoreditch London

If you’re wondering about the things to do in Shoreditch London, know this first. Shoreditch is many things, but probably not the things you think it is. Technically part of east London, it feels more like an area of central London, lying just north of the Square Mile and its financial institutions. Likewise, Shoreditch is often described as being edgy and creative, but this shouldn’t be mistaken for dirty or seedy. By day the neighborhood throngs with young professionals working in the office blocks around the Silicon Roundabout – the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley. By night, its triangle of main streets is alive with bars and restaurants, as well as spots to dance the night away and seek out a comfy hotel bed. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Shoreditch has been an entertainment district since Shakespeare’s time. It was here – rather than the Globe – where his earliest and best-known plays were first performed – Romeo and Juliet, Henry V and Hamlet amongst them. Rub shoulders with market traders A couple of hundred meters south of Shoreditch, Old Spitalfields Market has been in operation since around 1666 – the year fire devastated much of central London. For centuries a wholesale market open only to traders, the early 2000s saw its redevelopment into a hub for the public. It’s Victorian era structures provide an atmospheric backdrop for seeking out everything from the latest fashions to street food. Open daily, the complex has a pop up vintage market every Thursday, a vinyl fair on Fridays and a mix of arts and crafts throughout the week. The backdrop of an otherwise ordinary terraced east London street is not necessarily where you’d expect the explosion of color that is Columbia Road Flower Market either. Each Sunday the narrow street becomes a jungle of plants, with connecting roads seeing a spillover of plants and café tables. Explore the Shoreditch of yesteryear Old Spitalfields Market isn’t the only attraction in Shoreditch to have undergone regeneration. Still known to many as the Geffryre Museum, but rebranded the Museum of the Home, this former almshouse on Kingsland Road explores home life from the year 1600 to the present day. Visitors are able to pass through rooms from multiple ages, including a drawing room from 1870 and a loft apartment from the late 1990s. The period gardens are a nice spot to escape the hubbub of Shoreditch High Street. Operating in a similar vein, Dennis Severs’ House has been dressed up into an approximation of a home of Huguenots in the 1700s. Protestants from France, the Huguenots are just one of a series of groups who have sought refuge in London’s cheaper neighborhoods alongside Jews and Bengali immigrants, creating one of the world’s most diverse cities in the process! Satisfy your hunger You only need to head as far as Brick Lane to experience this diversity in all of its aromatic glory. The heart of London’s Bangladeshi community, it has bilingual street signs and some of the best curry you’ll find in the capital. It has also become one of the top areas of the capital when it comes to street art, with works of graffiti spanning many buildings and side streets. For a whistle-stop tour of world cuisine, and a dose of fashion from independent stores with their finger on the pulse, make the short journey from Brick Lane across to Boxpark. Named after its formation out of converted shipping containers, its kitchens serve up everything from doughnuts to vegan-friendly dishes and Jamaican to South American cuisine. Take your pick of the bars Ask most people who know about the things to do in Shoreditch and they’re bound to tell you to hit the bars and nightspots of Shoreditch High Street and Old Street, where there is something for everyone. Traditional-style pubs line up alongside trendy cocktail bars and more than a few themed locales that will either have you jumping for joy or weeping into your craft brewed IPA. Hoxton Square is another destination to be aware of when it comes to all things wining and dining. Believed to be one of London’s oldest squares, it was laid out in 1683. Today most of its Victorian buildings contain a bar or restaurant whilst its lawns frequently host live events in the warmer months. Another Shoreditch structure that has reinvented itself over recent years is the Old Truman Brewery, which has become a home for creatives including fashion designers, DJs and artists. Its 10 acres of once derelict warehouse space has been put to good use with plenty of small shops and exhibition spaces in which to while away a pleasant hour or two. Delve into the art scene Spanning two stories of a former furniture warehouse, the Victoria Miro Gallery is one of the largest spaces in the neighborhood dedicated to contemporary art. With its back facing a canal basin, the gallery has represented two Turner Prize winners – Chris Ofili and Grayson Perry – amongst many other established and up-and-coming artists. Perhaps better known, the Whitechapel Gallery has been a public arts space since its unveiling in 1901. Nonetheless, its focus remains on contemporary art, having displayed Picasso’s Guernica in 1938 and hosting the first UK hanging of Rothko’s work in 1961. A further space to consider is the Flowers Gallery, whose 50 year history has led to the showing of over 900 exhibitions of painting, sculpture and photography. Discover London’s Shoreditch with Go City Shoreditch has always been known primarily as an entertainment district. The sheer volume of bars and restaurants means it continues to attract revelers from across London. But don’t think that there aren’t additional things to do in Shoreditch London. Visit London with Go City and you can get incredible savings on admission to many of the capital’s top attractions. Outside of Shoreditch this means savings on entering everywhere from the Tower of London to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Ian Packham
Paddington bear at London's Paddington station
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Best things to do in Paddington London

