Best Things to Do in London in Winter
Home · London · Winter
From the classic Selfridges and Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
★ 4.5 · 47,380 reviews
Step inside Selfridges, London's iconic Oxford Street department store. Wander its gallery-like floors of fashion, beauty, and home goods, and catch the inventive window displays that make it a visual experience in itself.
★ 4.0 · 5,436 reviews
Discover London's West End all lit up for the holidays from the comfort of a bus seat. Ride past the Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Covent Garden displays as a live guide shares the stories behind the decorations, all without fighting the crowds on foot.
Best season
★ 4.4 · 127,561 reviews
Step inside Harrods, London's grandest department store behind its illuminated Knightsbridge facade. Wander the tiled Edwardian food halls and multiple floors of luxury fashion, soaking up the spectacle even if you don't buy a thing.
★ 4.6 · 25,129 reviews
Step into Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly's royal grocer since the 1700s. Browse floors of teas, preserves, and hampers in the famous eau-de-nil packaging, then linger over afternoon tea in one of its dining rooms.
★ 4.8 · 2,140 reviews
Discover Regent Street, London's grand curving shopping boulevard. Stroll past Regency-era facades and flagship stores as you walk the elegant sweep between Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus.
★ 4.5 · 25,040 reviews
Step into Liberty London, a neo-Tudor department store built from the timbers of old Navy ships. Wander its creaking staircases and galleried floors past fireplaces, woodwork, and the famous Liberty-print fabrics across five explorable levels.
★ 4.9 · 1,050 reviews
Roll up your sleeves at this hands-on scone workshop in Soho. Learn to bake traditional English scones from scratch and master the art of properly brewing a pot of tea in just 90 minutes.
★ 4.6 · 725 reviews
Discover Nagare Coffee, a Spitalfields gem where Scandinavian minimalism meets English heritage charm. Sip expertly crafted espresso amid warm wood tones and vintage touches in one of London's most photogenic cafés.
★ 4.5 · 446 reviews
Step inside Lumberjack Cafe in Camberwell, where a surprisingly spacious downstairs area awaits beyond the small street entrance. Settle in with your laptop or a friend, and treat yourself to seasonal cakes like clementine chocolate or pumpkin.
★ 4.4 · 1,052 reviews
Discover Rasa N16, a Stoke Newington favourite for South Indian Keralan vegetarian cooking. Tuck into the generous vegetarian feast, rich curries, chutneys, and paratha, and maybe chat with chef Das Sreedharan about their origins.
★ 4.5 · 1,449 reviews
Discover Qima Café and Pâtisserie tucked away in Fitzrovia, near Euston Road. Sample coffee brewed your way, from a classic flat white to a slow V60 pour-over, paired with pastries fresh from the case.
★ 4.2 · 364 reviews
Discover Tollingtons, a Finsbury Park tapas spot beloved by locals. Share plates of seafood-focused classics like seared scallops and a mini seafood paella over a relaxed dinner with friends.
★ 4.6 · 1,299 reviews
Step into the Art Deco glamour of The Connaught Bar inside Mayfair's famed hotel. Watch the tableside martini trolley roll up and choose your own infusions and bitters for a bespoke, expertly poured martini.
★ 4.7 · 8,303 reviews
Discover Oxford Street, London's mile-long high-street shopping hub. Browse flagship stores and department stores stretching from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road, picking up everything from fashion to gifts.
★ 4.5 · 1,871 reviews
Discover Trullo, a longstanding Islington favorite for modern Italian cooking. Settle into the bar-adjacent dining room for a seasonal, produce-led lunch or dinner that's dependable rather than showy.
★ 4.0 · 259 reviews
Discover MARTINO'S, a chic all-day café near Sloane Square. Settle into the decor-forward, posh-but-comfortable setting for a relaxed breakfast, coffee and pastry, or light lunch from a versatile menu.
★ 4.3 · 340 reviews
Discover Café Deco, a Bloomsbury neighbourhood restaurant that keeps things simple and welcoming. Settle in for unfussy Italian-leaning dishes like the favourite gnocchi, served with genuine care whether you're grabbing a relaxed lunch or dinner.
