Christmas 2026
Christmas in London after dark
The short answer
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland runs 19 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, open until 10pm with last entry at 9:30pm, closed on Christmas Day. The ice rinks at Somerset House and Leicester Square run their last sessions at about 9pm; Christmas at Kew’s light trail runs to 10pm on selected dates. Almost everything closes on 25 December, and many close early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
The season at a glance
Dates, closing times and what is open today
| What | Dates | Hours | Last entry | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skate Leicester SquareLeicester Square, WC2Weekdays until 26 Nov open at 12pm; 24 Dec closes 6pm | 31 Oct to 3 Jan 2027closed 25 Dec | 10am to 10pm | 9:15pm | — |
| Glide at Battersea Power StationBattersea, SW8Daily hours not yet published. Last session 9pm on 24 and 26 Dec, 8pm on 1 Jan; extra skate 11pm to 12:15am on New Year's Eve | 6 Nov to 3 Jan 2027closed 25 Dec | not yet published | — | — |
| Skate at Somerset HouseStrand, WC2 · adults £13 to £28.50Extra 10pm session on selected dates; last session 5pm on 24 and 31 Dec | 11 Nov to 10 Jan 2027closed 25 Dec | sessions to 9:45pm | 9pm | — |
| Christmas at KewKew Gardens, Richmond · from £25.50Selected dates only. Last entry 7pm to 8pm depending on gate; 24 Dec closes 9pm | 13 Nov to 3 Jan 2027 | 4:20pm to 10pm | — | — |
| Hyde Park Winter WonderlandHyde Park, W2 · entry £1 to £8.25Some weekdays open at 11am, 12pm or 2pm (list on its page) | 19 Nov to 3 Jan 2027closed 25 Dec | 10am to 10pm | 9:30pm | — |
| A Christmas Carol, Old Royal Naval CollegeGreenwich, SE10 · £28 adult | 20 Nov to 21 Nov | 7:30pm to 9:30pm | — | — |
| Hampton Court Palace ice rinkHampton Court, KT8Last session 8pm | 20 Nov to 3 Jan 2027closed 25 Dec | first session 10am | 8pm | — |
| Borough Market, festive openingLondon Bridge, SE1 · freeOpen 7 days. Sat from 9am, Sun to 4pm; 23 Dec to 6pm; 24 and 31 Dec to 3pm | 30 Nov to 31 Decclosed 25 Dec, 26 Dec, 27 Dec | 10am to 5pm | — | — |
| Alexandra Palace Festive SkateAlexandra Palace, N22Session times are on its booking calendar | 9 Dec to 4 Jan 2027 | not yet published | — | — |
“Today” is worked out in your browser from the dates and hours above, in London time. Each row was read on the attraction’s own website; times on special nights can differ, so check before you travel.
One-night events
| What | Dates | Hours | Last entry | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnaby Street lights switch-onSoho, W1 · freeTimes not yet published | 4 Nov to 4 Nov | not yet published | — | — |
| Regent Street lights switch-onRegent Street, W1 · freeStreet closed to traffic 5pm to 9pm | 5 Nov to 5 Nov | 5pm to 9pm | — | — |
| Covent Garden lights switch-onCovent Garden, WC2 · freeTimes not yet published | 12 Nov to 12 Nov | not yet published | — | — |
| Natural History Museum New Year's Eve partySouth Kensington, SW7 | 31 Dec to 31 Dec | 8pm to 1:30am | — | — |
“Today” is worked out in your browser from the dates and hours above, in London time. Each row was read on the attraction’s own website; times on special nights can differ, so check before you travel.
Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve
- Christmas Day, 25 December: Winter Wonderland, Borough Market and the rinks at Somerset House, Leicester Square, Battersea Power Station and Hampton Court are all closed.
- Christmas Eve: Skate Leicester Square closes at 6pm, Somerset House’s last session starts at 5pm, Glide’s last session is at 9pm, Christmas at Kew closes at 9pm, and Borough Market closes at 3pm.
- New Year’s Eve: Somerset House’s last session starts at 5pm and Borough Market closes at 3pm. Glide runs an extra New Year’s skate from 11pm to 12:15am, and the Natural History Museum holds a party from 8pm to 1:30am. For the fireworks, see New Year’s Eve in London.
Not running, or not announced yet
- Ice Rink Canary Wharf is not running in 2026. Its operator says it is taking a break for the 2026 winter season.
- The Natural History Museum ice rink has closed for good. The museum says “The Natural History Museum Ice Rink has now closed.”
- Oxford Street lights: the theme is announced but the switch-on date is not, as of 7 October.
- Southbank Centre Winter Market, Greenwich Market, Leicester Square’s Christmas market hours and Westfield late opening: not confirmed on the organisers’ own sites yet. We add them when they are.
Getting home
- Winter Wonderland says Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge and Marble Arch are expected to be busy and can sometimes be closed. For a quieter journey it suggests Victoria, Bond Street or Paddington, all within a 20-minute walk. Step-free: Green Park or Bond Street.
- No Elizabeth line on Boxing Day, 26 December, Winter Wonderland warns, because of the Boxing Day timetable.
- Friday and Saturday nights the Night Tube runs on the Central, Jubilee, Northern (via Charing Cross), Piccadilly and Victoria lines and the Windrush line. Other nights, the last train is earlier: see London after the last train and which lines run all night.
- Somerset House names Temple (2 minutes), Covent Garden, Charing Cross and Embankment (8 minutes). Leicester Square is a minute from its Tube station.
- Oxford Street is closed to buses and taxis from 26 October: see what changes for night buses.
How we checked. Every date, time and price on this page was read on the attraction’s own website on 7 October 2026. Some organisers have not yet published their daily hours; we say so rather than guess. Times on special nights can differ, so check the attraction’s page before you travel. Nobody paid to be listed, and this is not a ranking. Found a mistake? Tell us.