3 days in London for Christmas what to do?

3 days in London for Christmas: a magical experience in an illuminated city

You have decided to spend 3 days in London for Christmas and it is a great idea since the whole city is decorated. I went there the last weekend of November and it was magical. The streets are lit up and the department stores really play the game of decorating the windows to the max. The Christmas atmosphere in London is really special...

What to do in 3 days in London for Christmas, the 10 must-sees:

- Admire the Christmas lights
Explore the famous lights of Regent Street, Oxford Street and Covent Garden, with their magical decorations.

- Discover the windows of department stores
Harrods, Selfridges and Liberty are transforming their shop windows into Christmas colours.

- Spend some time at the Southbank Christmas Market
Located on the banks of the Thames, this market offers artisan gifts, delicacies and a warm atmosphere.

- Take a Christmas bus tour of London
Opt for a night tour aboard a decorated bus to admire the city in its most beautiful lights.

- Attend a musical
Musicals are essential local traditions.

- Drink mulled wine

There are some on every street corner and it's a great way to warm up.

- Visit Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
This park transforms Christmas into a spectacular celebration with markets, attractions and shows. Perfect for the whole family!

- Skating on an outdoor rink
To do like in the movies :)

- Explore Kew Gardens and its illuminations
The botanical garden lights up with enchanting trails that will delight young and old alike.

- Visit the Harry Potter Studios
The studios are specially decorated for Christmas and it's even more magical.

3 days in London for Christmas… sounds like a dream, right? The lights, the magical atmosphere, and that little something that makes you feel like you're in a movie. You too have Love Actually and Bridget Jones's Diary in the back of your mind. In short, if you're here, it's because the idea of ​​discovering London with your family or even spending 3 days there for Christmas crosses your mind. And you're right.

London has this unique charm in winter: the illuminated streets, the animated shop windows, and the markets smelling of spices and mulled wine.

It is a destination that wonderfully captures the magic of the holidays, mixing tradition and modernity.

In this article, you will find everything you need to organize your winter stay: the most beautiful illuminations to spend 3 days in London for Christmas, the places to see absolutely, and some tips to enjoy the atmosphere, even in the cold of December. You will see, London has everything to make these few days unforgettable.

Our 3 day itinerary in London for Christmas.

Day 1 Illuminations and bus tour in London

We started the day in the center of London to take in the view. The most beautiful and impressive storefronts are for me in New Bond Street . In this street there are only beautiful shops like Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Dior, Louis Vuitton... In short, we don't come to this street to go shopping, but rather to marvel at the windows of the department stores.

A little further we went to see in front of the Japanese restaurant Koyn , which is in Mayfair. It is a well hidden spot with a pretty Christmas decoration, in front of the restaurant we find this adorable vintage Mini with a tree and lots of red Christmas decoration. We only see it in the street, the pretty mini London Christmas car is in a very quiet street.

At the end of the day when night fell, we took a bus tour of London . After booking tickets in advance, we boarded a vintage bus to admire the magnificent Christmas lights of London .

Where to take the bus to see the night illuminations in London?

All departures are from the London Eye side, on Belvedere Road, you should look for a blue bus .

We all went up to the upper floor of the bus, a word of advice: remember to cover up. So we travel by bus, the famous Oxford Street and Regent Street . And we are amazed, here the lights will parade above your heads.

This tour, commented in English by a guide, offers a unique immersion in the magic of Christmas in London. It is really beautiful to see the city illuminated at night. The only downside is that the traffic in the city center is very dense so we move very slowly.

End of the walk, we pass by the South Bank night market and it really is great. We find lots of mulled wine stands and comforting Christmas treats. We had a bite to eat at this food market then we walked back to our hotel to warm up a bit.

How to get around London

By bus! This is definitely a good alternative to walking. The illuminations are quite concentrated so I advise you to do everything on foot but if the distances do not allow it take the bus. The prices are much cheaper than the metro, you will have a nice view and a seat. On the bus, you pay for your tickets by card to the driver directly.