★ 4.4 · 900 reviews
Step into Quo Vadis, a Soho townhouse where Karl Marx once lodged. Settle in for chef Jeremy Lee's seasonal modern British cooking, served in a room that mixes character with a proper occasion.
★ 4.4 · 413 reviews
Discover Mambow, a compact Malaysian spot tucked away in Lower Clapton. Watch your food come together in the open kitchen while you tuck into honest, regionally authentic cooking that's earned praise from Malaysian diners themselves.
★ 4.9 · 235 reviews
Step into Colonna & Small's, a compact espresso bar on Leather Lane. Pick your shot by flavour profile, sip a near-perfect latte, and chat beans with the friendly, knowledgeable baristas.
★ 4.3 · 946 reviews
Discover Singburi, Shoreditch's tiny no-reservations Thai spot. Grab a counter seat facing the kitchen, watch punchy regional dishes fired to order, and chat with a genuinely friendly host over fiery, full-bodied flavours.
★ 4.7 · 763 reviews
Discover Catalyst, a Holborn coffee break worth the detour. Sip a nuanced flat white made from a Brazilian and Colombian blend and pair it with the standout almond madeleine, in a relaxed, friendly setting.
★ 4.0 · 164 reviews
Discover The Yellow Bittern, a small King's Cross spot built around one chef's confident cooking. Book ahead and settle in for a personal, unrushed lunch or afternoon meal from a kitchen that's quickly become a cult favourite.
★ 4.8 · 7,035 reviews
Step into Daunt Books Marylebone, where Edwardian oak galleries rise beneath a long stained-glass skylight. Browse the travel section organized uniquely by country, and pause to take in the church-like, floor-to-ceiling architecture.
★ 4.5 · 1,847 reviews
Discover Master Wei, the Bloomsbury restaurant behind chef Guirong Wei's Netflix fame. Tuck into hand-pulled noodles and spice-driven Xi'an cooking for a relaxed lunch or dinner beyond London's usual Cantonese and Sichuan fare.
★ 4.2 · 3,054 reviews
Discover Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar, a no-frills hand-pulled noodle spot tucked near Leicester Square. Slurp down fresh noodle soups with quick, no-booking service, whether you're grabbing a solo lunch or refuelling between sightseeing stops.
★ 4.6 · 904 reviews
Step into Artesian, the plant-filled bar beneath The Langham's ornate ceiling. Settle in for a leisurely evening sipping globally acclaimed cocktails, crafted with meticulous touches like a mid-drink glass swap to keep things cold.
★ 4.6 · 296 reviews
Step into The Donovan Bar at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair, surrounded by striking photographic decor honoring Terence Donovan. Sip expertly crafted cocktails in a classy, relaxed setting perfect for a pre-dinner drink or a night out with friends.
★ 4.5 · 1,011 reviews
Step into Simpson's in the Strand for a slice of old London hospitality. Watch roast beef carved tableside from the trolley, starting with dressed crab, for a classic English lunch or dinner.
★ 3.5 · 193 reviews
Discover Dim Sum Duck, a queue-and-seat favorite near King's Cross. Tuck into generously filled dumplings and roast meats in a clean, stylish room, no reservation required.
London · 🛍️ Shopping
Selfridges
1h30
London · 🏛️ Landmark
Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide
2h
Harrods
Fortnum & Mason
1h15
Regent Street
45 min
Liberty London
London · 🍽️ Food
Traditional English Scone Making and Tea Workshop
London · ☕ Coffeebreak
Nagare Coffee
25 min
Lumberjack Cafe
Rasa N16
Qima Café and Pâtisserie - Fitzrovia
Tollingtons
London · 🍸 Drinks
The Connaught Bar
Oxford Street
1h
Trullo
MARTINO'S
Café Deco
Quo Vadis
Mambow
Colonna & Small's
Singburi
Catalyst
The Yellow Bittern
2h15
Daunt Books Marylebone
30 min
Master Wei Xi'An
Lanzhou Lamian Noodle Bar
50 min
Artesian
The Donovan Bar
Simpson's in the Strand
Dim Sum Duck Pentonville Road
