Christmas Trips · UK CHRISTMAS TOURS

The 15 Best Christmas Trips in the UK

47 tours  ·  from $18 a head

Britain does lights over the road, pantomime and a market in every county town. The 15 below are priced and timed, with a note on which run after dark and which are indoors when the weather turns.

London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide - What you see on the route
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London: Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide

1.Christmas Lights Bus Tour With Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5,410 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $33Our pick

See Regent Street, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the London Eye, and Big Ben on a 60 to 90 minute evening bus tour. A live English-speaking guide such as Shaun, Emma, or Ethan adds London history, jokes, and photo tips. Choose an open-top view or the warmer lower deck.

“It was amazing despite the cold. The tour guide gave full information and the bus wasn’t crowded took many pretty pics”

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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide - Starting beside the London Eye
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London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

2.London by Night Bus Tour with Christmas Lights and Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,040 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $41

Ride from the London Eye through The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, and Big Ben. A live English-speaking guide provides history, jokes, and Christmas facts. Arrive early for the best open-top seats, dress warmly, and expect traffic delays.

“We loved our London Christmas lights tour! It was freezing cold on the top level, but it was worth it! We loved seeing the lights and sights of London without being on the ground in the large crowds! We learned a lot, our tour guide was amazing!”

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London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top - Starting outside the Grand Hotel
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London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top

3.London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus Open Top

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,132 reviews · 1h 15m · from $37

Ride a classic 1960s Routemaster around central London for up to 75 minutes, with a guaranteed top-deck seat and an English-speaking guide. Expect Oxford Street lights, Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, grand department-store windows, Christmas music, jokes, and chilly open-air views.

“Absolutely fantastic well worth the money and fabulous way to see all of London at Christmas”

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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus - St James’s, Piccadilly Circus, and the Anteros lights
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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus

4.Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 770 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $48

Ride an open-top 1960s Routemaster from Embankment through the West End, passing Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Big Ben, and the London Eye. English-speaking guides such as Rory, Lola, and Katie add seasonal facts, jokes, and music.

“We all really enjoyed the tour and Lola was a great guide.”

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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus - Oxford Street: The Big Opening Display
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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

5.Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 245 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $43

Ride through central London for 90 minutes beneath the Christmas lights of Oxford Street, Regent Street, and Knightsbridge. Your English-speaking guide points out Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, and other landmarks. Guides have included Clive, Toby, and Frank, though the upper deck and route are not guaranteed.

“Best experience ever especially after we had terrible experience at another tour operated by the classic tour. Great driver and very professional and experienced guide. Our family and our friend family had a great time.”

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London: Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour - Starting at Embankment Station and Bus Stop 40B
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London: Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour

6.Christmas Lights Santa Sleigh Open-Top Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 233 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $43

Ride an open-top bus from Embankment through London’s Christmas-lit West End, passing Trafalgar Square, St James’s, Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Whitehall, Big Ben, and the London Eye. Festive music plays on board, and you can finish at Trafalgar Square’s Christmas market.

“Işıklı caddelerin çoğundan geçmedi. Aynı yerde dönüp durdu. Parasına kesinlikle değmez.”

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London: Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour incl walking tours - Regent Street, where the lights take center stage
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London: Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour incl walking tours

7.Tootbus Christmas Lights Tour incl walking tours

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 227 reviews · from $45

Ride from Coventry Street through Trafalgar Square, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Oxford Street, Marble Arch, and Grosvenor Square. You get a one-hour Christmas lights tour, English live commentary, audio in 10 languages, Wi-Fi, a festive playlist, and app-based walking tours.

“Not great if you don't speak English. We are bothered by the noise the guide makes with his microphone and we can't hear the audio through the headphones which barely work. We also spend more time in traffic jams and are stuck in place for an hour, in short I don't recommend it.”

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London: Christmas Lights & Bites Tour - From Embankment to the Thames lights
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London: Christmas Lights & Bites Tour

8.Christmas Lights & Bites Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 183 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $60

Ride a decorated vintage Routemaster through London’s Christmas-lit streets with live English commentary, festive savoury and sweet bites, and refills of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or soft drinks. Guides such as Will, Lola, and Tamerin bring humour and local stories to the 90-minute route.

“We really enjoyed the wonderful tour. The Guides were brilliant and the tour was beautiful with the twinkling Christmas lights. The bus was decorated and the snacks and drinks and music were excellent. We highly recommend this event!”

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London: Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus - Oxford Street: The Big Opening Display
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London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

9.London Christmas Lights Tour by Vintage Double-Decker Bus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 135 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes (approx.) · from $43

Ride through central London for 1.5 to 2 hours on a restored 50-year-old double-decker bus. A guide such as Steve, John, or Magnus may add stories about Christmas traditions, royal buildings, and London streets as you pass Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, Regent Street, Big Ben, and Westminster.

“Very fun. Beautiful lights. Great commentary about London. Would suggest that hot chocolate or hot apple cider be served. That would so add to the experience especially toward the end of the trip.”

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London: Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour - Piccadilly Circus adds neon and motion
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London: Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour

10.Christmas Lights Open-Top Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 134 reviews · 1 hour · from $41

Ride the yellow See London By Night bus from near the Ritz and Green Park. An English-speaking guide points out London’s Christmas displays and landmarks during a one-hour evening circuit through Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Mayfair, and more.

“It was severely impacted by NY Day road closures which hadn’t been allowed for. The tour ran much longer than expected and still didn’t get to some of the sights listed. We also had to get off the tour on the other side of London and make our own way back.”

