With beautiful Christmas lights hanging across streets, extravagant window displays, festive meals and great shopping, London during the Christmas season—from late November through December—is  enchanting.

Artisans of Leisure arranges private London tours during Christmas that showcase the best of the city’s yuletide festivities with insider experiences and expert-led cultural touring.

Whether browsing Christmas markets, attending a carol service at Westminster Abbey, seeing iconic landmarks decorated for the holidays, warming up by a crackling fire in a pub or ice skating in front of Somerset House, London offers an incredible range of holiday season experiences.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to plan a customized London tour during the holidays, including experiences such as:

1. Seeing the city’s incredible holiday lights and decorations

London is beautiful during the holidays and many neighborhoods are adorned with Christmas lights. Mayfair and Knightsbridge, especially, have spectacular holiday lights, decorations and window displays.

2. Enjoying festive Christmas Afternoon Tea

We make reservations for festive afternoon tea at our favorite locations around the city.

3. Attending holiday concerts, Christmas carols and seasonal performances 

We arrange tickets to London’s best holiday performances and concerts. Longstanding favorites include the Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House, a production of A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic and Christmas carols at Royal Albert Hall or Westminster Abbey.

4. Browsing Christmas markets

London has a number of great Christmas markets, including markets in local neighborhood churches and larger holiday festivals such as Winter Wonderland Hyde Park, Southbank Centre Winter Market and Covent Garden Christmas Village.

With their festive decorations, artisan crafts and holiday food and beverages like mince pies and mulled wine, Christmas markets are a wonderful way for travelers to immerse themselves in the spirit of the season.

5. Enjoying cozy meals by a fire in historic pubs and rooftop winter pop-ups

Cozy meals at quintessential English pubs are especially enjoyable during the holidays. We make reservations at historic pubs and also take our travelers to favorite food markets such as Borough Market, the Duke of York Square Market, and to the food halls at Fortnum & Mason and Harrods.

6. Ice skating at landmarks, including the Museum of Natural History and Somerset House

Ice skating at the pop-up rinks by landmarks like the Museum of Natural History, Somerset House and Hampton Court Palace is a great family outing and a unique way to experience these iconic sites.

7. Seeing the lights at Christmas at Kew

Christmas at Kew is a unique experience and an annual Christmas light  extravaganza. We can incorporate a visit to Kew and nearby heritage manors as part of our London private touring.

8. Taking a private day excursion to Christmas markets outside of London

We take our travelers to visit Christmas markets around England, including  in destinations near London and its outer boroughs, such as Oxford, the Cotswolds, Greenwich and Bath.

9. Seeing Christmas decorations at iconic landmarks, museums, heritage homes and castles

London’s historic homes, museums, palaces and castles are beautifully decorated during the holidays. Some of our favorites include  the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Tower of London…

…Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, Blenheim Palace,  Highclere Castle and Chatsworth House.

10. Seeing Hogwarts in the Snow at the Harry Potter Studios

The Harry Potter Studios recreate Christmas at Hogwarts with a feast in the Great Hall, decorations in the Gryffindor Common Room, a model of Hogwarts blanketed in snow and more.

11. Celebrating with traditional holiday meals and decorations in your hotel room

Our favorite London hotels pull out all the stops at Christmas for a joyful time of celebration, including being able to enjoy Christmas trees in your room and a traditional Christmas dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.

12. Shopping at renowned department stores

London offers incredible holiday shopping! Some of our favorite shops include Fortnum & Mason, Liberty of London and Harrods.

We also take our travelers to smaller specialty shops, upscale boutiques and iconic toy stores like Hamley’s.

13. Watching New Year’s Eve fireworks over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Why not stay for New Year’s Eve to enjoy the celebrations?

14. Taking a side trip to Scotland, Paris or Brussels

Many of our travelers like to add on trips to Scotland for Hogmanay, Paris or Brussels for holiday markets, decorations and fireworks.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to begin planning a private London tour during the Christmas season.