10 Things to do in London at Christmas

It is, of course, the season of goodwill, and at Christmas in London there are plenty of things you can do to support those less fortunate. Helping others has also been proven to be beneficial for your own wellbeing and happiness as well - ideal if you’re spending Christmas away from home.

A range of opportunities have been arranged by Royal Holloway University, such as carol singing to raise money for charity. You could also volunteer with the national homeless charity Crisis, helping to run their activities and services, or simply volunteer to be a good listener for those in need.

Another great way to help others is to invite one or two international students, who may overwise have been lonely on their empty university campus during the Christmas break, into your home for a few days, enabling you to learn more about each other’s cultures. Find out more here.

To find more volunteering opportunities, you could use the London.gov website or put in your postcode on Buzzfeed’s search tool to find opportunities near you. If you’re unable to volunteer, and have £28 to spare, you could reserve a place for a homeless person at Crisis at Christmas.

Image credit: Michael Camilleri (Flickr)

If you’re sticking around after Christmas for NYE, you won’t want to miss those spectacular fireworks. Tickets for the display on the riverfront are now sold out, but you can view them (and other displays around the city) from Primrose Hill, completely free. Get the tube to Chalk Farm, Camden Town, Mornington Crescent or St John’s Wood. Other great viewing spots include Hampstead Heath and Millennium Bridge.

The Christmas markets don’t end at Winter Wonderland. You can also stroll along the festive chalets by the riverside at London Bridge, explore Greenwich Market, or head to Leicester Square (which also has a Santa’s Grotto, if any of your younger relatives are interested). If you’re a foodie, you’ll feel right at home at the Real Food Christmas Market at King’s Cross.

Next in our list of things to do at Christmas in London, why not come and sing along to Christmas carols at Trafalgar Square where over 40 choir groups will be raising money for charity? You’ll also get to see the square’s famous Christmas tree, an impressive specimen that has been donated by Norway each year since 1947 in gratitude for Britain’s support during World War Two.

If you’re interested in finding out about the history of Christmas in the UK, you might like to head to the Charles Dickens Museum, the former home of the famous Victorian author, for a glimpse at fascinating yuletide traditions. You can discover the inspiration behind A Christmas Carol and attend performances of this and other Christmas ghost stories.

Tickets are £7.50 with a valid student ID (£9.50 without), while event tickets are £22 and include museum entry. 

London offers many opportunities to hit the ice with a famous or historical backdrop, such as the Natural History Museum, Canary Wharf, Somerset House, Hampton Court Palace and even the Tower of London. Some of these are open long after Christmas as well. Prices vary, so check online first.

While we can’t promise they’ll be cheap, many London pubs offer relaxation and warmth by the fireplace, with a mulled wine or cider in your hand and a newspaper on your lap. In short, they’re perfect for unwinding after those end-of-semester assignments have been handed in. Time Out has some great suggestions.

Our final suggestion of things to do in London at Christmas is undoubtedly the priciest option, but if your budget allows it, it’s well worth treating yourself to seeing one of the many theater and pantomime shows on offer across the capital in December. Highlights include A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic, Snow White at the London Palladium, and the multi award-winning Swan Lake at Sadler's Wells Theatre, unique for its all-male ensemble.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2019 from all of us here at TopUniversities.com!

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This blog post was originally published in December 2016, and is updated every December.

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