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London Christmas Lights Guided Tour With Christmas Music - Oxford Street and the first burst of lights
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London Christmas Lights Guided Tour With Christmas Music

11.London Christmas Lights Guided Tour With Christmas Music

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 118 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $40Top rated

Join a guide such as Kris for a festive London walk with silent disco headphones, music, and stories. You’ll see Oxford Street, Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials, Leicester Square, Regent Street, and Soho, then return to the starting point. Expect singing, dancing, crowds, and plenty of photo stops.

“The starting point was changed by email on the afternoon of the Silent Disco Tour. We didn’t see the email as we were already up in London celebrating the 1st December. We walked 30 minutes to the new starting point but the tour had already departed and there was no way of contacting the guides. 14 of us were left behind. Totally embarrassing for our organiser. We have been promised a full refund though and managed to have some special times together without the tour’s help.”

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Christmas Guided Walking Tour in York - From the Theatre Royal to Victorian Christmas
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Christmas Guided Walking Tour in York

12.Christmas Guided Walking Tour in York

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 106 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $17Best value

Join Sarah or another York Christmas Walking Tours guide at York Minster for a 90-minute evening walk through Christmas customs from Roman Saturnalia to Victorian Dickens. You’ll pass the Theatre Royal, York’s chocolate landmarks, festive lights, and the Christmas Market, with groups advertised at up to 15 people.

“Wonderful tour guide! Even though quite cold, we enjoyed the walking tour and hearing the history of Christmas in York and seeing all of the Christmas lights!!”

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Christmas at Warwick Castle - Light Trail & Ice Skating Packages - The light trail’s strongest scenes
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Christmas at Warwick Castle – Light Trail & Ice Skating Packages

13.Christmas at Warwick Castle – Light Trail & Ice Skating Packages

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 95 reviews · from $32

Explore Warwick Castle after dark on a Christmas trail with Nutcracker-style lights, glowing trees, lake displays, castle projections, a festive market, Santa’s library story, and an open-air ice rink. Choose carefully between light trail and skating packages, since weather and crowd levels can affect the evening.

“We visited Warwick Castle and booked the light trail for late December/New Year. We have visited quite a few times before, and we normally have a nice time. It’s definitely worth booking if in the area.”

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London Christmas Lights Private Tour by Traditional Black Cab - Mayfair and the luxury shop windows
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London Christmas Lights Private Tour by Traditional Black Cab

14.London Christmas Lights Private Tour by Traditional Black Cab

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Ride through Mayfair, Chelsea, Belgravia, and Kensington in a private black cab with a local driver-guide such as Steve, Andrew, Gordon, or Greg. Expect landmark views, festive window displays, frequent photo stops, and the option to finish at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland.

“Excellent tour! We loved it! Great tour guide! Very informative. We learned a lot. From the United States”

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London: Christmas Lights Tour, Mince Pies, & Festive Drinks - Oxford Street and Regent Street after dark
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London: Christmas Lights Tour, Mince Pies, & Festive Drinks

15.Christmas Lights Tour, Mince Pies, & Festive Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 82 reviews · 1h 30m · from $43

Ride a decorated Golden Tours bus through London for 90 minutes of Christmas lights, music, mince pies, shortbread, and two festive drinks. You’ll pass Oxford Street, Regent Street, Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus. The lower deck is wheelchair accessible.

“We enjoyed it but were expecting a singalong but the music wasn’t up to much which spoilt it somewhat The couple behind and the three in front of us were up for a sing song but the music was so slow everyone lost interest Everyone loves a bit of Rudolph the red nose reindeer and frosty the snowman no matter how old you are! If the music was more upbeat and cheery I would definitely be recommending it to everyone - never heard Feliz Navidad sung so slow! The mince pies and mulled wine were included but we were pleasantly surprised by the glass of Prosecco”

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New in UK Christmas Tours

★ 3.6Christmas in Canterbury, Dover & GreenwichFrom $2685 reviews
★ 4.7Christmas Walking Tour with Gingerbread TreatFrom $247 reviews
★ 5.0Christmas Lights Taxi Tour with Hotel Pickup6 reviews
★ 4.2Christmas in Oxford, the Cotswolds and Stratford with LunchFrom $2689 reviews
★ 3.7Tour of London and Christmas Day Lunch CruiseFrom $3079 reviews
★ 3.7Christmas Day Trip to Windsor, Oxford & AveburyFrom $2683 reviews
★ 5.0London Bespoke Black Cab Christmas Lights & Sights Private Tour15 reviews
★ 5.0Magical London Christmas Lights Walking Tour with a LondonerFrom $2716 reviews
★ 4.3Festive New Year’s Eve 4-Course Dinner CruiseFrom $67316 reviews
★ 4.7Christmas Party Lunch CruiseFrom $10117 reviews
★ 3.3Christmas Lights Afternoon Tea Bus TourFrom $6620 reviews
★ 5.0Christmas Lights and Markets London Taxi Tour21 reviews
★ 5.0London Christmas Lights Private Guided Taxi Tour25 reviews
★ 4.0London Christmas Eve Illuminations Guided Tour by NightFrom $8028 reviews
★ 5.0Christmas Lights Tour in a Black Cab27 reviews

Keep browsing

Christmas Market Tours40Christmas Lights Tours104Santa Claus Experiences34New Year Celebrations54Christmas Cruises70Festive Dinners & Shows27
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Somewhere is switching on tonight

Pick a market, a lights run or a night in the snow.

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Eating and drinking

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New Year

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