British Isles itinerary — December 2026
For the British Isles trip (London, Dublin & Edinburgh), December 2026 is one of the less comfortable months by weather. Daytime highs run from about 7°C / 45°F to 9°C / 48°F across the stops. Plan around 7–9 days for the full London, Dublin & Edinburgh loop.
In this order — about 7–9 days:
- London3 nightsUnited Kingdom
- Dublin2 nightsIreland
- Edinburgh2 nightsUnited Kingdom
- Route noteReserve the longest intercity leg first and keep transfer days free of timed sights.
By TripSapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
London
London in December
TempTemperature
47°F / 39°F
8.1°C / 3.8°C
RainPrecipitation
16d
2.4in · 60.1mm
LightDaylight
8.2h
December is cold and festive, with West End shows, Southbank markets, ice rinks, and Oxford Street lights driving demand.
City overview
London sits on the River Thames, where Westminster, the City, South Kensington, Camden, Shoreditch, Notting Hill, Greenwich, Mayfair, and Covent Garden compress royal government, finance, museums, markets, theatre, and immigrant food into one transport map. The Tube, Elizabeth Line, National Rail terminals, and river piers make the city work as a set of village-like districts rather than one walkable center.
Food & drink
London food spans fish and chips, full English breakfasts, Sunday roasts, pie and mash, Brick Lane curry houses, salt-beef beigels, jellied eels, and modern pub dining. Borough Market, Brick Lane, Chinatown, Brixton Village, Broadway Market, and Southall are the first food map rather than one single restaurant row.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 3
Super Shorts Film Festival London
International Short Film Festival in London.
Source: TripSapien festival dataset
- Dec 1 – Jan 1
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Winter Wonderland
A large festive event in Hyde Park featuring Christmas markets, rides, ice skating, and seasonal entertainment.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 24
Southbank Centre Christmas Market
A traditional Christmas market along the Southbank with crafts, food stalls, and festive performances.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Christmas at Kew Gardens
An illuminated trail through Kew Gardens with festive lights, installations, and seasonal food and drink.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Jan 1
Show all 18 events for December
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Christmas at the Tower of London
Special Christmas-themed tours and events at the historic Tower of London.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
- Dec 1
London Christmas Lights Switch-On
Official switch-on event for London’s Christmas lights, featuring live music and entertainment in central London.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 12
- Dec 1 – Dec 21
- Dec 2 – Jan 1
- Dec 6
- Dec 8
- Dec 10 – Dec 30
The Nutcracker Ballet at the Royal Opera House
A classic Christmas ballet performance by The Royal Ballet, a seasonal highlight in London’s cultural calendar.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 15
Christmas Carol Concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields
A traditional Christmas carol concert held in the iconic church in Trafalgar Square.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 19
- Dec 20
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 28Boxing Day (substitute day)Public holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Victoria and Albert Museum
- 2National Gallery
- 3British Museum
- 4Westminster Abbey
- 5Natural History Museum
- 6Tower Bridge
- 7Tower of London
- 8Buckingham Palace State Rooms
- 9Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge
- 10Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
1Victoria and Albert Museum
4.8★ · 66,846indoorOpen dailyThe V&A in South Kensington holds decorative arts, fashion, sculpture, photography, Islamic art, cast courts, theatre collections, and design objects. It sits beside the Natural History Museum and Science Museum.
Wikipedia
2National Gallery
4.8★ · 61,432indoorOpen dailyThe Trafalgar Square museum opened in 1838 and holds Van Eyck, Leonardo, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat. Charing Cross and Leicester Square stations are short walks away.
Wikipedia
3British Museum
4.7★ · 172,964indoorOpen dailyThe Bloomsbury museum opened to the public in 1759 and displays Egyptian mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Assyrian reliefs, Greek sculpture, prints, coins, and global archaeology. Tottenham Court Road and Holborn stations are the easiest Tube approaches.
Wikipedia
Show 7 more sights
- 4Westminster Abbey
- 5Natural History Museum
- 6Tower Bridge
- 7Tower of London
- 8Buckingham Palace State Rooms
- 9Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge
- 10Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
Neighborhoods
1Westminster and St James's
Westminster is ceremonial and governmental, with Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, St James's Park, Buckingham Palace, and The Mall in one high-security walking zone.
