## The essentials {#the-essentials}
In London, Christmas starts in November: the Regent Street lights were switched on on 5 November 2026, Oxford Street’s on the 9th and Covent Garden’s on the 12th; Winter Wonderland opens in Hyde Park on 19 November and the markets have been running since the start of the month. The Trafalgar Square tree, a gift from Norway, is put up on 3 December and lit at a ceremony in early December. Two dates to watch: on 25 December there is no Tube, no buses and no trains, and to enter the country you need a passport (an ID card is not enough) and the ETA authorisation.
It is damp and cold, with short days, and it rarely snows. In December, the average temperature in London ranges from 2.3 °C to 8.9 °C, it rains (1 mm or more) on about 11 days and there are about 53 hours of sunshine in the whole month; in January, 2 °C to 8.6 °C, about 12 rainy days and 60 hours of sunshine. These are the Met Office 1991-2020 averages at the Kew Gardens station.
Each government’s official travel advice is in the [United Kingdom safety guide](/travel-safety/united-kingdom).
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## Getting there and what you need to enter {#getting-there-and-what-you-need-to-enter}
- **A valid passport for everyone**, EU citizens included: national identity cards stopped being valid for entering the United Kingdom in 2021.
- **ETA, the electronic travel authorisation:** citizens of the EU, the United States, Canada, Australia and most visa-free countries need one. It costs £20 per person (children too), is valid for two years and multiple entries, and is applied for only at gov.uk or through its app; since 25 February 2026 airlines do not let you board without it. The British government advises applying at least three working days ahead.
- **From Heathrow:** the Elizabeth line reaches the centre in about 30 minutes; the fare to zone 1 is £15.50 since 1 March 2026, according to TfL. The Piccadilly line on the Tube is slower and cheaper, at the normal Tube fare.
- **From Gatwick, Stansted and Luton:** trains and coaches to the centre; buy your ticket online before you fly, it is usually cheaper.
> **Watch out:** Spain warns of platforms that charge “premium” fees for the ETA and may be fraudulent. The official fee is £20 and it is paid only at gov.uk.
## Getting around {#getting-around}
- **Pay with a contactless card or your phone** on the Tube, buses and London trains: there is no need to buy a ticket or an Oyster card. Always use the same card so that the daily caps apply.
- **On 25 December London’s public transport does not run:** no Tube, no buses, no trains and no Elizabeth line; only taxis and hire bikes. On the 26th there is a reduced service, and in 2025 the Elizabeth line did not run either. TfL publishes the 2026 details in December.
- **On New Year’s Eve**, TfL keeps the Tube running all night (as it did in 2025), but central stations close when they fill up and Westminster, Waterloo, Blackfriars, Lambeth and Golden Jubilee bridges are closed for the show.
> **Watch out:** Germany warns of phone snatching from moving bicycles. Don’t walk looking at your phone next to the kerb, and put it away before you reach the crossing.
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## What to see and do {#what-to-see-and-do}
### See the West End lights {#see-the-west-end-lights}
They are lit every evening until early January. Regent Street brings back its “Spirit of Christmas” angels for the tenth year (lit since 5 November 2026); Oxford Street adds Harry Potter-inspired designs to its stars this year (since 9 November); Carnaby Street goes with the theme “Press Play on Christmas” (since the 4th) and Covent Garden lit up its Piazza and Seven Dials on 12 November. In Leicester Square the stars shine from 1 November to 6 January. Seeing the lights is free; the best time is between 4:30 pm, when it is already dark, and shop closing time.
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> **Watch out:** The United States asks you to watch out for snatch thefts of phones, watches and jewellery and never to leave your bag unattended in pubs, restaurants or hotel lobbies.
### Spend an afternoon at Winter Wonderland {#spend-an-afternoon-at-winter-wonderland}
The Hyde Park fair is open from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, every day except 25 December, generally from 10 am to 10 pm (last entry 9:30 pm). You must book a date and arrival hour online, children included: entry costs between £1 and £8.25 depending on the slot (the cheapest, Monday to Thursday in November) and is free if you spend more than £25 on attractions in a single purchase. Inside, the rides and the ice rink are paid separately.
