The Best Things to do in London this Winter

“With its frost-covered parks and Christmas lights twinkling off the Thames, London is a magical place to be during the colder months. Shop at a Christmas market, ring in the New Year or catch a one-time exhibition. Here are the best things to do in London this winter:

1. Explore the Christmas Markets
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Go gift shopping in London’s Christmas markets. For handmade crafts and sweet treats, head to the Wintertime Market on the Southbank, where the wooden chalets create a festive Nordic feel. Or, for one-of-a-kind antiques and artworks, take a walk around the Apple Market in Covent Garden, transformed for the season with silver reindeer and lights.

2. Chill at a Pop-Up Bar
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Chill is meant both figuratively and literally at Bar Ice. This pop-up bar is part of the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. The temperature is a constant -10°C (there are cloaks and gloves provided but wrap up warm) and drinks come in an ice-carved glass. Sessions last 20 minutes, so afterwards, head into the Bavarian Village and warm up with a hot cider and bratwurst. The Winter Wonderland is open 21 November 2019­-5 January 2020.

3. Catch a Panto with a Difference
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If Dick Whittington has left you unsatisfied, visit The Vaults. This year, the underground theatre is performing its Aladdin and the Feast of Wonders panto. The immersive theatre and dining experience invites you to tuck into street food and sip cocktails while you watch drag and cabaret acts. Shows run until 15 January 2020.

6. Don a Hat for the London Santa Run
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This annual run sees a sea of Santas racing through Victoria Park for charity. If you want to join in, you can sign up for a 5k or 10k route and select a charity to raise £100 for. Or simply stand on the side lines and cheer on the jolly racers in red. Watch the race on 8 December 2019.

4. See the Winter Lights Festival
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When the lights on Oxford Street go out, cross the river to Canary Wharf for the annual light installations. Walk through interactive trees, rainbows and prisms, created by artists from across the globe. Catch the festival 16-20 January 2020.

5. Celebrate the Year of the Rat
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Watch the colourful parade of dragons and lions make its way through the West End, bringing in the Chinese New Year. There are celebrations across central London, but in Trafalgar Square you can watch Chinese dance and music shows before diving into China Town for some authentic eats. The main celebrations take place on 26 January 2020.

7. Visit Hogwarts in the Snow
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Each year, the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour rekindles the festive scenes in the films. See the Christmas trees lit up in the Great Hall and the decorations prepared for the Yule Ball. The Gryffindor common room overlooks with treats and real fires roar in the fireplaces. At the end of the tour, the model of Hogwarts Castle is covered in snow, too. The studio’s Christmas celebrations run 16 November 2019-26 January 2020.

8. Enter the Upside Down with Secret Cinema
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Head back to the 80s at the Stranger Things Secret Cinema. This year, the team behind the cult cinema experience have turned an undisclosed London space into Hawkins, complete with a live-action cast of Eleven and co. It runs 13 November 2019-23 February 2020.

9. Catch an Exhibition
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See how high-street fashion transformed during the Sixties at the V&A’s Mary Quant exhibition. Expect mini dresses, make-up and never-before-seen pieces from the designer’s personal archives. Catch the exhibit before 16 February 2020.

10. Find a New Favourite Director at the London Short Film Festival
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Cinemas around the capital host the annual London Short Film Festival, 10-19 January 2020. Animations, dramas and comedies treat you to a showcase of new writers and directors. If you’re a bit of a film buff, you can get in on the action and join talks and networking events, too.

11. Ring in the New Year
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Welcome 2020 watching the annual fireworks light up the Thames. Even when tickets sell out, you can still see the show from multiple points across the city. For a close-up view, try Millennium Bridge (which is accessible without a ticket). Primrose Hill or Hampstead Heath are both romantic spots to hunker down with a blanket and flask of something hot to see the fireworks from afar.

12. Visit Father Christmas
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The jolly man in red has taken time out of his busy schedule to meet and greet little ones. See him for free at The Winter Forest near Liverpool Street Station. This once-a-year winter wonderland has something for the adults, too, hosting gin-tasting events and pub quizzes. 6 November-20 December 2019.

### Plan A Winter Break in London

If you’re visiting the capital to welcome in 2020 or for a spot of late Christmas shopping, find London hotels with Expedia.”