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There is no denying that when Christmas time rolls around each year, the city of London takes on a festive atmosphere, full of holiday cheer. For those of you who are in the UK’s capital for this holiday season, take a look at some of OROGOLD’s favorite things to do in London at Christmas.
Christmas Lights
London’s Christmas lights are simply breathtaking, with their festive twinkle giving the city a magical makeover. There are fantastic Christmas light displays all over the city, with one of OROGOLD’s favorites being the Oxford Street lights, sparkling this season for its 56th year. Over 1700 snowball-like ornaments will be twinkling away above your head, bringing festive cheer to the whole street. Other notable Christmas lights worth visiting are the Bond Street Christmas lights, the Regent Street Christmas lights, and the extravagant decorations for the Covent Garden Christmas.
Christmas Carol Concerts
There are many different carol services around London during Christmas time, some concerts being small and intimate, while others are much larger and take place in majestic, historic venues. Concert by Candlelight at the Geffrye Museum is a capella concert featuring an acclaimed vocal group, while the Cecil Sharp House Choir will be performing a selection of seasonal songs in Camden Town. The Charles Dickens Museum is hosting an exhibition called ‘A Christmas Carol’, with festive performances, readings, and carol singing.
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Ice Skating
With a backdrop of London’s glittering skyline, sparkling Christmas trees and twinkling festive lights, there is nothing quite like an evening of ice skating at one of the ice rinks around the city. The Broadgate Ice Rink in Exchange Square is one of the most popular ones, while OROGOLD loves the ice rink at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland – the largest outdoor ice rink in the UK, and surrounded by over 100,000 twinkling lights. The Canary Wharf ice rink is set against an imposing backdrop of towering offices and features a pop-up bar and restaurant, while the ice rink at the Natural History museum is possibly one of the most charming in the city. For a truly historic backdrop, the Tower of London Ice Rink is situated in the tower’s dry moat, while the ice rink at Somerset House is set in a grand 18th Century courtyard.
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Christmas Markets
Christmas markets are extremely popular in London, and whether you are looking to pick up some unique gifts, or simply want to browse the stalls and sample the festive treats, they are definitely worth a visit. The Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Christmas market is a delight to browse, as is the Barbican Christmas Market with ten days of seasonal shopping. The Christmas Market at Tate Modern features quaint wooden chalets along the River Thames, while the Real Food Christmas Market is the place to go for delicious festive nibbles, as well as a hot mug of mulled wine.
There is no denying that London takes on a magical quality over Christmas. From the twinkling Christmas lights decorating the entire city, to the festive Christmas markets that are always fun to browse, a festive cheer will follow you around no matter where you go in London.
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