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> **Watch out:** The United States lists markets and major events among the possible targets of attacks in the United Kingdom, whose official threat level has been “severe” (an attack is highly likely) since 30 April 2026. Find the exits when you arrive and follow the police’s instructions.
### Visit the Christmas markets {#visit-the-christmas-markets}
Almost all are free and open daily until 3 January. These are the 2026-2027 dates according to the organisers.
| Market | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Southbank Centre Winter Market | Queen’s Walk, by the Thames | 2 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, 11 am–10 pm |
| Trafalgar Square | around the tree, in front of the National Gallery | 6 Nov – 3 Jan, 10 am–10 pm |
| Covent Garden | the Piazza | 12 Nov – 2 Jan |
| Leicester Square | around the ice rink | 31 Oct – 3 Jan, 10 am–10 pm |
| King’s Cross | Granary Square | 26 Nov – 3 Jan |
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> **Watch out:** Spain notes that pickpocketing is frequent at tourist sites, and in London above all in the borough of Westminster, home to Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and Leicester Square. Carry photocopies of your documents and don’t keep all your money and cards together.
### See the Trafalgar Square tree {#see-the-trafalgar-square-tree}
Norway has given London a spruce every year since 1947 in thanks for British support during the Second World War. The 2026 tree, over 20 metres tall, is felled in a forest near Oslo at the end of November and put up in the square on 3 December; the lighting ceremony is in early December (in 2025 it was on the 4th) and the Mayor of London announces it on the official website. Throughout December there are carols at the foot of the tree, in one-hour sessions, and the spruce is taken down just before Twelfth Night. It is all free.
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### Skate at Somerset House {#skate-at-somerset-house}
The rink in the Somerset House courtyard is open from 11 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. Entering the courtyard is free; skating costs £13 to £28.50 for adults and £11 to £15 for children, plus a £1.50 booking fee per ticket, booked on the Somerset House website. At weekends there are skate school sessions in the morning and, on some nights, DJ sessions from 8 pm.
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### Go inside the British Museum {#go-inside-the-british-museum}
It is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm and on Fridays until 8:30 pm, with free admission; it is closed from 24 to 26 December. The museum recommends booking a free timed ticket on its website: it gives you priority entry on the busiest days. The temporary exhibition on Korea (until 31 January 2027) is booked separately.
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> **Watch out:** The United Kingdom asks you to stay alert to suspicious bags and packages on public transport and in crowded places, and to tell staff or the police without touching them.
### See the year out by the Thames {#see-the-year-out-by-the-thames}
The Mayor of London’s fireworks can only be seen with a ticket: without one you cannot get into any area by the river. On 31 December 2026 the gates open from 8 pm to 10:30 pm and the show ends at 12:30 am; tickets, only on Ticketmaster, cost £55 (blue, pink and white areas) or £40 (red, green and orange), with a £20 discount for London residents, a maximum of four per person and a name that is checked against your passport at the gate. The first batch went on sale in October and the Mayor will announce a second one. On 1 January, the New Year’s Day Parade sets off at 12 noon from Piccadilly and ends in Parliament Square: that one is free to watch from the pavement.
> **Watch out:** Don’t buy New Year’s Eve tickets outside Ticketmaster: the Mayor warns they are not valid. If you don’t have a ticket, avoid the centre that night: stations and bridges are closed.
## Shopping {#shopping}
British sales have no official dates: they start on 26 December, Boxing Day, when almost every shop opens even though there is no normal transport, and carry on into January. Since 2021 tourists can no longer claim back VAT on purchases made in Great Britain, unless the shop sends the goods directly to an address outside the United Kingdom, according to the British government.
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> **Watch out:** Spain recommends keeping an eye on cash machines and not carrying all your money and cards together; in London almost everything is paid by card.
## Safety {#safety}
### What governments say {#what-governments-say}
Checked on 12 November 2026.
