FamilyHolidaysCity break

Five days · London at Christmas with kids

London at Christmas with kids: museums, the lights and a winter fair in the park

Reviewed Oct 21, 2026How we verify

Five December days in London at a kid’s pace, from one base in South Kensington: the free museums on day one, the Tower of London and Borough Market on day two, the West End lights on day three, a train day to the studios at Leavesden, and Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland to finish.

HolidaysFamily TimeCity Lights

5 days / 4 nights Best late Nov–early Jan Family

Original illustrated itinerary artwork

The Covent Garden Christmas tree lit up at night beside the old market building — **Covent Garden at Christmas** · the tree outside the old market hall

The trip in 60 seconds

Trip at a glance

Who it’s for: Families with children from about six to twelve who want London’s Christmas lights, big free museums and one special day out, without changing hotels
Route: Natural History Museum & Science Museum → the Tower of London, Tower Bridge & Borough Market → Covent Garden & the West End lights → Warner Bros. Studio Tour London at Leavesden → Kensington Gardens & Hyde Park Winter Wonderland
Best timing: Late November to early January, when the street lights are up and Winter Wonderland is open; mid-December weekends are the busiest, and most museums close 24–26 December
Pace: Easy to moderate: one big outing each morning, an indoor or sit-down break after lunch, and the lights after dark, which comes before 4 PM in December
Sleep: Four nights in one base in South Kensington, next to the museums and a short walk from Hyde Park
Getting there: Fly into Heathrow; the Piccadilly line runs direct to South Kensington in about 50 minutes. In town you need no car: the Tube, buses and your feet do it all
Rough budget: The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are free; the Tower of London, the Studio Tour and Winter Wonderland entry are paid, timed tickets booked ahead on their own sites. Children under 11 ride the Tube free with a paying adult
Good to know: Book the Studio Tour first: Christmas dates sell out weeks ahead

Reviewed Oct 21, 2026How we verify

Illustration: route map of the five days, an illustrated bird’s-eye view of London in winter with the Thames curving through and numbered pins at South Kensington (Day 1), Tower Bridge (Day 2), the West End (Day 3), the studios at Leavesden (Day 4) and Kensington Palace (Day 5) — London in five days · one South Kensington base, the Tube and one train day

Postcards from the trip

Colourful hanging Christmas decorations over Carnaby Street at night — **Carnaby Street** · turn in off Regent Street on the lights walk

The tall Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square beside the fountains and the National Gallery — **Trafalgar Square’s tree** · go in daylight for photos with the lions

Crowds under the Borough Market sign and glass roof by London Bridge — **Borough Market** · arrive before noon, when the crowds are thinner

The wooden pirate ship in the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens — **The pirate ship** · go early; the playground closes at dusk in winter

The idea

Five Christmas days in London with kids: a blue whale, a castle, the lights and a fair in the park.

London in December is dark early, often damp and full of light. The big shopping streets hang their Christmas lights from early November, the squares put up their trees, and a winter fair fills the east end of Hyde Park. For children it also has some of the best free museums anywhere, most of them in one neighbourhood: South Kensington, where this plan is based.

Day 1 is the arrival and the museums on Exhibition Road. Day 2 is the Tower of London, a walk over Tower Bridge and lunch at Borough Market. Day 3 is Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and the West End lights after dark. Day 4 is a train day out to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London at Leavesden, dressed for the season. Day 5 is Kensington Palace, the pirate-ship playground in Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland.

Want a US city at Christmas instead? See New York at Christmas or Boston at Christmas with kids. For another family trip in Europe, try the first-timer’s Italy. More trips for every season are on the trips page.

Day-by-day summary

Hintze Hall in the Natural History Museum, with a blue whale skeleton hanging under the arched roof

Day 1 · Thursday · on footSouth KensingtonArrival, the Natural History Museum’s whale and dinosaurs, and the Science Museum next door.

Tower Bridge lit at dusk over the River Thames

Day 2 · Friday · by Tube and on footThe Tower & Borough MarketThe Tower of London, a walk over Tower Bridge and lunch at Borough Market, then the South Bank.

Glowing angel-shaped Christmas lights hanging over Regent Street at night

Day 3 · Saturday · by Tube and on footThe West End LightsCovent Garden’s tree, Trafalgar Square and the Christmas lights of Regent Street after dark.

