London in Winter: Tips, Things To Do, and What To Wear
Published Dec. 2019 | Updated Oct. 2025
London in winter can be cold, wet, and dark, but it’s also an ideal time to visit if you want to explore the city without crowds. If you pack well, dress for the weather, and plan out your itinerary, you will have a lovely winter trip to London.
I’ve visited London in winter, summer, and fall and enjoyed every trip. Even during my winter trip, most days were still sunny with blue skies!
Winter is the least-visited season, but that’s part of what makes it feel special! December has Christmas cheer and festivities, January is the least busy time of year, and February has the longest days of all winter months.
If you’re planning a trip to London in winter, this is my guide of top tips, best things to do, and outfits to wear while you’re there!
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Tips For Visiting London in Winter
Plan Out Your Itinerary
With short days and chilly nights, winter in London is not an ideal time to leisurely explore the city. While it’s fun to stroll around and happen upon things, it isn’t quite the same when you’re shivering in the rain.
Planning your itinerary before you head out for the day will save you from standing outside looking for things to do or wasting precious winter daylight hours. I put together a full list of free things to do in London to help you plan out your activities!
The photo below is me, not following my own advice, standing in the cold to look up places to eat. We ended up just eating at the pub I was standing in front of!
Book Tickets Early
Some events and activities require entry tickets, which can sell out (especially during school holidays). It’s best to book tickets in advance to guarantee your entry!
Take Advantage of Cheaper Prices
Aside from the couple of weeks at Christmas time when schools are out for holiday break, winter in London is the off-season.
Prices for flights, accommodation, and tours tend to be much lower during this time, meaning you get more for less! If you’re trying to save money, you can get great deals by visiting London in winter.
If you don’t need to save money, go for that fancier hotel! Since prices are cheaper in winter, it may cost the same as a budget hotel would in summer.
Taking advantage of the off-season travel prices allows you to book better seats, nicer hotels, and more tours for less than in busier seasons.
Stay at Accommodations Near Activities
Public transportation in London is fantastic, with plenty of tube stations (the London Underground) throughout the city. Despite this, I recommend booking accommodations that are within a short walking distance to your top activities or close to a tube station.
During winter in London, the cold and wet weather is not ideal for long walks around the city. Being close to a tube station or top activities means less time spent getting rained on or chilled to the bone.
A few areas close to major attractions:
Covent Garden – The Savoy
Kensington – The Ampersand Hotel
Westminster – The Guardsman
Read my full guide for more information about the best areas to stay in London!
Dress For Cold, Wet Weather
The best thing you can do when traveling in unpleasant weather is to dress for it! With the right waterproof jacket, easily removable layers, warm gloves, and rain boots, you can stay warm and dry on cold and wet days.
Walking around Westminster is much more enjoyable without soggy socks and frozen hands.
Take Breaks To Warm Up Indoors
If the cold becomes too much as you explore London in winter, pop into a cafe or shop to warm up until you’re defrosted enough to head back out.
You may not even need a break if you’re used to cold temperatures and dressed suitably for the weather! It’s just always nice to know you have that option in most areas in case you do get too cold or can’t stand to be in the rain any longer.
Things To Do in London in Winter
Visit the Free Museums
London is full of museums, with most of them being completely free to visit! Visiting museums is one of the best things to do in London in winter since you can get out of the cold while admiring art, history, and artifacts!
I’ve spent all my trips to London exploring the many wonderful museums. Some of my favorite museums in London are The National Gallery, Tate Britain, British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and National Portrait Gallery.
You can read my post about free things to do in London for a longer list of free museums.
Stroll Through the Parks & Gardens
There are lovely parks all throughout London to take a stroll, have a picnic, or just enjoy the scenery. If you’re visiting London in winter, the parks may not be the perfect activity, but they are worth a visit no matter the season.
A crisp winter day when the skies are clear is a cozy time to bundle up, grab a coffee, and go for a walk through a park or garden.
A few of the best parks/gardens in London:
Primrose Hill: Popular park ideal for a picnic or taking in the sweeping views of the city.
Holland Park: There are multiple areas of this park, including a Japanese tea garden, orangery, Dutch garden, and a historic house.
Kensington Gardens: This park is where Kensington Palace sits. It has a large pond with swans and geese, a lovely walkway, a coffee cart, and large grassy areas.
Tour the Harry Potter Studios
The Harry Potter Studios get a magical makeover for the holiday season, with special non-melting snow and sets redecorated as Christmas scenes from the movies.