- **The United States** asks for “increased caution” because of terrorism (level 2 of 4). Violent crime is rare; there is pickpocketing, mugging and snatch theft of phones, watches and jewellery. Demonstrations are frequent in cities and can turn violent: avoid them and follow local media.
- **Spain** sets no restrictions on travel. It recalls that the terrorism alert level rose to “high” on 30 April 2026 and asks for extra care in nightlife venues. Pickpocketing is frequent in tourist centres, especially in London (the borough of Westminster) and Edinburgh.
- **Germany** has no travel warning. It mentions petty crime (pickpockets) in big cities, at tourist sites and on public transport, and phone snatching from bicycles.
- **The United Kingdom**, as the destination country, publishes no advice about itself. Its government keeps the terrorism threat level at “severe” (an attack is highly likely), the fourth of five, and asks people to be alert to suspicious items.
### Documents and theft {#documents-and-theft}
- **Report it online or at a police station.** In England the Metropolitan Police takes reports online (met.police.uk); keep the reference number, which your insurer and consulate will ask for.
- **Stolen passport:** your consulate can issue an emergency travel document to get you home. See which one serves you, according to your passport, in the [United Kingdom safety guide](/travel-safety/united-kingdom).
## Health and emergencies {#health-and-emergencies}
- **Phone numbers:** 999 or 112 for emergencies (police, ambulance, fire); 111 is the public health service (NHS) line for urgent problems that are not emergencies, 24 hours a day.
- **European Health Insurance Card:** Spain confirms it can be used in the United Kingdom for care that becomes necessary during the trip; it does not replace travel insurance. Travellers from outside the EU pay for care unless their country has an agreement.
- **In bars and pubs**, don’t accept drinks from strangers and keep yours in sight.
## Staying connected {#staying-connected}
- **With a mobile plan from an EU country**, the United Kingdom left regulated EU roaming with Brexit: many operators still include it, but they are not obliged to. Check before you leave.
- **With a plan from outside Europe**, or if your operator charges for roaming, a data eSIM for the United Kingdom connects you as soon as you land and you keep your usual number: [see plans for the United Kingdom](/pricing?country=GB).
## Travellers’ questions about London at Christmas {#travellers-questions-about-london-at-christmas}
### When are London’s Christmas lights switched on in 2026?
Regent Street on 5 November, Oxford Street on the 9th and Covent Garden on the 12th; Carnaby Street on the 4th and Leicester Square on 1 November. They all shine every evening until early January.
### When does Winter Wonderland 2026 open?
From 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, every day except 25 December. You must book a date and hour; entry costs £1 to £8.25 depending on the slot.
### Do I need an ETA to go to London?
Yes, if you are from the EU, the United States, Canada, Australia or another visa-free country and have no residence permit. It costs £20, is valid for two years and without it you are not allowed to board since 25 February 2026. And an ID card? It is not enough: you need a passport.
### Is there a Tube in London on 25 December?
No. On Christmas Day London’s public transport does not run: no Tube, no buses, no trains. Only taxis and hire bikes. On the 26th there is a reduced service.
### Can you watch London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks for free?
No. The riverside areas are only for ticket holders (£55 or £40, on Ticketmaster). The parade on 1 January, from Piccadilly to Parliament Square from 12 noon, is free to watch from the pavement.
### When is the Trafalgar Square tree lit?
The Norwegian spruce is put up on 3 December 2026 and lit at a ceremony in early December; in 2025 it was on the 4th. The Mayor of London publishes the date on the official website.
### What is the weather like in London in December?
Damp and cold: between 2.3 °C and 8.9 °C on average, about 11 rainy days and about 53 hours of sunshine in the whole month (Met Office, 1991-2020 averages at Kew Gardens). It rarely snows.
## Where next {#where-next}
- [Paris at Christmas and in winter 2026-2027: what to do, dates and safety](/blog/paris-christmas-winter-2026-what-to-do-dates-safety)
- [Safety in the United Kingdom: what governments say today](/travel-safety/united-kingdom)
- [eSIM for the United Kingdom: prices and networks](/esim/united-kingdom)
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