December is London's festive month: Christmas lights, markets and ice rinks, pantomimes in the theatres and ticket-only fireworks on the river on New Year's Eve. It is cold and dark, with daytime highs around 9°C, and almost everything stops on Christmas Day, so plan the last week of the month carefully.
For many visitors, London at Christmas is the reason to come. The shopping streets are lit up from late autumn, the department stores dress their windows, and fairs and winter markets fill parks and squares. The atmosphere is at its best in the first three weeks, when everything is open and the city is busy but not yet on holiday.
From about 24 December the rhythm changes. Most museums close for three days, public transport largely stops on Christmas Day, and the days between Christmas and New Year have their own pattern of sales, family outings and reduced hours. This guide explains each part of the month.
December weather and dates
- Average high / low
- 8.8°C / 3.1°C (Met Office, Heathrow, 1991-2020)
- Frost
- About 7 nights of air frost
- Sunshine
- About 55 hours, the lowest of the year
- Rain
- 57.1 mm on about 11 days
- Bank holidays 2026
- Friday 25 December; Monday 28 December (Boxing Day substitute)
- New Year's Eve
- Thursday 31 December 2026; fireworks by ticket only
Cold, dark and mostly dry
December is one of London's coldest months. The Met Office average at Heathrow is a high of 8.8°C and a low of 3.1°C, with about seven frosty nights. Snow does fall in some years, but a white Christmas in London is rare; cold rain and grey skies are far more common.
The bigger challenge is daylight. December has only about 55 hours of sunshine in the whole month, and around the shortest day, 21 December, the sun sets before 4pm. Start sightseeing early, keep outdoor plans for the late morning and use the dark afternoons for lights, shops, museums and theatre. Rain is moderate, at 57.1 mm over about 11 days.
Christmas lights, markets and ice rinks
London's lights are one of the free pleasures of the season. The best-known displays hang over Oxford Street, Regent Street and Carnaby Street, and around Covent Garden, where the market building is decorated. Each December a tall Norwegian spruce, a gift from the city of Oslo, stands in Trafalgar Square as a thank-you for Britain's support during the Second World War.
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is the biggest seasonal fair, with rides, stalls, food and shows. It runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, and you must book a timed entry ticket online; prices on the day are higher than in advance. Smaller Christmas markets appear in other squares and along the river, and several landmark buildings open outdoor ice rinks for the season. Each sells timed skating sessions on its own website, and evening and weekend slots sell out first.
Our full guide to Christmas in London lists the main markets, rinks and carol services, with advice on which are worth the money.
Book a morning skate for the easiest rink session. Weekday mornings in early December are the least crowded time at London's seasonal rinks. After school breaks up on 18 December (in Lambeth), even mornings fill up.
Palaces, gardens and museums in festive dress
Some of the big attractions put on special Christmas programmes. Hampton Court Palace runs its "Winter Palace" season from 28 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, with its own ticket prices. Kew Gardens is open from 10am to 3.15pm in December and charges off-peak prices (£17 online for an adult), with £10 tickets on Tuesdays until 29 December 2026.
The new London Museum building at West Smithfield, which opens on 28 November 2026 with free galleries, is likely to be busy through December. See our London Museum guide for the latest on visiting.
Most national museums are free and make a good plan for cold afternoons; our list of free museums in London shows which ones. For a day out of town, Windsor Castle is usually closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but in 2026 it opens on Tuesday 22 and Tuesday 29 December. Winter hours there are 10am to 4.15pm, with last admission at 3pm.
Pantomime, theatre and festive afternoon tea
Pantomime is a British Christmas tradition: a family theatre show based loosely on a fairy tale, with songs, slapstick, a man dressed as a comic "dame" and plenty of audience shouting. Many London theatres, large and small, stage one from late November or early December into January. The jokes are aimed at both children and adults, and the audience is expected to join in.
December is a popular time for West End musicals and plays, so book ahead or look for same-day deals. Our tips on cheaper theatre tickets include the Official London Theatre Ticket Booth in Leicester Square.
Hotels and tearooms often serve festive versions of afternoon tea in December, and weekend slots are booked weeks ahead. For shopping, the Christmas windows at London's department stores are worth a look even if you buy nothing.