The long Great Hall set at the Warner Bros. studio at Leavesden, with tables and costumes

Day 4 · Sunday · by Tube, train and shuttle busThe Studio Tour at LeavesdenA train out to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, the sets in their Christmas dress, and dinner back in Kensington.

Kensington Palace, a red-brick palace with a statue in front and a path across the lawn

Day 5 · Monday · on footKensington Palace & Hyde ParkKensington Palace, the pirate-ship playground and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland at dusk.

The route

Five days, one base, the Tube

The museums, a castle and a market, the lights, one train day and the park, four nights in the same room.

Illustration: a vast terracotta museum hall with a glass and iron roof, a great whale skeleton hanging overhead and small children looking up from the staircase, illustrated day card for Day 1

01The whale · the museums

Base: a family hotel or apartment in South Kensington, all four nights. From Heathrow, the Piccadilly line runs direct to South Kensington station in about 50 minutes. The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum sit side by side on Exhibition Road, a 5-minute walk from the station, and both are free. Pace: easy: overnight-flight families should keep today to two museums, a long lunch and an early dinner.

Arrival and a tea-shop breakfast

Most flights from North America land early in the morning. Ride the Piccadilly line in from Heathrow, drop your bags at the hotel, and keep everyone moving until the evening: daylight and food are the best cure for the time change.

Where to eat: have breakfast at The Muffin Man Tea Shop, an old-fashioned tea room off Kensington High Street, about 15 minutes on foot or one bus stop from a South Kensington base. Order eggs on toast, a pot of tea and, of course, a toasted muffin.

Buy a contactless card or set up your phone to pay at the Tube gates; children under 11 travel free with a paying adult, so most families only need adult fares.

The Natural History Museum: the whale and the dinosaurs

Walk to the Natural History Museum on Cromwell Road, a cathedral-like building covered in carved terracotta animals. Inside, Hintze Hall has a blue whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling, and the dinosaur gallery is the one every child asks for first.

Entry is free, but in school holidays the museum asks visitors to book a free timed slot online, and the queue for the dinosaur gallery builds by late morning. The museum opens at 10 AM and closes 24–26 December.

Expert tip: go to the dinosaur gallery first and Hintze Hall second. The dinosaur walkway is one-way and gets slow by midday, while the whale looks just as good at any hour.

Lunch on Exhibition Road and the Science Museum

Where to eat: lunch at Comptoir Libanais by South Kensington station, between the two museums, with mezze plates, wraps and flatbreads the whole table can share.

Spend the afternoon at the Science Museum next door, also free. Start with the space and flight galleries, where real rockets and aircraft hang overhead, and look for the hands-on Wonderlab, a paid interactive gallery with live shows that is worth it for children who need to move after a long flight.

If anyone is flagging, the museum cafés and the benches in the Natural History Museum’s gardens are good places to sit for half an hour.

Pizza on Gloucester Road and an early night

Where to eat: dinner at Da Mario on Gloucester Road, a relaxed family pizzeria a short walk from the base. It gets lively at peak times, so go early.

Walk back past the museums lit up after dark, then call it a night. Tomorrow starts across town at the Tower of London.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · The Muffin Man Tea Shop — Eggs on toast, toasted muffins and a pot of tea. Why here: A short walk from a South Kensington base, an easy first breakfast of eggs, toast and tea while everyone adjusts to the time change.
Lunch · Comptoir Libanais South Kensington — Mezze plates, wraps and flatbreads to share. Why here: By South Kensington station, between the two museums, with mezze plates kids can share.
Dinner · Da Mario — Pizza and pasta for the whole table. Why here: On Gloucester Road near the base, a relaxed family pizzeria for the first night. Well reviewed for its pizzas; lively and can be noisy at peak times.
Quick stop (snack): Natural History Museum — A drink and a snack at one of the museum’s cafés. Why here: it is the easy rest stop between the whale in Hintze Hall and the dinosaur gallery, without leaving the building.

Stay awake until dinner. A day of museums and fresh air on London time, then an early night, beats a long afternoon nap that leaves the kids wide awake at midnight.

Heathrow → South Kensington: about 50 minutes on the Piccadilly line. South Kensington → The Muffin Man Tea Shop: about 15 minutes on foot. South Kensington station → the Natural History Museum: about 5 minutes on foot. Natural History Museum → Science Museum: next door. Exhibition Road → Da Mario, Gloucester Road: about 10 minutes on foot.