In 2024, fares for public transport in London are as follows:

• Single bus ticket: £1.75 on a Pay as you go basis. You can also benefit from the Hopper Fare, allowing unlimited bus travel for one hour for the same price.

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• Single Tube ticket: The price depends on the zones travelled. For example, zones 1 and 2 (tourist zones) cost £2.80 with an Oyster Card. Longer journeys cost up to £5.90 for a crossing of all zones.

When should I go to spend 3 days in London for Christmas?

To enjoy the Christmas decorations and illuminations in London you have to go between mid-November and the first week of January. I would avoid the week of Christmas and New Year which must be busy in terms of crowds and prices.

Day 2: Continuation of the 3-day program in London for Christmas: Covent Garden & musical comedy

I think this is my favourite place in London for Christmas. Every year, this indoor covered market is tastefully decorated. The big bells, red bows and big fir trees are back in place and we love it! There is even a big sleigh for family photos.

Covent Garden is also the giant Christmas tree that is on the square between the church and the covered market. Whether day or night, it is a magical place! You really have to walk around the covered market to discover beautiful shops decorated for Christmas. Don't forget to go and admire the beautiful facades of colorful houses in Henriette Street .

We spent the morning filming in the Covent Garden district. We also really liked Shelton Street, an authentic street with lots of pretty little shops.

We then had lunch at the famous Fish and chips in the pub The Lamb & Flag, in Covent Garden. In London, it is impossible to miss Fish and chips, a true culinary institution! If English gastronomy is not always unanimous, this emblematic dish is the exception that confirms the rule. The breading of this tender fish fillet is so light and crispy that it cracks under the tooth. Our Fish and chips was of course accompanied by thick fries and peas.

Not tasting fish and chips during a stay in London is like visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. This dish alone symbolises the authenticity of British pubs and the history of English popular cuisine.

In the afternoon, we walked to Big Ben, then we went back to Regent Street to do some shopping. First stop at Harrods, which everyone talks about when they say they're going to London for Christmas. It's nothing more than a big toy store in a big shopping street. I didn't find anything interesting there, the toys are the same as in our stores.

We continued our walk along Carnaby Street. The shops are smaller and the street is superbly decorated. A more authentic passage that I much preferred.

To end this second day we had booked a musical. We chose Mickael Jackson. The show traces the beginnings of MJ, with the Jackson's five until the end of his career. The sets and the lights are incredible. The musical lasts 2h30 but we don't get bored for a minute. Of course we sing and we really want to dance the whole time.

After leaving the theater, we went to eat in the Chinese district which is right next to the Prince Edward Theater. In China Town street, the red lanterns are installed between the buildings. No surprises but we would have been disappointed not to see them!

Day 3: Arty district, London bridge and Food market

For this last day, we decided to go to the east of the city. If this East End district interests you, I wrote an article full of good addresses.

A 360 turn for a completely different atmosphere from what we experienced the first 2 days of our London trip. We walked to the Spitalfields food market which is my favorite place in London all seasons combined! This symbolic covered market of the district is the meeting place for many Londoners on Sunday lunchtime. It is set up in an incredible place that dates back to the Victorian era and was once a silk market. Today there are many stands to eat there, but also stands of designers, clothes, decoration etc ... The nicest thing is to arrive there at the end of the morning and find a corner of a table to eat there.

Not far from there, there is All Saints, a shop that I really like, and also Anthropologie. We spent a good part of the early afternoon wandering around the shops that line the market.

Then we walked down Brick Lane , a street where you can find lots of vintage and street food shops. Thrift store lovers are probably familiar with the Brick Lane Market or the Sunday Market, a huge vintage market that I recommend you go see. Then take a perpendicular street to go to "Dray Walk". Here you can find a really cool place with food trucks to snack on and beautiful graffiti. But the coolest is the big record store Rought Trade East which is dedicated to rock and pop music. At the back of the store, you can find a beautiful collection of the most collectible football shirts from around the world!

In the middle of the day we took the (crowded) subway to Camden Town , another iconic London neighborhood. I won't tell you anything about this punk neighborhood in the north of London. We strolled through the little shops and along the canals.