What closes over Christmas, and when
This is the most important section for anyone in London between 24 and 28 December. Christmas Day is the one day of the year when London almost completely shuts down.
| What | 24-26 December |
|---|---|
| Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, IWM London, Churchill War Rooms | Closed 24, 25 and 26 December |
| National Gallery | Closed 24-26 December and 1 January |
| Tower Bridge | Closed 24-26 December; opens 10am on 1 January |
| Large shops (over 280 m²) | Not allowed to open on Christmas Day by law |
| Public transport | No service on most of the network on Christmas Day; reduced service on Boxing Day; early finish on Christmas Eve |
| Stonehenge | Closed 25 December |
With no Tube or buses on most routes on 25 December, getting around means walking or booking a taxi in advance. Our guide to taxis and minicabs explains the options. If you are staying for Christmas, choose a hotel within walking distance of the things you want to see; our overview of the best areas to stay helps. TfL publishes its Christmas timetable each December, so check it before you travel.
Book your Christmas Day meal before you arrive. Restaurants that open on 25 December usually sell set menus in advance, and walk-in tables are rare. Large supermarkets and most shops are closed, so buy snacks and drinks on Christmas Eve.
Boxing Day, 26 December, is traditionally the start of the winter sales, although the bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December in 2026 because the 26th is a Saturday. The page on bank holidays and opening hours explains Sunday and holiday trading rules.
New Year's Eve on the Thames
The Mayor of London's fireworks display over the Thames by the London Eye is one of the most famous in the world, and you cannot watch it from the official riverside area without a ticket. For 2026-27 the event is on Thursday 31 December, from 8pm to 12.30am. City Hall has said the fireworks will return and that a ticket release date will be announced; no price had been published when we checked. For the 2025-26 display, tickets cost £20 to £55 and were sold only through Ticketmaster.
Our New Year's Eve guide covers how the ticket release works, where the viewing areas are and how to get home afterwards. Crowds are enormous, so plan the journey back to your hotel before the night, and check TfL's New Year travel information in late December.
Packing for a London winter
Bring a warm winter coat, ideally waterproof, plus a hat, gloves and a scarf. Temperatures rarely fall far below freezing, but damp air and wind make 5°C feel much colder than it sounds. Warm, waterproof shoes are essential if you plan to walk between Christmas lights in the evening. Layers help, because shops, museums and the Tube are well heated.
If you would like the lights without the Christmas closures, come in the first half of the month or read our guide to London in November. For what happens once the decorations come down, see London in January, the quietest and often cheapest time of year.
Frequently asked questions
Is London worth visiting in December?
Yes, especially in the first three weeks. The Christmas lights, markets, ice rinks and theatre make it one of the most atmospheric times of the year. It is cold, around 9°C by day, and gets dark before 4pm, and prices rise towards Christmas.
What is open in London on Christmas Day?
Very little. Most museums and attractions are closed, large shops are not allowed to open, and most public transport does not run. Parks stay open, and some restaurants and hotels serve Christmas lunch if you book in advance.
Do I need a ticket for the New Year's Eve fireworks in London?
Yes. You cannot attend the official riverside viewing areas without a ticket. For 31 December 2026 the ticket release date and prices had not been announced when we checked. Follow the Mayor of London's event page for the on-sale date.
Does it snow in London in December?
Not often. The Met Office average for Heathrow is a high of 8.8°C and a low of 3.1°C, with about seven frosty nights. Snow falls in some years but rarely settles for long, and cold rain is far more common.
When is Winter Wonderland open in 2026?
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. You need a timed entry ticket booked online, and prices on the day are higher than in advance.
Sources
- Met Office - Heathrow climate averages 1991-2020 (checked September 2026)
- GOV.UK - UK bank holidays (checked September 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk - Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, section 1 (checked September 2026)
- Transport for London - Services over Christmas and New Year 2025 (checked September 2026)
- Mayor of London - London New Year's Eve 2026 (checked September 2026)
- Hyde Park Winter Wonderland - official website (checked September 2026)
- Historic Royal Palaces - Hampton Court Palace tickets and prices (checked September 2026)
- Lambeth Council - School term dates 2026 to 2027 (checked September 2026)