Where to stay

A family hotel or apartment in South Kensington — a family room or apartment near South Kensington station, close to the museums; ask the hotel to hold bags if you land before check-in.
A room near Gloucester Road — or a room near Gloucester Road station, one stop west on the same lines.

Dinner: pizza at Da Mario on Gloucester Road.

Tomorrow: the District or Circle line to Tower Hill, about 30 minutes.

Bad-weather plan

Rain is normal in a London December, and today is already indoors. If the flight is badly delayed, skip the Science Museum, keep the whale and the dinosaurs, and have an early dinner.

Stay: South Kensington base · Anchor: the blue whale · dinosaurs first

Good to know: Children under 11 travel free on the Tube and buses with a paying adult; adults tap in and out with a contactless card or phone.

Illustration: a parent and child in winter coats walking a riverside path at blue hour, with Tower Bridge lit over the Thames behind them, illustrated day card for Day 2

02The Tower · the market

Base: the same South Kensington room. Take the District or Circle line east to Tower Hill, about 30 minutes. Book Tower of London tickets ahead on the Historic Royal Palaces site; it closes 24–26 December. Borough Market, across the river, is free to walk around. Pace: moderate: a long morning on your feet at the Tower, about 2 kilometres of riverside walking and a sit-down lunch.

Breakfast at Tower Hill

Where to eat: eat breakfast at LEON Tower Hill, next to the station, with warm breakfast boxes, porridge and pastries, so you are first in line when the Tower opens.

Walk two minutes down to the moat. The Tower of London is a castle almost a thousand years old, with high stone walls, a white keep in the middle and the ravens that, the story goes, must never leave.

The Tower of London and the Crown Jewels

Go straight to the Crown Jewels in the Jewel House, before the line builds: a moving walkway carries you past the crowns, sceptres and the royal orb. Then join one of the Yeoman Warders, the guards in dark blue and red known as Beefeaters, for their free talk around the grounds; they are funny, a little gruesome, and great with children.

Leave time for the White Tower’s armour and the walk along the walls, where you can look out over Tower Bridge and the river.

Expert tip: book the first entry slot and see the Crown Jewels before anything else. The queue for the Jewel House is the longest at the Tower by late morning, and young children last longer in the castle once the jewels are done.

Over Tower Bridge to Borough Market

Walk across Tower Bridge, the twin-towered bridge next to the castle, and follow the river path west past the old warships and wharves to London Bridge. Borough Market is just south of it, about a 20-minute walk in all. If small legs are tired, take the Tube one stop instead.

Where to eat: grab a doughnut at Bread Ahead inside the market, while the adults browse the stalls of cheese, mince pies and mulled-wine spices. Then have lunch at Padella on the edge of the market, where fresh pasta suits picky eaters; it takes no bookings, so join the queue or the online waiting list early.

The South Bank and dinner by the river

In the afternoon, walk west along the South Bank past Shakespeare’s Globe and Tate Modern, where seasonal stalls and lights line the river in December. On a dark winter afternoon the views back across the water to St Paul’s Cathedral glow.

Where to eat: dinner at Wahaca Southbank, by the riverside stalls, with casual Mexican plates for the whole family. Ride the Tube home from Waterloo or Embankment.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · LEON Tower Hill — Breakfast boxes, porridge and pastries. Why here: Next to Tower Hill station, a quick breakfast before the Tower of London opens.
Lunch · Padella Borough Market — Fresh pasta in small plates. Why here: At Borough Market across London Bridge, fresh pasta that suits picky eaters.
Dinner · Wahaca Southbank — Tacos and Mexican plates to share. Why here: On the South Bank by the winter riverside stalls, casual Mexican plates for the whole family.
Quick stop (bakery): Bread Ahead Borough Market — A filled doughnut from the bakery stall. Why here: Inside Borough Market, a doughnut break while the adults browse the stalls.

Book the Tower’s first slot of the day. Timed tickets keep entry moving, and the first hour is the calmest time for the Crown Jewels and the walls.

South Kensington → Tower Hill: about 30 minutes on the District or Circle line. Tower of London → Tower Bridge: about 5 minutes on foot. Tower Bridge → Borough Market along the river: about 20 minutes on foot. Borough Market → Wahaca Southbank: about 25 minutes on foot along the South Bank. Waterloo → South Kensington: about 25 minutes by Tube.

