Top 10 Winter activities in London

London is beautiful (but cold!) in Winter. If you want to know more about the best things to see and do in London when the temperature drops, read our guide below.

1. Ice skating at Somerset House 

Somerset House is an arts venue on the North Bank of the Thames, between Covent Garden and Waterloo Bridge. In Winter the owners of the building operate a beautiful ice skating rink which is very popular with tourists and people who live in London.

2. Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park

When Winter hits London, Hyde Park becomes home to a massive selection of shops, amusements and even a mini theme park! Try some of the famous mulled wine with a delicious mince pie.

3. Christmas Market on the South Bank

The Southbank of the Thames has a range of stalls selling foods and craft materials from around the world during the Winter months. The stalls start outside the Tate Modern art museum and stretch all the way down to Waterloo bridge. Our favourite is the stall selling home-made churros with hot chocolate sauce, mmm!


4. Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square

Every December Londoners and tourists stand side by side to gaze up at the massive Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. The tree has been one of the most well-known symbols of Christmas in London since the first tree was placed in the square in 1947.






5. Carnaby Street Christmas Lights

London has many different displays of Christmas lights worth seeing, but Carnaby Street is one of the best for music lovers. This year's lights are themed around the 50th anniversary of rock band The Rolling Stones. The famous tongue and lips logo will be sitting at the top of the massive arch welcoming people to the street.





6. Pantomime

Pantomimes are comedy theatre that is a British tradition for Christmas time. Adults as well as children attend the pantomime and members of the audience are encouraged to shout catchphrases at the main characters. Popular pantomimes this year include Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Snowman.

7. Classical Christmas in Greenwich

Each year the BBC holds a special concert celebrating the best Christmas music written by British composers. This year the concert is being held in the beautiful Chapel at Greenwich's Old Royal Naval College.

8. Camden Lock Night Market

The famous Camden Market opens late over Christmas and includes special stalls offering a range of fashion, vintage, accessories, arts, craft goods. When you have done all your Christmas shopping why not pop down to one of Camden's famous live music venues and check out a band?





9. Santacon

Everybody loves Santa right? Well, what better way to show it than by joining thousands of other people dressed as Santa in central London. Santacon is an international event dedicated celebrating the spirit of Christmas by wearing Santa costumes, singing carols and hugging strangers.





10. Santa's Grotto at Harrods

Finally, if you would like a slightly more conventional Santa experience during your Christmas time in London, why not try visiting Santa's Grotto in the famous department store Harrods? The Grotto is open every day from now until the 24th of December so you still have time to get your request in to Santa!