2South Kensington and Chelsea
South Kensington is museum-heavy, with the V&A, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall, Exhibition Road, and Chelsea streets nearby.
3Covent Garden and Soho
Covent Garden and Soho are theatre-and-nightlife dense, with Seven Dials, Neal's Yard, Chinatown, Carnaby Street, West End theatres, and late restaurants.
4Camden and Regent's Canal
Camden is market-led and music-linked, with Camden Lock, Regent's Canal, Roundhouse, street food, tattoo shops, and walks toward Primrose Hill.
5Shoreditch and the City
Shoreditch adds Brick Lane curry houses, street art, Spitalfields Market, bars, and tech offices beside the City's St Paul's, Bank, Leadenhall Market, and skyscrapers.
6Notting Hill and Kensington
Notting Hill has pastel terraces, Portobello Road market, Carnival history, bookshops, and quick access to Kensington Gardens and Holland Park.
Getting around
Transport for London runs the Tube, Elizabeth Line, Overground, DLR, buses, trams, river buses, and contactless/Oyster fares with daily caps. Use the Tube for cross-core trips, the Elizabeth Line for Heathrow and east-west speed, buses for short central hops, and National Rail terminals for day trips.
Dublin
Dublin in December
TempTemperature
47°F / 37°F
8.5°C / 2.6°C
RainPrecipitation
13d
3in · 75mm
LightDaylight
7.3h
Sea
49.1°F
9.5°C
December is wet and festive, with Grafton Street lights, pub sessions, and short daylight shaping plans.
City overview
Dublin sits on the River Liffey where Georgian squares, Viking-medieval lanes, literary pubs, Trinity College, the Liberties, Temple Bar, Smithfield, and St Stephen's Green make a compact city-center route. The city works best on foot, with DART coastal trains and Luas trams extending the map to Howth, Dun Laoghaire, and the docklands.
Food & drink
Dublin food is pub, market, and coast-fed: a full Irish breakfast plates sausage, bacon, eggs, pudding, beans, and tomato, Irish stew slow-cooks lamb or mutton with potatoes, seafood chowder uses Atlantic shellfish, and boxty turns potato into pancakes. The Brazen Head, Moore Street, George's Street Arcade, Temple Bar Food Market, Capel Street, and Howth seafood stops add soda bread, fish and chips, oysters, and Guinness pours.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Dublin Christmas Festival
A month-long celebration featuring Christmas markets, festive lights, street performances, and seasonal activities across Dublin city center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1
- Dec 1 – Jan 1
- Dec 2
- Dec 2 – Dec 31
- Dec 2
Show all 40 events for December
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 3 – Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 5 – Dec 15
Dublin Winter Lights Festival
An outdoor festival featuring spectacular light installations and projections illuminating key landmarks around Dublin.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 7 – Dec 8
- Dec 7
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 24
Christmas at the National Concert Hall
A series of festive concerts including classical, choral, and traditional Irish music performances celebrating the Christmas season.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 11
- Dec 12 – Dec 23
Christmas at Dublin Castle
Seasonal events and exhibitions held within Dublin Castle, including historical tours with a festive theme and special family activities.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 13
- Dec 14
- Dec 15
- Dec 15
- Dec 16
- Dec 17
- Dec 17
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 19 – Jan 1
- Dec 20
- Dec 28
- Dec 28
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26St. Stephen's DayBank holiday
- Dec 28St. Stephen's Day (substitute day)Bank holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Kilmainham Gaol
- 2National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
- 3Christ Church Cathedral
- 4St Patrick's Cathedral
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Temple Bar
- 7Phoenix Park
- 8Trinity College and Book of Kells
- 9Guinness Storehouse
- 10Dublin Castle
1Kilmainham Gaol
4.7★ · 2,817indoorOpen dailyThe jail opened in 1796 and is tied to Irish nationalist prisoners, the 1916 Rising executions, and penal history. It is west of the center near the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
WikipediaGuided tours sell out well ahead; book online as soon as dates open.
2National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology
4.6★ · 14,861indoorOpen dailyThe Kildare Street museum displays the Ardagh Chalice, Tara Brooch, bog bodies, Viking finds, goldwork, and medieval objects. It is beside Leinster House and Merrion Square.