Where to stay

A family hotel or apartment in South Kensington — the same South Kensington room.
A room near Gloucester Road — or the same Gloucester Road room.

Dinner: at Wahaca Southbank, by the river.

Tomorrow: the Piccadilly line to Covent Garden, about 15 minutes.

Bad-weather plan

Heavy rain? Keep the Tower in the morning (the Jewel House and the White Tower are indoors), skip the river walk and take the Tube one stop to London Bridge for the market, which is mostly covered.

Stay: same base · Anchor: the Crown Jewels · first slot at the Tower

Good to know: Borough Market stall days and hours vary, and some traders close early in the week; check the market’s site before you go.

Illustration: a child’s knitted mittens wrapped around a steaming mug of hot chocolate, with glowing angel-shaped Christmas lights soft behind, illustrated day card for Day 3

03Covent Garden · the lights

Base: the same room. The Piccadilly line runs from South Kensington to Covent Garden in about 15 minutes. Everything today is on foot in the West End, about 3 kilometres in all. The squares, trees and street lights are free; the Regent Street angels are lit from about 3 PM each day. Pace: moderate: a slow morning, a long lunch, a short rest, then the lights walk after dark.

Breakfast and the tree in Covent Garden

Where to eat: start with breakfast at Dishoom Covent Garden, near the big Christmas tree, where bacon naan rolls and a children’s menu keep everyone happy. It is a family favourite, so arrive soon after opening or expect a queue.

Walk into the piazza. Covent Garden puts up one of London’s biggest Christmas trees outside the old market building, with giant decorations hanging inside, and street performers draw crowds on the cobbles from late morning.

The London Transport Museum and Trafalgar Square

In the corner of the piazza, the London Transport Museum is full of old red buses, Tube trains and trams that children can climb aboard; tickets are paid, and children go free with an adult. Plan about an hour and a half.

Walk down to Trafalgar Square, where a tall Norwegian spruce stands every December, given by the city of Oslo each year since 1947 as a thank-you for Britain’s help in the Second World War. The stone lions at the foot of Nelson’s Column are a classic family photo.

Toys, lunch and Christmas windows

Walk up Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus to Hamleys, the giant toy shop, with seven floors of demonstrations and an easy hour to fill.

Where to eat: lunch at wagamama on Great Marlborough Street, a block off Regent Street behind Hamleys and Carnaby Street, with quick noodle bowls and a kids’ menu. Then walk back down to Piccadilly for Fortnum & Mason, the old department store famous for its Christmas windows; pick up a hot chocolate or a tin of biscuits to take home.

Go back to the hotel for a rest, or find a café, before the lights: dark comes before 4 PM in December.

The lights walk and dinner at Rules

After dark, walk Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus north with the curve ahead of you, under the glowing Spirit of Christmas angels, then cut into Carnaby Street for its own bright lights and on to Oxford Circus. Go back down by the side streets to Covent Garden.

Expert tip: walk the lights on a weekday evening if you can, not a Saturday. The pavements on Regent Street and Oxford Street are packed on December weekends, and with children a quieter evening means you can stop and look up.

Where to eat: dinner at Rules on Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, opened in 1798 and known for its Christmas decorations, for one special family dinner. Book well ahead and ask for an early table. The Piccadilly line takes you home from Covent Garden.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Dishoom Covent Garden — Bacon naan rolls, porridge and the children’s menu. Why here: In Covent Garden near the big Christmas tree, breakfast before the lights walk, with a children's menu. A family favourite, well reviewed for its breakfasts; expect a queue.
Lunch · wagamama Great Marlborough Street — Noodle bowls, rice dishes and the kids’ menu. Why here: At 42 Great Marlborough Street, a block off Regent Street by Hamleys and Carnaby, a quick noodle lunch with a kids’ menu on the lights walk.
Dinner · Rules — Classic British dishes for one special dinner. Why here: In Covent Garden, London's oldest restaurant, known for its Christmas decorations, for one special family dinner.
Quick stop (snack): Fortnum & Mason — The Christmas windows and a treat to take home. Why here: On Piccadilly on the lights walk, a look at the Christmas windows and a treat to take home.

