Things to do in London in winter

London is the most magical city in the world at Christmas. However, you might be surprised how many things to do in London in winter extend beyond the festive period.

Winter days in London are short but obviously get longer in the new year. You’ll find plenty of indoor activities to enjoy whether the sun is up or down, from January to March in London.

If you are planning a trip to London, this list will also be useful because it will allow you to book activities in London that are not weather dependent. I know it’s funny of someone called “Sunny in London” to suggest that there are bad weather days here. However, every city experiences rainy days. Planning a vacation around them when you have to book well in advance can be tricky.

1. Attend a candlelight concert

This is my go-to activity for many reasons. Candlelight concerts are perfect for a date night, gifts for people, or unique things to do in London for visitors. Mr. Sunny and I attended a few.

What makes them so enjoyable is not only the skills of the musicians but also the locations in which they take place.

We attended the Coldplay tribute in Southwark Cathedral. Following this experience, we booked an evening at the Sea Life London Aquarium where we enjoyed the sounds of Hans Zimmer’s music against a backdrop of swimming marine life.

The list of concert options seems endless. However, they are very popular and sell out. If this is something you are considering, visit the website well in advance of your trip to book them in advance.

Some of the possible options include:

• Tribute to the weekend
• Tribute to Oasis
• Tribute to the Beatles
• Tribute to Pink Floyd
• The greatest hits of hip-hop
• Tribute to Taylor Swift
• Homage to Fleetwood Mac
• Tribute to Adèle
• Tribute to Ed Sheeran

2. Visit museums

Many people visiting London for the first time don’t realize that almost all museums are free. Plus, many of them require advance reservation to get the quickest entry.

When I moved to London 10 years ago, it was rare to book a museum in advance, unless it was a special exhibition that required an additional entry fee. These haven’t changed and the best ones sell out quickly.

However, if you are visiting during peak times (summer, Christmas, half-terms, and weekends), you will want to visit the museum’s website in advance to reserve an entry time.

Museums to consider for a trip to London are below. There are plenty of free things to do in London that you can also pair with a museum visit.

• National Gallery
• British Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Science Museum
• Imperial War Museum
• National Maritime Museum
• Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
• Tate Modern
• Tate Great Britain
• National Army Museum
• National Air Force Museum

3. Play mini golf

Just like in the United States, the concept of mini-golf exists in London. People here call it “crazy golf.” You won’t find outdoor classes like in the United States. There are a few in London and much like the concept of the “19th hole” in America, these courses finish in a bar.

You can’t be surprised that the British put this spin on the game, can you?

Most activities in London and the wider UK involve drinking to some extent for adults. So lightweight golf is no different.

With that in mind, this activity is not one I would suggest for families looking for things to do in London in winter.

Crazy Golf is ideal for couples, friends visiting London or work colleagues looking for a party idea or team building activity.

Mr. Sunny and I went to Swingers and Junkyard Golf Club. Both were fun evenings.

4. Watch a TV program being recorded

Attending the taping of a television show can be very fun or very disappointing. I experienced both in London.

This is because your tickets are not guaranteed. I have a whole article about my experience attending the taping of the Graham Norton Show.

However, Mr. Sunny and I also had “tickets” to see the season finale of The Apprentice one year and were very disappointed. Although we arrived before the suggested time, we learned that they had accepted too many people before our arrival and had closed the entrance.

We also tried to see a taped show pilot once and were told we arrived too late.

So if you get tickets to a show you really want to see, make sure you’re there very, very early. And be aware that it may take several hours to see.

But again, if seeing Strictly Come Dancing is your dream of a lifetime, then make it your whole day and get there as early as possible!

5. Access the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Studios Tour

For a magical thing to do in London in winter, book the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studios Tour.

Yes, I intentionally wrote the word “book” above. This extremely popular attraction is different from ones like Walt Disney World which is accessible to everyone.

You’ll want to visit the website before your trip to London and literally book and pay for your tickets in advance based on an entry time.

A good thing to know about this activity in London is that it is actually located in Greater London. And it’s not very easy to access. I wrote a separate article about my tips on how to get to the Harry Potter Studios Tour in London.

If you are a Harry Potter fan, this is by far the best activity to do in London for you. There are walking tours, the West End show and afternoon teas dedicated to this fictional hero.

But seeing the sets, props and soundstages filled with magical beasts supersedes anything you can do in London as a superfan. Just be aware that it takes at least an hour to get to the studio. Give yourself 2-3 hours to visit when you are there too.

6. Enjoy Afternoon Tea

Our latest suggestions for things to do in London in winter feature a culinary theme.

As well as writing mainly about food and drink in London on my website and social media, I also manage the TikTok accounts for several restaurants in London. Additionally, I create video content for London’s largest hotel group.

For this reason, I know the food and drink scene in London quite well. And I had most of the popular afternoon teas in London.

To be honest, there is no afternoon tea that jumps out at me as being far better than the others. So how do we advise people to choose?

Know that afternoon tea is a serious commitment. To fully enjoy it, you will need to dedicate 2 to 2.5 hours to the experience. Therefore, you can choose one that is in your hotel if it is rated 4 or 5 stars.

You can also choose a themed afternoon tea that sounds interesting to you and plan an attraction to visit in the morning that is near the location of the afternoon tea if you are visiting London.

Some of the most popular themed afternoon teas you’ll find in London are:

• Wicked Afternoon Tea (located in a hotel near the theater where the show takes place and pictured above)
• Afternoon tea inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Artistic Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London
• Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea in Sanderson
• Jurassic Afternoon Tea at the Ampersand Hotel
• Peter Pan Afternoon Tea at The Shard
• Secrets & Spies Afternoon Tea at Raffles
• Christmas Afternoon Teas (at almost all hotels and popular locations during the holidays.

There’s even a Christmas afternoon tea on a bus. To be fair, afternoon tea bus tours operate all year round. So if you’re interested, check them out.

Current discounts on tickets to London in 2026

Next update February 2, 2026

Discount code: SUNNYINLONDON10

7. Eat and drink at a bottomless brunch

It took London a few years to understand this American culinary trend. However, almost all restaurants and hotels now offer bottomless brunch. Or at the very least a brunch menu.

Unsurprisingly, the best ones must be reserved a few weeks in advance.

8. Go to a cozy pub

And of course, as Brits are always looking for excuses to go to the pub, it’s one of the easiest and most popular things to do in London in winter.

One that we think could be a lot of fun in the winter is The Ship and Shovell. It is located between Charing Cross station and Embankment on Craven Passage.

It is a traditional Victorian pub which caters to business people and residents of the Charing Cross area. There are two parts of the pub facing each other across the passage. The rooms are only connected by an underground tunnel which also houses the kitchen and the cellar. Inside you will also find delicious homemade dishes.

Final tip on things to do in London in winter

If you’re visiting London in winter and planning activities, keep in mind that temperatures can vary significantly.

You may have seen many images of snow in London. But in the 10 years I’ve lived here, it’s only snowed a few times. Three times it exceeded 4-5 inches in Greater London. Central London received less than that.

Temperatures average between 48°F (9°C) as a maximum in winter and 41°F (5°C) as a minimum. So be sure to check the weather when you plan to visit and be sure to pack layered outfits.

Also, metro trains can be very, very hot, so you should keep that in mind when packing.

If you live in London, what other suggestions can you add? What questions do you have as a visitor planning a trip to London?

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