Your standard ticket includes a tour of Hogwarts Castle, a walk through the Forbidden Forest, a trip to Diagon Alley, and ends with a viewing of the Hogwarts Castle model. Other ticket packages offer a deluxe tour, afternoon tea, and meal experiences.
Tickets have timed entries, but you’re free to explore the studios for as long as you please, within the opening hours. In addition to the sets, Harry Potter Studios has displays of costumes, props, and even some of the creatures seen in the movies.
To reach Harry Potter Studios from London, take the short train ride from Euston Station to Watford Junction. From there, get on a bus (included in your ticket price) directly to Harry Potter Studios.
Alternatively, book a ticket that includes transfers from London so you don’t need to think about public transport!
Warm Up at a Cozy Cafe
As the weather cools down in the late afternoon, find a nice cafe to sit down, order a hot drink (and a baked good!), and get warm before your next activity.
You could opt for an actual afternoon tea, but I prefer a casual coffee shop where I can enjoy the company of my travel companions and we can plan out the rest of the day or debrief on the day so far.
On a solo trip to London, it was comforting to sit down at a table with a chai latte and croissant to warm up and look through Google Maps to plan my next route.
If you’re planning your itinerary ahead of time (recommended), bookmark some cafes that are near the area you will be in the late afternoon or coldest/wettest time of the day.
Admire the Christmas Lights & Decor
I love being in a big city when it’s all dressed up for the holidays! As a Californian, I typically head to San Francisco to experience the holiday cheer, but London is just as magical.
One of the best ways to see all the holiday sights in a big city is on a tour. You can hop onto a bus (or in a private car) and be driven through London as you admire all the lights, sights, and Christmas decorations.
If you want to explore the holiday attractions yourself, these are some of the top spots to visit:
Covent Garden: Has giant bells hanging from the ceiling, more than 300,000 lights, and a 17-meter (55-foot) Christmas tree.
Piccadilly Circus: This is a famous intersection in Westminster, which includes Regent Street, with lights spanning across the road, hanging between the buildings.
Trafalgar Square: Hosts an annual Christmas market and displays a massive 25-meter (80-foot) Christmas tree gifted each year from the people of Norway.
Oxford Street: This is a well-known shopping area with restaurants and hotels, which goes all out for Christmas with strings of lights and decor strung across the streets.
Draught’s Board Game Cafe
One of the most fun places I’ve been to for dinner was Draught’s Board Game Cafe. They have a varied menu with classic pub fare and craft beer, an energetic atmosphere, and a library full of board games!
We went on a particularly rainy night, and it was perfect for a fun night out without being in the rain. It feels like a cozy game night at a friend’s house, but you can order food and drinks, and have dozens of game options.
There are two locations in London, but the most central one is in Waterloo. While you’re over here, check out the two nearby graffiti areas:
The Graffiti Tunnel: A covered pedestrian walkway covered in artful (legal) graffiti.
Leake St.: Another tunnel full of constantly changing, incredible graffiti.
They remind me of the famous graffiti alley in Ghent, Belgium!
Ride the London Eye
Each egg-shaped capsule on the London Eye is completely enclosed, so you’ll stay dry even on a rainy day. You’ll get amazing bird’s-eye views of London from the comfort of the capsule.
Each ride is 30 minutes as you slowly complete one rotation around the 135-meter (443-foot) tall wheel in a large capsule, which holds up to 25 people. You can choose to sit in one of the seats or stand up and walk around to get the best views.
Want to ride without strangers? You can book a private ride on the London Eye to get a capsule all to yourself! Make it a romantic date or host a group of up to 25 people.
Make sure you purchase tickets ahead of time to save money and ensure a ride — especially if you’re visiting during school holidays close to Christmas. It costs almost twice as much if you purchase walk-up tickets compared to online.
You can use the widget below to check the availability of your preferred date/time:
Go Ice Skating
There are a few ice skating rinks that pop up at the start of winter in London and run until early January. It’s a quintessential winter activity! London has fantastic ice rinks in beautiful locations, including one in front of the Queen’s House.
Outdoor Ice rinks in London:
Tour St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral has gorgeous architecture on the outside, it has a rich history, galleries, and a crypt on the inside. I’ve yet to go inside, despite multiple visits to London and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
You must purchase a ticket to tour the interior of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Either book online in advance for a discount, or pay a higher price upon arrival.