Rest before the lights. A short break at the hotel in the afternoon means the kids have energy for the lights walk, which is the highlight of the day.

South Kensington → Covent Garden: about 15 minutes on the Piccadilly line. Covent Garden → Trafalgar Square: about 10 minutes on foot. Trafalgar Square → Piccadilly Circus: about 5 minutes. Piccadilly Circus → Hamleys: about 5 minutes. Hamleys → wagamama, Great Marlborough Street: about 3 minutes. Regent Street → Oxford Circus and back to Rules, Covent Garden: about 30 minutes on foot.

Where to stay

A family hotel or apartment in South Kensington — the same South Kensington room.
A room near Gloucester Road — or the same Gloucester Road room.

Dinner: at Rules in Covent Garden; book ahead.

Tomorrow: the Tube to Euston, then a train to Watford Junction, about 1 hour door to door.

Bad-weather plan

On a very wet day, swap the order: the London Transport Museum and Hamleys first, lunch indoors, and the lights from under an umbrella at dusk. The West End lights look even better reflected on wet pavements.

Stay: same base · Anchor: the Regent Street angels · rest before the lights

Good to know: West End pavements are crowded on December weekends; keep small children close and agree a meeting point, such as a shop doorway, before you set off.

Illustration: a long wood-panelled great hall film set with long tables, stone fireplaces and tall leaded windows, a few small figures walking down the middle, illustrated day card for Day 4

04Leavesden · the studios

Base: the same room. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London is at Leavesden, north-west of the city: take the Tube to Euston, a fast train to Watford Junction (about 20 minutes) and the studio’s shuttle bus (about 15 minutes), which is free for ticket holders. Tickets are timed and must be booked ahead; Hogwarts in the Snow runs from 14 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. Pace: easy walking but a long day: plan about 3½ hours inside, plus about 2½ hours of travel there and back.

Breakfast to go and the train north

Where to eat: pick up pastries and coffee at GAIL’s Bakery in South Kensington, near the base, to eat on the way.

Ride the Tube to Euston and take a train to Watford Junction; the fastest trains take about twenty minutes. Outside the station, show your studio ticket or booking confirmation to board the shuttle bus to the studios.

Aim to arrive at least 20 minutes before your entry time to get through security and the cloakroom.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London in winter

The Studio Tour is in the real studios where the Harry Potter films were made, with original sets, costumes and props. Through the Christmas season, the Hogwarts in the Snow feature dresses the sets for winter: the Great Hall is decorated for a festive feast, and the filmmakers’ fake snow covers the giant castle model at the end.

Children can try some hands-on experiences along the way, and there is no rush: once inside you can stay as long as you like.

Expert tip: book the earliest entry slot you can get. The first sessions are the least crowded in the Great Hall and on the outdoor backlot, and you are back in London before the evening rush on the trains.

Lunch in the Food Hall and the rest of the sets

Where to eat: have lunch in the Food Hall inside the studio, about halfway through, so lunch fits between the sets without leaving the building.

After lunch, the second half covers the outdoor backlot, the creature workshop and the long walk-through street of shops, before the castle model. Leave time for the shop at the end, or agree a budget before you go in.

Back to Kensington for cupcakes and dinner

Take the shuttle bus and the train back to Euston, then the Tube home. The day is long for small children, so let them rest before dinner.

Where to eat: pick up cupcakes at The Hummingbird Bakery in South Kensington for the evening, then go for dinner at The Ivy Kensington Brasserie on Kensington High Street, an easy dinner near the base after the day out. Book a table and ask for an early sitting.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · GAIL’s Bakery South Kensington — Pastries, sandwiches and coffee to go. Why here: Near the base, pastries and coffee to go before the train out to the studio tour.
Lunch · Warner Bros. Studio Tour London Food Hall — Hot meals and sandwiches inside the studio. Why here: Inside the studio tour, so lunch fits between the sets without leaving.
Dinner · The Ivy Kensington Brasserie — British brasserie dishes and a children’s menu. Why here: On Kensington High Street, an easy dinner near the base after the day out.
Quick stop (bakery): The Hummingbird Bakery South Kensington — Cupcakes for the evening. Why here: Back in South Kensington, cupcakes for the evening.

Book the studio tickets before anything else. Christmas dates and weekend slots sell out weeks ahead, and the rest of the trip is easy to fit around your entry time.

