Christmas in London 2019
There is always something special about Chris
tmas, and of course also here in London!
If you want to discover a city with holiday spirit, why not go to London. Here you have everything, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, choirs, twinkling Christmas lights, candy stands, ice skating, roasted chestnuts and much more.
Here you can hear the famous christmas songs like: "I´m dreaming of a white Christmas", "Jinge Bells" etc.
The English do not celebrate as we do. For us Swedes, everything happens on Christmas Eve - the 24th, but in England everything happens the day after, on the 25th. Remember that most things are closed on the 25th such as shops, museums, tourist offices, etc. On Christmas day you eat dinner with the family and it will likely be "roast turkey with all the trimmings, like stuffing and cranberry sauce" and to that they drink, the "mulled" wine.
A tradition since 1932 is the royal family speech to the nation. On Dec 25th, at 15.00 the Queen gives the speech which is
broadcast on television, radio, and the Internet.
Town turns into a magical Christmas city when all the candles are lit in the town from the middle of November. The largest stores around Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street always celebrate the "Christmas Light Ceremony" each year.
Trafalgar Square - Christmas tree lights
Tree lighting: Dec 5 dec at 6 PM, 2019
London gets its big spruce from Norway (Oslo) since England helped during World War II. It is a tradition from 1947. The Christmas tree is shipped over from Norway to England.
The Christmas tree is always lit in the evening on the first Thursday in December and remains lit til the night of Twelfth Night of Christmas the following year (usually 5-6 January).
The Christmas tree is usually about 20 feet high and about 50-60 years old. It is decorated in the Norwegian way and has about 500 lights. Lord Mayor of Westminster inaugurates the tree, while a band plays and choirs singing.
At the bottom front of the tree reads:
This tree is given by the city of Oslo as a token of Norwegian gratitude to the people of London for their assistance during the years 1940-45
More information about Christmas on Trafalgar Square can be found here »
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Christmas songs: All days, Dec 9-24 dec (not Dec 14 and Dec 22, 2019) . Performances take place from 4-9pm on weekdays, and from 2-7pm at weekends.
Crib ceremony: Dec 8, 2019 at 5.30 - 6.30 PM
Join a special blessing of the crib ceremony. The crib will be on display til the end of December |
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| See London in Christmas lights on a bus |
 London during the evening by bus
Approx 1.5 hour (All year)
A must if you are visiting London during Christmas. Sit back and relax on this bus tour that takes you around London in the evening when everything is lit in nice Christmas lights. You will see the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Tragalgar Square, London Eye and Big Ben and lots of other beautiful places.
Departs from: Green Stop bredvid Ritz Hotel i Piccadilly: 150 Piccadilly London
Boka kvällstur med buss under Jul » |
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Shopping is also fun during Christmas!
Of course, do not miss all the stores and their wonderful decoration. The lights begin to light up in the middle of November. Walking on Oxford Street, Regent Street and why not Bond Street. The Lights on Carnaby Street is also well known.
The largest sale is of course after Christmas, the big stores usually start the day after Christmas Day (Boxing Day Dec 26th). Be prepared to queue!
More London Shopping »
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Here you will find some tip on stores to do some window shopping or why not buy some for real.
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| Double Decker Bus Tour on Christmas Day in London |
 Vintage Double-Decker Bus Tour on Christmas Day in London
Approx 3,5 hours (Dec 25, 2019)
A bus ride on Christmas Day in London is a good start in the morning. Take a seat and go for a ride on the beautiful double-decked bus. You pass many famous sights such as Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, St Paul's Cathedral and at
the end you go towards Towern. The tour ends at Victoria Station Station.
Pickup at most central hotels.
Buy ticket to Vintage Double Decker Bus Tour in London » |
| Tickets |
Christmas Events in London |
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Make reservation to a London hotel this Christmas:
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There is much to do in London during Christmas!
Why not skate on one of the ten ice rinks, walk to Hyde Park and see the crazy swim in the icy water, watch the big Christmas trees in various locations in London and of course, go window shopping at Hamley's, Selfridges, Primark or Mark and Spencer.
If you are here for a few days you might have time for a Christmas show or go on a walking-tour. Do you want to hear Christmas music, visit Trafalqar Square, St Pauls Cathedral or Westminster Abbey. Take the kids to Santa Claus sitting in the various "grottos" at different department stores, or why not study the "pudding race."
Yes ! You have a lot to choose from ... below, we give you some tips.
| Christmas Special - Don´t miss! |
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Aladdin
- Jan 2020 |
The Nutckracker
31 dec 2019 |
The Snale & Wale
- 5 jan 2020 |
Cinderella
- 5 jan 2020 |
Prince Edward Theatre
28 Old Compton Street, London |
Royal Opera House
Bow Street, London |
Apollo Theatre
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Sadler's Wells
Rosebery Avenue, London |
| Tickets » |
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Stick Man
- 5 jan 2020 |
Captain Flinn
- 5 jan 2020 |
Peppa Pig
- 5 jan 2020 |
Potted Panto
- 11 jan 2020 |
Leicester Square Theatre
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Leicester Square Spiegeltent
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Duke of York's Theatre,
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Southwark Playhouse |
| Tickets » |
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| More musicals and shows in London » |
| Some tips about Christmas activities in London! |
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Hamleys Toy Parade
23 nov - 24 dec 2019, Christmas Grotto
No parade in 2019.