Paddington is often thought of as a pocket of north London dominated by its railway station – the arrivals point for the Heathrow Express – and St Mary’s Hospital – the top pick for royals in labor. But disappear down its neat grid of side streets and you’ll discover a well-to-do neighborhood of charming squares, small cafés and Paddington canal basin. These are just a few of the things to do in Paddington London, with the full range of activities and attractions detailed below. Relax in a pleasant square Once an unpromising piece of real estate between Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Paddington rail station and the traffic jams of Westway, Sheldon Square has been converted into a stylish place to relax alone, with the family or in a group of travel companions. Taking a modern amphitheater form, its stepped banks are carpeted in grass for impromptu picnics, whilst around it you’ll find a growing selection of more formal places to eat and drink. Sheldon Square is one of the neighborhood’s newest public spaces, but elsewhere there are those that date right back to its Georgian foundations. One such space is Norfolk Square Gardens. Ringed by three – and some four – star hotels, its mature trees offer up plenty of shade in the summer months for those looking to enjoy a few minutes absorbing this little bit of paradise in the heart of London. Search out public art These small areas of greenery aren’t just home to trees, plants and urban foxes though. They are also worth exploring for their collection of public artworks. St Mary’s Terrace contains three steel cut outs honoring very different Paddington residents. The first is of Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear, and the second dedicated to Mary Seacole – a British-Jamaican nurse who helped convalescing soldiers in the Crimean War alongside Florence Nightingale. A clear demonstration of London’s diversity, the third is to Alan Turing – played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the movie The Imitation Game. Breaking the Nazi enigma code, and inventing the modern computer, he was prosecuted for being gay in 1952 and died two years later of cyanide poisoning. His image is soon to appear on the new form £50 note – should you be lucky enough to ever see one. If you’re arriving by train, look out for the statues of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Peruvian national Paddington bear at the station. Fans of the latter’s antics will be delighted by the station’s dedicated store too. Explore Paddington basin A dead-end offshoot of Regent’s Canal given a new lease of life, Paddington basin dog-legs south from Little Venice to just outside the station and hospital. A mix of offices, shops and apartments, the basin has a number of attractions and things to do. Having checked out the floating pocket park that sits at the nearest end of the basin, it’s only a short walk to GoBoat London. Renting out small craft to explore the canal in more detail, trips make for an interesting alternative to a sightseeing cruise on the Thames. If you’re up for being a little more physical, you can also take to the water by stand-up paddleboard. Head to the region on Wednesday or Friday lunchtimes, or Saturdays at 2 PM and there’s the bonus of seeing the Rolling Bridge unfold itself, alongside the Fan (or Merchant Square) Bridge fulfilling its crossing function at the same times. They form crossings close to Darcie & May Green, a canal boat turned Aussie restaurant with decoration by Peter Blake. One of the UK’s most important pop artists, he’s best known for creating the cover art for the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper album. Other nearby narrowboats serve up fresh shellfish – though not sourced from the canal, whilst the Cheese Barge is ready and waiting to serve up all manner of dairy-based dishes! Head back in time It’s not as well-known as the London Transport Museum or Benjamin Franklin Museum, but the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum more than makes up for this in the way it’s dressed up – as if the Nobel Prize winning scientist has just stepped out for a cup of tea. His discovery of penicillin in 1928 – on a petri dish he hadn’t washed up probably – can be honestly said to have changed the world and saved millions of lives, being the first antibiotic to ever go into production. Travel out of Paddington to Notting Hill to the west and you’ll be able to check out the famous blue door from the Hugh Grant film of the same name before scanning the stalls of Portobello Road Market. The world’s largest antiques market with over 1000 stalls, there’s also sections for fashion, vintage gear and fruit and vegetables. Visit Little Venice Back on the canal side, Little Venice is as pleasant as it sounds. Apparently named for its watery nature some time in the 1800s, it seems a world away from the busy thoroughfares that otherwise cut their way through parts of Paddington. Whether it’s an hour enjoying the antics of the canal barges from Rembrandt Gardens or soaking up the atmosphere with a coffee at a waterside café, Little Venice is the place to do it. Quirky things to do in Paddington London include paying a visit to the Puppet Theatre Barge, a 50 seat floating auditorium with shows aimed at both children and adults. Drift away from the canal side in order to visit St Mary’s Church. Dating to the Georgian era, it predates much of the Regency architecture for which Little Venice is known. Consecrated in 1791, it witnessed the marriage of William Hogarth, with the churchyard now a public park after the burials were reinterred at Mill Hill. Deciding what things to do in Paddington London Travel with Go City and you can uncover the many things to do in Paddington and London’s other neighborhoods whilst making substantial savings on visits to many of their top attractions. With so many attractions to choose from it can be difficult to know where to start – and end – but this guide should provide you with enough ideas to keep you busy whatever your interests!