South Kensington → Euston: about 25 minutes by Tube. Euston → Watford Junction: about 20 minutes on the fastest trains. Watford Junction → the studios: about 15 minutes by shuttle bus. Euston → South Kensington: about 25 minutes by Tube. South Kensington → Kensington High Street: about 10 minutes by bus or Tube.

Where to stay

A family hotel or apartment in South Kensington — the same South Kensington room.
A room near Gloucester Road — or the same Gloucester Road room.

Dinner: at The Ivy Kensington Brasserie on Kensington High Street.

Tomorrow: a walk into Kensington Gardens, about 15 minutes on foot.

Bad-weather plan

The studios are almost all indoors, so weather barely matters today. If trains are disrupted, check the National Rail and TfL sites before you leave and allow extra time; the studio’s site posts travel updates.

Stay: same base · Anchor: the Christmas sets · earliest entry slot

Good to know: Studio Tour tickets are sold only for a set date and time; book on the studio’s own site and keep the confirmation on your phone for the shuttle bus.

Illustration: a red-brick palace behind a statue on a frosty lawn, a parent and child in winter coats walking hand in hand across the grass, illustrated day card for Day 5

05Kensington · the winter fair

Base: check out and leave bags at the hotel. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are a 15-minute walk north of South Kensington; the parks and the playground are free, Kensington Palace is paid, and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland needs a timed entry ticket booked ahead. Winter Wonderland runs from 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed on 25 December. Pace: easy: a park morning, a warm lunch and a short evening at the fair.

Crêpes and the walk into the park

Where to eat: start with crêpes at Kensington Creperie on Exhibition Road, sweet or savoury, before the walk into Hyde Park.

Walk up Exhibition Road past the Royal Albert Hall to the Albert Memorial, a gilded statue under a tall Gothic canopy, then into Kensington Gardens. On a frosty morning the lawns and the Round Pond are quiet and beautiful.

Kensington Palace and the pirate-ship playground

Kensington Palace, the red-brick palace at the west end of the gardens, has royal rooms, Queen Victoria’s childhood story and family trails for children. Check the Historic Royal Palaces site for winter opening days and book ahead.

Next door, the Diana Memorial Playground has a huge wooden pirate ship, a beach of sand and teepees for children under twelve; adults can go in only with a child. It is free and opens daily, with shorter hours in winter.

Expert tip: do the playground before the palace if your children are under eight. Half an hour on the pirate ship burns off energy, and the palace rooms are far easier with calm kids.

A Polish lunch by the station

Where to eat: lunch at Daquise by South Kensington station, a Polish restaurant open since the 1940s, with warm soups, pierogi and pancakes after the morning in the park.

If your flight leaves this afternoon, collect your bags here and head for the Piccadilly line to Heathrow. If you fly out late or tomorrow, rest at the hotel and save the fair for dusk.

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and a last dinner

Walk back into Hyde Park as it gets dark. Winter Wonderland fills the east end of the park with a Christmas market, an observation wheel, fairground rides, ice skating and shows; entry is by timed ticket, and rides and skating cost extra. Wander the stalls and lights for an hour or two.

Where to eat: snack at the stalls in the fair, then have a last family dinner at Ognisko on Exhibition Road near the base, a Polish restaurant in a grand old house. Book ahead.

Where to eat and stop

Breakfast · Kensington Creperie — Sweet and savoury crêpes. Why here: In South Kensington, crêpes before the walk into Hyde Park.
Lunch · Daquise — Polish soups, pierogi and pancakes. Why here: By South Kensington station, a warm Polish lunch after the morning in the park.
Dinner · Ognisko Restaurant — Polish dishes for a last family dinner. Why here: On Exhibition Road near the base, a last family dinner before the flight home.
Quick stop (market): Hyde Park Winter Wonderland — Snacks and treats from the fair’s stalls. Why here: In Hyde Park, a walk through the fair's stalls and lights (rides and tickets optional).

Book a Winter Wonderland slot for dusk. Entry tickets are for a set arrival hour, and arriving just before dark lets the kids see the fair light up.

South Kensington → Kensington Creperie: about 5 minutes on foot. Exhibition Road → the Albert Memorial: about 10 minutes on foot. Albert Memorial → Kensington Palace and the playground: about 15 minutes on foot. South Kensington → Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park Corner: about 10 minutes by Tube or 25 minutes on foot. South Kensington → Heathrow: about 50 minutes on the Piccadilly line.

