Bright Lights, Big City: Christmastime in London

Next week is Christmas.

Next week is Christmas!

I keep telling myself this, but I still can’t believe it. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not going home for the holidays this year, or if it is the fact that it has been in the 50s for the past couple of weeks, but I just cannot get into the holiday spirit this year.

Though I may be having a difficult time mustering up some Christmas cheer, the city of London is not having the same problem. In fact, I would be comfortable saying that London may just be one of the best cities in the world to spend Christmastime. Lights are strung from nearly every building and light pole and mulled wine flows abundantly at Christmas parties and events. This past week I wandered around the city taking in some of the cheer. And while they may not have succeeded in making me count down the days until December 25, it was charming to see the city so merry.

What can do you at Christmastime in London?

Christmas lights in central London

Christmas lights are up all around central London, but the place to see the most displays in on Oxford Street. Walking from Oxford Circus toward Marble Arch takes you past the major department stores. Don’t forget to look down the side streets for some other lovely displays. Carnaby Steet in Soho has a more quirky take on Christmas decorations. There are also lights on Regent Street and a giant snow globe in Picadilly Circus, neither of which you will see photographed here because I find them hideous.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Each year Hyde Park plays host to Winter Wonderland, a dizzying combination of German Christmas markets, fair rides, an ice rink, restaurants, and probably various other Christmas-y things I didn’t stumble across. Winter Wonderland is, in theory, a great idea. In practice, it is mayhem. Too many people, in too small of an area, trying to queue for all the same things. The market was potentially cute, and I’m sure the kiddies would enjoy the rides and seeing Santa, but for me, it was much more nightmare than wonderland. If you do choose to go, walk down the main path as toward the end of the market. There were far fewer people the further away you got from the entrance, which made your chances of actually getting a cup of mulled wine greater and your desire to punch out a Santa Claus much lower.

Ice Skating

Outdoor skating rinks start popping up all over in London in December and I’d made plans by October to visit at least one. I figure skated throughout elementary and middle school and played ice hockey in high school. I grew up on the ice and though I don’t skate often anymore, it’s always special when I do. My friend Cristiana and I decided to go to Somerset House’s club night. An hour of skating and skate rental cost £19. It was well worth the cost, though, at is was easily the most fun I’ve had in a while. We skated to everything from Phil Collins to Icona Pop and tried our best not to crash into the people scattered across the ice. Pro tip: don’t text and skate or drink and skate if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Christmas at Kew

Kew Gardens hosts Christmas festivities down in Southwest London which include a Christmas market, Santa’s Grotto, and an illuminated trail. The markets are free, but admission to the trail costs £12.50. The walk is obviously aimed at children, a sort of botanical hunt, but it still a festive place for all ages. Especially with a thermos (or three) of mulled wine and brandy.