Wikipedia
3Christ Church Cathedral
4.5★ · 11,634indoorOpen dailyThe cathedral was founded around 1030 and rebuilt in stone under the Anglo-Normans, with a crypt, tiles, and medieval city history. It stands near Dublinia and Wood Quay.
Show 7 more sights
- 4St Patrick's Cathedral
- 5EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum
- 6Temple Bar
- 7Phoenix Park
- 8Trinity College and Book of Kells
- 9Guinness Storehouse
- 10Dublin Castle
Neighborhoods
1Temple Bar and College Green
Temple Bar and College Green are central and busy, with pubs, Trinity College, the Irish Whiskey Museum, cobbles, buskers, and river crossings.
2St Stephen's Green and Grafton Street
The southside shopping-and-park district has Grafton Street, Georgian doors, Iveagh Gardens, Little Museum of Dublin, and Merrion Square nearby.
3The Liberties
The Liberties is old and working-class, with Guinness, whiskey distilleries, St Patrick's Cathedral, Francis Street antiques, Thomas Street, and market streets.
4Smithfield and Stoneybatter
Smithfield and Stoneybatter mix the Jameson Bow St. distillery, Lighthouse Cinema, cafes, pubs, apartments, and quick access to Phoenix Park.
5Docklands and Grand Canal Dock
The Docklands feel newer, with EPIC, Samuel Beckett Bridge, Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, tech offices, canals, and riverfront walks.
6Rathmines and Portobello
Rathmines and Portobello are local and food-heavy, with canals, cinemas, pubs, brunch spots, and red-brick residential streets south of the core.
Getting around
Dublin Bus, Luas trams, DART coastal rail, commuter rail, and Leap cards cover the useful visitor network. Walk the center, use Luas for Heuston-Smithfield-Docklands, and use DART for Howth, Malahide, and Dun Laoghaire.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh in December
TempTemperature
44°F / 34°F
6.9°C / 0.9°C
RainPrecipitation
12d
2.6in · 65mm
LightDaylight
6.7h
Sea
46.2°F
7.9°C
December is cold, with Christmas markets and Hogmanay setup making central hotel timing important.
City overview
Edinburgh sits between Castle Rock, Arthur's Seat, and the Firth of Forth, with Old Town closes, New Town crescents, Leith waterfront, Stockbridge streets, Bruntsfield cafes, and Calton Hill viewpoints forming a compact but steep city. Its August festival season changes the city more completely than any single attraction.
Food & drink
Edinburgh food is Scottish staples with a strong pub map: haggis is minced offal, oats, and spice served with neeps and tatties, Cullen skink is smoked-haddock soup, and cranachan folds cream, oats, raspberries, honey, and whisky into dessert. Grassmarket pubs, Stockbridge Market, Leith's Shore restaurants, New Town whisky bars, and chip shops add Scotch pies, shortbread, drams, and fish suppers.
Events & festivals
- Dec 1 – Dec 31
Christmas at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Seasonal displays and festive events including illuminated trails and family activities at the Royal Botanic Garden.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1 – Dec 24
Christmas at the Museum of Edinburgh
Special Christmas-themed exhibitions and family workshops celebrating Edinburgh's festive traditions.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 1
- Dec 1
- Dec 2 – Dec 30
- Dec 3
Show all 33 events for December
- Dec 5 – Dec 31
Edinburgh Christmas Market
A festive market featuring traditional crafts, food stalls, and seasonal entertainment in the heart of Edinburgh's city center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 6 – Dec 29
THE FURTHER PANTOMIME ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN: THE RETURN OF CPT HOOK
Arts & Theatre · Circus & Specialty Acts.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 7
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 20
Edinburgh International Festival: Winter Concert Series
A series of classical music concerts featuring international artists as part of the Edinburgh International Festival's winter programming.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
The Big Christmas Sing A-Long with Aled Jones and Alexander Armstrong
Arts & Theatre · Classical.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 13
- Dec 17
- Dec 18 – Dec 27
The Nutcracker Ballet at Edinburgh Playhouse
A traditional performance of The Nutcracker ballet, a holiday favorite held at the historic Edinburgh Playhouse.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
- Dec 29 – Jan 1
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: TripSapien festival dataset
- Dec 29
Source: TripSapien festival dataset
- Dec 30
- Dec 31
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party
The world-famous New Year's Eve street party with live music, DJs, and fireworks in Edinburgh's city center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 31
- Dec 31
Holidays & observances
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 28Boxing Day (substitute day)Public holiday
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park
- 2Calton Hill
- 3Royal Mile
- 4Princes Street Gardens and Scott Monument
- 5Edinburgh Castle
- 6Palace of Holyroodhouse
- 7National Museum of Scotland
- 8Royal Yacht Britannia
- 9Scottish National Gallery
- 10Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
1Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park
4.8★ · 4,771outdoorThe extinct volcano rises 251m above the city, with paths from Holyrood, Duddingston, and the Salisbury Crags. Views reach the Castle, Firth of Forth, and Pentland Hills.