Where to stay

A family hotel or apartment in South Kensington — check out this morning; most hotels will hold bags until the evening.
A room near Gloucester Road — or check out of the Gloucester Road room.

Dinner: at Ognisko on Exhibition Road, or on the way to the airport.

Tonight or tomorrow: the Piccadilly line to Heathrow, about 50 minutes.

Bad-weather plan

In wind or heavy rain, parts of Winter Wonderland can close for safety; check its site on the day. Swap the park morning for the Victoria and Albert Museum on Exhibition Road, which is free and has a café in a Victorian dining room.

Stay: check out, bags held · Anchor: Winter Wonderland at dusk · book a dusk slot

Good to know: Winter Wonderland opening hours vary by date, and some weekdays open later; check the fair’s own site for your date.

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Waterproof jackets with hoods. London rain is light but frequent in December.
Warm layers. Days are often around freezing to mild and damp; layers work in heated museums.
Comfortable waterproof shoes. You will walk several kilometres a day.
Hats and gloves. For the lights walk and Winter Wonderland after dark.
A compact umbrella. Small enough for a day bag.
A contactless card or phone wallet. For the Tube and buses; kids under 11 ride free.
UK plug adapters. Type G, three square pins.
A small day bag. Big bags slow down museum security checks.

The Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens framed by bare winter trees — **Pack warm layers and gloves: a bare winter morning by the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens.** **The Albert Memorial** · a bare winter morning in Kensington Gardens

The seasonal ice rink in the courtyard of Somerset House at night — **Bring thick socks and gloves if you plan to skate: a seasonal rink in central London.** **Somerset House rink** · one of central London’s seasonal ice rinks

Illustration: a museum floor plan, a red bobble hat, a knitted scarf and a red double-decker bus beside a domed London skyline at dusk, original illustrated plan card for 5 days in London at Christmas — **Original illustration** · a museum floor plan, a red bobble hat and a red bus by the river

London in one frame

The plan card gathers the week in one view: a museum map for the first day, a warm hat for the lights and a red bus for the ride across town. Every stop, ride and meal is in the day-by-day above.

Christmas lights strung over Oxford Street at Oxford Circus with traffic below — **The lights** · Carnaby Street, Oxford Circus and the tree in Trafalgar Square

Illustration: a Christmas fair in a park at dusk, a lit observation wheel and wooden market stalls under snow, with small families walking between them, original illustrated recap card — **Original illustration** · a Christmas fair in the park at dusk

Where the trip ends

The recap card closes the week at the winter fair in Hyde Park as the lights come on. The day-by-day has each stop, ride and meal.

The stone front of the Science Museum on Exhibition Road under a blue sky — **Around town** · the Science Museum, Borough Market and the pirate-ship playground

Postcards

London at Christmas, in frames.

Quick answers

Planning notes

Is London good for kids at Christmas?

Yes. The big museums in South Kensington are free, the Christmas lights and trees are free to walk around, and there are seasonal extras like Hyde Park Winter Wonderland and the Studio Tour’s winter sets.

How many days do you need in London with kids at Christmas?

Five days and four nights gives one day each for the museums, the Tower and Borough Market, the West End lights, a day out at the Studio Tour and Hyde Park, without rushing.

When are the London Christmas lights on?

The Regent Street angels are lit from 5 November 2026 into early January, from about 3 PM each day. Other West End streets switch on in early November.

When is Hyde Park Winter Wonderland open in 2026?

From 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed on Christmas Day. Entry is by pre-booked timed ticket, and hours vary by date.

Is the Natural History Museum ice rink open?

No. The rink has closed for good and its lawn is now a wildlife garden. For skating, try Somerset House or the rink at Winter Wonderland.

Where should a family stay in London at Christmas?

South Kensington is easy with kids: the museums are on the doorstep, Hyde Park is a short walk away, and the Piccadilly line runs direct to Heathrow and the West End.

Are London museums open over Christmas?

Most big museums, including the Natural History Museum, close on 24, 25 and 26 December. Check each museum’s site for holiday hours.

How do you get to the Studio Tour from London?

