Christmas in London is like something out of a fairy tale. With Tudor buildings that look straight out of Charles Dickens to the canopy of Christmas lights over Regrets Street and Oxford Circus, it’s impossible not to feel the pervasive holiday spirit when visiting London in December. Though most of the season’s festivities and events take place annually, here are a few unique ways to enjoy Christmas in London this year.
The 2019 Guide To Christmas In London
Photo courtesy of visitlondon.com/Ben Pipe
A Christmas Feast
Maggie Jones’s is a famous British restaurant named after Princess Margaret who used to book her tables there under the alias Maggie Jones. (If you watch The Crown, you can certainly picture her doing something like that.) It’s located in a charming area of Kensington, right off Kensington Church Street. In December, Maggie Jones’s is offering a special three-course Christmas lunch menu for £37.50. Expect hearty, wintry dishes like roast pork belly with apple sauce and traditional roast turkey. For dessert, dine on mince pies served with custard and burnt cream (the English version of crème brûlée), made with the original recipe from Cambridge University.
Maggie Jones’s
At the French restaurant La Poule au Pot in Belgravia, there’s another Christmas feast to enjoy. Throughout December, this rustic retreat will be serving a three-course Christmas menu for £42. Feast on French delicacies like smoked salmon stuffed with crab, roasted guinea fowl and boeuf bourguignon—plus tarte tatin (apple tart) for a very merry dessert.
For something a bit different, try a having Christmas dinner aboard the Glass Room. This festive package includes a three-hour sail along the River Thames with glittery views of London’s iconic landmarks. Plus, you get half a bottle of wine and a lavish five-course meal. Also, you can dig into Norfolk turkey with all the trimmings and also a dessert of Christmas spiced cheesecake served with a glass of champagne. (Prices start at £189.)
Festive Pop-Ups
There are plenty of seasonal pop-ups appearing in London this winter. Get in the festive spirit by having a drink at the Fever-Tree Winter Lodge in Broadgate. Open through December 20, 2019, the Fever-Tree Winter Lodge bar has plenty of comfy, cozy seating and warm interiors dressed in wreaths and pine foliage. There will also be several masterclasses (starting at £25) where you learn to personalize and pair cocktails with Fever-Tree mixers.
The Elyx Chalet is another perfect pop-up to try this year. This Swedish-inspired lodge and bar has been designed in a collaboration with the luxury vodka brand, Absolut Elyx. Expect plenty of Nordic cocktails. (We like the Midnight Sun made with 16 Absolut Elyx, cranberry, red currant, Amaro Montenegro and Perrier Jouët Brut.)
The Elyx Chalet ©John-Carey
Sweet Presents
There is some awesome shopping to be had in London, especially during this time of year. Hamleys is the city’s finest toy shop and spending a few hours there—even just to browse—is a lovely way to get in the Christmas spirit. There are gifts for kids of all ages at the Regent Street store.
Another place to shop for presents that everyone will love is the luxurious Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross. This year, their Christmas chocolate collection is the best yet. Try gifting the Star Tree Spinning Top (£45), which is filled with small hazelnut praline figurines. Or try the new Advent Calendar (£45), which comes stocked with delights like sugared almonds, praline bonbons and mini chocolate bars.
Here are a few more places to stock up on presents.
Family Fun
Go Christmas caroling at the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, which is right by some of our grandest London Perfect apartments.
Back again this year is Hogwarts in the Snow at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The whole studio is transformed for Christmas. The Great Hall is decked in Christmas trees and golden baubles and the stage is dressed like the iconic Yule Ball scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Kew Garden Beatrice Granger, Clair Chapple, Lulu Kingstone. Cathedral of Light. Christmas at Kew. By Jeff Eden
Another good one for the whole family is Christmas at Kew. This year the light show is better than ever. There are all-new light installations and laser projections illuminating the famous Temperate House. Tickets are required, and the team at London Perfect can help you score tickets to any of these family-friendly festive events.
Christmas is one of the most popular times of the year to visit London. Get in touch today and reserve your own warm and inviting London Perfect apartment.
