The month of December has many surprises in store! In addition to the traditional Christmas markets, London dresses for the holidays with its most beautiful lights. The Christmas decorations and lively department store windows will surprise you with their originality and creativity.
Sports activities are also on the program such as skating, an equestrian competition and more unusual the swimming race in the icy waters of Hyde Park and the Christmas pudding race in Covent Garden !!
First of all, if you want to get a bird's-eye view of the Christmas lights without having to walk, enjoy the 60s routemaster rides. During this 1 hour 15 minute tour, you will see the Oxford Street lights in particular. , Regent Street, Harrods and more.
Information and reservation
Mamma Mia! The Party is a theatrical dinner in a setting that is intended to be the replica of the tavern from the film with Meryl Streep.
For four hours, enjoy a spectacular show, a gourmet three-course Mediterranean meal and an ABBA nightclub to dance to !!!
Information and reservations on the London Box Office website.
When? 22 September 2019 - 16 February 2020
Or ? The 02 Arena
Price : 180 €
Metro
bus |
| North Greenwich | 108, 129, 132, 161, 188, 422, 472, 486 |
Conceived by the German professor Gunther von Hagens, the Body Worlds exhibition aims to explain the mysteries and the transformations of the organism by relying on real human bodies.
This traveling exhibition presents a total of 200 bodies and organs kept intact thanks to plastination, a technique for preserving human bodies invented by Gunther von Hagens.
With over 45 million visitors, Body Worlds Vital is one of the most visited health exhibitions in the world. Often described as a "life changing experience", Body Worlds will give you a better understanding of the complexity of the human body.
Information and reservations at the British Tourist Office
When? Until October 1, 2020
Or ? London Pavilion at Piccadilly Circus
Price : 27 €
Metro
bus |
| Piccadilly Circus | 3, 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22, 23, 38, 88, 94, 139, 453 |
After its immense success in Paris, the exhibition “Tutankhamun, the Pharaoh's treasure” travels to London for the third meeting of its world tour, which began in 2018, on the occasion of the centenary of the discovery of the tomb.
For 7 months, the Saatchi gallery, a contemporary art museum, accommodates 150 objects found in 1922 in the tomb of the young pharaoh, 60 of which came out of Egypt for the first time.
Information and reservations on the Ticketmaster website.
When? November 2, 2019 - May 3, 2020
Or ? Saatchi Gallery
Price : £ 37.40
Metro
bus |
| Sloane Square | 11, 19, 22, 49, 137, 211, 319, 360 |
Since October 7, 2019, the National Gallery presents some fifty works by Gauguin including paintings, works on paper and various objects, from public and private collections around the world.
This first exhibition devoted to the portraits of Paul Gauguin, shows how the French artist revolutionized the portrait from his early years as an artist to his last years spent in French Polynesia.
Top deals : With your Eurostar train ticket, benefit from theoffers 2 for 1 to get two tickets for the price of one or book your tickets online, on the museum's website to save £ 2 per ticket!
Information and reservation on the museum website
When? December 1, 2019 - January 26, 2020
Or ? National Gallery
Price : £ 22- £ 24
The National Gallery is launching the “Leonardo Da Vinci Immersive Experience” during which the secrets of the artist's masterpiece are revealed in four distinct spaces. These four rooms include projections showing the use of light and shadow and a workshop showing how restorers can look beneath the surface of the painting.
At the end of the visit, you will discover the original masterpiece that can be found on the walls of an imaginary chapel in order to allow you to contemplate how the “Virgin of the Rocks” could have appeared in its original setting.
Top deals : With your Eurostar train ticket, benefit from theoffers 2 for 1 to get two tickets for the price of one or book your tickets online, on the museum's website to save £ 2 per ticket!
Information and reservation on the museum website
When? December 1 - January 12, 2020
Or ? National Gallery
Price : £ 16- £ 18
Metro
bus |
| Charing Cross, Leicester Square | 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 24, 87, 91, 139, 176 |
Since 1947, Oslo has given the city of London a Christmas tree every year, in gratitude for the UK's support for Norway during World War II.
