Christmas in London: The Ultimate 3-Day Festive Itinerary
Regent Street Christmas Lights
London at Christmas time feels straight out of a storybook. Twinkling lights, cozy pubs, festive markets, and historic streets all come together to create pure holiday magic. We spent three packed days in London soaking up all the best Christmas spots and here’s exactly how we did it.
⸻
Day 1: Covent Garden, Cozy Pubs & Christmas Markets
After an overnight red-eye flight, we landed in London early in the morning and headed straight to our home base in Covent Garden; the perfect neighborhood for a festive stay.
Our first stop was Covent Garden Market, which was already buzzing with holiday crowds. The entire area is beautifully decorated, with stunning lights, giant ornaments, and endless little pop-up shops to explore. If you’re looking for food here, Sushi Samba is a great option, and there’s also a Starbucks right outside of the market if you need a caffeine boost to kick off the day.
From there, we wandered through nearby shops and popped into a few pubs. A must-visit is Waxy’s Little Sister Pub, just a short walk away and yes, it has a beer elevator, which alone makes it worth the stop.
Next up was the Leicester Square Christmas Market, where you’ll find ice skating, festive food stalls, and tons of charming pop-up shops. Honestly, one of the best parts of London at Christmas is that everywhere feels decorated. No matter where you turn, there’s something picture-worthy. The pubs especially go all out, and that ended up being one of my favorite parts of the trip.
We had dinner at Dear Jackie, then made our way to Seven Dials Market to try the infamous Mello Hot Chocolate; it absolutely lived up to the hype. Seven Dials Market is perfect for a quick bite or drink, with so many options all in one place.
We wrapped up our first day with a pint at The Crown & Anchor, which (like seemingly every pub in London) looked like a full-blown Christmas wonderland.
Day 2: Notting Hill, Bookshops & Sunday Roast
After a slower morning, we grabbed coffee and hopped on the tube to Kensington for brunch at EVE. Highly recommend! adorable interior and delicious pizza.
Side note: Taking the tube is by far the easiest way to get around London. If you have Apple Pay, you can simply tap in and out- no need to buy tickets at the kiosks.
After brunch, we took a short tube ride to Notting Hill, one of the most charming neighborhoods in London. We wandered past the colorful houses, explored the quiet streets, and stopped into a few pubs before heading to Portobello Road Market. The vintage shopping here is incredible! Everything from old books to designer coats, jewelry, and unique finds.
For book lovers, Notting Hill Bookshop and Daunt Books are absolute must-visits. We grabbed a pint at The Duke of Wellington, one of my favorite pubs of the trip, before heading to The Princess Royal for a proper Sunday Roast. And wow…it did not disappoint! The beef was perfectly tender, the potatoes and gravy were delicious, and the vegetables were caramelized to perfection. If you’re trying a Sunday roast for the first time, this is an amazing place to do it.
Before heading back to central London, we stopped at the iconic Churchill Arms Pub, which is completely covered in Christmas lights and decorations - easily one of the most festive spots we saw. We then hopped back on the tube and got off at Oxford Circus to see the famous Oxford Street and Regent Street lights.
Selfridges had a magical Disney Christmas collaboration this year, with every window featuring a different Disney scene and a castle display on the storefront. Inside, the Christmas shop was filled with Disney merchandise. Even if shopping isn’t your thing, it’s absolutely worth stopping by to see the decorations.
⸻
Day 3: Markets, Tower Bridge Views & Festive Cocktails
We started our final day with breakfast at Duck & Waffle, which had a special Christmas menu and was fully decorated in a Harry Potter–themed Christmas. As soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be on our list. This was actually our second visit but still had great food, amazing views, and they’re open 24/7.
Next, we headed to Leadenhall Market, where the massive Christmas tree in the center makes for the perfect festive photo. We grabbed coffee and wandered through the shops. Tip: go early if you can—we arrived just as things were opening and had the place nearly to ourselves.
After that, we made our way to Borough Market, which is huge and packed with food options. You could easily spend hours here sampling bites. Some of my favorites were Shesharu, Barren Jack, and of course, the famous chocolate-covered strawberries.
One of my favorite stops of the trip was Winter by the River Christmas Market. Located right along the Thames, it offers incredible views of Tower Bridge while you shop. We also stopped at a nearby bar for a pint with a direct view of the bridge. It also has a rooftop that would be amazing in spring or summer. The market’s little shops were adorable; we picked up the cutest sweaters for our dogs and a few Christmas ornaments.
Next was Mercato Metropolitano, an old church transformed into a food market. This spot was so unique and ended up being one of our favorites. I grabbed ramen, and it was fantastic.
We made our final Christmas stop at Cahoots Underground before heading to dinner at The Maine (highly recommend). Cahoots is a speakeasy-style cocktail bar designed like an old train station. You enter through a small station-style bar, and when it’s time for your reservation, you’re taken to the “underground” which looks just like a vintage train. It was such a fun and memorable way to end our trip.
⸻
Christmas in London is truly something special. From festive markets and cozy pubs to magical lights and historic streets, every corner feels like Christmas. If you’re planning a winter trip, this 3-day itinerary is the perfect mix of holiday events, food, and classic London charm.
