The best 2025 holiday events in London: markets, lights, shows, festivals, and festive attractions across the UK capital.
London doesn’t just celebrate the holidays—it performs them. Each December, the city transforms into a grand stage where history, spectacle, theatre, and modern artistry collide.
In 2025, holiday events in London will elevate the capital’s winter magic yet again, delivering immersive light shows, iconic markets, West End spectaculars, royal celebrations, and neighborhood festivals filled with character.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor wandering through London’s legendary landmarks or a seasoned Londoner rediscovering the season through glittering streets and historic traditions, the 2025 holiday events in London promise a holiday experience as cinematic as the city itself.
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
London’s biggest holiday attraction returns with full force as Winter Wonderland 2025 unveils new rides, massive light zones, artisan markets, themed bars, and the UK’s largest outdoor ice rink. The 2025 edition introduces a VR sleigh ride, a reimagined Magical Ice Kingdom, and more international street food options than ever before.
“Winter Wonderland is London’s holiday heartbeat—equal parts joy, chaos, and magic,” says event producer Amelia Cates.
Location: Hyde Park, London W2 2UH
Website: https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/
Contact: info@hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
Best enjoyed on weekday afternoons—weekends get wildly busy.
The Southbank Centre Winter Festival
Along the Thames, the Southbank Centre Winter Festival brings a European-style market, immersive art installations, festive shows, and seasonal pop-ups. The 2025 festival expands its global food offerings and launches a new interactive light sculpture garden.
Location: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd., London SE1 8XX
Website: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/
Contact: info@southbankcentre.co.uk
A must for culture lovers and waterfront wanderers alike.
Christmas at Kew Gardens
Perhaps the most enchanting of all 2025 holiday events in London, Christmas at Kew transforms the Royal Botanic Gardens into a glowing dreamscape filled with light tunnels, illuminated sculptures, fire gardens, and musical installations. The 2025 route includes a new laser meadow and an expanded lakeside show.
Location: Kew Gardens, Richmond TW9 3AE
Website: https://www.kew.org/
Contact: info@kew.org
Tickets will sell out—book early.
Covent Garden Christmas Village
Covent Garden turns into one of London’s most festive neighborhoods, complete with giant baubles, immersive store displays, pop-up cocktail lounges, live performances, and the famous Christmas tree towering over the Piazza. The 2025 Christmas Village adds a new gourmet chalet lane featuring London’s top chefs.
Location: Covent Garden Piazza, London WC2E 8RF
Website: https://www.coventgarden.london/
Contact: info@coventgarden.london
The whole area becomes a real-life holiday movie set.
Hogwarts in the Snow at Warner Bros. Studio Tour
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour reimagines the world of Harry Potter for the season with snow-dusted sets, festive Great Hall décor, winter costumes, and behind-the-scenes magic. The 2025 Hogwarts in the Snow edition includes new backstage demos and fresh prop displays from the films.
“Watching people see the Great Hall decorated for the first time never gets old,” says studio guide Alex Warren.
Location: Studio Tour Dr., Leavesden WD25 7LR
Website: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/
Contact: (0800) 640-4550
Ideal for families, Potter fans, and nostalgic millennials.
Christmas at the Tower of London
The Tower of London’s holiday makeover includes glowing crown displays, snow-covered medieval scenes, and costumed reenactors telling festive stories of the past. For 2025, the Tower introduces a “Royal Winter Tales” evening program complete with lantern-lit tours.
Location: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB
Website: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/
Contact: (020) 3166 6000
Unexpectedly whimsical for such a historic fortress.
Regent Street and Oxford Street Christmas Lights
Nothing signals the start of London’s festive season like the switching on of its legendary Christmas lights. The 2025 lights display features updated angel sculptures along Regent Street and new eco-friendly LED designs on Oxford Street, creating a canopy of glowing artwork stretching across central London.
Location: Regent Street & Oxford Street, London
Website: https://www.visitlondon.com/
Contact: info@visitlondon.com
A free and iconic London tradition.
West End Holiday Performances
The West End comes alive with holiday programming in 2025, including classic pantomimes, seasonal concerts, and special show editions. Expect festive productions at theatres such as the London Palladium, Dominion Theatre, and Royal Albert Hall.
Highlighted productions for 2025 include:
• A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic
• The Snowman at Peacock Theatre
• Royal Albert Hall’s Christmas Festival
Website: https://www.westendtheatre.com/
Contact: Varies by venue
Perfect for indoor holiday magic.
Ice Skating at Somerset House
Somerset House hosts London’s most atmospheric outdoor rink, complete with a festive DJ series, luxury dining pop-ups, and a glittering 40-foot Christmas tree. The 2025 Skate at Somerset House introduces themed skate nights curated by emerging London musicians.
Location: Strand, London WC2R 1LA
Website: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/
Contact: (020) 7845 4600
Romantic, elegant, and quintessentially London.
Greenwich Winter Time Festival
Nestled along the Thames beside the Cutty Sark, the Greenwich Winter Time Festival brings artisan stalls, live performances, light installations, and family-friendly attractions to one of London’s most historic neighborhoods. The 2025 festival expands its riverside dining and introduces a “Lantern Lane” inspired by maritime folklore.
Location: King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT
Website: https://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/
Contact: info@visitgreenwich.org.uk
A magical holiday escape with Old London charm.
Why 2025 Holiday Events in London Are More Spectacular Than Ever
London thrives in winter because no other city marries tradition and innovation quite the same way. Historic landmarks glow beneath cutting-edge light installations. Medieval markets stand beside modern art displays. Theatre districts erupt with festive productions while sweeping parks transform into illuminated playgrounds. The 2025 holiday events in London are especially exciting because they lean heavily into immersive experiences—art meets architecture, culture meets interactivity, and history meets spectacle.
London’s holiday season isn’t just something you witness—it’s something you step into.
Why You Must Experience 2025 Holiday Events in London
Make the Most of 2025 Holiday Events in London
Whether you’re a Londoner mapping out your December weekends or a traveler seeking the ultimate winter getaway, the 2025 holiday events in London promise unforgettable charm—from iconic attractions and magical markets to cultural celebrations and dazzling light shows. Bundle up, roam widely, and let London cast the kind of holiday spell only it can deliver.
The best 2025 holiday events in London: markets, lights, shows, festivals, and festive attractions across the UK capital.