Hamleys started with his toy parade in 2015 and there was great interest. The parade was carried out when Hemleys celebrated 255 years 2015.
Hamleys started with their toy pair in 2015 and unfortunately there will be no parade in 2019. Instead you can bring the kids to Santa's Grotto Workshop at Hamleys. There, the kids can participate in seasonal activities at Hamley's North Pole. The plot will be there and you will bring a special gift bag home.
Hamley´s »
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The Christmas Pudding Race
Dec 7, 2019
The Covent Garden Christmas Pudding Race is an annual event since 1980 which runs to raise money for cancer research. Meanwhile, it is a fun day for all. Participants dress up in fun colorful clothes and they run a fun track while carrying a tray with a Christmas pudding. It will be fun to see how many people have their pudding left when they arrive at the finish line. Every year, they usually raise about £ 20,000 that is donated to cancer research.
The race is held at the Covent Garden Piazza.
The Christmas Pudding Race »
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Christmas market at Southbank Centre
8 nov 2019 - 5 jan 2020
This year, it will be magnificent with the Southbank Center Winter Festival. There will be an outdoor winter market at Southbank next to the River Thames. Here you can shop for crafts and good food and of course drink mulled wines and much more.
Christmas Market at Southbank » |
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Christmas Morning Race Peter Pan
Christmas morning at 9 am. The race has been going on since 1864
Here you see members of the "Serpentine Swimming Club" swim a race in the lake in Hyde Park. The lake is located next to the Serpentine Cafe (the old pavilion). Most have different hats on when they swim. Not just anyone can swim you must be a member of the swimming club. Do you want to swim, do not forget to sign up before you jump in. If you do not want to swim yourself you can always go and look, do not forget warm clothes if it's cold. The Swim is 90 feet in cold water.
More info: Serpentine Swimming Club » |
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Santa Claus at various department stores
Of course, the children can visit the various department stores and tell the site about their wishes. Selfridges opens its Christmas section already in the summer each year. Usually around the beginning of August. They have a whole floor with just Christmas stuff. You can buy Christmas items several months before December. They will expand with more Christmas items throughout the year. Do not miss this. Santa will also show up as Christmas approaches. Unfortunately, you have to shop for a large sum to be able to hit the site at Harrods.
Hamley´s, 23 Nov - 24 Dec 2019, you can meet Santa. (you will have to book tickets). The Santa will also be at Kew Garden, Canary Warf and at the London Dungeon. |
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Christmas Window
As always you have to go past the beautiful windows and see what the department stores have made up this year. Above you see some nice windows from Hemlyes and Mark & Spencers. |
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The Carnaby Christmas Shopping Evening
Nov 6 - 2019 kl 5 PM - ) PM
Come and shop for salse, 20% of the price. Here you can shop for brands like Fred Perry, American Apparel, Diesel, Boss Orange, All Saints, Cowshed, Dahlia, Beyond the Valley, etc. While you shop you can listen to music and have a chance to win prizes.
The area around Carnaby Street is lit up with Christmas lights already from mid November to around January 3 usually much appreciated!
Carnaby » |
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Westfield shopping
Open to 10 PM every day except on Sundays.
Do you want to shop for Christmas gifts can be a tip just to take you to the Westfield Shopping area.
A huge area with shops of all kinds. There are over 255 shops. Some of the shops are All Saints, Apple, Bershka, Boots, Bose, Coast, Cotton On (includes RUBI and Factorie), Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Dwell, Early Learning Centre, Ernest Jones, French Connection, Gerry Weber, Hackett, HMV, Hollister Co, House of Fraser, H.Samuel, Jaeger, Kurt Geiger, Lego, Mamas & Papas, Mango,
Marks & Spencer, Next, Nomination, Oakley, Reiss, River Island, schuh, Starbucks Coffee, Topshop mfl.
Take the tub to Shepard´s Bush or White City.
Westfield Shopping » |
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Winter Wonderland Hyde Park
Nov 21 - 2019 - Jan 5 - 2020,at 10 AM - 10 PM
Hyde Park is transformed into a winter wonderland and here you can enjoy all that Christmas has to offer. There are bars, cafés and restaurants and of course a hot drinks to warm yourself. There is also a large Christmas market. You can skate. You can go into the Magical Ice Kingdom that is a world of ice and snow with amazing ice sculptures. Meet Santa in Santa Land and play. Yes there are plenty.