The interior of the cathedral floor is ornately decorated with domed ceilings, while the crypt is the resting place of many prominent figures. There are daily worship services that are free to attend, as this is an active cathedral.
Explore Westminster Abbey
Another place full of history and beautiful architecture is Westminster Abbey, an active royal church in Westminster. You’ll have to brave the weather to view the outside if you’re visiting in winter, but you can go inside with a ticket.
Westminster Abbey dates all the way back to 960AD. Today, you can tour the chapel, royal tombs, and cloisters, as well as the museum and galleries.
Purchase your tickets in advance, as they are popular and have a very limited number of tickets available at the door.
Order Takeout or Delivery
Don’t feel guilty about staying in a few nights during your trip — with such short daylight hours and freezing cold nights, sometimes it just isn’t worth the trek to a restaurant.
You can order food for delivery through Deliveroo, or pick up takeaway from a nearby restaurant, and cozy up with a movie or classic British TV show.
If you’re staying in a flat with a kitchen, grab some items from the nearest shop and make a home-cooked meal together! Though I love trying new restaurants when I travel, it’s nice to make your own meal at your accommodation for one night.
What To Wear in London in Winter
When visiting London in winter, you’ll need to dress for both the cold, rainy outdoors and the well-heated museums and restaurants. In other words, pack plenty of layers that you can easily remove or add as needed.
Like most big cities, the people in London tend to skew on the fashionable side. That includes dressing in cute winter outfits! The main goal is to stay warm — dressing fashionably is not required if you don’t want to.
A warm and layered outfit, paired with comfortable waterproof shoes and an umbrella, should keep you cozy even in cold, wet weather.
Winter Coats
I recommend wearing a t-shirt or tank top with a sweater over it, then add a warm coat and/or long raincoat on top of that.
Layers are key to a comfortable trip to London in winter. Some places really turn up the heat on cold days, which makes it pretty uncomfortable when you’re all bundled up for the winter weather outside.
Luckily, most museums and indoor attractions have a coat check where you can shed your layers and leave them for the duration of your visit.
Rainboots
I’m a big fan of Chelsea Rain Boots and have worn a couple of pairs around London. The exact ones I have are no longer sold, but you can easily find similar ones.
Some cute waterproof boots for London:
Socks
With any rain boot, it’s important to wear the right socks. I recommend thicker socks that go higher than the shoe for the most comfort. Wool socks are ideal as they keep you warm, don’t hold odors, and are moisture-wicking.
Gloves/Hand Warmers
The best thing I brought when visiting London in winter was an electric hand warmer! My hands get extremely cold, even with good gloves.
I carried an electric hand warmer whenever we were walking around outside, and switched it between pockets to keep my hands warm. Most come in 2-packs, but somehow I only managed to bring one!
Hats, Scarves, and Earmuffs
Accessories aren’t just for style! Hats, scarves, and earmuffs (or a headband) can help keep you extra warm and comfortable as you explore London in winter.
If you’re low on suitcase space, bring just one scarf and choose between a hat, one pair of earmuffs, or a wool headband. I usually pack a capsule wardrobe with pieces that can easily be mixed and matched, including accessories.
FAQS
What is the winter like in London?
Winter in London is cold and wet, with short days. The weather is in the single-digits Celsius (40sºF) and rains about a third of each winter month.
We were thankful to have some blue skies and sunny days while visiting London in winter, but the weather was still very cold with some rain.
Is it crowded in London in winter?
Winter is the perfect time to visit London without crowds! It’s the least busy time of the year, aside from the school holidays around Christmas.
When are the winter school holidays in London?
The Christmas holiday break in London is from the end of December, just before Christmas, to the first week of January. In 2025, the school holidays are from December 22, 2025, to January 2, 2026.
This period of time will be the busiest of the season, with parents taking their kids to museums and other festive Christmas activities around London.
Does it snow in London?
It does snow in London, but not usually a significant amount or very often. Some years it may have a period of heavy snowfall, others it’s just a light dusting overnight that melts by day.
Snow in London is hard to predict, so don’t try to plan your trip around it!
Is London worth visiting in winter?
Yes! Even though I am a warm-weather beach person, visiting London in winter was a lovely experience.
If you dress for the weather and plan your itinerary well, London in winter can be a fabulous time.
Is Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park worth it?
The overall consensus seems to be that Winter Wonderland is “a bit shit,” as the British say. It costs money to get in, and then each activity, show, and attraction has an additional cost.
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