London events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, plus British Museum. December in London averages 8°C / 47°F highs, 4°C / 39°F nights, and about 16 rainy days.
Expect 8°C/47°F days and about 16 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Victoria and Albert Museum★ 4.8 · 66.8k reviewsThe V&A in South Kensington holds decorative arts, fashion, sculpture, photography, Islamic art, cast courts, theatre collections, and design objects.
- National Gallery★ 4.8 · 61.4k reviewsThe Trafalgar Square museum opened in 1838 and holds Van Eyck, Leonardo, Titian, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh, and Seurat.
- Super Shorts Film Festival LondonDec 1 – Dec 3Source: festival calendar
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
London in December 2026
Weather
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.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- 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
Show all 17 events for December
- 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
- 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 & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 28Boxing Day (substitute day)Public holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 28Long weekend
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
- Dec 26-Dec 28Long weekend
About London
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.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1British Museum
- 2Westminster Abbey
- 3Natural History Museum
- 4Tower Bridge
- 5Tower of London
- 6Buckingham Palace State Rooms
- 7Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge
- 8Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
1British 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
2Westminster Abbey
4.6★ · 51,061indoorThe Gothic abbey church was largely built under Henry III from 1245 and remains the coronation church and burial place for monarchs, poets, scientists, and statesmen. It stands beside Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster station.
WikipediaAbbey entry uses timed tickets; worship services are not sightseeing slots.
3Natural History Museum
4.6★ · 35,091indoorOpen dailyAlfred Waterhouse designed the Romanesque museum building, which opened in 1881 on Cromwell Road. Dinosaur skeletons, Hintze Hall, minerals, mammals, and earth-science galleries sit above South Kensington station tunnels.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Tower Bridge
- 5Tower of London
- 6Buckingham Palace State Rooms
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.
Day trips
90km / about 1h by train from London Paddington or Marylebone
Oxford
College quads, Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Ashmolean Museum, covered market, and river punts make the easiest university day.
185km / about 90min by Great Western Railway from London Paddington
Bath
Roman Baths, Georgian crescents, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, and compact streets work as a full day by rail.
35km / 35-50min by train from Paddington or Waterloo
Windsor
Windsor Castle, St George's Chapel, Eton, and Thames paths make the closest royal day trip.
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.
Planning a London trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about London in December
- Best rainy-day things to do in London in December
December averages 16 rainy days in London, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- Victoria and Albert Museum — The 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.
- National Gallery — The 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.
- British Museum — The 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.
- Westminster Abbey — The Gothic abbey church was largely built under Henry III from 1245 and remains the coronation church and burial place for monarchs, poets, scientists, and statesmen. It stands beside Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster station.
- Natural History Museum — Alfred Waterhouse designed the Romanesque museum building, which opened in 1881 on Cromwell Road. Dinosaur skeletons, Hintze Hall, minerals, mammals, and earth-science galleries sit above South Kensington station tunnels.
- What to pack for London in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic London checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 8°C / 47°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 4°C / 39°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 16 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in London
- 4 days covers the main London highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Ready to plan London?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day London plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.