Winter Wonderland » |
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Christmas at Kew Garden
20 nov 2019 - 5 jan 2020
Cozy up in Kew Garden with all the candles, the children - meet Santa Claus, ride carousel, get a face painting etc. Don´t miss the illuminated trail which is an illuminated promenade with Christmas lights in trees and fontains. Very beautiful. Visit the Orangery and learn more about the spices used in typical Christmas baking!
Kew Garden»
Buy entry tickets to Kew Garden » |
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New Year's Day Parade - LNYDP 2019
1 jan 2019 at 12.00 noon
Celebrate the new year by checking out London's major New Year's Day Parade. The Participants can be up to 10.000 in the parade and they come from all over the world and now it is so popular that millions follow it on TV and almost all Londoners takes to the streets to see the parade. The first time it was held was in 1987 and then with about 2,000 participants. The parade is filled with musicians, acrobats, cheerleaders, dancers, artists, etc.
The parade starts at Piccadilly at the junction with Berkeley Street (near Green Park Tube station) at. 12 noon. The parade ends at Parliament Square at. 3.30 pm. The route: Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Parliament Street.
London New Year Day Parade »
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Beautiful Christmas lights in London
During November many streets and houses are lit up in beautiful Christmas lights. Here is a few.
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Oxford Street
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Carnaby Street
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Covent Garden
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Marylebone
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Regent Street
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Harrods
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| Images from www.timeout.com/london. Harrods images: By Diliff - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
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| Christmas music |
Christmas songs |
Christmas concert |
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St Pauls Cathedral
From the end of November the Christmas carols is sung in St Paul's Cathedral. Different appearances on different days. A midnight mass is held on Christmas Eve (Dec 24).
Time: End of Nov - Dec 24
(239 Selby Avenue)
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St Martin in the Fields
Listen to Christmas carols and concerts in the church of St. Martin at Trafalgar Square. A midnight mass is held on Christmas Eve
(Dec 24).
(north eastern corner of
Trafalgar Square )
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Royal Albert Hall
Would you like to go on a concert you can visit the Royal Albert Hall. Here you can listen to choirs and various performances.
Start: End of Nov and forward
(Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London)
Tickets to Royal Albert Hall » |
| Go on a Musical in London! |
Ice skating at several places in London!
Why not rent a pair of skates and hit the ice. Many of the places where you can go skating are located at known locations, such as The Tower of London, Somerset House, Alexandra Palace, Hampton Court Palace and The Natural History Museum.
| Book Afternoon Tea during Christmas |
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Afternoon Tea at the Millennium Hotel Mayfair
Afternoon Tea (approx 3 hoursr)
The Millennium Hotel Mayfair is very close to various London's landmarks, such as the British Museum, Madame Tussaud's and National Gallery
in Trafalgar Square. Situated in an impressive 18th-century London mansion overlooking Grosvenor Square Gardens,
the hotel is in the heart of fashionable Mayfair. Enjoy scones, sandwiches, tea etc. |
Afternon Tea at Waldorf Hilton Hotel Champagne Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea (approx 3 hors)
Set in the heart of London's theater land, close to Covent Garden, the Waldorf Hilton Hotel. Enjoy a Afternoon Tea with champagne at
London´s Waldord Hiltonn Hotel. What about finger sandwiches, homemade cockies, tea, scones etc. |
Afternoon Tea Cruise on the River Thames
Afternoon Tea (1,5 hours)
Combine a small afternoon river cruise with afternoon tea. On the tour you will pass the Shard, London Eye and Parliament Houses. Enjoy tea, coffee, sandwiches, scones and cookies on your trip.
Departs from Embankment Pier, Victoria Embankment |
| Book Afternoon Tea at the Millennium Hotel Mayfair » |
Book Afternon Tea at at Waldorf Hilton Hotel » |
Book Afternoon Tea on the river Thames » |
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Legoland Windsor during Christmas. Meet Santa Claus |
 Ultimate LEGO® Christmas vid LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
Nov 1 - 6 jan 2019 (different days)
Go to LEGO in December when Santa Claus is there. The park will glitter like never before. It will be the LEGO Christmas tree
that is 8 meters high, you can build with Lego yourself, LEGO hunting. The biggest event is when the children can meet LEGO Santa
where each child receives a LEGO gift.
The park is not far from Windsor Castle and opened in 1996. Open from March - Oct (closed in Nov) and during Christmas in December. Buy a ticket before you go there to avoid standing in
long queues.
Winkfield Road, Windsor, Berkshire
(approx 40km west of London)
Getting here:
By train: approx 30-40 min from Paddington Station. Get off at station: Windsor & Eton Central. A shuttle bus run from the train station to Legoland (Fee applies)
By bus: approx 1.5 hours from Victoria Station. |
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| Buy Christmas at LEGOLAND tickets » |
Christmas markets in London
On several places in London you can go Christmas shopping at local Christmas markets. Here are a few.
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Leicester Square
end nov 2019 - end jan 2020 |
Kingston Christmas Market
14 nov - 31 dec, 2019 |
Christmas by the River
26 nov - 5 jan 2020 |
| Images from www.visitlondon.com |
| Popular events during Christmas in London! |
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