Ways to Celebrate Christmas and New Year's Eve in London

London's Christmas lights, which famously illuminate Bond Street, Regent Street, and Oxford Circus each year, attract visitors from around the world keen to spend the holiday season in the British capital. During the festive period, London visitors can also admire top attractions such as Big Ben, the Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey illuminated against the wintry skies.

London is famous for its shopping opportunities all year round, but the holidays bring a whole new feel to the retail experience. Shop till you drop in the chic boutiques of Mayfair, browse for bargains at the stylish stalls of Camden Market, and make the most of the holiday season with a little retail therapy just about anywhere in the city.

With the famous towers of Westminster as a backdrop, London's New Year's fireworks display is among the most impressive in the world. The crowds can be a challenge, so take to the Thames River on a New Year's Eve cruise, and relax in style as the fireworks explode across the night sky. 

If the hustle and bustle of the London streets get to be too much, escape to the surrounding countryside and see another side of English life. Tours run to diverse destinations including historic Bath, Salisbury, and UNESCO World Heritage–listed Stonehenge. The snowy, sleepy Cotswolds is another popular spot to while away the season.