While London is a great place to visit at any time of year, December is especially festive, as long as you can handle the cold.
London can be cold and humid in December, but visitors will be delighted with the city’s elaborate Christmas displays. One of the best times in December is the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland (November to January). Get a big fat holiday fix at this annual event in Hyde Park, which gets bigger and better every year. Expect food stalls, authentic breweries, carnival rides, Santa Claus grottoes, and free-flowing mulled wine.
Annual Christmas events include carol singing, grottoes, fairs, pantomimes, and colored lights. Christmas Day is the 25th of December. Boxing Day is the first day of the week after Christmas Day (December 26 or 27).
Read on to learn more about what to expect during your December trip to London.
London weather in December
In early December, temperatures tend to fluctuate between 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) and 49 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius). Later in the month, the temperature drops slightly and some mornings can see freezing temperatures.
- Average High: 48 degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius)
- Average Low: 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius)
London skies in December are usually cloudy and not much daylight is expected. Typically, at this time of year you only see eight hours of light per day, but even less sunlight; You will only see an average of three hours of sunshine during this winter month. There are usually around nine rainy days, but snow is rare. Most of the rain is light to moderate, so you don’t have to worry about a downpour spoiling your trip.
What to pack
Like most of Europe in the winter, pack warm sweaters, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a coat. On warmer days, or for formal outings, a dress with stockings can be warm enough for women.
Although it rarely snows in London in December, temperatures are cold enough to warrant packing gloves, a sturdy scarf and boots, or other waterproof shoes. Of course, it is London, which means that an umbrella must be in your suitcase all year round!
December events in London
London is extremely festive in December and many events revolve around Christmas and other holidays. Whether you enjoy shopping or playing sports, there is plenty to do.
- London Christmas Lights: From early November to early January, the annual Christmas light-up is one of London’s biggest holiday events. The lights of Oxford Street draw the largest crowds, as a celebrity usually flips the switch. There are separate events for Regent Street, Covent Garden, Harrods, and more.
- Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – This holiday event is held on the first Thursday in December. London receives a huge Christmas tree from Norway each year as a thank you for the country’s services during WWII. The ceremony is usually accompanied by Christmas carols from the choir in the church of St-Martins-in-the-Fields.
- The Great Christmas Pudding Race: Held in early December, this charity event in which contestants complete a crazy obstacle course while balancing a Christmas pudding on a plate. All while dressed as Santas, reindeer, or elves, of course.
- Spitalfields Winter Festival (Mid-December) – This music festival features opera, folk, classical and contemporary performances in quirky locations in and around Spitalfields in East London.
- London International Horse Show (Mid-December) – This annual event at Olympia attracts more than 80,000 people a year and is one of the largest equestrian festivals in the country.
- Bundle up warm, put on your skates, and visit one of London’s many ice rinks set up at iconic landmarks such as Somerset House, the Tower of London, and the Natural History Museum.
- “January” Sales ( Starting Dec. 26): Get a bargain on “January” sales, which technically start on Boxing Day. Harrods, John Lewis, and Liberty are always reliable options for post-Christmas negotiations.
- New Years Eve Celebrations (December 31): Celebrate the New Years in style at one of London’s many events.
December Travel Tips
- Download an app for a free tube map. London’s underground system is the oldest in the world, but it is also one of the largest and most efficient. It’s a great way to get around the sprawling city, but it can be overwhelming. Downloading a free system map to your phone ensures that you can get where you need to go.
- Reserve hotel rooms and other travel arrangements in advance. While December leads to London’s low season for travel, the holidays are a popular time and will be booked quickly, so make your reservations well in advance.
Wondering what is the best time to visit London? Find our complete guide to the city here.
