London at Christmas

[NotTram]

Hello, I am not currently living in London. Have family staying in London at Christmas time. What would you recommend.
Two adults. No kids.
American.
Never been before!
Staying about a week?

Definitely the Tower of London. It’s not a Christmassy thing to do but such a great attraction and essential for first time visitors! Then you could catch the Thames Clipper boat from Tower Bridge up to Southbank for an alternative way of seeing London, and then browse round the Southbank Christmas market which I think is one of the best in London.
Another good place to take them is Borough Market. I had the best mince pie from Bread Ahead when I was there last Christmas. The market area is beautifully decorated too.
They might also like a trip on the top deck of a red double decker after dark going past and underneath all the Christmas lights. This might help https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/how-to-see-london-s-christmas-lights-by-bus

Take them to the ice rink at Somerset House. Even if you don’t actually skate, it’s very atmospheric and since you don’t have kids with you, you could dine at The Chalet and/or have a drink at Skate Lounge.
There are loads of Christmas-themed afternoon teas around London.

There are Christmas lights on at night in Kew - with mulled wine etc.

Buy tickets now though as it tends to sell out.

Ice rink and UP at Battersea Power Station
Carnaby street for the lights

The Kew lights are lovely. You could get the boat there.

https://dennissevershouse.co.uk/book/silent-night is atmospheric and very 'olde'.

A pub, any pub, American visitors seem to love them. Classy Victorian ones or Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese ones. Or go out to Putney and do a pub crawl.

The Sky Garden for the view.

A proper Indian meal.

Windsor castle.

While this is a lovely thing to do, if they are staying in Central London, there are a million things they can do that dont' require travelling out to Kew. I would not recommend this.

Lights down Oxford Street/Regent sreet etc - always worth a view.
Ice skating at Somerset House.
Check for carol concerts at some of the big churches/cathedrals wherever they're staying - very London/English and really lovely at Christmas.
Obviously museums are not specifically Christmassy, but London has loads so depending on their preferences, definitely plan to do a couple. These days its best to book in advance as the queues can be horrendous, particularly over the holidays.
For nicer, fancier restaurants, they may need to book in advance at that time of year.
I'd recommend a show too - doesn't have to be a panto (but could be) but it's such a lovely Christmassy thing to do in central london.
The Covent Garden market is a great tourist thing at Christmas.
I personally also always recommend that people plan to a nice walk along the South Bank at that time of year - so much goign on, really lovely, stop to get food and drink etc.

@JadziaD Kew is hardly very far from central London on the tube, and it’s a very authentically ‘London’ experience which is very festive and something different.

A week in London gives opportunity to explore beyond the west end.

Apart from all the Central London stuff the Thames Clipper to Greenwich. Market is very festive at Xmas lit up with lots of pubs, the river and royal Greenwich Park, Observatory, Curry Sark etc. Iften there are carol singers about.

You'r eright And actually the suggestion that they take a boat is a nice one too.

Oh yes, Greenwich is lovely at Christmas.

Depends what they like really!

But I'd look for a Carol service in one of the old churches too.

We are doing a guided walk 'Dickensian Christmas' from St Pauls to Traf Sq....many of these walks run on Boxing if you are stuck for something to do. There are loads of specific history ones and are only about £10-15,

Also river boat is running a short service on xmas day.

You can find a self guided lights tour through the alley ways and back streets of Covent Garden on YouTube which you can time to end with the hourly snow flurry in the Piazza.

Hampstead village with all the lovely pubs and lanes is another fab place at Xmas.

Get on a Boris bike on xmas day and boxing day - zero traffic so can cycle up The Mall, Regent St, over Tower Bridge etc......or just walk loads of different neighbourhoods 'A Lady in London' on Insta does great routes.

London just been voted Best Christmas City in the world by Time Out.....a mooch around Fortnum and Mason and maybe Liberty for a bit of retail therapy.

https://feverup.com/en/london?tduid=78f5e5ea2b596d3f289891b8407d71b8&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=tradedoubler&utm_content=3068715_CityAds+ESP&utm_campaign=sku

Havent been but the candlelight orchestral concerts in old London churches look fun - xmas themed,or jazz, Brigerton, Adele, Coldplay etc.

Think there are also carol concerts at The Royal Albert Hall

Lights at Kew Gardens. We don't live in London but went there when we stayed about 2 Christmases ago

As well as the above, how about going to the ballet? Very Christmassy.

Ballet Shoes is the Christmas show at The National Theatre. It sounds fab!

Just looking at the lights all over London is amazing. I lived in London for over 30 years but still always got a thrill walking over Waterloo Bridge then wandering around Covent Garden.

A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic.

The Museum of the Home decorate all their rooms for Christmas https://www.museumofthehome.org.uk/whats-on/rooms-through-time/winter-past-2024-2025/

You might be a bit late for this depending on the hotel but afternoon tea at Browns / Claridges etc is lovely at Christmas, they often have a choir singing and the decorations are beautiful.
Shopping in Fortnums and Liberty.
Cocktails at the Rivoli bar at the Ritz (there is a dress code so don’t be caught out) which has the best decorations.

Are they staying literally over Christmas? If so it's worth letting them know that virtually everything, including transport, will be closed on Christmas day itself and a lot might on Boxing day too. London is lovely at that time of year but it would be a shame if they missed stuff thinking it'll be open when it isn't.

Another vote for Kew Gardens (book now!) and Carnaby Street. Also the lights around Seven Dials are usually beautiful. A big walk around Regent St, Carnaby and Seven Dials could be lovely if you are in town actually on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

There are usually lots of stalls (food and trinkets) around the Festival Hall/South Bank then too.

A Show..: nutcracker ballet at the coliseum.. can combine with Covent garden... Which is at its best i think at Christmas... The cafe at the opera house is lovely too ..

Or Christmas Carol ..at the Old Vic ...

Selfridges windows still the best but otherwise a Knightsbridge mooch also great... Can combine with V&A /museums too.. or ice skating at the natural history...
Boxing day is less quiet than it used to be but maybe go to a park...

Greenwich gives great views and also DLR which many kids love especially if you sit at the front

Pub.. you can't beat the Churchill in Kensington... V trad inside amazingly decorated outside...

Fortnums is (busy but) lovely at Christmas - go on the hour and watch the clock strike.

Over the road, Bond Street is always very pretty at this time of year.

I'd also go to Claridges for a drink - fires burning and a massive tree.

If you’re going to Carnaby Street to see the lights, you are 5 mins away from Liberty department store. It’s absolutely beautiful at Christmas, well worth nipping in out of the cold. Look out for the many balconies and beams built from the timbers of two old battleships and buy a bauble from the Christmas room.

Also for carols or candle light concerts try St Martin in the Fields. It virtually overlooks Trafalgar Square and you can walk straight into Covent garden from there too.

When we had French guests we did a bar crawl of all the fancy hotels.

The London dungeons is fun and tells the history of the city