The inauguration of this tree of more than 20m in height, is held on the 1st Thursday of December at 18 p.m. in Trafalgar where the mayor of Westminster and the ambassador of Norway illuminate the spruce with more than 500 lights.
After the festivities, traditional Christmas carols are given from the December 9 to 24, 2019 (except December 14 and 22, 2019) from 16:00 p.m. to 21:00 p.m. on weekdays and weekends from 14:00 p.m. to 19:00 p.m.
When? December 6, 2018 - January 1, 2019
Metro
bus |
| Trafalgar Square | 3, 6, 12, 13, 23, 88, 139, 159, 453, N3, N13, N109, N113 |
Here is an unusual and good-natured event where participants run in disguise with the aim of not dropping the pudding!
Besides the good atmosphere, the course de pudding is a charitable action because it raises funds for the Cancer Research UK association. You can attend this race as a runner or spectator!
When? Saturday December 7 2019
Metro
bus |
Covent Garden, Leicester Square
| 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 139, 153 |
London is the ideal destination to discover magnificent christmas lights ! Each year, the city of London offers a different theme. You can come to London year after year, you won't see the same decorations !!
To see the most beautiful illuminations, I advise you to go to the main shopping streets: Oxford Street, Regend Street or Covent Garden.
Do not hesitate to go to alleys like Carnaby Street or covered passages, you will be surprised !!
When? November 8, 2019 - January 5, 2020
Christmas windows are an attraction in themselves! And even if you know the Christmas windows of Parisian department stores, you will undoubtedly be even more amazed by those of the British capital!
They are colorful, lively, inventive and each year the stores offer a different theme.
I recommend the windows of the following stores: Harrods, Selfridges, J, Liberty, Fortnum & Masson
When? November-January 2020
In London, the Christmas markets offer many attractions such as rides, shows, crafts and cabins to eat without forgetting the skating rinks.
The most famous are those of Winter Wonderland and Winterville which are real amusement parks where you can share activities with friends or family.
When? November 2019 - January 2020
In London, the ice rinks are located in exceptional places, whether in the Christmas markets or at the foot of the most beautiful monuments of London. People come here with friends or family to have fun or improve their skating thanks to group or individual lessons.
And since the British are sensitive to people with reduced mobility, some ice rinks reserve time slots for people in wheelchairs.
When? October 2019 - February 2020
Here is a meeting that will amaze children! It is indeed possible to see Santa Claus in his cave in the Christmas markets or certain department stores such as Hamleys, Harrods, Selfridges…
When? From the beginning of November to December 24, 2019
For a week, the Olympia hall on Hammersmith Road welcomes all equestrian disciplines: show jumping (CSO), dressage, jumping, acrobatics, carousels and pony races.
The London Horse Show is the most important equestrian event in England, bringing together the best riders in the world.
Information and reservation on the See Tickets website
When? 16 - 22 December 2019
Every year at Hyde Park, the members - and only themselves - of the Serpentine Swim Club compete in a 91-meter race in the frozen waters of the park's lake. A ritual not to be missed !!
When? Departure on Monday, December 25, 2019 at 9 a.m. near the Serpentine Café.
Metro
bus |
| Lancaster Gate, Marble Arch, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge, Queensway | 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 30, 36, 38, 52, 73, 74, 82, 137, 148, 274, 390, 414, 436 |
From December 26, during the traditional Boxing Day, the winter sales begin, which last about a month.
On the occasion of New Year's Eve, the city of London shoots fireworks on the banks of the Thames, at the level of the London Eye.
To gain access to one of the 5 viewing areas (along the Thames and on the Waterloo and Westminster bridges) you will need to purchase a ticket for £ 10. To do this, register from October on the Mayor of London site to be informed of the opening of sales.
You can also get a nice view of the fireworks display for free by heading in the early evening to Primrose Hill, Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath or the iconic Tower Bridge ! Wherever you decide to go, plan ahead and anticipate your arrival!