Take a train from Euston to Watford Junction, about 20 minutes on the fastest trains, then the studio’s shuttle bus, about 15 minutes. Show your ticket to board.

Before you set off — the official checks

Event dates, opening hours, ticket prices and holiday closures change. Confirm current details on the sites listed under official links.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — Book a timed ticket ahead; Hogwarts in the Snow runs 14 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London ↗
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland — Book a timed entry slot; open 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, closed 25 December. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland ↗
Tower of London — Timed tickets; closed 24 to 26 December. Historic Royal Palaces ↗
Weather — Check the forecast before each day; wind can close outdoor rides. Met Office ↗

Plan with confidence

Official Links

Official sites to plan and verify the details in this guide.

Natural History Museum ↗Free entry, opening hours and holiday closures

Science Museum ↗Free entry and Wonderlab tickets

Tower of London ↗Tickets and opening hours

Borough Market ↗Market days and traders

Regent Street Christmas lights ↗Lights dates and events

London Transport Museum ↗Tickets and opening hours

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London ↗Tickets, Hogwarts in the Snow and getting there

Kensington Palace ↗Winter opening days and tickets

The Royal Parks ↗Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park and the Diana Memorial Playground

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland ↗Dates, hours and timed tickets

Transport for London ↗Tube, buses and fares

Met Office ↗Forecasts for London

Reviewed Oct 21, 2026How we verify

Conditions and prices can change.

References

Research behind this guide

The reporting and research that shaped this itinerary.

Natural History Museum: visit and opening times ↗Natural History Museum

Photo credits

Photos via Wikimedia Commons, resized and converted to WebP. The illustrated cover, day cards, plan card and recap card are this guide’s original itinerary artwork, illustrated from the credited photos listed here.

Covent Garden tree — photo by Simeon87, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Cover and Cover web illustrations, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Hintze Hall — photo by Helen Ilus, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Day 1 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Tower Bridge — photo by Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 3.0); it is also the basis of the Day 2 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Regent Street lights — photo by The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Day 3 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Great Hall set — photo by Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Day 4 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Kensington Palace — photo by Arnoprepa, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0); it is also the basis of the Day 5 card illustration, shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Albert Memorial — photo by CGP Grey, CC BY 2.0; it is also the basis of the Packing card illustration
Somerset House rink — photo by Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0
Oxford Circus — photo by Simon Burchell, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Science Museum — photo by Shadowssettle, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Carnaby Street — photo by The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Trafalgar Square — photo by Paul Gillett, CC BY-SA 2.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Borough Market — photo by Jeremy Keith, CC BY 2.0
Pirate ship playground — photo by Mark Ahsmann, CC BY-SA 3.0; this resized copy is shared under the same license (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Route map — original illustrated route artwork for this guide; stop locations from OpenStreetMap

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Postcards from the trip

Five Christmas days in London with kids: a blue whale, a castle, the lights and a fair in the park.

Day-by-day summary

Five days, one base, the Tube

Day 1 · South Kensington—Breakfast at The Muffin Man Tea Shop, the Natural History Museum’s blue whale and dinosaurs, lunch at Comptoir Libanais, the Science Museum next door, then pizza at Da Mario.

Day 2 · The Tower & Borough Market—Breakfast at LEON Tower Hill, the Tower of London and its Crown Jewels, a walk over Tower Bridge, doughnuts from Bread Ahead and lunch at Padella in Borough Market, then the South Bank and dinner at Wahaca.

Day 3 · The West End Lights—Breakfast at Dishoom Covent Garden, the Christmas tree in the piazza and the London Transport Museum, Trafalgar Square, Hamleys, lunch at wagamama off Regent Street, Fortnum & Mason, the lights after dark and dinner at Rules.

Day 4 · The Studio Tour at Leavesden—Pastries from GAIL’s, a train from Euston to Watford Junction and the shuttle bus, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London with its Christmas sets, lunch in the Food Hall, cupcakes at The Hummingbird Bakery and dinner at The Ivy Kensington Brasserie.

Day 5 · Kensington Palace & Hyde Park—Crêpes at Kensington Creperie, Kensington Palace and the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens, lunch at Daquise, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland at dusk and a last dinner at Ognisko.

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London in one frame

Where the trip ends

London at Christmas, in frames.

Planning notes

Before you set off — the official checks

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Official Links

Research behind this guide

Photo credits

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