Ian Packham
The streets of London are often crowded with shoppers
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Is London safe?

Although crime rates have risen in recent years, this shouldn’t take away from the fact London is one of the safest cities in the world. Its nine million residents move about without worrying much about their day-to-day safety, and the vast majority of its 30 million annual visitors go home with nothing but warm words for its attractions, if not the prevailing weather conditions. Is London safe? Broadly speaking yes, noting that nowhere can ever be declared 100% trouble free. With that in mind, here’s all you need to know about staying safe in London as a visitor to help ensure you don’t become one of the unlucky few who fall victim to a crime. How safe is London? Visitors to London face the same risks as in any big urban environment. So as one of the largest cities in Europe, it has its fair share of dodgy characters whilst ranking favorably against Paris, Madrid and Zurich when it comes to personal safety. Its crime statistics can be misleading for those who don’t know London well. For instance, the boroughs (neighborhoods) responsible for some of the capital’s most important landmarks, like the Tower of London and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre have some of the highest crime rates. What the statistics don’t say is that much of this crime takes place in residential housing estates away from these attractions. The crime figures related to supercool areas of the capital, such as east London’s Dalston, should be much more concerning for visitors. Pickpocketing is a particular problem. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the leafy suburbs around Richmond in the west are the safest. However, the best tip for any visitor worried about safety in London is to assume petty crime can take place anywhere, and act with caution accordingly. London’s global status means terrorism also sadly remains a threat, although the likelihood of getting caught up in an attack is tiny. There’s little you can do to mitigate against this threat except immediately call the emergency services on 999 if you see anything suspicious. Common threats to safety in London For the most part, staying safe in London is about following common sense and trusting your instincts. In other words, you shouldn’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home. Then the biggest risks you’re likely to face are currency counters with unfair exchange rates and looking the wrong way when crossing a road – the British drive on the left. The risk of pickpocketing or mugging is highest where large crowds congregate, since they provide criminals with plenty of cover. Keep a close eye on valuables in crowded spaces, and never place money or a phone in your back pocket. Being aware of your surroundings is always important. Criminals may attempt to steal your bank card and PIN through well-practiced distraction techniques at ATMs, whilst mopeds have been used for snatch and grab crimes against those using their phones in public. Use ATMs inside bank branches whenever possible – they are not usually hard to find. At the same time, never leave a bag unattended, for example, when going to a bar or counter to order food and drinks. Not only is there a risk of it being stolen, but also of it getting blown up by the bomb squad as a security risk. If you find yourself in need of help, you shouldn’t worry about approaching uniformed police officers. No officer can demand identification, nor will they issue fines to be paid on the spot. Any who do are scammers pretending to be plain-clothes officers. Is London safe at night? Increasingly becoming a 24-hour city, evenings in London can be sublime, with the city’s landmarks lit up and its pubs coming alive. Travel across Piccadilly Circus at midnight, and you could be mistaken for thinking it was the middle of the day. It’s best to stay on well-lit streets after dark all the same, which will often have the added security of CCTV cameras. If you choose to walk, do so confidently. Otherwise opt for London’s public transportation. Both its red buses and Underground trains are safe at night, though best avoided during the rush hours of 5 – 7PM because of overcrowding. Certain bus routes, usually denoted by an ‘N’, operate throughout the night to link major locations such as train stations. The main Tube network shuts down around midnight. But the advent of the Night Tube sees a service on some central lines night-long on Fridays and Saturdays. Alternatively, visitors can hail a black cab (licensed taxi) from the roadside. As they notoriously don’t like traveling south of the river, you can also arrange a minicab (radio taxi) by phone or uber via the app. All vehicles must clearly display a tamper-proof licensing sticker on the windshield. If they do not have one, you’re getting into an unlicensed vehicle whose driver will not have undergone the relevant checks. Is it safe to visit London as a single woman? Most women who visit London solo find the city a refreshing contrast to previous experiences traveling alone. Although there are only a handful of women-only spaces – including Kenwood Ladies’ Bathing Pond on Hampstead Heath – being a single woman shouldn’t stop you ticking off your bucket list attractions. Contrary to popular opinion, most Londoners are quite happy to help if you get stuck – seeking out another woman will increase your chances of success further. Free walking tours and Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses provide the safety of a group. If you’re concerned about unwanted male attention in bars and pubs, wearing a wedding band can act as a deterrent. Venues will often have a security presence on the door to keep a lid on any trouble, whilst bar staff are increasingly aware of potential issues. The city’s plethora of loud and proud gay bars have long been known as a hassle-free night out for women should all else fail. Save on top London attraction admission Explore and save with Go City. Our Explorer Pass not only saves you money on London attraction admission but means you can leave your wallet at home, removing any worry about carrying around large amounts of cash!
Ian Packham

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