2Calton Hill
4.8★ · 6,446outdoorThe hill east of Princes Street has the National Monument, Nelson Monument, Dugald Stewart Monument, and one of the classic skyline views toward the Castle and Arthur's Seat. It is a short climb from Waterloo Place.
Wikipedia
3Royal Mile
4.7★ · 23,477outdoorThe Old Town spine runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace through Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate, closes, churches, pubs, and souvenir shops. It is steep, crowded, and central to most first-time walks.
Wikipedia
Show 7 more sights
- 4Princes Street Gardens and Scott Monument
- 5Edinburgh Castle
- 6Palace of Holyroodhouse
- 7National Museum of Scotland
- 8Royal Yacht Britannia
- 9Scottish National Gallery
- 10Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Neighborhoods
1Old Town
Old Town is medieval and vertical, with the Royal Mile, Grassmarket, Greyfriars, Victoria Street, closes, pubs, ghost tours, and festival venues.
2New Town
New Town is Georgian and ordered, with Princes Street, George Street, Queen Street Gardens, galleries, shopping, and hotels.
3Leith
Leith is port-city and food-led, with the Shore, Royal Yacht Britannia, Water of Leith paths, seafood restaurants, pubs, and tram links.
4Stockbridge
Stockbridge is village-like, with Sunday market, Raeburn Place, Dean Village access, Water of Leith walks, and independent shops.
5Bruntsfield and Morningside
Bruntsfield and Morningside are local and cafe-heavy, with Meadows access, cinemas, bakeries, bookstores, and tenement streets.
6Southside and Marchmont
Southside and Marchmont are student-and-festival districts, with University of Edinburgh buildings, the Meadows, theatres, pubs, and August venues.
Getting around
Lothian Buses, Edinburgh Trams, airport tram service, and contactless day caps cover most visitor moves. Walk the Old Town-New Town core, use trams for airport-Leith links, and expect steep climbs between Waverley, the Royal Mile, and the Castle.
Planning the British Isles route?
Add your dates and we'll pace all 3 cities — every place checked for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Weather by month for the British Isles trip
In December, the British Isles trip runs daytime highs from 7°C / 45°F to 9°C / 48°F, with nights down to about 1°C / 34°F at the coolest stop. Climate averages show about 13 rainy days at the rainiest stop. Weighed across all 3 stops, December is one of the less comfortable months by weather.
The most comfortable months across London, Dublin & Edinburgh are August, July and June, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at every stop. December 2026 is a lower-comfort month.
Common questions about the British Isles trip
- When is the best time to do the British Isles trip?
- The most comfortable months across London, Dublin, Edinburgh are August, July and June, based on average daytime temperatures and rainfall at each stop. December is one of the less comfortable months by weather — see the per-stop weather below for the climate averages in December 2026.
- How many days do you need for the British Isles trip?
- A comfortable British Isles trip runs about 7–9 days, allowing roughly London 3, Dublin 2, Edinburgh 2 nights plus travel between stops. Add a day if you want a slower pace or extra day trips.
- What's the route for the British Isles trip?
- The classic order is London, Dublin & Edinburgh. Each city below has its own December weather, any available event listings, and a top-sights list.
Ready to plan the British Isles trip?
Turn this route into a day-by-day plan for December 2026, every stop checked for closures and booking needs on your exact dates.